Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : When you're out of the office, what do you carry?

[rbstern]

I'd like to be more responsive to my clients when I am out of the office. I'm a bit of a personal technology "laggard." I have an older cell phone without any data services, and use my everyday laptop with wireless for hotspot connections (hotels, coffee shops, airport) when needed.

I'd like to be more connected when I am out of the office, for faster access to email and my servers (both Linux and Win), for critical tasks and monitoring.

I was thinking about picking up something like an Asus Eee mini notebook, with AT&T's broadband service. Alternately, or perhaps additionally, perhaps I need a PDA style phone.

What do you use and why?

[bithost(NET)]

Regular cell phone, and my laptop w/ wifi only. No plans on changing.

Why? I value my sanity. People get enough pieces of me already. The rest of it is mine.

Bailey

[Cylestyne]

Originally Posted by bithost(NET)

Regular cell phone, and my laptop w/ wifi only. No plans on changing.

Why? I value my sanity. People get enough pieces of me already. The rest of it is mine.

Bailey

Is there anything else LEFT to carry when you have your laptop with you?

I just keep my PDA/phone.

[shaunewing]

When I'm just out of the office, but still in the local area I have my trusty BlackBerry 8800.

If I'm interstate I'll have my Macbook Pro with my trusty 3G HSDPA card (up to 7.2Mbit) which works brilliantly.

[rbstern]

Originally Posted by bithost(NET)

Regular cell phone, and my laptop w/ wifi only. No plans on changing.

Why? I value my sanity. People get enough pieces of me already. The rest of it is mine.

Bailey

I agree.

I am not looking to be connected all the time as much as I am looking for easier ways to connect and be effective for short periods of time in diverse locations.

Then I can quickly get back to not worrying about being out of the office.

[rbstern]

Originally Posted by ReyoxHosting

Is there anything else LEFT to carry when you have your laptop with you?

No. And I'd like to leave it at the office.

I just keep my PDA/phone.

What kind of stuff can you do with your PDA/phone? Do you feel comfortable that you can handle minor emergencies without having to get back to a laptop or desktop computer?

[Cylestyne]

Originally Posted by rbstern

What kind of stuff can you do with your PDA/phone? Do you feel comfortable that you can handle minor emergencies without having to get back to a laptop or desktop computer?

I can access our ticketing system, reboot servers via our backend since the PDA (E61i) has an excellent web browser. There's also an SSH client on it. Also my emails also get routed to my PDA when I'm out of the office. Even this isn't needed since I have employees. But just like any other business owner I like being connected to my business even when I'm away.

[AH-Sal]

Anyone recommend a certain PDA for out of the office access? Mainly supporting emails / web browsing for ticketing system access. I think a lap top is a bit much unless you plan to be away for a long while.

[Cylestyne]

Originally Posted by AH-Sal

Anyone recommend a certain PDA for out of the office access? Mainly supporting emails / web browsing for ticketing system access. I think a lap top is a bit much unless you plan to be away for a long while.

Phone/PDA combos:
- Any of the i-Mate or HTC Pocket PC PDAs. They're pretty powerful.
- Nokia: E61i, E90

Standalone PDAs:
- Most HP iPAQs (go online with bluetooth / cellphone).

[sinohosting]

I have a PDA phone but prefer keep the management of hosting related tasks with the laptop.

[AH-Sal]

Originally Posted by ReyoxHosting

Phone/PDA combos:
- Any of the i-Mate or HTC Pocket PC PDAs. They're pretty powerful.
- Nokia: E61i, E90

Standalone PDAs:
- Most HP iPAQs (go online with bluetooth / cellphone).

Those look really good, thanks for the advice

[createsurvey]

I carry HTC TyTN II (Windows Mobile), it has everything needed to access my work lan, servers, mail, instant messengers, etc. It has a keyboard, so I can reply to e-mails, use ssh, view documents and write notes.

[hhw]

If you only need alerts and don't need to respond to e-mail, the easiest thing to do is just to setup your mail aliases to include your cell phone's e-mail to txt address, i.e. 1234567@cellprovider.com (varies from provider to provider).

I found I received e-mails even faster this way than with my blackberry service. If I didn't have a good unlimited data plan, I'd probably still do it this way. The best thing is, you can use your existing cell phone and it's pretty much free (so long as your don't pay for incoming sms).

[Aussie Bob]

I take my PDA and laptop. The laptop has mobile broadband access. I have a nice laptop case with a shoulder strap, so it's comfortable to carry around.

[bithost(NET)]

Is there anything left to carry? LOL, no, I imagine not.

I too have important stuff automatically forwarded to my cell phone via email. Works like a charm. Hook it up with a cute ringtone and everybody around you gets a chuckle, too. (Currently I use AOL's "You've Got Mail," which everybody recognizes and grins at.)

I know you were wondering about my ringtones. Come on, admit it!! hahahahahaha

Bailey