Notebooks

Tip: Travel Light, Avoid Hefty Fees

After September 11, airlines tightened carry-on luggage restrictions, limiting passengers to one bag and one personal belonging such as a purse or briefcase. If you're like me, you carry a notebook on most flights and, to get around the new restrictions, stuff more into your checked baggage to compensate for the tighter carry-on rules.

But beware: Airlines are now enforcing size restrictions on checked bags. Suitcases larger than 62 linear inches could cost you up to $270 per bag in oversize luggage penalties. To find out if your suitcase meets the linear size requirements, measure its width, height, and depth, then total the three figures to get the linear inches. Keep in mind that soft-material bags expand in size when stuffed. If you need new bags, begin your research online: Most online luggage retailers list suitcase dimensions. You can start by checking out 1-800-Luggage and EBags.

News: ThinkPad Light on Weight, Heavy on Juice

IBM's new ThinkPad X30 notebooks promise battery life of up to 4.5 hours with the standard battery and up to 8 hours when equipped with an optional battery. The ThinkPad X30 weighs 3.6 pounds with the standard battery and 4.5 pounds when the second battery is added.

The X30 series is available in various configurations, beginning with a $1999 model equipped with a 1.06-MHz Intel Mobile Pentium III processor, 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive, two USB ports, a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port, and a 12-inch TFT LCD.

News: Wi-Fi Network Access in Loews Hotels

The Loews hotel chain recently announced that high-speed wireless Internet access will soon be available in 7 of its 18 properties. Some 2200 guest rooms, 100 meeting facilities, and most common areas (such as lobbies) should have Wi-Fi hot spots by the time you read this. Participating Loews properties include The Regency in New York, Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, and the Loews Denver Hotel. The service is being provided by Wayport.

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