Carrying Your IT Equipment With You? 128
dada21 asks: "As an on-the-go journalist, IT consultant, entrepreneur and blogger, I find myself with way too much stuff. About 5 years ago I started to downsize and cut back to just 2 PCs total (small laptop and PVR desktop), 1 PDA, and 2 cell phones (main and backup). The laptop goes everywhere (doubling as a great GPS center in the vehicle for those long road trips), the PDA does, too. Traveling with all 4 electronic devices is a mess of cables: power/charger, USB, and the like. Everything is light and small but the bulk of all of it adds up. I currently use a Toy Machine messenger bag but it just doesn't work when you're trying to shove a file folder, pen/appointment selection and a day-timer in it. I'll spend the cash, even if it is really expensive, for the convenience, speed and quality for a jack-of-all-bags that can handle the jack-of-all-trades. What bag is the best solution?"
already covered? (Score:3, Informative)
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/04/05/142
Twisty Ties (Score:3, Informative)
You may be out of luck as far as a jack-of-all-bags. It all depends on how much mobility you want from your mobiles. Can you leave the phone/PDA and its charger close to the wall? Twisty tie the cord on the charger, plugs out for a nice, tight package. Maybe you could invest in retractable cords.
If you have the cash, you could set up "modules" of wires. Need a portable wireless point for the laptop/PDA? Strap the router/power cord/cat5 cable together.
My solution has typically been a compartmentalized cardboard box in the back seat of the car. 1/3 of it for network stuff, 1/3 for power, 1/3 for random widgets. Subdivide into network(PDA,laptop) and different power sources, mix, repeat. YMMV.
STM (Score:3, Informative)
Crumpler (Score:3, Informative)
I have a wonderful backpack that holds my widescreen 15" laptop, my D70 SLR camera, two extra lenses, power adapters, my PSP (even bigger than a PDA), and all the cables I need to hook up any of my electronics to anything else I might find (so many adapters and cables!!!)
I HIGHLY recommend Crumpler [crumplerbags.com] Bags... I have one called (IIRC) Brian's Hot Tub, but sadly it doesn't look like it's for sale on their site (they have an australian site too, it might be there).... This bag is so big that when I load it up with everything, my girlfriend honestly couldn't carry it... I've had it for three years, and it's still in great condition, no broken zippers, no ripped fabric...
I'd take a look at the messenger bags they offer, you can't get a higher quality bag, and they're aimed very squarly at people with digital lifestyles.
They have little mini "digits"... they're like padded pockets you can attach to anything (PERFECT for cellphone/mp3 players, anything you need in access to in less than 10 seconds)
Targus (Score:3, Informative)
I use this for college and its incredibly roomie and will carry everything. Yes its not hip and european, but it carries a ton of stuff. I easily carry:
Laptop
antec coolign pad
1/2 dozen CDs or so in the slim CD insert
cell phone in the cell phone pouch
USB mouse in the side pouch
water bottle on the side
2 textbooks
a notebook
several network cables
a binder
my lunch
a stapler
a calculator
several pens and pencils
etc
it should easily hold everything.
Re:Redundant, but necessary (Score:3, Informative)
My current phone (Samsung t809) works great but it isn't there yet. I'm awaiting the Nokia N80 to arrive to see if I can replace my PDA and phone in one fell swoop. Until then, the laptop is a necessity for about 40% of my work.
Re:Too much redundant junk. (Score:3, Informative)
Very good question, and one that I have battled with for years. I was an original Newton MessagePad user with an old brick cell phone and a Compaq luggable (120V powered only).
Laptop: Perfect for handling my server, major e-mail tasks, long term scheduling, CAD, big spreadsheets and databases, and web design.
PDA: Posting to my blogs, reading e-mails quickly, scheduling tasks, to-do list, and viewing data I've entered on my PC.
Pen: I write down notes for other people. I write thank-you notes that I mail after a discussion or a check is written or I learn something new. I may write a note to put with my business card to give to someone. In meetings, a PDA is attracts too much attention but a Day-Timer doesn't. In court, you can't bring electronics in.
I forgot to mention that I bring my D50 camera with 3 lenses with, everywhere I go. In the first 4 months I had it, it paid for itself (sold news-worthy photos to local papers). I also carry a digital voice recorder (my PDA has a terrible mic).
Two cell phones: easy to figure, a cell phone is best as a phone, everything else it does is lame. I'm awaiting the Nokia N80, though.
Make more sense?
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)