Gadgets to Go: A Little Something for the Road
By SUSAN STELLIN
he prevailing image of the business traveler is a laptop-toter with a cellphone attached to one ear and some kind of hand-held device stashed in a coat pocket.
But at a time when most executives consider business travel as stressful as going to the dentist or doing their taxes, according to a recent survey by Microsoft, dig a little deeper into those carry-on bags and you'll find that some of the gadgets they treasure the most have more to do with making the trip bearable than with actually getting work done. Audio players, digital cameras, DVD players and noise-canceling headphones are just some of the toys they say they rely on to drown out the drudgery of being away from home.
Take Nicholas Menaker, vice president for operations of a software company in Redwood City, Calif., whose carry-on bag is something of an electronic survival kit for long flights and lonely hotels. Among its contents are a digital camera, a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones, an iPod (with music "all legally downloaded") and a handful of DVD's to play on his laptop. He also says he has figured out how to use his TiVo at home to transfer TV shows for playing on his laptop.
Mr. Menaker is most attached to the headphones, Bose's QuietComfort 2, which not only produce high-quality sound but also actively block out the roar of aircraft engines, chatty seatmates and unhappy infants - even when there's no audio input.
This used to be true for me. But the "enhanced" security of 9/11 meant that I started to travel mean and lean, with absolutely the minimum number of gadgets that I could carry. Another side effect of the pointless search for sharp and pointy and electronic objects... sigh...
bp888
Sep 30, 03, 10:22 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by landspeed:
Gadgets to Go: A Little Something for the Road
By SUSAN STELLIN
he prevailing image of the business traveler is a laptop-toter with a cellphone attached to one ear and some kind of hand-held device stashed in a coat pocket.
But at a time when most executives consider business travel as stressful as going to the dentist or doing their taxes, according to a recent survey by Microsoft, dig a little deeper into those carry-on bags and you'll find that some of the gadgets they treasure the most have more to do with making the trip bearable than with actually getting work done. Audio players, digital cameras, DVD players and noise-canceling headphones are just some of the toys they say they rely on to drown out the drudgery of being away from home.
Take Nicholas Menaker, vice president for operations of a software company in Redwood City, Calif., whose carry-on bag is something of an electronic survival kit for long flights and lonely hotels. Among its contents are a digital camera, a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones, an iPod (with music "all legally downloaded") and a handful of DVD's to play on his laptop. He also says he has figured out how to use his TiVo at home to transfer TV shows for playing on his laptop.
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Anybody know how he does it? I'd like to be able to "take" my TiVo with me (or at least what's Now Playing) when I travel. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif
ScottC
Sep 30, 03, 10:33 am
Look at the photo, Mr Menaker says he has Bose QC2's but they are just QC 1's http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif
No idea how this is "news", I think the majority of road warriors carries this much or more.
winkydink
Sep 30, 03, 11:03 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
Interesting story. Thanks for posting it.
This used to be true for me. But the "enhanced" security of 9/11 meant that I started to travel mean and lean, with absolutely the minimum number of gadgets that I could carry. Another side effect of the pointless search for sharp and pointy and electronic objects... sigh...</font>
I routinely bring a laptop, digital camera, PDA, cell phone & assorted cables, connectors, adapters, etc... I only get inspected about 1 time in 5 or so.
MagMile
Sep 30, 03, 11:12 am
Posted a reply on how to get TiVo shows onto a PC at:
"Mr. Menaker" gave his QC2's to his GF for the weekend, and she didn't get back before photoshoot.
Although, Mr. Menaker likes the sound of the older ones better. Portability is one thing, sound is another. GF's like everything to fit in their purse. RW's bring a U'haul which fits everything anyway. :-)
UALOneKPlus
Sep 30, 03, 1:41 pm
WOW. Right from the horse's mouse!!
How does it feel to be quoted in a story?
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nmenaker:
"Mr. Menaker" gave his QC2's to his GF for the weekend, and she didn't get back before photoshoot.
Although, Mr. Menaker likes the sound of the older ones better. Portability is one thing, sound is another. GF's like everything to fit in their purse. RW's bring a U'haul which fits everything anyway. :-)</font>
nmenaker
Sep 30, 03, 9:59 pm
Well, you realize upfront that talking with reporters you never know which elements of a conversation they are going to use. When I said things such as, "well, I speak four languages and therefore rent international videos from netflix, blah blah blah, sometimes more racy than domestic films, blah blah blah," It seems to come off looking like I am watching some vivid film on the airplane! Ah well, my mother thought it was cute, and so did my GF. Last time I had an article in the paper it was about Tivo, and recordings and how the TIVO thought I was gay, not that there is anything wrong with that. This time, people might just think I spend too much time away from my GirlFriend?
winkydink
Oct 1, 03, 8:09 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
WOW. Right from the horse's mouse!!
</font>
pssst... horse's mouth
winkydink
Oct 1, 03, 8:11 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nmenaker:
Well, you realize upfront that talking with reporters you never know which elements of a conversation they are going to use. When I said things such as, "well, I speak four languages and therefore rent international videos from netflix, blah blah blah, sometimes more racy than domestic films, blah blah blah," It seems to come off looking like I am watching some vivid film on the airplane! Ah well, my mother thought it was cute, and so did my GF. Last time I had an article in the paper it was about Tivo, and recordings and how the TIVO thought I was gay, not that there is anything wrong with that. This time, people might just think I spend too much time away from my GirlFriend?
</font>
I had a similar experience with Monster's Ball recently. The main sex scene was just a little too graphic (the two with Billy Bob & the hooker were pretty short). Add to that I had a woman for a seat mate. I was pretty embarassed.