Road ready - computing tips for business travel - includes related articles on travel tales from hell and the wired traveler's toolkit - Industry Trend or Event - Cover Story

Home Office Computing, May, 1996 by Mark Binder

46. ... anywhere, remember to use a lithium-ion battery next time. They run longer, charge faster, and don't have the memory problems of the old-style NiCad. Also, use such power-saving strategies as loading software into RAM to avoid hard-disk access.

Protecting Your Staff

47. If you must check luggage, wait at the counter until the conveyor takes your bags away. Watch to make-sure the attendant or skycap puts the correct airport destination tags on your luggage (if you don't know the airport code, ask).

48. Be vigilant at airport screening stations. The guards are checking for weapons, not watching your bags. Be cautious of stalls and of people who jump in front of you after your luggage is on the X-ray conveyor. Sometimes the belt may be reversed to recheck a bag ahead of yours, so keep your eyes on your bags at all times.

49. In waiting rooms, always maintain physical contact with your luggage. Put briefcases securely between your legs. All it takes is a momentary distraction for someone to whisk a bag away,

50. If someone does take your bag, ask security for help. Keep your distance, but loudly say, "Excuse me, you have my bag." Mistakes do happen. In most cases, even a criminal Will drop the bag.

51. If the airline has lost your luggage, file a claim immediately. Give an airline representative your itinerary, and ask for the bag(s) to be delivered to your hotel. Get a direct number at the airport and call frequently for progress reports.

52. If you misplaced your bags or suspect they were stolen, notify airport, train, and/or local police immediately. You'll need the police report number for your insurance claim.

AT YOUR DESTINATION

If you get where you're going in one piece, you're ahead of the game. But outdated hotel wiring can wreak havoc on computer equipment, and other mishaps can make you miserable when you're a stranger in town. Here's how to keep it all together.

Working Away From Home

53. Guest Office Rooms are available at most Westin Hotels. These include a laser printer (with Mac and IBM cables), copier, fax machine, speakerphone, and office supplies. (800-228-3000; $149 to $225). Marriot's "Rooms That Work" aren't as well-equipped as Westin's. They come with mobile writing desks, PC modem jacks, and fax machines in the room but are only available at about a dozen locations (800-228-9290).

54. Kinko's really can be your branch office. At more than 800 locations across the United States, they offer 24-hour access to IBM and Macintosh computers, color and black-and-white printers, scanners, videoconferencing, conference room rental, and of course photocopying. If you plan to use their computers, allow plenty of time--they 're usually occupied by students and other business travelers in your predicament (800-2-KINKOS).

55. If you don't have a portable printer (or if yours is broken), use your modem to send the document as a fax to the hotel front desk. For letter-quality printing, copy your document onto a floppy disk and ask if you can use a hotel computer and laser printer.