Mobile Blogging and Working just about anywhere!

This is kind of an interesting subject.  Funny part is that I'm currently doing what I'm writing about.  Mobility has always been important to me and my line(s) of work.  I have several "occupations" and, pretty much, all of them include using a computer in some capacity.  Tonight I put on my disc jockey hat.  I've been a mobile and club DJ for 22 years.  During that time I've progressed or evolved from the old turntables, to cassettes, CD's, and finally to all digital media (computers).  My "other" occupations include public school Technology Director/Teacher, free and open source advocate and speaker, and consultant....oh...and of course, blogger.  Mobile computing is a must or I'd never get anything done.  Whether I'm entertaining elementary and middle school children by showing them all the coolest things in technology, or pumping up a group of conference attendees, or, as is the case this evening, entertaining the entire staff of a local hospital during their annual holiday party...I need to be able to get to work.  Mobility has many facets.  Connectivity, portability, and usability.


Let's start with Connectivity:

This is the most difficult piece.  Unless you've been to a location previously, it's difficult to know exactly what's available for connectivity.  Getting on the internet can be a challenge sometimes.  Either you're dealing with "pay to play" services or spotty coverage.  Even certain hotel chains differ from one location to another.  Here's what has worked for me.

Airports:

Many airports offer all sorts of Wi-Fi access ranging from paid/subscription services to free access.  The trick is finding the right one.  If you are a customer of a certain wireless carrier such as T-Mobile or ATT, you can often take advantage of airport wireless as part of your contract with them.  Other services such as Boingo are also an option.  If you travel a lot, then one of these may be a good idea for you.  Check online and see if your airport destinations have any of these services available to you.  Google is your friend in this case.  I recently stumbled upon this site which shows the wireless availability at over 200 airports!

Of course, another option is to bring your own!  Many cell phone providers now offer wireless data plans.  Many of these have respectable speeds and will most often meet your needs on the road assuming you're in a good coverage area.  Contact your cell phone provider and see what the coverage looks like and the expense of the plan.  Many laptops are now coming with cellular wireless cards built in, whereas most providers also offer the wireless broadband cards as well.  In most case, this decision depends on the amount of traveling you do and your need for constant wireless broadband connectivity.  If you don't want to shell out the bucks for a wireless broadband plan and all you need is enough bandwidth to check your email and a few web pages, then using your cellphone as a modem for the EDGE network may be enough.  Many providers allow "tethering" and some don't, but depending on your usage you may get away with it anyway.  The trick here is to find a phone that is capable of bluetooth DUN (dial up networking).  Many cell carriers offer a low bandwidth service on the EDGE network for checking sports scores, weather, playing games, and buying ringtones.  This network can often run at speeds from 100-300kbs or more.  While this is hardly broadband, it is enough to do basic email and document retreival.  I have actually been able to use this method to "tether" my Nokia N800 internet tablet and my MacBook Pro using the bluetooth connection between my Motorola RAZR2 and my computer.  Yes, it's slow, but works in a pinch for a mere $10 per month!  In fact, I am writing and posting this article via this method!  Last, but not least, be sure to bring an ethernet cable.  Many hotels haven't added wireless yet (the travesty!) and the only way you're getting online is to use an ethernet cable.  You can get nice little retractable ones for traveling at any computer retailer or online computer outlet.


Now let's look at portability:

A couple years ago I travelled to San Francisco for an LTSP meetup and then on to Mountainview for a week at Google headquarters.  I thought, for some reason, that I'd need way more computer power than I actually ended up needing.  I ended up toting an HP zv5000 across the country.  BIG mistake.  Anyone who owns a zv5000 knows that this computer is heavier than a sack of bricks and the battery life is equivalent to the memory of a goldfish.  You learn exactly how heavy a laptop is once you fly with it.  Ever since then I've made it a point to pack light when it comes to laptops.  I currently travel with either my System76 Darter Ultra2 (a nice little 12 inch laptop with oodles of power) OR a little Dell x200 with several extra batteries.  I've been coveting one of the new mini-laptops known as netbooks.  Examples include the ASUS eeePC, the Dell Mini 9, the Acer Aspire One, and many others.  These little netbooks pack quite a bit of power in a very portable package.  Granted, netbooks are a poor choice for a gaming convention, but they're great for most trips where you'll be presenting, blogging, or surfing the net.  You'll love the portability and can easily live with the size of the netbook especially for the duration of most trips.  If you'll be doing some serious typing or multimedia, then you'll probably be better off with a small laptop.  I picked up the Dell x200 precisely for that purpose.  It's a few years old, but perfect for blogging on the go.  It's very light and easy to carry around.  An older used laptop that's thin and light might be just what you need.  Easy on the wallet and easy on your back!

Another device I rely on that rarely gets mentioned is my Nokia N800 Internet Tablet.  The N800/810 is about the size of a large PDA and can fit in a jacket pocket.  Unlike a PDA, however, the n800/810 is a full-fledged computer.  You don't get watered-down web pages...you get the real thing.  It even does Flash and Youtube!  The n810 comes with a slide down keyboard whereas the n800 can be paired with a folding bluetooth keyboard (which is what I use when I really need to type).  The n800/810 is an excellent travel companion.  I used mine for quick blogging, twittering, email, and watching ripped DVD's while flying.


The BAG....the  most important yet overlooked item...

A good computer bag is a must!  Many folks buy their laptop bags at Walmart or Staples.  While this is OK, often times people sacrifice quality for price.  I've owned a bajillion laptop bags (many still clutter my closets), many of which I bought at Staples or Best Buy.  I learned after one of my cross-country trips how much a cheap laptop bag can make life difficult.  Since then I've learned to spend as much time on choosing a laptop bag as I do a laptop.  The right laptop bag makes the right laptop that much better.  Recent laptop bags that I've owned include the Timbuk2 Blogger and a Tom Bihn Buzz.  I love the Buzz!  Easy to carry and easy to use.  Many top end laptop bag manufacturers allow you to personalize your bag.  Timbuk2 allows you to design your own bag!  You pick the colors and so forth.  The Tom Bihn bags have a lifetime warrantee.  Send it back and Tom will fix it!  On a recent trip to Indianapolis, I really got a chance to experience the freedom of having a great laptop bag.  The Buzz allowed me to put all the weight on my back and have my hands free to do or carry other things.  Very cool!


Last, let's talk about usability:

If you can't really use it, then it's pretty much worthless.  If you spend all your time struggling to make something work or to get used to using something, then it's wasted productivity.  Mobile computing needs to be easy.  If it's not easy, you won't do it.  Take me, for instance, I'm blogging remotely via a bluetooth connection to my cellphone while at a large hall doing a holiday party for a local hospital.  It works for me, because I'm prepared.  My phone is set up correctly.  My computer is set up correctly to connect to the phone.  I have my digital camera.  I'm ready.  How?  I made sure it all worked before I even got here.  Mobile computing takes preparation, planning, and a little practice.  Once you get the hang of it and have all the pieces in place, taking your work on the road will be a piece of cake.

What's in my bag?

In addition to my laptop, I have a few peripherals that are necessary for taking my work with me.  I usually bring all of them as I never know when I'll need them.  I always have an external USB hard drive for backing up data and storing files.  It's a small form factor (2.5") 250gb hard drive.  Plenty of room for whatever comes up...including a full hard drive backup.  Next I have one or two USB flash drives (aka thumbdrives or pen drives) for storing and transferring files.  I often present at conferences and sometimes need to share files with others.  USB flash drives make it easy.  One thing many people forget is that typing in the dark can be a little tough.  I prepare by bringing along a small USB LED light to illuminate my keyboard or my notes.  I also have a small retractable ethernet cord for those times when nothing else is available.  Wanna' become REALLY popular in an airport?  Bring along a common household extension cord with an end that has multiple outlets.  Power strips are too big and small brown cords are too small.  What I use is a happy medium.  It looks like a small brown household extension cord except it has four grounded outlets on the end.  Kinda' like a power strip that's smaller and attached to the cord.  When wrapped tightly it takes up very little room and is a great thing to have when charging laptops and peripherals in an airport or hotel room.  I often share my extra outlets with fellow travelers in the airport.  I've gotten to know some pretty cool people this way.  Last, but not least, don't forget the lock!  Traveling with a laptop is wonderful until the laptop goes missing.  Thieves lurk everywhere preying on unsuspecting travellers.  Keep your laptop with you whenever possible, and when it's not, lock it up.  I even lock my laptop when I leave the hotel room.  You never know.

Well, the gifts are done.  The silly skits are over and now it's time to get down and boogie!  Now I'll take off my blogger hat and put my DJ hat back on.  Mobile computing is a great way to take advantage of downtime at other events.  That's exactly what I've been doing.  Well, off to work.  Happy Holidays!