10 Things Every Mobile User Should Know

Make your next gadget-laden journey as painless and productive as possible.

Before You Go

• Take your iPod instead of your laptop. An iPod (and other portable USB storage devices) can hold computer files, Outlook data, Internet Explorer favorites, desktop wallpaper, and in some cases, applications. Connect the iPod to a borrowed PC, and voilà--it's like having access to your own computer. Later, sync the iPod with your PC back home. The Migo ($30) and MojoPac ($30) utilities each provide this capability.
• Get your faxes as e-mail attachments. Send2Fax.com charges $2 per month plus 15 cents per page to forward faxes as PDF files in e-mail.
• Post a reward in case your laptop is lost. Raise your chances of being reunited with a lost laptop by registering it with StuffBak.com. You'll receive a sticker to put on your notebook, informing others of a reward for its return. To contact you, the finder dials the toll-free number on the sticker or goes to the StuffBak Web site. A $6 sticker provides two years of free return service.
• Pack your laptop bag with five essentials. You should always take (A) a grounded (three-prong) extension cord with at least three outlets so you can recharge multiple gadgets; (B) blank CDs, for transferring files to another PC or burning tunes to play in the rental car; (C) an RJ-11 phone cord, because you never know when you'll need one; (D) an ethernet cable, for the same reason; and (E) your AC adapter, with airline and car power adapters.
• Research your seat. Before booking a flight, head over to SeatGuru.com. Charts reveal which seats on domestic and international flights have the greatest width and pitch and provide in-seat power ports.