driving the ultra-mobile enterprise

There is more to being a mobile worker than simply picking the notebook with the best performance and battery duration your budget can afford. Working on-the-go is often not as productive as working in an office because most portable notebooks aren’t designed for users who work for extended periods.

Tip #1: Increase comfort and battery life with a laptop stand

To increase productivity notebook users can outfit themselves with a few basic accessories and peripherals that make working on a notebook more comfortable. I know when I work on a notebook for an extended duration, one of the first things I notice is that my neck gets sore from looking down at the screen.

This issue is easily avoided by utilizing a laptop stand. A laptop stand will raise the screen of your notebook making it much more comfortable to work on over a long period. Some notebook stands can also help keep your notebook running cool with integrated fans, thereby increasing battery life; even stands without fans can passively increase battery life by opening up airflow under the unit and preventing the laptop’s internal fan from kicking in. The thing you have to look out for when buying a laptop stand is to not go too bulky or too heavy. There are stands on the market that work well and will add very little to the weight and bulk of your mobile gear, so keep an eye out for something that fits in your bag.

Tip #2: Get a portable keyboard, but watch out for key placement

Another thing that can significantly add to your productivity is a good keyboard aimed at notebook users. Notebook keyboards are typically best when they are smaller, very thin and have long battery life. A good keyboard can make typing much faster thanks to larger buttons, better typing feel, and greater comfort. This is especially important if your chosen notebook is an ultraportable or netbook with very small and oddly sized keys.

Be sure to be on the lookout for odd key placement, though. Some of the portable keyboards that I’ve evaluated omit a shift key on one side, or contain other unexpected surprises. These issues are most common with collapsable keyboards, which are otherwise a very good way to get a full-sized keyboard experience for a fraction of the bag space.

Tip #4: How small is too small for a mouse?

One of the things about working on a notebook that I dislike most is the trackpad; and I’m definitely not alone in that regard. A good notebook mouse is considered by many users to be an essential item. Typically, notebook users will want to go for a mouse that it smaller than the typical desktop fare, but be careful. Some notebook mice on the market are just too small to use, especially if you have large hands. This means that when buying a notebook mouse, it’s best to keep the receipt, because you may find that the mouse you’ve bought is just as unusable as the trackpad it replaced.

Tip #5: Consider your battery/charger options

Power for mobile peripherals is another important consideration. Many wireless mice use internal rechargeable batteries, as do some keyboards. Internal rechargeable batteries are fine when you can remember to recharge them or are near an outlet. However, if you get into the field and forget to recharge your mouse you could easily be stuck with the track pad whereas a mouse using normal AA or AAA batteries can simply be swapped for a fresh set you can find in any city.

Another thing that mobile users should consider is extra batteries for the notebook or netbook itself. The need for an extra battery really depends on your average workday. If you are usually only away from an outlet for three or four hours some notebooks may provide that much runtime on one battery. However, one thing that will kill your productivity when away from an outlet is a notebook that runs out of power. Extra batteries for most notebooks will add minimal weight and bulk to your gear and are well worth the extra weight.

Several makers of uninterruptable power supplies also offer universal batteries. This type of battery tends to come with a large, flat battery that includes a myriad of connectors to allow it to plug into many common notebooks. You will want to be sure that the battery is compatible with your specific notebook before buying; just because the manufacturer says it work with one model of HP notebook doesn’t mean it will work with all of them. The drawback here is that this type of battery tends to be bulkier and weigh more than a second OEM battery. The good point is that the larger battery often offers more runtime than a second stock battery.

If you think about these general products categories and features when you are looking to get your mobile gear ready for a workday on the road, then you can be as productive in the field as you are at home or in the office. Buy the peripherals that best fit your need and look for quality gear that can survive the rigors of working on the road.