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Computers
& Software
We've learned most of these tips the
hard way; setting up in a hotel room,
ready to check email, and the 32-bit
application we just loaded before
departing won't run over the 16-bit
operating system. We've had computer
crashes at important meetings. We've
had batteries bail out just minutes
into the second leg of a long flight
when we could have charged batteries
during a boring layover. We've seen
portables bring home nasty viruses
to the home and office. We've forgotten
passwords that were so unmemorable
and unhackable that we ourselves couldn't
figure them out. We offer the following
tips that others might learn from
our trials and tribulations.
1. Create and bring setup and boot
disks
A member of the IT staff learned this
the hard way recently; bring setup
and boot disks, as well as any necessary
registration numbers for re-installs
and downloads. Boot disks, or startup
disks, is a floppy disk which contains
all of the system files necessary
to get your computer started. To do
this in Windows 95/98, go to Settings
under the Start Menu, choose Control
Panel, then Add/Remove Programs. Choose
the option labeled Startup Disk.
2. Load your virus protection
Many people load their virus protection
on their home computer, but forget
to do so on their portable computer.
A virus is a virus is a virus, no
matter where you get it.
3. Review your work habits, and make
sure you have all the software and
frequently-used files you use while
working at the office.
This will keep you from getting caught
on the road without a rarely-used,
but essential, piece of software or
file. For tasks or files you use often,
creating template files can save you
tedious reconstruction of document
structures, for example, and maintain
consistency in the look and feel of
documents created or modified on the
road.
4. Use the same software, even the
same versions, at the office and on
the road.
While on the road, comfortable work
habits are already difficult to maintain;
you don't need the added frustration
of changing your routines for a different
version, or, worse, different brand,
of software, especially for high-volume
tasks like word-processing and email.
5. Test any new software before you
leave.
The intro says it all; make sure there
are no conflicts in your software
and operating systems; check that
that easy install actually results
in easy use.
6. Bring contact numbers for technical
support.
Bring phone numbers, and bookmark
Web sites, for companies from which
you may need technical support or
downloads during your trip. As with
passwords, it might be best to write
these down in an appointment book,
or somewhere else that will always
be with you, so you don't have to
travel with countless slips of paper.
7. Check ahead for any unusual connector
requirements.
Ask when making your reservations
if you can plug into their phone system
with a modem.
8. Write down any necessary passwords.
If you tend to save passwords instead
of retyping them every time you log
on to an online service, Web site,
or software package, you'll need to
either to load them or your computer
or write them down somewhere.
9. Load up the carry-on bag.
Pack your phone cord and extra battery,
in your carry-on computer case. Airports,
and even airplane seats, now have
phone jacks, and, in some cases, direct
Internet connections, on pay phones.
To have the connection, when the connectors
are in the cargo area of the plane,
can be a very frustrating experience.
10. Work, and/or recharge your battery,
during layovers.
Most airport gates have an outlet
nearby, if for nothing else than vacuuming
the area. You can often plug in your
computer to do work without running
batteries down, or recharge your batteries
for work during the next flight.
11. When you return, copy any important
or changed files to your desktop computer.
When you make small changes to documents
on the road, you can easily use an
older version when you return without
noticing it. If you immediately copy
all of the new or altered files back
onto your desktop, and perhaps even
delete the files from your portable
after the transfer, you can eliminate
confusion and version conflicts later
on.
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