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We Can't All Be Road Scholars
The Travel Technologist · September 24, 2001

The road can be a cruel, unforgiving teacher. Especially when it comes to technology.

Take it from me. I'm writing this column from a public library as a direct result of one of the road's more painful lessons. My laptop computer, which I depended on for this trip, is history-the victim of dreaded OS decay. Yesterday evening when I tried to boot the Gateway Solo up it screamed at me-"Beep! Beep! Beep!"-revealing only a dark screen and a clicking hard drive.

The uncooperative PC couldn't have come at a worse time. Not only was this column due, but my other computer, the one I usually write on, happened to be out of commission, too. My best alternative was the library, where I could stand in line to use one of the computers donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (more than a little ironic, I'll admit).

The road is trying to teach me. But am I learning?

More than four years ago, when I started writing this column, the road tried to instruct me about the ways of technology. About how fickle it could be, how it could lull you into a false sense of security, and then, just when you least expect it, would fail you. The road also attempted to show me that the moment you unplugged the power and began relying on a battery, that the rules changed. More precautions needed to be taken.

For example:

Always travel with a startup disk. Whether you're running Apple's OS X or Windows XP, never ever go anywhere without a startup disk that contains drivers for your CD-ROM devices. Your laptop shipped with one. Don't leave it in the box; take it out and slip it into your carrying case. You may never need it, but then again, you might. Related note: remember to travel with a disk drive. Many PCs ship with a detachable disk drive. A startup disk isn't going to do you much good without a disk drive.
Always back up your data. Go ahead, laugh. But backing up is something most of us don't think about until it's too late. (A recent survey by magnetic tape systems manufacturer DLTape suggested that only 40 percent of computer users are prepared for a sudden data loss.) As you've probably guessed by now, I got on the road without adequately backing up my data or bringing my startup disk. This was incredibly stupid, because when portable computers go bad they lock up all of your data, and when that's not saved somewhere else, you're in big trouble.
Always note your ISP's local access number. I know what you're thinking. This guy's a real airhead, and if he's been writing a column about traveling with technology for more than four years, it must not be so good. You'd be partially correct. I am an airhead, but the column's pretty good if you don't mind me saying so myself. So I forgot to bring along the number for my Internet service provider. I had to wait for half an eternity to get an access number by calling the ISPs toll-free number. What was I thinking? To be honest, it could happen to anyone, this being lulled into a false sense of security. It could even happen to you.

I'll be the first to admit that these three tips are common-sense precautions that every smart traveler ought to take. However, common sense is often the very first thing that goes out the proverbial window when we go on the road. And even though we've learned a lesson in the past, it becomes necessary for us to learn it all over again.

We can't all be road scholars, after all.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion.