Keep Laptops and Phones Powered for Productive Travel

Time is money, right? If your laptop and mobile gadgets have a dead battery when you need them, you're wasting time that could have been spent on-the-clock. And as a result, you're wasting money.

Today's mobile tech can be powered in many ways. Here are a few of my favorites.

Universal power adapter
These multiple-device power adapters can be a pricy purchase, but they replace all of your mobile chargers. You'll just need interchangeable adapters to attach a laptop, iPod, mobile phone, or nearly anything.

Additionally, some of these chargers work in cars, planes, and in outlets around the world, adding more value. Leave that rat's nest of cables at home, and you'll save hassle and space when working on the road.

USB cables
Many gadgets use a USB cable for power. If you're already toting a laptop, leave the wall-charger at home. Just pack a USB cable, and charge your Blackberry, MP3 player, or other device through the notebook.

Many mobile phones and other gadgets can recharge with the voltage of a USB cable but are physically incompatible. In this case, you can buy a special cable to charge off of a laptop or other USB port

Multiple-outlet adapter
If you're in an airport and all of the wall outlets are taken by other travelers, you'll lose productivity when your laptop battery finally dies. For the simplest fix, bring your own outlet adapter.

A three-or-more outlet power strip is small enough to fit in your laptop bag. Plus, after you connect your laptop next to the original user's plug, you can make new friends with the empty jacks. And some of these adapters include USB ports to keep smaller tools powered.