Wireless Devices

September 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

When traveling, wires can only get in the way.  Looking for a plug or trying not to trip over a cord doesn't fit the modern road warrior.  Devices are getting smaller and you can stay connected to work without being connected to the wall.  So what are some wireless devices that will keep you in the know when you're on the go?

WiFi Detection
With this device, you can tell when you are in a WiFi hotspot without ever turning on your computer or handheld device.  So instead of booting up only to find you're out of range, this handy, compact device will tell you where you are able to get to work.

Bluetooth Headsets
Chances are you already have Bluetooth.  This enables hands-free cell phone discussions and easy answering.  The Bluetooth headset has become an essential piece of wireless equipment for road warriors.  Check out this guide for reviews on three of the latest models.

WiFi Skype Phone
If you need to make frequent calls internationally, you've probably tried Skype.  But Skype has been expanding its services to provide cheap, easy options for phone to phone, computer to phone, and phone to computer calls.  You can call anywhere in the world for pennies and you can even have a special Skype cell phone.  With amazing prices and more traditional phone features being added every day, this is becoming a very appealing option.

Carry-On Luggage

August 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Purchasing the proper carry-on bag is a vital aspect of business travel: You want to be able to fit as much as possible in the bag without exceeding any size restrictions.  A durable carry-on is an investment; one that you want to ensure is irreplaceable.  So before you go shopping, keep in mind that, generally, the bag should not exceed 45 linear inches, which is the sum of the length, width, and height.  For a full list, visit luggage online, and check the carry-on limits for your frequent flier airlines.

Now that you’re aware of the restrictions, which bag should you pick?  There are thousands of carry-on options. Look for a bag with multiple pockets—for quick organization—and consider a wheeled bag in order to place less stress on your shoulders.  Be mindful to look for a water-resistant bag—in case of rain or another unforeseen watery encounter—since nothing’s worse than showing up to a meeting wearing damp clothes.  Here are some articles with options and advice on selecting the right bag for you:

Portable DVD Players

July 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Ostensibly, the next airline cutback is plane-provided movie watching.  In fact, US Airways has announced that it will be removing the movie system from their domestic planes.  However, there is an upside:  Now you have an excuse to buy a portable DVD player so that you can watch movies on the plane.  Here are some of the top DVD player choices:

  • Topping a recent CNET review list, the Sony DVP-FX820 has superior resolution and a long battery life.
  • To avoid adding extra weight onto your carry-on luggage, consider—at just 1.3 pounds—the Sharp DV-L70U.
  • For a quality portable DVD player that won’t break the bank, try the Polaroid DPA-07046P. Available at Overstock for under $100 (note: price may change).

Alternately, if it plays movies, your laptop can double as your in-flight entertainment.  Regardless of how you choose to spend your in-air hours, keep in mind that the airline may no longer be providing any options for entertainment.

Laptop Safety

July 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

How safe is your laptop when you’re traveling?  It may not be quite as safe as you think, especially if you frequently take it out because you have to put it on the airport security conveyor belt.  PC World notes, “Close to 10,278 laptops are reported lost every week at 36 of the largest U.S. airports, and 65 percent of those laptops are not reclaimed.”  That’s a lot of laptops vanishing on a regular basis!  With all the confusion of getting your stuff back and putting your shoes back on, it may not be that surprising that your laptop might not make it back into your bag.  Instead of being just one more thing to worry about when headed to the airport, there are a few things you can do to make your computer more secure.

  • Keep your laptop in sight – This tip might be obvious but it is hard to overstate how important awareness is.  When your laptop comes through the metal detector, take it, put it in your bag, and put your bag on your shoulder.  Deal with your shoes later.
  • Make use of security measures – Dell just announced a service to help track and recover lost laptops, and ThinkPad has a LoJack tracking device.  Given the widespread problem, other computer manufacturers are likely to follow suit. Should anything happen, register your laptop and use programs like these to aid in recovery.
  • Identify your laptop – Choose an understated laptop bag and put a unique sticker or other identifier on it.  A simple bag will be less appealing to thieves and the unusual marker will make it easier to notice your bag on someone else’s shoulder.

It can be easy to lose track of everything you’re carrying when you’re traveling and tired, but a few easy steps could make your laptop less prone to theft.

Latest Gadget Guide

June 20, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

With the summer travel season on its way, now is the time to stock up on the latest gadgets and cool travel items.  Whether going to a meeting or hitting the beach, having your favorite technological wonders beside you will add convenience and make your travel companions jealous.  Here is our latest gadget guide with 5 more must-have items.

Safety Pin MP3 Player
If you don’t have a pocket, and don’t want to drop your mp3 player while juggling luggage and other items, try this mp3 player button.  Just fasten it to a belt loop or anywhere else and have a hands-free music player.

Caffeinated Soap
This isn’t quite a gadget, but it’s still a pretty interesting idea.  If you’re running late and don’t have time to grab a morning cup of coffee, get your caffeine fix in the shower.  This soap has caffeine in it, which will be absorbed through the skin.

Tourist Remover
It’s like stain stick for your photos.  If you’re at a crowded tourist site but would like postcard quality pictures, just install the tourist remover software, which can locate and delete any annoying strangers cluttering your shots.

Track Stick
Plot your adventures online with the Track Stick.  This device plots your GPS location and lets you track your travel progress on a map, which can be posted online for family and friends to view.

16 GB flash drive
Have important information that you want to store?  This 16 GB flash drive—that’s the size of a credit card—can help you keep all your files backed up and easily portable.  It’s just what the tech-savvy traveler needs.

Durable Gadgets

May 20, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

While trying to dig out your passport in order to get through customs, your smart phone lands on the floor. Or right before your big presentation, someone spills coffee on your keyboard. These situations could spell disaster, especially for a business traveler who needs these devices to stay connected and working; Yet for the road warrior who chooses durable gadgets, this could just be another day of normal wear and tear.

So what are the most damage resistant gadgets to travel with?  PC Magazine recently came up with a list that’s worth a look. As far as laptops, it's hard to go wrong with the Panasonic Toughbook. And if you need a camera, Olympus has a digital camera that would be a challenge to break: It's shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, and freezeproof. New technology is leading to longer lasting devices that can stand up to the life of a road warrior.

Do you have a favorite business travel gadget that can take a licking and keep on ticking?

Travel Texting

May 12, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

When you arrive in a new city, it's always nice to have a friend in town to recommend restaurants or tell you that the art museum is closed on Mondays.  However, you may not have those kinds of connections in every city.  And if your friend is busy and not answering the phone, you're back to square one.  There is now a service that gives you that kind of insider information wherever you are.

ChaCha is a service that you text with questions about the city and, in turn, they respond with personalized information and recommendations.  This service is free and can be the perfect way to get answers to travel questions when not near a computer with Internet access. 

They aren't the only ones looking to provide you with information through texting.  The FCC recently approved an alert system that will send text messages during emergencies in order to keep the public informed.  And CNN is reporting that more airlines and airports are turning to texting as a way to keep travelers updated on flight information.  So keep that cell phone handy while traveling!

Texting can be a great way to keep up on travel information and also keep in touch with friends and family at home.

SkyMall Catalog

April 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

You’re sitting on a plane, bored, and decide to flip through the SkyMall catalog in the seat pocket in front of you. And while the guillotine cigar cutter and other items are laughable, every once in a while there’s a product that’s a really good idea, like the virtual keyboard. Am I the only one tempted by this catalog?

SSD Technology

April 14, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

You're next laptop could be as thin as a magazine. With the new solid state drive notebooks coming onto the market, the technology is here today.

It's on the expensive side now, but having the computer's hard drive space on a portable drive instead of taking up space in the computer has definite advantages. Flash drives are fast since they don't have to spin up or spin down. And with fewer moving parts, the flash drives are more stable and reliable.  Also, with a flash drive, if you fill up one card, you can always invest in another. But the drive may take longer to fill up than expected.

Flash memory card technology, originally popularized by digital cameras and mp3 players, has now advanced enough to be used to create replacements for entire computer hard drives. The amount of space on these new drives is getting bigger every day. Solid state drives are already measured in the tens of gigabytes. The MacBook Air is already using this solid state drive technology to revolutionize their laptops and these sleek computers are on sale now. There's something to be said for waiting a little bit until the price comes down, but once they are, this technology promises to be the next leap in laptops.

And storage space in general is getting cheaper and more accessible.  Researchers have been able to create a consumer hard drive that can hold a terabyte of information. That's 1,000 gigabytes!  Meanwhile, Fujitsu has created a commercial portable hard drive that has 300 GB and is only 2.5 inches for laptops.  That is currently about 10x larger than most SSDs, which currently top out at 32 GB (although 64 GB is coming soon).

Apple Gear

April 8, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What do you pack for travel gear?  If you can’t go on a business trip without your MacBook, you're in luck.  There are lots of great gadgets coming out for Apple products that can enhance your ability to work while on the road. Check out this Apple gear.

For instance, check out the latest AirPort Express.  Five times faster than the previous model, this lets you stream music from iTunes and surf the web while waiting for your flight.

Also, ScanSnap can take all your vital documents and scan them onto your computer.  It's a great way to take home important documents and receipts for reimbursement without keeping track of stacks of paper.

And of course, one of the more useful travel gadgets these days is the iPhone.  You can stay on top of your email and the latest music.