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

86. Perhaps you've forgotten to send your spouse a birthday present, buy a client tickets to a local basketball game, or organize a meeting while you're a thousand miles from home. LesConsierges's (800-829-1165) motto is "If it's legal, ethical, and kind, we can do it." Small requests run $27.50 plus any additional expenses. "We've had people call and say, 'My girlfriend is sick,'" says manager Linda Ryndak. "We'll deliver her chicken soup."

87. The American Automobile Association (800-AAA-HELP) is still one of the best resources for emergency assistance. In addition to roadside help, you can receive discounts on car rental, meals, and hotels. Maps, travel guides, and travelers' checks are free at local offices, which will also cash personal checks of up to $100. Given enough time, AAA will make up a Trip-Tik map showing the best route from point A to point B. AAA also offers money toward bail bonds as well as attorney fees if you get into an accident that doesn't involve alcohol.

Sending It Home

88. At a convention, you can collect an entire box of literature, samples, and business cards. Don't lug it to the airport during the inevitable mad dash. If you use premium overnight services, bring along airbills and bill yourself.

89. The United States Postal Service (800-222-1811) offers Priority Mail Pickup. Call at least two hours before the area's post office closes.

90. Ask your hotel to provide a box for mailing. They'll probably have the supplies you need, including masking tape and a marker for the address. They may even sell you stamps.

91. Leave packages at the hotel's front desk for pickup. (Make sure the clerks know you're doing this.)

92. Some ATMs now sell stamps for a nominal fee. Look for the USPS logo.

93. Mail film ahead to be developed. Bring along a mailer from the Sunday paper, already addressed and stamped. Mail the film (with a check), and your pictures will arrive soon after you get back. Clark Color Laboratories provides this service (301-595-5300; you can call collect).

The Last Resort

94. If you didn't bring it, can't get it to work, don't know what's wrong, and there's nothing else to do, try this handy line: "I'll get back to you as soon as I return to my office." Then do it. Happy travels!

Travelin' man MARK BINDER is a contributing editor of the Mac Home Journal and has written extensively for business and consumer magazines.

The Wired Traveler's Toolkit

There's no point in lugging around all that expensive--not to mention heavy--hardware if you don't take the tools you need to keep it running smoothly. Keeping weight in mind, we've come up with a list of essentials for the well-equipped business traveler.

NOTEBOOK NECESSITIES

* A surge protector for your notebook and modem to safeguard your system from power fluctuations in the hotel or on the plane. One example is the System Saver Portable P20, which weighs a quarter of a pound and comes with a telephone cable (Kensington Microware Ltd., 800-535-4242; $15 street).

* A portable charger, which lets you run and recharge your notebook directly from your car's cigarette lighter. The Pocket Power I (four to eight ounces, $99 to $149) replaces your AC adapter and jacks directly into your computer. The Pocket Power II (eight ounces, $99) works as an inverter, giving you access to AC power on the road. Use a three-prong adapter and run your computer and printer simultaneously, up to 100 watts (CNF Group, 800-826-3462).