5 Gadgets You Can Pack for Long Flights

Technology + Gear
by Alan Velasco Oct 1, 2008
Long flights can take a toll on travelers, but you can wile away time with these gadgets.

While flying may be the fastest way to get from one point to another, it can still take a long time to arrive at your destination.


Photo by Lola Akinmade

As airlines continue to “extend” their arrival times, here are a few handy items that will make your wait time go by much faster.

Nintendo DS

Price: $129.99 | BUY

The Nintendo DS is a great portable gaming system. Lightweight and affordable, it has a wide variety of game types that appeal to just about any taste.

It comes in a wide array of colors which allows potential owners to pick a system that matches their style.

The system’s batteries go the distance, providing up to 19 hours of continuous play on one charge.

Don’t know what games to bring along? Then check out “Top Five Nintendo DS Games To Pack On Your Trip“.

Also keep in mind that the device is region free, meaning that if you see an awesome game in Europe, it will work on your North American DS.

The only exception to this rule are Chinese games.

Sony PSP

Price: $169.99 | BUY

If you’re looking for a portable gaming system that is a bit more versatile, then the Sony PSP is the perfect option.

It can play games, surf the internet at any wi-fi hotspot, playback videos and music, and display images on a beautiful widescreen display.

The only real inhibitor is the amount of memory provided by the device.

More adventurous owners can maximize the ability of the PSP by doing a little extra searching on the Internet and using home-brewed software known as “sony psp hacks”.

Amazon Kindle

Price: $359.00 | BUY

For those who love to read books but don’t want the hassle of carrying them around, the Amazon Kindle is what you need.

It can store over 200 books, and provides access to thousands of more books online.

The best part is that if you want another book to read, the device can wirelessly connect to the Amazon service to download a new book.

Just one warning: it isn’t backlit, so don’t expect to be doing any reading in the dark.

While it’s a bit pricey, it’s well worth the investment for travelers who want to read something to keep them occupied or are avid readers on the road.

iriver Clix Rhapsody

Price: $149.99 | BUY

While it may seem like blasphemy to recommend an MP3 player that isn’t made by Apple, this is an incredible device that doesn’t get enough attention.

The Clix supports a myriad of file types (MP3, OGG, WMA, MPEG4, WMV 9…the list goes on), has a built in voice recorder and an FM tuner.

It’s also well known for its superb audio quality. It supports two configurations: 4GB or 8GB.

Don’t worry about having to use the Rhapsody music service with it provides. It’s as simple as dragging and dropping your music files onto the device.

Asus Eee PC

Price: $480.99 | BUY

Road warriors who want to get a little work done while in the air will love the Asus Eee PC.

It runs Windows XP, comes with an 80 to 160 GB hard drive, and 1GB of ram.

It’s great for working on spreadsheets or just finishing up that great novel.

The best part is, for a laptop, its price tag is just as small as the device itself. Asus also provides users with up to 20GB of secure online storage so you can store important documents safely while on the road.

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