Chapter 2. Essential Hardware for Mobile Computing

Most people assume that being mobile means lugging a laptop around with you. That's usually true, but not always the case. We sometimes travel without a laptop, assuming we'll be able to find Internet cafes along the way, or we may take along a Wi-Fienabled PDA or a mobile phone that can connect to the Internet. But nothing beats the convenience and versatility of having a small, portable computer with you that's loaded with your own music, photos, work files, applications, and settings.

To be truly mobile and productive, the one essential piece of hardware you need is a laptop. You may already have one, but just in case you're still shopping around, we'll quickly review the Mac laptop options. Then we'll look at some other hardware and accessories you might consider adding to your travel gear.

At the end of this chapter you'll find out how to access all the hidden secrets of your laptop keyboard.