Summer approaches and we’re all hitting the road for various vacations and getaways. And many of us will be bringing a computer with us to keep in touch with the world we left behind (which I don’t understand, because that is why we went away in the first place). Travel restrictions since 9/11 have made it a little more difficult to take that computer with you, but here are a few travel tips that will help.

Protecting your laptop from theft and damage, and ensuring it will be usable in foreign countries, requires preparation and care.

1. Get a heavily padded carrying case that fits the peripherals and accessories you need to carry.
2. Use a case that isn’t obviously for a laptop, to deter theft. Many companies make backpack style cases just for this purpose.
3. Take the components, peripherals, and accessories you might need, but leave the CD-ROM drive or other parts you won’t. Take an extra battery if you will use the laptop on an airplane.
4. Remove disks from disk drives. Make sure they are packed well to avoid damage.
5. Get power and telephone jack adapters if you will need them for international travel. Find out the power requirements and plug shapes for your destination before you leave. Do this BEFORE you leave, not at the airport where you will pay an arm and leg for them.
6. Find out what communication facilities will be available. Learn how you can connect to your ISP if necessary.
7. Back up all important documents before you leave. Make sure they are not kept with your computer in case it gets lost.
8. Check your insurance and warranty coverage.
9. Make sure your laptop has enough battery power to boot if required by customs or security personnel.
10. Avoid leaving your computer unattended in the airport. Otherwise it may not be your computer for long.
11. Deter theft and breakage by monitoring your laptop closely as it travels through the X-ray machine. Better yet, ask for manual inspection.
12. Keep your laptop out of overhead bins and in plain sight when flying.

Do not plug your laptop directly into a foreign outlet, even if you have something that changes the plug shape, or you may fry your computer. Always use an adapter that claims it can handle the voltage at your destination. (Make sure the adapter can handle your computer’s current draw as well.) Remember that an X-ray machine will not erase your data, but a metal detector can.

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[tags]laptop, travel, notebook, travel with laptop, travel with notebook, travel with computer, airport security[/tags]