What’s In My Traveling Gear Bag?
This weekend I head out to a GigaOM team meeting on the west coast, and I am really looking forward to the trip. It’s always a blast to see Kevin and my friends at GigaOM in person. Otherwise, I start to thinking of these cool folks as disembodied heads floating around in my email. This is a short trip so my gear bag will be light. I always share what it going with me on my trips so here is what I am taking.
- Booq Boa XS backpack (discontinued)
- 13-inch unibody MacBook, second battery too
- Verizon MiFi
- Monster Outlets To Go
- iPhone 3G
- Palm Pre
- Chargers: MacBook, MiFi, iPhone, Pre
- Cables: Ethernet, USB – miniUSB (MiFi & Pre)
- Incase MacBook sleeve
That’s it. My bag will be easy to carry given what I will be able to accomplish with this kit. I did decide to bring the MacBook instead of a netbook, just to make sure I’m covered in the computing needs department. The MiFi should make sure I have a decent web pipe no matter what, but in the unlikely event my coverage is poor, the iPhone 3G will let me tap into the AT&T 3G network. Yes, I have activated the big, bad tethering option that Kevin pointed out recently.
The chargers, outlets, cables and sleeve will all be packed in my checked bag. That way I am only carrying what is absolutely needed through the three airports for the trip. I don’t need any of that stuff during the trip anyway. The Incase Sleeve is easy to pack and I like to have it for carrying the MacBook once I’m at the destination. I am a firm believer in only carrying what you absolutely need, always.
Everything else travels in the backpack with me. This will be an odd trip as I am carrying both the iPhone 3G and the Palm Pre. I need the iPhone for the possibility of tethering as I mentioned, something the Pre cannot do. I use the iPhone for reading e-books too, so it would accompany me in any event. The Pre is my main phone working with Google Voice so it will be in my pocket the whole trip. I hope to do some sightseeing in the Carmel area while on the trip, so the Sprint Navigation on the Pre will come in handy. It is a Telenav product, and it is simply wonderful to use.
MiFi uses MicroUSB not MiniUSB.
You are correct, I always get the two switched.
The MacBook is a perfect size for power use, and also very portable for what it has. I usually carry my MSI Wind and now the Viliv S5 most of the days, but if I had to travel I would also take my MacBook. So did you say you’ll be in San Diego area?
Must look like the lounge scene in the original Star Wars movie when all you geeks get together, unpacking your gadgets. Pocket protectors on steroids.
Hi James
I was wondering why you don’t get the mifi unlocked, and just swap out the verzion sim card, for sprint, att, or t mobile instead of the tethering.
Why no camera?
Thank you
Verizon/Sprint don’t use SIM cards. I’m assuming from your username that you’re from a far more normal country that doesn’t have stupid competing standards for cell service, but here Sprint and Verizon use CDMA instead of GSM which means no sim card and no unlocking. Now, if AT&T would get a MiFi out some day, that could theoretically be unlocked, then shared over to T-Mobile or any other international destination (assuming the MiFi has the right bands)
Nick is correct, no SIM card. Novatel, maker of the MiFi, is going to release a GSM version of the device which would work as Richard-UK suggests.
For the record, there IS tethering on the Pre, if you’ve rooted it. Check the PreCentral forums for “MyTether” by aonic.
Yes, it seems like a pain to do though for a “just in case” scenario.
No camera? You can use a compact camera with usable high ISO. For example an EP1. Or the Fuji F100fd/F200
I have cameras in both the iPhone 3G and the Palm Pre. These are not great but good enough for my needs.
No Kindle?
Nope, using eReader on the iPhone.
James, Why not just get an iGo (or something) to charge everything off one device? I travel with one that can charge my HP laptop, Touch Pro phone, and BT headphones simultaneously.
Not a big advantage, but every ounce you don’t have to drag around can make things easier.
I pack all chargers in the checked luggage so I don’t carry them around anyway. The iGo (and similar) are nice tools but I don’t mind packing the tiny chargers for the phones, etc.
Well, that does make a difference. I always travel with chargers in carry on, so I can plug in/top off at the airport, especially if I get stuck in a plane delay or have a long wait between flights. I’m also a little paranoid about losing my bags. I wouldn’t want to be stuck for a day or two with no chargers, while the airline tracks down the bags.