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Visiting Damascus, Syria from the U.S. - 15" 2.2ghz MacBook Pro (MBP) user - advice?
- Thread starter Rizvi1
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A bulletproof vest.
No, really. There is nothing else you need to run your computer except for the plug converter. The power supply will take care of the proper voltage, it works between 110 and 240 volts.
No, really. There is nothing else you need to run your computer except for the plug converter. The power supply will take care of the proper voltage, it works between 110 and 240 volts.
Avoid taking it with you unless you MUST have it.
Remove all super personal files. Also caution if you have any porn or anything like that. (might be against the law? don't know their culture)
Remove all super personal files. Also caution if you have any porn or anything like that. (might be against the law? don't know their culture)
Oh, that's the case. Yes, you're right. Absolutely no porn (not even pics or movies that are marginally NSFW). No political stuff, not even a presidential candidate mailing. This is a edit: still mostly Sunnite Shiite country, so utmost care is suggested.
AFAIK (my co-worker, an Arabian Studies professional, came back from there 2 days ago) Sunnis are about 70% and the rumors of increased number of conversions are indeed true. However, I didn't know it exactly before writing the previous post, so sorry for the confusion. Anyway, Sunnis and Shiites share the same disgust for offensive material.
Thanks for the comments guys. My father in law (who's travelling with me) brought some random convertor with a few addon plugs so I've plugged in my MBP to that.
There's a lo-hi switch on the converter itself. When I set it to "low", my laptop seemed to not be getting enough power, but when I set it to high, everything's all good.
I'll post some pictures to help other people out who may come out to visit.
To all the people who warned about someone stealing my laptop. I have all my personal stuff within FileVault so from what I understand, I should be safe. In the shared, non-filevault protected part of my computer, I keep program files, music, videos, etc that I don't care about.
There's a lo-hi switch on the converter itself. When I set it to "low", my laptop seemed to not be getting enough power, but when I set it to high, everything's all good.
I'll post some pictures to help other people out who may come out to visit.
To all the people who warned about someone stealing my laptop. I have all my personal stuff within FileVault so from what I understand, I should be safe. In the shared, non-filevault protected part of my computer, I keep program files, music, videos, etc that I don't care about.
No, you don't understand. It's a crime in syria to have anything that the government deems unsuitable. They will throw you in jail. You should wipe the drive, and just put what you need on it. Even some of the music we listen to over here is illegal over there because it is "sexually explicit".
Don
Also, I brought it with me to an internet cafe and took their ethernet wire and put it into my comp so that way, I can download directly to my laptop, not worry about foreign keyboard layouts, leaving "remember me" information, etc.
That's good advice I could have/should have followed in retrospect. I don't think I have anything unsuitable anyways - I guess the music may be a little shaky.
I pity you poor paranoid souls. The man is going to one of the most culturally rich and beautiful city, and all you can think of are cheap pun and stereotypical jokes. Visiting a middle eastern country does not automatically mean going to war stricken zone and 100% probability of getting shot or something, well unless you are going to Iraq for which you have yourselves to blame anyway.
*shakes head*
Take your macbook and enjoy your time, if it gets nicked .. I'll give you mine.
*shakes head*
Take your macbook and enjoy your time, if it gets nicked .. I'll give you mine.
This is so sad....
Wow, this is the saddest forum I've ever read on MacRumors. I'm disappointed in the level of ignorance shown. Of all you idiots cautioning bullet proof vests, wiping things off the HD, I wonder how many of you have ever been to Syria? or any Arab country?
While there are many ignorant people in the USA, I just wanted to let the rest of the world know that not all of us are this narrow minded.
Wow, this is the saddest forum I've ever read on MacRumors. I'm disappointed in the level of ignorance shown. Of all you idiots cautioning bullet proof vests, wiping things off the HD, I wonder how many of you have ever been to Syria? or any Arab country?
While there are many ignorant people in the USA, I just wanted to let the rest of the world know that not all of us are this narrow minded.
This is the saddest thing you've seen on MacRumors? You obviously haven't been here long.
Removing potentially illegal material (in another country) from your drive is prudent - not ignorant.
Removing potentially illegal material (in another country) from your drive is prudent - not ignorant.
I think that OP was looking for input on technical issues so cultural bias and poor attempts at humor aside the below site might be useful in figuring out exactly which power adapter plugs you might need, other then access to electricity I don't think there are any other technical issues specific to Syria.
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm
If you're a US citizen and safety is a concern then perhaps this might shed some light on things
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3036.html
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm
If you're a US citizen and safety is a concern then perhaps this might shed some light on things
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3036.html
I have returned safe and sound from my trip. Thanks for all the responses. I thought I'd try to do some replies since you guys took the time to help me out.
Mac4Obama, I'm glad to see a your positive stance and am aware that most of the world isn't narrow minded. But I do agree with Big-TDI-Guy in that offensive material could get you in trouble. Better safe than sorry.
Good advice, but I myself did this:
Yep, that's exactly what I have.
iShak, it really is a culturally rich and beautiful city. Fortunately (for both of us), my laptop didn't get nicked, but thanks for the offer
I never felt that unsafe with my laptop when I did have it out with me around the city, but better safe than sorry so covering your bag, not attracting attention to yourself, etc is good advice. And as far as your health advice, I attended a travel clinic before I left and got shots for influenza, typhoid, and heptatis A. And took plenty of cold medicine, etc.
Thanks for this. I twittered it here too for my friends/family:
http://twitter.com/srizvi1/status/1039665129
As I mentioned before in this thread, I used a converter thing my father in law brought with him. I wonder if I could have just plugged in my mac to the wall without the actual converter and if it would be ok, but I never tried it. Attached are some pics of my electricity set up. Also, unrelated to this thread, I'm in the market for a Mac Pro and am wondering what would be good for my needs. I see you're a mac pro user, would love some input if you have the time.
Dmac77(Don), I had already left at the time of posting so it was too late.
Wow, this is the saddest forum I've ever read on MacRumors. I'm disappointed in the level of ignorance shown. Of all you idiots cautioning bullet proof vests, wiping things off the HD, I wonder how many of you have ever been to Syria? or any Arab country?
While there are many ignorant people in the USA, I just wanted to let the rest of the world know that not all of us are this narrow minded.
...
Removing potentially illegal material (in another country) from your drive is prudent - not ignorant.
Mac4Obama, I'm glad to see a your positive stance and am aware that most of the world isn't narrow minded. But I do agree with Big-TDI-Guy in that offensive material could get you in trouble. Better safe than sorry.
Good advice, but I myself did this:
Yep, that's exactly what I have.
iShak, it really is a culturally rich and beautiful city. Fortunately (for both of us), my laptop didn't get nicked, but thanks for the offer
I never felt that unsafe with my laptop when I did have it out with me around the city, but better safe than sorry so covering your bag, not attracting attention to yourself, etc is good advice. And as far as your health advice, I attended a travel clinic before I left and got shots for influenza, typhoid, and heptatis A. And took plenty of cold medicine, etc.
Thanks for this. I twittered it here too for my friends/family:
http://twitter.com/srizvi1/status/1039665129
As I mentioned before in this thread, I used a converter thing my father in law brought with him. I wonder if I could have just plugged in my mac to the wall without the actual converter and if it would be ok, but I never tried it. Attached are some pics of my electricity set up. Also, unrelated to this thread, I'm in the market for a Mac Pro and am wondering what would be good for my needs. I see you're a mac pro user, would love some input if you have the time.
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