In 20 years of computing, I’ve watched portables fall off counters, shoot off car roofs, tumble off tables and dip into sinks. I haven’t lost one to theft yet, but I’ve earned sore shoulders and a dorky appearance by keeping my computer slung over my shoulder for every minute of an international trip, even during fancy restaurant dinners.
The Greenfield Research Group reported in January that dropping is the No. 1 way for computers to get hurt, with 74 percent of surveyed corporate users having such an experience. Another 43 percent dropped something on their portable, followed by 42 percent who spilled a liquid onto their machine.
Smaller threats include dust and dirt, power surges and shocks, vibration and heat.
What can we do to minimize the many threats to your portable? I suggest you follow these steps:
– Avoid. That is, don’t buy a portable in the first place. Then you won’t be tempted to take it out into a world full of thieves and high tabletops. And you’ll either spend less on your computer or get more power for your money.
– Ration. Limit the times you take your portable out of the house. If I’ll to be carrying a portable for a week because of a single day’s work, I get the work done ahead of time or postpone it.
– Backup. Making backup copies of portable information is critical. If you’re traveling long or far, back up as you go, to either a separate disk–Zip or floppy–that you can plug into a borrowed computer, or through an Internet service, which you can also reach from a borrowed computer.
– Encrypt. Use whatever password possibilities are in your software–typically in the Options or Preferences. Your operating system may have these too, such as the new Zipped and Encrypted folders in Windows 98. Or you can buy or download any number of encryption utility programs including the venerable PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) for Windows, DOS or Mac.
– Lock. I worry a lot less about leaving my portable in a hotel room since I got my lock from Port Inc. (800-242-3133, www.port.com) This light box the size of a large computer mouse has a plastic-coated steel cable on a spool and a combination lock. Attached to the cable is a knob that fits inside the standard security slot of portable PCs and Macs.
I loop the cable through the bathroom plumbing or simply a large piece of furniture. The Port device also has a motion detector.
At home and in the car, I use a Kensington Microware (800-280-8318, www.kensington.com) Master Lock cable that’s much like a bike lock. Again, I loop it through something stationary and I fit the special knob into the security slot. This lock opens with a tiny bike-lock-style key.
– Keep Light. If it is light enough, you can keep it with you more of the time, rather than leaving it in a conference or hotel room. This is one big advantage of pocket computers.
– Get Rugged. Virtually all portables are more rugged than desktops. But not all designs are equally successful. If you do travel a lot, or you’re a klutz, look for the most rugged you can find.
– Case it. Lots of companies make special cases for portable computers. Some of my favorites used to come from Kensington, the same company that makes the lock I mentioned above. I say “used to” because I don’t use these cases any more.”
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– Insure it. If your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance doesn’t cover your portables away from home (you might check to make sure it covers them at home), you can buy special computer insurance from companies such as Safeware (800-800-1492, www.safeware.net).
– Express Yourself. Most portable manufacturers offer a 24-hour or 48-hour express replacement policy as a standard feature.