Travelling with Your Laptop

Everyone wants a laptop because it’s portable, but there are some important aspects of travelling with your laptop that you need to remember.  The last thing you want is to damage your laptop or have it stolen, so keep some of these things in mind when you’re on the go with your computer.

•    Invest in a good laptop bag.  No matter how careful you are, chances are at some point your laptop bag, with your laptop in it, will get dropped or will swing out and hit something.  While you don’t need to invest in the most expensive bag out there (and there are some very expensive bags), you should get one that protects your laptop and has enough room in it for all your cables and accessories.

•    Never leave your laptop unattended.  While it may be tempting to run to the restroom or to go order something while working at a restaurant or café with wireless, don’t do it.  If you aren’t with someone who can watch your laptop, take the time to pack it up and take it with you.  Even if you’re only stepping away for a few minutes, that’s all it takes for someone to steal your laptop.

•    Be sure to take your power cord with you if you’re going to be working for several hours.  You never know when your battery is going to run down.

•    Keep your virus scanner and other security programs up to date.  Since you’ll be logging on to a variety of networks, you should never trust that they will be secured or have any sort of firewalls active.  Protect your own computer; don’t rely on others to do so.