Saturday, August 1, 2009

Traveling with a computer

For many of my friends, leaving their computer back home after buying airline tickets, is the same thing as if they would cut off their right arm. It seems impossible to live without it. Good news that the progress in technology allows easy transportation of laptops with minimum stress.

Below I offer a list of laptop travel tips to simplify technical problems that could happen during your travels. Most of them were learned the hard way: computer crashes, nasty viruses, forgotten passwords and so on.

Things you must have:

  • Antivirus and firewall. Many people forget to install antivirus on their laptops. Bad mistake. Well, don't, 'cause a virus is always a virus, even if you get it on a plane or in a hotel.

  • International adapter plugs set. It's important to purchase a set of frequently used electric adapter plugs, if you travel quite often.

  • Software. Don't use the software different from what you have at your office or at home. You don't want to get frustrated because of routine changes of different versions or even different brands. And don't forget to test any new software before your travel. You don't want to deal with software or OS conflicts on the road.

  • Necessary passwords list. If you have long and complicated passwords that are really hard to figure out in case of forgetting them, save them on your computer. Don't carry printed or written lists - you can lose them.

  • Technical support contact numbers. Save phone numbers of companies you may be needed to be supported by, bookmark websites for any surfing during your journey.

  • Backup depot. Take CD's, DVD's or flash drives to back up files on the road. You'll still have your data if your laptop crashes.

  • Document maintenance. Don't forget to copy any important files to your home computer, when you return.

Security and safety:

  • Airport. X-ray can't damage your laptop, but the checkpoint belt is a foremost target for thieves. Hold your laptop until you pass the metal detector, that way your laptop won't be out of sight for long.

  • Plane. Don't place the computer in the overhead bin - it can be stolen, or it can move around during the flight.

  • Hotel. Hide your laptop somewhere in your hotel room, if the idea of leaving it there doesn't warm you up.

  • Transit. Disguise your laptop. Just to prevent theft.

  • Insurance. Make sure your computer is insured against damage or theft during the travel. You can buy insurance right when ordering cheap airline tickets.

Tips on getting great plane deals

Airplane tickets are nothing but a paper made by a travel agent or by an airway plenary. While traveling with a certain flight, travelers have to carry the document in a form of airplane tickets to assure the airplane plenary that the anxious customer has bought a seat in their conformable plane. Travelers are then permitted to board the plane together with tickets and the boarding pass appurtenant. Many travelers might not know the fact that there might be different prices on the ticket from Las Vegas to New York or any other major destination.

Internet is the best place to begin with in searches of cheap airplane tickets. You might find some truly great offers, discount deals, and low rates for your tickets. Because airline departments suffer from ascending fuel value and massive financial wastes emboldens us to book tickets via Internet better than via telephone. The mode is inexpensive for the airways same as for the travelers. If you settle to obtain your cheap plane tickets via telephone from major airways you have to provide a booking fee while buying. Travel agencies are as well charging a certain amount for their examination and facilities. If everything's done correctly, online plane deals might be a simple and worthwhile experience.

You can receive lowest air fare rates if you are suppler. From whatever origin you are employing for plane tickets' booking, check out whether you'll receive compensation in case your communications timing is off. Package bargains offer impositions on both tickets and hotel room. If you don't have admission to the Internet, you may phone toll-free numbers, grant them your date and time of travel, destinations, and talk to your travel agent or straight to airway authorities for information concerning tickets. Payments are made via credit card over the phone and they will forward you an approval e-ticket or airway ticket. One major obstacle with such usual mod is that you will not be capable to collate different prices or courses.

Most independent travelers like to go on vacation on weekends. Tuesday or Wednesday is excellent to obtain cheap plane tickets when motion is light. Cheapest fares are commonly issued in days of mid-week. If you begin your journey on Wednesday, it might cost much fewer. Late night or early morning flyaway might help as well. There are peak and off-peak cycles at every destination; prices in airway tickets conduce to grow lower while off-peak cycles. Haste seasons are from October to mid-December and from mid-January to March. Holidays should be eluded, and don't forget to ask for any holiday reduction on your tickets.