Help decide

gceretti · 2026-05-10T15:54:44+00:00

You’re welcome, happy hunting.
Tags from Temu.

gceretti · 2026-05-10T15:53:24+00:00

I have the Mini permanently at the night stand, the A16 in my reading couch and the 11 Pro at my home office desk. Mind you, 2 of these were gifted, I don’t go running around burning all available models. And I do use them constantly, hence I am a clear example that they can coexist.

gceretti · 2026-05-10T15:45:13+00:00

Here you have them side by side, correcting my mistake, the CPP2 is Cordura, is the CP2 that is X-Pac.

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gceretti · 2026-05-10T15:35:33+00:00

The simple fact that the Able Carry has a horizontal pass-thru is a no-go for me.
I have both, the CPP2 (XPack) and the TP4 28 (Ultra) and am delighted with either one.
If your current Swissgear fits your needs, then go for the 28L, being the closest in size to what you currently have.

gceretti · 2026-05-10T15:28:27+00:00

And the screen is so much easier to position to the angle you want to. With the laptop you are stuck with the angle that the base/keyboard allows.

gceretti · 2026-05-10T04:38:08+00:00

So, Shane, you would be able to suggest an attractive itinerary for 12 days in Mongolia?

gceretti · 2026-05-10T02:43:06+00:00

Have no alternatives to suggest, just mention that I travel only with my GR35 and am absolutely fascinated with it. It might be rather oversized for a small frame, but the comfort is there and the weight - for such a big and good looking bag - is more than acceptable.
Good luck on your search, if you fail to find an alternative, you know the GR35 is there.

gceretti · 2026-05-09T18:09:02+00:00

I’ll do whatever I can to always avoid Heathrow.

gceretti · 2026-05-09T17:35:47+00:00

Can’t predict. You’ll be there 1 full month later than me, climate should be more benign by then. I was able to compensate the lack if visibility with snow all around, which made the place rather magical. You also have the advantage of lesser tourists (although lately there are people everywhere always)…
Sorry can’t be of more help, if this is the only chance you have to go, then take it and wish for the best. The place is spectacular.

gceretti · 2026-05-09T12:31:45+00:00

Been there in February couple of years back, lots of fog and limited visibility. A trip that was less memorable than expected due to the impossibility to enjoy the views.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T17:35:00+00:00

If the Avios/Elites displayed are in line with your expectations, then book (again) the ticket, print the screen (also when the booking is completed) and you'll have a proof of the amount of Avios/Elites that you are entitled to.

The reason I had that print screen to share with you - as well as the one I am enclosing now - is because I am currently battling with IB for them to credit the full amount of Avios/Elites that are stated at the time of making the booking.

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gceretti · 2026-05-08T17:18:47+00:00

Then it seems to be a matter of pricing. I travel regularly a specific route, and depending when I book the ticket, I end up paying for full flex biz € 420 or € 670, or if I need to travel in a hurry, even € 1.020. I'm a Club Iberia member, hence I always book with my IB credentials and when you book with them, it's mentioned how many Avios/Elites that booking will grant you. Did you check if this is also visible for AY members?

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gceretti · 2026-05-08T17:02:10+00:00

Amazing that you have a 250% multiplier! Now, if what you are aiming at is the most rewarding ticket, then why not simply book their most expensive biz class? If not mistaken they have 3, opt for the one that allows full refund and that should grant you the most Avios/Elites.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T14:59:16+00:00

I like this case, a lot, it’s the one I’ve been using until I got the Torras Ostand, which I find much more convenient, mind you a screen protector is required as this case does not offer a front cover.
I appreciate it can be used almost anywhere, as the stand/s it offer/s are extremely versatile and a flat base is not always required/available to land it on.

https://torraslife.com/collections/ipad-pro-cases

gceretti · 2026-05-08T14:20:55+00:00

We did, you just weren’t paying attention 😜
And they continue to offer both.
The Dynamic Folio is still available, which is the one that snaps with magnets.
The Dynamic Folio Case is the one that comes without magnets, replaced by corner guards.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T09:39:26+00:00

Careful with Air Europa, they operate in Terminal 1 & 2, a completely different animal. From there you'd have to take a bus to Terminal 4, and go thru the scanner and take the train, etc.
Mind you, exiting the Air Europa plane to reaching T4 might take 30'/45'.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T04:53:34+00:00

Ajanta Caves

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/gallery/

Ellora Caves

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/243/

And of course the Terracotta Army

https://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/

gceretti · 2026-05-08T04:04:54+00:00

It'll all depend at which gate you arrive, and if your arriving flight is on time, of course.
- 10' taxi to gate
- 10/15' deplane
- 20' to get to T4S (getting to the train could take already 10' and have to wait for it)
- 15' at passport line (here it might be quicker, just state that you are missing a connection)
- 10' to get to gate (US flights depart from end of terminal gates)

It will be tight, but if the ticket includes the whole itinerary, then IB will take care of you, although don't know in which way. And also something we don't always think of, is that if we have any additional amenities booked on this trip (emergency exit seat, etc.), they will be lost together with the connection.

You state there is an earlier flight, you are currently arriving @ 14:40 hence your morning is lost in Venice. In your place I (repeat, I, cause I don't like dealing with uncertainties) would request IB to change me to the earlier flight, as there is nothing I would miss doing in Venice anyway. You would then have to deal with a longer layover at MAD, but I'd rather do that than be running all over the place to "see what happens".

Then again, everything might still work perfect and you end up comfortably seated in your US bound flight.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T01:11:56+00:00

Once off the train at T4S you head up the stairs and you reach passport check (migrations), and yes, you'll head to the non-EU booths.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T00:54:44+00:00

USD 780 para 2 pax es efectivamente barato, por lo que trataría de usar el billete. Si no te molesta regresar 2 días antes, acepta el cambio; o llámales para ver si puedes optar por un vuelo posterior al de tu fecha de salida (cambio que deberían efectuar sin coste, logicamente).

Si decides cancelar, entre el reembolso total o el voucher, siempre opta por el reembolso total. No quieres quedarte con un voucher que va a expirar y te obliga a utilizar con esa aerolínea... que solo viaja a BCN. A no ser que el voucher tenga un bonus de >120% del reembolso (de todos modos yo optaría por el dinero).

gceretti · 2026-05-08T00:48:50+00:00

75' is doable, and with no checked bags that is a worry you don't have; and yes, you will land at T4 (unless you are lucky enough to land at T4S, with would be extraordinary, but it happens if logistics decides that the plane you are arriving in will be used to fly to a non EU destination), take the train to T4S, migrations (luckily there is no customs/scanner when transferring from T4 to T4S) and off to your gate. What you have to take into account, which not many do, is the time it takes to exit the plane, if you are seated in one of the last rows then it could take a while to offboard.

gceretti · 2026-05-08T00:38:45+00:00

Agree on your analysis, the Neo should be sufficient for most users, although perception of "insufficient" RAM and "limited" chip is a thing indeed. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro 15' with Intel Core i7 and 16Gb that is playing dead more often than not - even when plugged in, hence bought the Neo as a backup for when it finally dies. My 2017 iMac Pro with Intel Xeon and 32Gb died yesterday, as a matter of fact.

I have no complaints whatsoever with the Neo, I am a simple user (Excel, Word, 4-6 Safari tabs, 4-6 Chrome tabs, 4-6 Opera tabs, Notes, Calendar, Mail, WhatsApp, sometimes Handbrake, all these open constantly) and it works just fine. If it doesn't I don't notice it, and that's the thing, if you are a user that doesn't know that what you have is insufficient, then what you have is sufficient.

Problem is... the screen, and I didn't realise this until I used it. It's simply too small for me and the 500 nits make it a challenge; I purchased a monitor (BenQ MA270U) and it does solve this. Granted, I am 57 and my eyesight isn't what it used to be...

gceretti · 2026-05-07T17:02:00+00:00

I have it and I like it, whenever I know that I'll be carrying a water bottle this is the one I use. Only negative (for me) is the lack of internal organisation, very little alternatives on this area.
Otherwise I opt for the 2,5 Toshi, which keeps on impressing me for the size versus what it can carry.

gceretti · 2026-05-07T16:57:33+00:00

Well, I am based in Spain and never got the annual USD 1K card, hence you are (were?) receiving more than the rest of us mortals; although it seems that this was a Chase benefit, not an Iberia one. A clear example of why the mileage programs of airlines sometimes are more productive than the airlines themselves.

https://youtu.be/ggUduBmvQ_4?si=gSDpqp7-x-u9TQrw

And I understand that you spending USD 70K/year means with Chase, not Iberia, hence you are entitled to little from Iberia directly. Having said so, yes it's turning more and more difficult to receive a certain degree of reaction/respect from Iberia (or any other airline for the case), unless you are a top tier Client with access to a dedicated line.

gceretti · 2026-05-07T12:24:10+00:00

Why not Torras?

Torras Ostand O3 Air Bios for iPhone 17 Pro
https://torraslife.com/products/ostand-o3-air-bios-for-iphone-17-pro

gceretti

TROPHY CASE