Some pundits are calling it “the year of the laptop”. Laptops now rival desktop systems in terms of performance and features - screens up to 17”, DVD players/burners, big hard drives - and prices are dropping as well. Whether you’re on business or just want to stay connected while traveling, here are some tips for taking to the road with your laptop.

The bag. Regardless of whether you choose a briefcase, a tote bag or a backpack, choose a bag with an inner sleeve to house the laptop. The sleeve will protect the laptop from being scratched or damaged by the other contents of the bag, and is a good “last line of defense” in case of a tumble. Also, you might consider a bag with a strap on the back that goes around the retractable handle of your roll-aboard suitcase.

What’s in the prepared road warrior’s bag besides the computer? A comfortable set of headphones. A telephone cord with a jack on both ends. Rather than just carrying a loose cord, spend a few extra bucks and get one of those nifty plastic cases where the cord retracts into the case when not in use. Depending on your travel schedule, consider an extra charged battery.

Speaking of batteries, a little prior planning can keep you working through a long flight. While waiting for your flight to board, plug into a power outlet (if you can wedge in next to the other road warriors). Don’t use precious battery time on the ground if you don’t have to.

Once airborne, there are things you can do to prolong battery life. Some laptops can be set to ramp down to a slower processing speed when on battery power. Decrease your screen brightness, set the screen to fewer colors, or even to grayscale (black and white). Use your system’s power saving features, like spinning down the hard drive when possible and putting the screen to sleep if you’re just listening to music.

If you’re using your laptop as a Walkman or a DVD player, remember that any time the optical drive is running, you’re really using battery juice. If you listen to a lot of music, consider loading your laptop with MP3 files rather than using the built-in CD player. DVD players are also power hogs, and can easily halve your laptop’s advertised battery life.

If you’re a big or tall person, consider booking an exit row or bulkhead seat on the plane – there’s always more leg and lap room, and as an added bonus, the person in front of you can’t recline their seat into your workspace.

Getting connected. If you use a broadband internet provider at your home or office, find out if they offer dial-up service in other areas. National DSL providers like AT&T and Earthlink have local dial-up numbers in most cities, but your local cable TV company that also offers cable modem broadband may not. An 800 number for dialing up is a must. With many large airports (and airport hotels) being miles from the city center, finding a local number can be time-consuming or even impossible. Also, hotels vary in how they charge for phone calls, both local and 800. Some have additional charges that kick in when a call exceeds a certain length. Ask the hotel desk about phone charges when you check in.

One final thought. Make sure you get an extended warranty package for your laptop. Replacing a screen can be up to half of a laptop’s original price, and although they’re rugged machines, there are lots of hazards out there.

© 2003 Peter F. Zimowski