Travel Smart: The Best Tech Gear for the Road

You can take it with you. A digital nomad reveals his favorite mobile equipment for traveling light.

By Anil Polat, PCWorld    Jul 29, 2011 6:00 pm

Editor’s note: Former computer security consultant Anil Polat has set a goal of traveling the world indefinitely, while blogging about his tech-fueled experiences at foxnomad.com. Given his on-the-go lifestyle, Polat has strong feelings about what to look for in digital tagalongs. Here’s what he recommends.
Checkpoint-friendly laptop backpackLaptop bag or backpack: You’ll need something to carry all your gadgetalia. Checkpoint-friendly bags let you zoom through airport security without having to remove your laptop--just open the bag, place it on the conveyor belt, and let the TSA’s X-ray machines do the rest. I’m a fan of light, easy-to-carry backpacks, like the one shown here from Targus.
Your ideal travel kit includes a Bluetooth headset, an e-reader, audio cables, an all-in-one outlet adapter, and more.Laptop: Weight and size are typically a traveler’s most pressing concerns. A solid netbook addresses both issues, giving you all the computer you need without hurting your back. Compact components also mean that the machine has less room for parts to wiggle around, which means there’s less to break while you’re trekking around India. Based on durability, price, and weight/size, I’m partial to Asus Eee netbooks and Dell netbooks in the Mini 10 line.
Ethernet cable: Many hotels have ethernet jacks that allow you to bypass all of the potential flakiness of so many wireless connections. Many airports (hint, hint: JFK) don’t advertise that they too have their fair share of jacks hiding around certain terminals, opening up the possibility of free Internet via wire. A handy little retractable ethernet cable could be just what you need.
Portable battery: Need to use a backup battery during the day? Have to recharge your phone when it’s out of juice? The i.Sound Portable Power Max can charge up to five USB devices at one time, even when you have no access to a plug.
USB drive: Keep all of your important digital documents and files in a separate USB drive (16GB should cover you) in case your laptop's hard drive dies on the road. You should encrypt passport scans, client documents, and the like to protect yourself even further. On USB drives you can also carry around portable operating systems, which give you a safe virtual environment in many Internet cafés.
E-reader: You certainly don’t want to schlep around a bagful of books, which is why e-readers are such perfect traveling companions. These days I like the Nook Color.
Bluetooth headset: You’ll want to consider both sound quality and comfort when you’re selecting a headset. You probably already have one, but if not (or if you’re considering an upgrade), take a look at PCWorld's comparison of eight top Bluetooth headset models.
Stereo audio cable Stereo audio cable: Many rental cars these days have 'Aux' outlets that let you plug your iPod or other portable music player directly into the radio. Buy a cable at any Radio Shack or online, and save yourself from fumbling for new radio stations as you’re driving. You’ll be able to listen to what you know you’ll enjoy--without increasing your chances of an accident.
iKlear cleaning kit Microfiber cloth: The world is a dusty place; unless you regularly clean your devices, they’ll accumulate grime quickly, increasing the chance that a rogue dust particle will ruin your best gadgets. A proper microfiber cloth and cleaning solution (less than 3 ounces, of course) are the only things you should use to wipe down your sensitive screens. I’m partial to the cleaning kit from iKlear.
iGo adapter All-in-one plug adapter: Rather than wasting your time looking up outlet types or taking the risk of forgetting an outlet adapter altogether, throw one of these in your bag and leave it there. It will cover you for plugging in just about anywhere in the world. I’ve had success with the inexpensive, if unimaginatively named, International Adaptor All-in-One, while the $30 iGo Dual USB Charger and World Adapter (shown here) has the same functionality and throws in two USB ports for good measure.
Flex Light USB light: A lightweight, LED light illuminates your e-reader or laptop--it's a useful accessory, since you’ll never know what kind of lighting conditions you’ll encounter. The $6 Flex Light by Manhattan draws very little power and coils up to take minimal space.
Alfa USB wireless adapter USB wireless antenna: Improve your wireless reach and snag all of those Wi-Fi connections that are just out of range with an extender, such as the Alfa USB wireless adapter shown here.
USB travel charger adapter: Chances are, your laptop doesn’t have more than a few USB ports. These adapters let you plug in your USB-charged devices directly into a wall socket. Another benefit: faster charge times. One adapter from Eforcity (not shown), priced at about $2, is hard to beat.
Individual power adapters: Why do you need these if you already have an all-in-one adapter? Because sometimes you’ll need to plug in more than one device. Also, many wall sockets aren’t completely firm, and individual adapters are usually light enough to prevent your charger from continually falling out of the outlet. Lenmar’s five-piece adapter set (not shown) is just $11.
Portable power strip Portable travel strip: You’ll often need more outlets than your hotel room offers, so it makes sense to bring a few of your own along. This diminutive Outlets to Go Power Strip from Monster Cable has three AC outlets, plus a USB port for charging your electronics.
Unlocked mobile phone: Though unlocking a phone will typically break your manufacturer’s warranty, a locked phone means you’ll pay for roaming charges internationally. An unlocked phone allows you to swap out any old SIM card around the world, saving you considerable money for talking and browsing the Web anywhere.
Four-legged Octopus USB multiport hub: This four-legged beastie from Octopus Design turns one USB port into four, since you can never have enough.
Extra SD Card for your camera: SD Cards, like all other storage devices, have a limited life span, and like many electronic devices they tend to go bad at the worst possible time. An extra, emergency card will set you back about $10 to $20, but it could save you the nightmare of missing wonderful opportunities to catch, say, a sunset in Fiji.

Computer seating position

The 10 best IT certifications: 2010

Just as with many popular arguments — Red Sox v. Yankees, Chelsea v. Manchester United, Ford v. Chevy — IT certifications are popular fodder for debate. Except that certifications, in an IT professional’s microcosm of a world, have a bigger impact on the future. Just which certifications hold the most value today? Here’s my list of the 10 accreditations with the greatest potential for technology support professionals, administrators, and managers seeking employment within consulting firms or small and midsize organizations.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: MCITP

This best certification list could be built using 10 Microsoft certifications, many of which would be MCITP accreditations. The world runs on Microsoft. Those professionals earning Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification give employers and clients confidence that they’ve developed the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, deploy, support, maintain, and optimize Windows technologies. Specifically, the Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 and Server Administrator tracks hold great appeal, as will Enterprise Messaging Administrator 2010, as older Exchange servers are retired in favor of the newer platform.

2: MCTS

With operating systems (Windows 2000, 2003, 2008, etc.) cycling through every several years, many IT professionals simply aren’t going to invest the effort to earn MCITP or MCSE accreditation on every version. That’s understandable. But mastering a single exam, especially when available examinations help IT pros demonstrate expertise with such popular platforms as Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008, is more than reasonable. That’s why the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) accreditation earns a spot on the list; it provides the opportunity for IT pros to demonstrate expertise on a specific technology that an organization may require right here, right now.

3: Network+

There’s simply no denying that IT professionals must know and understand the network principles and concepts that power everything within an organization’s IT infrastructure, whether running Windows, Linux, Apple, or other technologies. Instead of dismissing CompTIA’s Network+ as a baseline accreditation, every IT professional should add it to their resume.

4: A+

Just as with CompTIA’s Network+ certification, the A+ accreditation is another cert that all IT professionals should have on their resume. Proving baseline knowledge and expertise with the hardware components that power today’s computers should be required of all technicians. I’m amazed at the number of smart, intelligent, and seasoned IT pros who aren’t sure how to crack the case of a Sony Vaio or diagnose failed capacitors with a simple glance. The more industry staff can learn about the fundamental hardware components, the better.

5: CSSA

SonicWALLs power countless SMB VPNs. The company’s network devices also provide firewall and routing services, while extending gateway and perimeter security protections to organizations of all sizes. By gaining Certified SonicWALL Security Administrator (CSSA) certification, engineers can demonstrate their mastery of network security essentials, secure remote access, or secure wireless administration. There’s an immediate need for engineers with the knowledge and expertise required to configure and troubleshoot SonicWALL devices providing security services.

6: CCNA

Although SonicWALL has eaten some of Cisco’s lunch, the demand for Cisco skills remains strong. Adding Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) expertise to your resume does no harm and helps convince larger organizations, in particular, that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to deploy and troubleshoot Cisco routing and switching hardware.

7: ACTC

Here’s where the debate really begins. Increasingly, my office is being asked to deploy and administer Mac OS X networks. In the real world, divorced from IT-industry rhetoric, we’re being asked to replace older Windows networks with Mac OS X client-server environments. We’re particularly seeing Apple traction within nonprofit environments. We’ve found the best bet is to get up to speed on the technologies clients are requesting, so it stands to reason that earning Apple Certified Technical Coordinator(ACTC) 10.6 accreditation won’t hurt. In fact, developing mastery over Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server will help provide confidence needed to actually begin pursuing Apple projects, instead of reactively responding to client requests to deploy and maintain Apple infrastructure.

8: ACSP

Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) 10.6 accreditation helps IT professionals demonstrate expertise supporting Mac OS X client workstations. If you work for a single organization, and that firm doesn’t use Macs, you won’t need this certification. But larger organizations adding Macs due to demand within different departments or consultants working with a wide client base will do well to ensure they have Snow Leopard client skills. The ACSP is the perfect way to prove mastery.

9: CISSP

Unchanged from the last 10 best certifications list, ISC2’s security accreditation for industry professionals with at least five years of full-time experience is internationally recognized for its value and validity. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) title demonstrates expertise with operations and network security, subjects that will only increase in importance as legal compliance, privacy, and risk mitigation continue commanding larger organizations’ attention.

10: PMP

I fear organizations begin cutting project managers first when times get tough. Management roles and responsibilities often get passed to technical staff when layoffs occur. Even in challenging economic times, though, IT departments require staff familiar with planning, scheduling, budgeting, and project management. That’s why theProject Management Institute’s (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) accreditation makes the list. The cert measures candidates’ expertise in managing and planning projects, budgeting expenses, and keeping initiatives on track. While there’s an argument to place CompTIA’s Project+ certification in this slot, PMI is a respected organization that exists solely to further professional project management and, as such, deserves the nod.

Honorable mentions: MCSE, ITIL, RHCP, Linux+, VCP, ACE, QuickBooks, Security+

In the previous version of this article, readers asked where NetWare certification stands. It’s not on the list. That’s not a mistake. It’s gone the way of BNC connectors, in my opinion. Microsoft owns the market. MCSEs have more value.

ITIL has its place, particularly in larger environments. RHCP (or Linux+) and VCP have roles within enterprises dependent upon Red Hat/Linux and VMware virtualization technologies certainly, but those organizations remain hit or miss.

Acronis’ ACE deserves a look. With some 3 million systems being backed up now by Acronis image software, it would behoove technology professionals to learn how to properly use the software. I think it’s fair to say there’s still some confusion as to the software’s tremendous potential.

SMBs are also demonstrating a surge of interest in QuickBooks technologies. From QuickBooks Point-of-Sale to QuickBooks Enterprise platforms, there’s strong, growing demand for QuickBooks expertise in the field. The company’s growth is impressive. There’s no other way to describe it. In a crappy economy, Intuit’s growing.

Security+, really, is a no brainer, but I’ll get lit up if I include nothing but CompTIA certifications in the top 10 list. However, my advice for anyone entering the industry or even veterans seeking their first accreditations would be to load up on CompTIA certs. How can you go wrong with the manufacturer-independent certifications that demonstrate mastery of fundamentals across a range of topics, including project management, hardware, networking, security, and voice networks? You could do much worse.

A word on the methodology

There’s no double-blind statistically valid data analysis run through a Bayesian probability calculus formula here. I’ve worked in IT long enough, however, and with enough different SMBs, to know what skills we need when the firm I co-own hires engineers and sends technicians onsite to deploy new systems or troubleshoot issues.

Sure, I could have thrown in ITIL to satisfy enterprise professionals, included RHCP to sate the rabid open source crowd, and added VCP to look hip modernizing the list with a virtualization element. But I’m just not seeing the demand for those skills in companies with up to several hundred employees. My firm’s been asked to deploy exactly one Linux server in almost seven years. And we’ve virtualized maybe a dozen systems. Therefore, I feel it would be a disservice to readers to include such accreditations when I see, on a daily basis, vastly greater demand for these other skill sets.

For more details on how the IT certification landscape is changing, see this Career Management blog post.

My Onsite Technician Gear

In the past we have had a few articles featuring what you take with you to computer repairs. For this article, I wanted to show you my Technician gear. I have taken two photos of my Technician bag and the parts that I take onsite with a description for each item. Hopefully this helps some beginner techs create their own.

By no means would this setup be able to handle everything, but it handles just about all jobs I end up with. In fact, I could just bring my USB thumb drive and be able to handle 70% of them.

I keep a few of the main computer parts (motherboards, CPU’s etc) at my workshop and bring them onsite on a as-needed basis. Also, some parts I tend to buy on the day since I dont want to hold onto parts like hard drives for too long. This is the gear that I always bring to jobs:

Click Images for Full Size Versions:

My Technician Bag:

Parts I Take Onsite:
I carry these parts in a large tub that I put in my car when I go onsite and take it back into my workshop when I’m not onsite.

Not shown: Spare Network card, PCI-E video card and Sound card

Doing Computer Repair Work for Businesses

When I first started my Computer Repair Business about 9 years ago, I focused my advertising towards residential areas. After some time, my residential clients started asking me to fix the computers at their own businesses or place of employment. I learned that doing computer repair work for businesses is quite different to residential and they need to be treated differently. For example, a business generally values turn around time over cost; whereas a family with a few children will probably care more about price than turn around time.
Here is a list of some of the differences between doing work for businesses and residentials:

Speed of Repairs
As I mentioned before, businesses generally value turn around time more than the price. The reason for this is because businesses spend money to make money and by having a system out of action, it may be costing them more than what you are going to charge them. For example, the business may be paying the secretary $150 per day to be there but that may be wasted if they cant get on their computer. Also, by having that secretary out of action, the business may be slow to respond to customers which hurts the business even more and may cost thousands of dollars in lost revenue. Your $100 per hour fee may not be that expensive in their eyes if they can get the secretary working again and keep their customers happy.

Increasing Your Prices For Businesses
There are a few different schools of thought towards charging businesses more than residential clients. Some Computer Technicians believe that you should not punish your customers for having a business. Also, since commercial work is often harder and more time consuming so you will be making more anyway and therefor dont need to increase your prices.

However, other technicians will tell you that commercial work is on a whole different level than residential work (such a servers) and thus it requires a higher level of education that a technician needs to put time and money into. Therefor, the technician should charge more in the same way a doctor, dentist or lawyer would.

Some Computer Technicians say they only charge businesses more as a “priority fee”. The Technicians get out to businesses as soon as they can whereas residential clients get scheduled.

I am not going to say which way is right or wrong, its up to you to decide which feels best for you and your business.

Minimal Disruption and After Hours Support
As I outlined earlier, businesses can lose money when their systems are out of action so if you need to do work that isn’t urgent, its a good idea to offer after hours support (if you want to work those hours that is). This can be both onsite work or offsite remote support.

Insurance
If you are not insured now, you will definitely want to be before you start touching business machines. An honest mistake by you can cost your clients business thousands and they may come after you for damages. This is where having “errors and omissions” insurance can save your behind. “General Liability” insurance is also a good idea to have. You should speak to a local insurance broker to find out exactly what you need for your business and dont be afraid to shop around.

Be Cautious
You should always be on the side of caution when working on business machines, especially when data is concerned. Of course, you should be careful with residential computers as well but be extra careful with business machines because they can be mission critical to their business.

Also, dont be afraid to turn down work if it has the potential to turn ugly. About a year ago now, I went onsite to the base station courier company to do some preventative maintenance (cleaning and dust and such). This courier company had 4 servers tracking where their hundreds of trucks were, what they were carrying, where it needed to go all running from these servers on a custom Linux build. I had no problems cleaning out the 12 or so workstations but they then asked me to clean out the servers as well. In order for me to access the sides of them I would had to remove them from the rack and in order to remove them, I needed to power them down. I asked the client who manages these servers and they said they have another technician but he is currently in Cambodia. It was at that point I said I wouldn’t be cleaning out the servers. I didnt know enough about them should there be a problem bringing them back online. The guy who does know how to fix it is currently overseas and these servers are mission critical.
I could do the work and get paid for another hour if everything works our fine, or if it goes bad I would disable the company for an extended period of time. It just wasn’t worth the extra hours pay, the risk was just too high so I turned it down.

In conclusion, if you are going to work on business machines, focus on a fast turn around time, do what you can to minimize disruption, get insurance and always be very cautious.

Considerations Before Starting A Computer Business

For some people, working in the corporate world as IT support, gives them enough foundation to start up a business. Others who are the friend/neighborhood tech feel they have what it takes to start up a repair shop. Some are self taught, some are book educated. No matter what your background is, you have to be sure of a few things before you go into business for yourself. Here are a few tips to read before considering going on your own.


If you are new to ownership, these may also be somewhat handy! Not all computer repair technicians have the entrepreneur spirit. Not all can go full-time without doing that and their full-time jobs. Not all can be absolutely broke and having the times of their lives. I write for you a list of things that I had to learn on my own, with no books to guide me. There will be more additions as time goes by, but here is a good start for you newbies out there. Some are questions you should ask yourself and some are things you really need to consider before starting up.

• Are you working full-time somewhere and are starting up a side business? (As one who has been there, it’s tough to cut the money cord, you will never go on your own if you don’t!)
• Are you stopping all other employment opportunities to focus on your business in a full-time capacity? (due to getting let go, laid off or fired or just fed up? Good time to go on your own!!!)
• Are you prepared for this? Financially or emotionally? (If you have unemployment, then this is a great time to go on your own, if you have the money to go on your own, be careful how you spend money initially!)
• Do you have the entrepreneur spirit to do it all? (OMG, you have to have it or hire it out. I see so many wannabe’s who fail at the business end of things!)
• Are you an awesome at customer service? (You are now the everything of your company, keeping clients happy is the key to referrals, answer all calls and emails, and don’t ever leave anyone hanging)
• Are you going to work out of your house or lease a space? (I didn’t like clients at my house, so I opted for an office after a year of doing that)
• You plan on getting insurance right? (Do it, it’s so cheap and worth the peace of mind)
• What is your marketing plan? (Is it good enough to keep you busy while you have the 1-2 jobs going on?)
• Are you networked? What is your networking plan? (creating a good online or face to face networking plan is the key to getting clients)
• Do you have proper work orders for clients to fill out? (Please make one or buy Bryce’s to get going, this adds a professional image to your business!)
• Do you have a good website, domain, email? (Very important to prove you are not a craigslist scam or a neighborhood kid)
• Do you have good branding? (get a logo done asap to match your name of the business)

Now, the first 5 months I was on my own were very lonely and somewhat scary. I had no one else to work with me, I was totally alone almost every day and no clients either. I kept my head up though and did everything I could do to find things to do. Networking events, luncheons, talked to competitors to be referring partners and created numerous marketing and advertising plans. It was very daunting to be honest. Use Technibble members as your new co-workers, I have certainly enjoyed being a member so far, great group of helpful folks here.

How to Get a Killer Logo and Business Card

Your logo and business card are a huge part of your business. It is the image that represents you and often people will even choose a technician over another based on their logo or business card. Our techie “I can figure it out” mind wants to create our own business cards but we need to be careful, as this can be like your clients 16 year old cousin thinking he can fix your clients computer. “How hard can it be?”

If designing isn’t your thing then you definitely should get a professional to make one. In this article I’ll tell you how to get one made at a decent price and have hundreds of custom-made designs to choose from.


Traditionally, you would find a designer and they would ask you a some questions. In a few days they will present you with a handful of logos to choose from. What if the designer is flakey and takes a long time to get the work done? What if they are fast but you don’t like their design style? If you don’t want to go ahead with any of their designs? You will most likely still have to pay them for their time just as you would if you diagnosed a computer but the client didn’t want to go ahead with the repair.
What if I said that there is a place where you can get a logo made cheaply for around $200-350 USD and have hundreds of designers presenting designs to you? At this place you only have to pay if you are happy with the design.

This place is called 99Designs.com and it is a place where you to run a contest for designers to create your logo. The prize money is the $200-350 and the winner is the designer who made the logo you want to use. To give you an idea of what I am talking about, here are some past logo contests for computer repair businesses: http://99designs.com/search?q=computer 
As you can see, there is some great talent on this site.

The key to getting exactly what you want on 99Designs.com is to:

1. Give as much detail as you can in your creative brief – In this brief you may mention that you are a computer repair business and the angle you are going for is a “young and funky” look or perhaps “serious suits and ties”. You may want a single shape and text logo like Best Buy’s Geeksquad, or a logo with text below it like Circuit City’s (now defunct) Firedog. You may like the shiny web 2.0 look or perhaps something traditional and serious. Whatever you have in mind, let them know. The more comprehensive your creative brief, the better the logos will match your businesses vision and needs.

2. Set your budget and pay a fair price – The bare minimum prize money for a logo competition is $204 USD and the maximum is as high as you want. Keep in mind that the more prize money you offer , the more entrants you get which means more choices and possibly higher quality work since some extremely skilled designers may not waste their time in lesser paying contests.

3. Work with the designers and provide constant feedback – Once you have submitted your contest you will begin to see entries coming in within a few hours. 99Designs provides a 5 star rating system where you vote on the designs you like and this will let the current designers know whether they are on the right track or not. You should rate the submissions early and often because future entrants will create new designs that are similar to the ones that you rated highly
Sometimes it is clear that certain designs or designers will never get there so you can forcefully remove them from the competition.

4. Get opinions and choose a design – Once the competition comes to an end (usually after 7 days), you may get overwhelmed trying to decide on a logo when there were hundreds of submissions so I recommend that you get someone else to help you decide. Your logo will be seen by many people and different designs can mean different things to each person. Once you pay the designer the prize money they will send you the completed design along with the copyright to the original artwork. I highly recommend that you make sure you get the source files such as the mutli-layered PSD’s rather than a flat JPG file. This way they can be edited or resized at a later time with no reduction in quality.

Business Cards
Once you are happy with a designer, you could ask them to create a business card design for you or you can start a new competition (another $204+) asking other designers to create a business card using your new logo.

Make sure the text isn’t too small so people who don’t have perfect sight can read it.
You can increase the chances of the client keeping your card by making it useful. I have seen some technicians print computer shortcuts such as copy and paste on the back of their cards. The client often sticks it to their computer and when that computer breaks down, your number is right there.
You can also use your business card as a referral system. Leave a space where you can enter a clients name or internal ID and explain to them that they and their friend can get 10% off their next service if they give one of your cards to them. If you write on the card “produce this card for a 10% discount” the new client is more likely to show you and the client that referred them will get the credit they deserve.
If you are charging $60 for your first visit to that clients location, 10% is only $6. If you do a good job, you will keep that client for a very long time and make much more money off them. Isn’t that worth the $6 discount?