I don't know about you, but I learned lots of interesting things in 2006. For instance, who knew a notebook battery could charbroil a cheeseburger?
This week and next, I'll recap some of the most useful lessons from 2006 regarding notebooks and portable gadgets.
Handle Notebook Batteries Carefully
Knowing that lithium ion notebook batteries can catch fire or overheat under certain circumstances is one thing. Seeing photos of a laptop in flames, and reading reports of such incidents, is quite another.
The possibility, though miniscule, of a lithium ion battery igniting was raised during last summer's massive safety recalls of said batteries. The biggest problem related to the recall, in fact, was the inconvenience that many notebook owners experienced, having to return their batteries and go without while waiting for a replacement to be shipped.
At any rate, the recalls served as an important reminder: We should all take basic safety precautions when traveling with a notebook. Among those precautions: Wrap each spare lithium ion battery you're packing separately and protect its contact points with tape (a defective or damaged battery can create an electrical spark when jostled). Also, always buy replacement batteries from your computer's manufacturer. Third-party batteries may not properly vent excess heat or may lack the necessary circuitry to shut down before overheating occurs.
Read "Laptop Battery Safety, Part 2" and "Should Laptops Come With a Fire Extinguisher?" for more safety tips.
You Could Be Required to Check In Your Laptop--Without Notice
Last summer, after an alleged terrorist threat was uncovered, a suddenly enacted ban on electronic devices forced U.S.-bound airline passengers departing from the UK to pack their laptops in their checked baggage. This must have unnerved many mobile professionals. Not only were they denied the ability to use their notebooks on the long flight, but they also had to worry what might happen to their computers in baggage handling.
Though the ban was soon rescinded, the message to any notebook-carrying airline passenger was clear: To play it safe, always pack your notebook as if you'll have to check it at the last minute. At a higher level, the sudden ban provided an important reminder that your notebook and the data it contains--which for many of us is essential to making a living--is vulnerable to damage, theft, and loss during a trip.
So plan accordingly before your next trip: Back up your notebook's data before, during, and after the journey. Consider investing in a rugged notebook case, a ruggedized notebook, and laptop insurance. For more tips, read "Protect Your Laptop, Part 1" and "Practical Tips for Avoiding Tech Travel Hell."
Don't Be Afraid to Switch to VoIP
After several years of toying with the idea, this summer I finally ditched my office landline phone in favor of Voice over IP service from Vonage. I hesitated because I'd read too many reports of consumers who had experienced headaches when they made the switch. For instance, some have complained that porting their landline phone numbers to a VoIP service took months.
Given that I've used the same landline business phone number since 1994, this potential problem alone gave me pause. Still, VoIP's advantages for mobile professionals were just too enticing to ignore. Along with the cost savings compared to landline phone charges, VoIP services can forward voice mail messages as e-mail attachments; allow you to have your phone number ring on multiple devices at once; use your notebook to make phone calls wherever you've got a broadband Internet connection; and more.
And so, nervously, I decided to take the plunge, signing up for a $15-per-month Vonage account, which includes 500 minutes of phone calls to the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Fortunately, I have nothing but positive experiences to report.
The transfer of my landline phone number happened without any delays or hitches. The audio quality of my VoIP phone calls is consistently good and nearly the same as on a landline. The only difference is that VoIP calls sound just a tiny bit muffled. I'm saving approximately $500 a year, compared to what my landline business phone cost. And when I'm out of the office, the ability to receive voice mails as e-mail attachments is a convenience I highly recommend.
For some VoIP alternatives, read my April 27, 2006 and June 29, 2006 columns.
Next week's lessons learned: You can use your Apple iPod for a lot more than playing music; older technology sometimes trumps current technology; and an airplane seat can quickly become a hot seat.
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