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So, you're going on a trip and thinking about
taking the laptop along? Think again...please. Do you
really need it? That 6 or 7 pounds of modern
technology will get heavier and heavier as you drag it from
concourse to concourse. And consider this scene from
a busy international airport: a young business man in
a distinguished dark blue three-piece suit kneels on
the floor in front of a telephone. His laptop is open
in front of him with a cable stretched to the phone.
Mr. Young Exec is frantically bobbing between the
telephone receiver (with a non-stretch metallic cord)
and the laptop keyboard. Yes, it's not a pretty sight
and yes, Mr. Young Exec could be you.
Okay, so you don't want share that kind of fun travel experience. But how are you supposed to
pick up your e-mail when you're traveling? If
anyone you're visiting on your journey has Internet
access, consider managing your e-mail with
their browser. You don't have to configure an e-mail program.
All you have to do is make sure you know your
e-mail user name and password. With this information,
you can go to http://www.mailstart.com (see the figure
below) and do everything with your e-mail that
you would in your e-mail program. You can delete
items or leave them in your mailbox so you can
download and file them when you get home. Working over
the browser can be a bit slow; on the other hand, it's
a lot faster moving through airports without
carrying that extra luggage! And you will carry the laptop,
because if there's one thing you do not entrust to
luggage handlers, it's a fragile machine with
precious data on it.
Have you got what it takes?
If you do have to take the laptop with you,
consider the following list of items you must bring:
- Power cord and transformer
- Replacement batteries
- Modem
- Modem cable and extension cable
- Required drives (3.5", CD-ROM, Zip?)
- Carrying bag
- Connection phone numbers
- Modem and electrical outlet adaptors (for
travel outside the U.S.)
At the top of the list is power. If you can't tank
up, you can't work, so you might as well not have
taken the laptop with you. If you'll be traveling outside
the United States, be sure to check the type of
power outlet plug adapter and modem plug adapter
the countries in your itinerary use. You'll be amazed:
not only does every nation have a different way to
flush their toilets, each one also has a different type of
outlet. Even the European Union, where a common
currency has finally been agreed on, hasn't been able
to standardize the configuration of power and
telephone sockets! Targa has adapters and kits for most types
of outlets in use around the world.
Another point to consider if you'll be traveling
internationally: can your machine, or its
transformer, handle 220 volts and 50 megahertz? Check with
the manufacturer and also find out how resistant the
machine is to power surges. Europe, at least, agrees
on electrical current, although in some countries
the power fluctuation can be quite high. Ask the
manufacturer, and make sure your laptop is fit to
travel, rather than taking a chance on losing important data.
Besides the power cable, make certain you have
at least one set of replacement batteries. Some
airlines and train services have power outlets for
recharging laptops, but many do not. Also, some airlines'
power connections require a cigarette-lighter
compatible type of converter. Check ahead if it's a factor for you.
Connect!
If you have a choice of accommodations, try to
find ones that cater to business people on the road.
A good establishment will have a reasonable work
area. Reasonable means a power and a modem outlet
(often referred to as a dataport) near a working
surface of reasonable height and with good lighting. By
the time you've crawled behind all the furniture to
find the outlets, made the decision to unplug the
radio/alarm rather than the lamp, concluded you can
do without the phone, and that you'll have to
balance the laptop while sitting on the bed, you're more
likely to be ready for the sauna than for work. (Better
take those extension cables along anyway, just in case.)
Depending on the hotel, you may need to dial a
0 or a 9 to get an outside line. If the telephone
system is older, it may have a delay of 10 seconds or
more before the dial tone comes through. Familiarize
yourself with the configuration of Windows Dial-Up
Networking and get answers to any questions
before you hit the road. If you're a member of CompuServe
or America Online, a local dial-up number may be available for your location or at least within the
country. Many larger Internet Service Providers have
800 numbers and contracts with services in other
countries to provide dial-up service for a fee. This
surcharge is probably less expensive than an international call. Check your provider's web site
for phone numbers and note useful ones before you
leave.
While we're on the subject of phone
connections, realize that some places do not have modern,
noise-free lines. A bad line can cause the modem
connection to be dropped unexpectedly. Patience is a
virtue. If you aren't getting through, try at a time when
less traffic is on the lines. Download as much as you
can and work off-line — it will cost much less,
since you'll be paying by the minute.
Ready to go
Now that you've got everything together, you
can pack it up. A laptop is a fragile piece of
equipment, so make sure you have a suitably strong bag with
rugged buckles and straps to carry it. Space
permitting, you should put padding around the machine, such
as packing Styrofoam, paper, or the power cables.
Any of these items can protect the laptop from the
occasional shock. The bag also should close
completely. You don't want the contents falling out, and
more importantly, no one should be able to simply
pluck them out. While you are traveling, it goes
without saying that you must keep the bag with you at
all times.
Sometimes, despite all your precautions, a thief
is successful. If your data is especially confidential,
you may want to invest in security and encryption
software to protect the data from prying eyes. A
password on the machine or in your Windows log-in cannot keep a knowledgeable hacker out of your
files, but good encryption software can make them
unreadable for those who do not have the key.
Public courtesy
Be courteous to others while you are using your laptop in public areas. Mute the sound system
or wear headphones. By now, few people don't know
all Windows' beeps and whistles by heart — and
vacationers are likely to be heartily sick of them.
Many of us have long ago tuned out the safety
presentations given at the beginning of a flight. But as
a new laptop road warrior, pay special attention to
the device restrictions. For safety reasons, the use of
mobile phones and CD-ROM drives is forbidden
during takeoff and landing and for the duration of
most flights because they can interfere with
communications and navigation equipment. You do want to
arrive safely at your destination!
Bon voyage
The purpose of this article isn't to discourage you from traveling with your laptop _ but to reduce
the likelihood of frustration and surprises. If you do
take your laptop with you, with a little planning and
care, you'll have a pleasant, stress-free journey.
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