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Summer is upon us! Kids are getting out of school and it’s time to think about how we’re going to spend our vacation time.
Of course, we can’t escape completely—we live in an age where we can still bring our computers with us wherever we go to stay current with work and keep in touch with friends. Better still: Blog about your adventures! Portable laptops and netbook PCs have made it too convenient (though not necessarily in a bad way) to bring our desktop environment with us on summer trips.
That being a given, there are some important things to keep in mind in order to keep your laptop and precious data safe while traveling. Here are some summer laptop tips:
TAKE A SPARE BATTERY AND AC ADAPTER
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Of course, for true portability, the laptop battery frees us from the tether of a power cord. Especially if you’re booting up inside planes, trains, and automobiles. The average battery is built to last just a few hours. For extra long trips and emergencies, keep an extra battery handy!
USE A TRAVEL BAG
You’ll need a place to store your laptop, adapter, batteries, and whatever other gadgets you carry with you. A laptop travel bag holds your laptop accessories all in one convenient place, wrapped in protective padding to prevent damage.
However, most experts will agree that it’s wise to use travel bags other than a traditional laptop bag. When a thief sees a laptop bag, they know exactly what’s inside; almost as if you’ve stuck a “Steal me!” sign on your computer. Instead, use a well padded backpack or messenger bag. Since they’re more common, they’re less likely to be stolen.
SECURE YOUR LAPTOP
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In the event that your laptop still gets stolen, you’ll also need to protect your data. A laptop only costs a few hundred dollars to replace; the private data that criminals can pull from your laptop can cost you thousands! Password protect as much software as you can. It may be a hassle at times, but it could very well save you.
There’s also the option of using a USB security key. These devices look similar to USB thumb drives and are very reasonably priced. Most of these security keys use software that will keep your laptop’s data encrypted or limit access unless they’re connected to the laptop while running. Fancy ones have features like thumb print scanners to insure that you and only you are the one accessing your personal computer.
REMEMBER ALL CABLES AND ADAPTERS
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Keep a couple mini-USB cables stashed in your laptop travel bag, depending on how many gadgets you bring along with you. Mini-USB is a near-universal connection for plugging portable electronic devices to a PC. You can even use them to charge your cell phone or video games, like the Sony PSP, in case you’d like to leave their bulky AC adapters at home!
USE A WIRELESS PLAN FROM YOUR MOBILE PROVIDER
It’s possible to find free wireless hotspots while you’re on vacation, but who wants to drive around searching for one when you could be relaxing by the pool? You can sign up for a data plan through your mobile phone service for your own secured connection. Most services are able to provide connection speeds as fast as broadband!
PORTABLE PC ON A USB DRIVE
There’s always the crazy alternative: Leave the laptop at home! If you’re visiting family or anywhere else that already has an accessible computer with an internet connection, you can still carry your own software, settings, and files with the use of a simple USB flash drive.
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It’s easy to find portable, stand-alone applications online, but the easiest way is to install the PortableApps Suite onto the USB drive. It comes with several popular applications and you can add as many as you want from their software library. Best of all, they’re all free!
With these tips, you'll earn yourself some peace of mind with your laptop by your side. After all, you should relax...you're on vacation!
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