What's in my bag?

Updated September 13, 2011

What's in your bag doesn't necessarily say a lot about you, but rather about how you do things. So I decided to take inventory of the things that get me to where I'm going and what I do when I'm there.

• Apple MacBook Pro*: 15" widescreen, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD, OS X 10.7.1 (Lion), Bootcamped Windows 7 Enterprise, webcam, wireless 802.11.N, plus an Apple Magic Mouse (bluetooth).
• Kensington 120W Travel Power Adapter Model #33197. This has dual connector tips so I can power my laptop and Android at the same time. Also has DC (cigarette lighter) connection for car or plane charing.
• Motorola Atrix M860 (AT&T carrier). My company doesn't support iPhones for connection to the email server. iOS aside, there is only Android left and the Atrix was one of the best Android smartphones around.
• Garmin Nüvi 1370LMT. Garmin continues to be my GPS of choice. Widescreen and lifetime traffic and map updates at no add'l cost. Receives traffic warnings and can reroute you. This goes everywhere with me.
• Bose QuietComfort 15 Noise Canceling headphones. IBose had a nice upgrade program when my headphone jack broke (minor problem). They upgraded me (via trade-in) to QC15 for $99 at the store and the difference over the QC2 is amazing. I don't travel anywhere without them. Plus I pack an extra AAA battery and a splitter in case my traveling companion wants to watch the same movie.
• Phillips SHE9501 earbuds. These sound great and minus the noice cancelling, they rival my Bose. BUT now that I upgraded the iPod OS to activate Bluetooth so I've also add the next item...
• iPod Touch 8GB. This was a gift and I must say I am so happy with it. Now that I have an iPad, this is purely for music at the gym.
• Plantronic Voyager Pro bluetooth earpiece. Very comfortable, great sound quality. Not as stylish as the Jawbone but I'm more concerned with function here. NY, CA, CT have outlawed driving with hand held phones to your ear. Stay legal, stay safe.
• Cable Bag. Ethernet cable, just in case. Micro USB charger because the Blackberry, Voyager Pro BT and Backbeat BT Headphones all use the same connector. For the iPod, a dock cable that charges and syncs with iTunes.
  
• Verizon MiFi Wireless. This nifty device can support 5 different computers or other devices with a wireless signal. So whether I'm traveling with someone from work or want to switch between my laptop and iPad in the hotel, this does they trick beautifully.
• Visioneer Mobility scanner. This is an amazing scanner, cordless so no cables, software or even a computer is necessary. And when combined with the included Eye-Fi card, it is a wireless (yes, WiFi) scanner. Doesn't get better. I've scanned a hotel receipt in the back of a NY taxi and sent my insurance card to my daughter through my Android phone. $199, get one.
• Two plug converters. My power supplies are universal but the plugs aren't. I have one for the UK and one for continental Europe.
• Memory Cards & Drives. I keep multiple USB Flash "thumb" drives, SD Memory cards, microSD and adapters for all of them in a little pouch. Also keep an Eye-fi card in my digital camera.
• Logitech Wireless Presenter. Lets me advance presentations from across the room. Comes with a laser pointer and timer to make sure my preso stays within my limit. Long battery life, no software needed.
  
• Plenty of pens, most with my company's logo. I'm always giving them away and forgetting them somewhere. That's why I don't have a Mont Blanc.
• Small pack of Advil.
• Passport. If I ever lose my wallet while travelling, I know I can get through airport security and get home. (BTW, keep a color copy of your passport photo page with you when you travel internationally. If you lose your passport, it is MUCH quicker to get a replacement at the embassy or counselate's office with a copy of your passport.)
• Alcohol wipes. I'm not a clean freak, but the dirtiest things in hotel rooms are the TV remote control and phone. Those get wiped down the minute I walk in the room. Nuf said.
• An emergency stack of business cards bound with a large black document clip. Don't run out.
• Not really IN my bag but part of my bag is a receipt pocket. All during my trip, I collect my hotel, airline, restaurant, etc. receipts. They don't get lost and I don't eat many expenses this way.
• Of course, what IS my bag? It is a Victorinox Rolling Trevi 17 Expandable Wheeled Briefcase. The double bar extendable handle for wheeling makes a nice stable support for my soft duffle bag that sits on the briefcase when I'm walking around airports and parking garages. It holds a lot and everything has a place. Easy laptop access means quick passage through airport security. Also, the inside lining is a light gray color which makes it very easy to find things inside, most of which are black. And it fits under most airplane seats.

These are not the dot-com days where people just buy every new gadget that comes out. It's more about getting the right mix of gadgets that work for you, knowing how everything works, and having power, wireless and adapters to make it all work no matter where you are.