HOW TO PREVENT A ROAD WARRIOR FROM BECOMING A ROAD WORRIER

In business, you have to seize opportunities wherever you find them. Today, that means you often have to hit the road to find those opportunities. Fortunately, there are high-tech tools that allow you to take your office with you wherever you go. Laptop computers, wireless phones, and PDAs have revolutionized business and business travel.

To help you get the most out of this technology, here are some tips and mobile computing and communicating tools you should consider:

È Knowledge is power, so stay connected to the Internet and your e-mail at all times. There are portable and retractable Ethernet cords and other connectivity products that make it easy to go online from hotels, libraries, and conference rooms.

ÈBe sure to take along accessories that will make you as efficient on the road as you are in your office. The right accessories can help - including portable lights, mice, mousepads, speakers and headsets.

ÈTurn any vehicle into a power source - there are now power adapters that let you use your electric devices on the road and in the air.

ÈFor greater productivity, consider portable versions of essential computer peripherals. Choose from color printers, scanners, and card readers that can make your laptop as powerful as any desktop PC.

ÈProtect laptops from theft. Many new cable locks now feature motion detectors and alarms. Plus, you can install tracking software that alerts police when a stolen laptop is hooked up to a phone line or the Internet, and pinpoints its location.

ÈPack a portable surge protector to help protect laptops and their precious data from electrical spikes.

ÈGet the most out of your PDAs. Productivity-building accessories include: multi-function pens and styluses, keyboards, AC adapters, cables that allow PDAs to hook-up with PCs, and cases that can hold plane tickets, business cards and more.

ÈThe right case can protect your devices from the bumps and bruises of travel. Plus, a new generation of cases now includes wheels to make it easy to get through airports, on planes, or just from your car to your customer's door.