Learning How To Travel Light

by Joseph Hunkins / Aug 20

I’ve had more than a few bad experiences failing to manage my mobile workflow properly.   These included backaches from lugging around heavy laptops during conferences and, far worse, slow website updating and blog posting when I decided to leave the laptop at the hotel or could not find power or connectivity during conferences or events or work trips.

This year, during planning for a trip to China, I managed to solve all these problems thanks to my purchase of an inexpensive ultra mobile PC.   This has combined with my PC backpack, smartphone, digital camera, and online email and document capabilities to make me mobile ready for almost any online work environment.

I chose the ASUS eeePC because it was the best choice at the time, but clearly superior models have now come into the market.    The biggest challenge with the ASUS eeePC was the small keyboard.   I’m used to the keyboard now but would not recommend this model to others for that reason.  Surprisingly, the 7 inch screen has not been a major impediment to productivity.

Most important for me has been the super light weight of the UMPC which has allowed me to carry it around as just another gadget.   I generally carry a large PC backpack which helps organize my stuff and provides extra capacity for airplane trips as well as conferences.  Also, the reinforced padding makes this type of backpack comfortable for long days away from the hotel.

Another significant advantage of the small PC over my previous eight pounder is that battery life is much greater.  Airports and conferences are notorious for having too few electrical outlets and this is less of a problem with longer battery life.  I also now carry a small adapter plug that turns one outlet into three, which will guarantee power for me even if two other folks are plugged in to an existing adapter.

I can use my Treo smartphone for emails and quick browsing when hotspots are not available, but generally I now find enough wireless hotspots for the PC such that I have not felt the need for a wireless or EVDO card like those offered by Verizon and Sprint.   As WIFI becomes increasingly commonplace everywhere from Airports to Coffee shops, the extra $50 or so per month for these cards does not seem justified given that the smartphone can already take on most simple mobile work challenges outside of long typed entries.

So in summary I think you can become a powerful and effective mobile warrior, ready to attack even advanced online environments, with an ultra mobile PC, a smartphone, a digital camera or camcorder, a decent PC backpack, and a few cheap accessories.    Oh, and let me know if you can’t find a power outlet – I’ve got a spare right in my pack.

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