Traveling with Technology

Minimize techno-glitches when youre on the road

By Betty W. Stark, Business travel consultant and columnist, Stark Consulting

A business traveler’s life on the road is certainly a lot easier thanks to all the technology that’s available. It can also be said that all that technology has really complicated the life of the business traveler.

You have to haul it, submit it for inspection, and hope it’ll pass muster as a carry-on. Then you have to use it. Where can you log on, plug in, power up? How can you protect your high-priced gadgets from theft, your data from prying eyes? What connectors do you need when you’re halfway around the world?

With a little information and the right tools you can:

   1.      Make sure your equipment qualifies as a carry-on.
   2.      Locate free Internet access and power sources.
   3.      Find gadgets that will keep data safe, protect electronic equipment.
   4.      Carry the right connectors to make it all work.

Make sure it passes muster as a carry-on

No business traveler wants to have to check a laptop or other pricey and fragile equipment. But carry-on restrictions are getting tougher so it’s doubly important to “know before you go” what your airline will and won’t allow you to bring onboard.
Try: Visit your airline’s Web site and scroll through the information on baggage restrictions. If it’s vague, call the airline directly for clarification.

Power up, find socket sources, log on

You’re getting to the airport earlier than ever and that means a lot of downtime. You have your laptop with you and you want to maximize that hour or two before your flight departs. Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) access, especially the free kind, is slowly finding its way into airports and airline clubs. Use your flight time too to accomplish tasks on your laptop.
Try: Use the Digital Hotspotter to locate a Wi-Fi connection. Not only will it give you an LCD readout, it will tell you if the network is encrypted. You can also check this Web site for Wi-Fi locations worldwide and scout out internet access information on airport Web sites. Many airline clubs have all the access you’ll need; if you’re not a member, buy a day pass. Some airplane seats are equipped with power sources; find out if yours is one of them here.

Protect your data and your laptop

If you’re crammed into a coach class seat and working on a sensitive document, you might be unknowingly sharing your company secrets with a snoopy seatmate. And what happens if a thief lifts your laptop off the end of the security conveyor or out of the overhead bin while you’re in the rest room?
Try: Check out a notebook/LCD privacy filter. It will make your laptop screen invisible to the person next to or behind you and it protects the LCD display from fingerprints, scratches and abrasions. You can protect your laptop from theft too, or download critical data to a removable flash drive with unlimited expandability.

Make sure you have the right stuff to make it all work

The old saw about round pegs and square holes accurately describes the problems you might encounter when trying to use your laptop or other technology in a foreign setting. Find out ahead of time what you’ll need to plug in and log on.
Try: Use the simple Wizard at What Plug to determine what connectors you’ll need. Steve Kropla’s comprehensive Web site is helpful too. If you need specific gadgets, you’ll find them at Magellan’s.