I am using this page as a reference page on how you can get the most out of portable computers like laptops and tablets that you use as part of travel or lifestyle activities.
General Articles
Your laptop or notebook computer
- External hard drives – a useful little travel helper. Considering the use of external hard drives as a way to gain more value out of your laptop as you use it on the road.
- Should I buy a mobile printer for my laptop? An article about purchasing the battery-operated mobile printers and understanding their limitations. This is primarily to suggest that these printers are intended as secondary “on-the-road” printers.
- Choosing the right input device for your laptop – When should you use the internal trackpad on the laptop and when should you use that external mouse as your pointing device.
- Set Windows not to interrupt your presentation or movie – You can set Windows 10 up so it doesn’t interrupt you giving that presentation or watching that movie by showing up notifications and “dinging” that chime. As well, if you are using that large-screen TV or sound system, you can make sure that the notifications don’t embarrass you with their loud sounds.
Audio-Video connectivity
- Using Bluetooth audio devices with your laptop computer – How you can use Bluetooth audio devices like Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth speakers or Bluetooth-enabled sound systems to gain better and fuller sound out of that laptop computer.
Updated to reflect extra functionality offered by Bluetooth headsets, speakers and sound systems. - The AV connection panels in hotel rooms – a very useful amenity for the connected user – How you can use those “media hub”, “jack pack” or similar connection panels in your hotel room to get the most out of your laptop, smartphone or tablet when on the road.
- Managing multiple sound devices in Windows – This article encompasses the connection situations described in the preceding two articles in order to explain how to manage the multiple different sound devices that you will connect to your Windows-based laptop or notebook computer. It underscores the concept of the “Default Device” and “Default Communications Device” that is an essential part of managing sound output and input in Windows.
- Showing photos on the large screen in your dual-screen setup – How you can quickly preview those photos you downloaded on to your laptop through your hotel-room TV without needing to create a PowerPoint presentation for that purpose.
Your smartphone and tablet
- Sports scoreboard apps–a very useful mobile app class – An article about the sports-scoreboard apps that are available for most mobile-computing platforms and how they can benefit your sports enjoyment at home or away.
- App Essentials for your Mobile Device – A list of app ideas that can help you in browsing your mobile platform’s app store and stocking your phone or tablet with useful programs.
- Gadget List – Esseitial Smartphone And Tablet Accessories: What accessories to equip your smartphone or tablet with to get the most mileage you can out of it.
- The AV connection panels in hotel rooms – a very useful amenity for the connected user – How you can use those “media hub”, “jack pack” or similar connection panels in your hotel room to get the most out of your laptop, smartphone or tablet when on the road.
- Should you worry about your USB charger’s current output for your gadgets? – Being aware of the current output that your USB charger puts up when you use it with your smartphone or tablet. This is to be sure of whether to have quick charging for that gadget or not or simply make sure you have the right charger for that tablet or large smartphone.
- How to effectively establish that Wi-Fi-based mobile network – How to set up your mobile travel network to cater for multiple Wi-Fi-based mobile peripheral devices like wireless network-attached storages, mobile printers, Wi-Fi-based “broadcast-LAN” tuners and the like.
- Chromecast or Apple TV with that public-access Wi-Fi network – How you can set up that Chromecast, Apple TV, other network media device or network printer to work with your smartphone or tablet while using a public-access Wi-Fi network like your hotel’s Wi-Fi. This can even be done with Windows or MacOS laptops. (Windows 10, MacOS 13 Ventura)
Internet access on the road
- You may not have to pay extra for Internet access at that business hotel – An article about looking over the accommodation packages and the frequent-lodger programs offered by those hotels in order to avoid paying extra for Internet use there.
Keeping your equipment in good order
- Tips to avoid those mistakes that can easily happen with tablet and ultraportable computers in the living room – What to be aware of as you use that iPad or Ultrabook so as to avoid costly damage to these units.
- Keeping your portable equipment safe through the summer – Making sure that you laptop, tablet, smartphone and associated accessories stay safe and in good order during the summer. As well, what you can do if your equipment comes to grief when you are out and about during the summer vacation.
Your lifestyle at home
- Having the online life in that private space – Choosing the right equipment to be able to enjoy the online life in that den, private lounge area or “men’s shed”
- Gaming with a regular computer and the big screen in the lounge – How you can use your gaming computer rather than a games console to play games on the TV in the lounge area. This covers home use, your friend’s house or a common lounge area at your student residence / college dorm or similar area.
Buyer’s Guides
- Laptop computers – Choosi9ng the right portable computer for your work or personal life
- Headphones and earphones – Choosing the right headphones or earphones to use with your laptop, tablet or smartphone
- Improving your portable computer equipment’s sound quality – What equipment to choose to improve your laptop’s, phone’s or Internet radio’s sound quality
- Should I buy a soundbar rather than a surround-sound system to improve my TV’s sound – Whether to consider a soundbar or TV base speaker over a multi-speaker surround-sound system to improve your TV’s sound quality.
Product Reviews
Wireless Speakers
Wi-Fi-based wireless speakers (AirPlay / DLNA MediaRenderer functionality)
-
Boston Acoustics MC-200 Air wireless speaker – A basic but high-quality wireless speaker that can complement your smartphone, tablet or laptop computer.
- Marantz Audio Consolette speaker dock – More of a “stay-at-home, keep-on-the-sideboard” speaker, this is a high-quality speaker dock that works as a wireless speaker and Internet radio, after all being driven by three amplifiers per channel.
- Pure Jongo S3 wireless speaker – A small battery-powered upward-firing portable Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speaker that gives your smartphone, tablet or Ultrabook a fair bit of mileage.
- Pure Jongo T6 wireless speaker – A large Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speaker that can work well either at home or on the road because of its Bluetooth compatibility.
- Sony SA-NS410 Wireless Speaker – A network-enabled wireless speaker that can work as an Internet radio.
- Sony SA-NS510 Portable Wireless Speaker – A portable network-enabled wireless speaker that works as an Internet radio. Also suitable for use beside the swimming-pool or spa area for that pool or spa party due to it being able to work on internal batteries.
Bluetooth-based wireless speakers (Bluetooth A2DP / AVRCP / Handsfree Profiles)
- Braven 710 Bluetooth speaker – A small battery-powered Bluetooth speaker for your smartphone, which can come in handy even in wet areas.
-
Braven BRV-X Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker – A battery-powered Bluetooth speaker that is specially designed for outdoor use.
- Braven Mira Water-Resistant Bluetooth Speaker – A battery-powered Bluetooth speaker that you can use in the bathroom or by the pool,
- Denon DHT-T100 TV speaker base – A neat TV speaker plinth that improves the sound of any flat-screen TV while being able to be a Bluetooth speaker.
- Denon DHT-S514 soundbar – A soundbar which can improve the sound of the larger flat-screen TVs especially if you have them on a wall or bracket.
- Pure Jongo S3 wireless speaker – A small battery-powered upward-firing portable Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speaker that gives your smartphone, tablet or Ultrabook a fair bit of mileage.
- Pure Jongo T6 wireless speaker – A large Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speaker that can work well either at home or on the road because of its Bluetooth compatibility.
- Sony SRS-BTM8 Portable Bluetooth Speaker – A small one-piece Bluetooth speaker system for use with Ultrabooks, netbooks, smartphones and tablets that has the sound of most larger portable radios
- Sony SRS-BTV5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker – A one-piece Bluetooth speaker system that is the size and shape of an egg and works well with small smartphones and MP3 players.
Audio Adaptors and Sound Modules
These devices work as a bridge between your computer, tablet or smartphone and a sound system, TV or active speakers to provide better sound than the computer’s or mobile device’s speakers.
- Pure Jongo A2 network / Bluetooth audio adaptor – A DLNA-compliant network audio adaptor which also can work as a Bluetooth A2DP audio adaptor for your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Headphones and Earphones
- Bang & Olufsen Form 2 headphones – A premium pair of headphones that is fit for use with a premium laptop or worth considering simply for the sound quality
(Supre-aural open-back traditional headphones) - Creative Labs MA930 in-ear mobile-phone headset – A lightweight in-ear “earphone” headset that you can use with your mobile phone or laptop
(Intra-aural earphones with inline microphone) - Dell AE2 Performance USB Headset – A USB headset designed by SteelSeries that, although optimised for games effects and chatter, can earn its keep as an office-use or commuting-use computer headset that answers most tasks
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone)
(USB Audio input / output device – headphones) - Denon MusicManiac AH-D600 audiophile stereo headphones – An audiophile-grade pair of stereo headphones that delivers the goods on sound but also can be used as a communications headset with your mobile phone.
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headphones that has a headset cord with inline micrphone) - Denon UrbanRaver AH-D320 stereo headset – A durable affordable “all-round” circum-aural stereo headset that does justice to most popular music that emanates from that smartphone or media player.
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone) - Denon UrbanRaver AH-C100 in-ear stereo headset – A pair of highly-portable in-ear “earphones” with a microphone that is optimised for punchy bass whether you are jogging along or riding that motorcycle.
(Intra-aural earphones with inline microphone) - JBL Synchros E30 Stereo Headset – A pair of over-ear headphones with a detachable headset cord that still gives a tight clear sound and can serve well as an “all-round” set of headphones for most portable devices.
(Supra-aural closed-back traditional headset with in-line microphone) - JBL E45 Bluetooth Stereo Headset – A stereo Bluetooth wireless headset that can serve as an all-round Bluetooth headset for most applications like commuting, private videocalls or private listenership for your laptop.
(Supra-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone (Bluetooth mode) or in-line microphone (wired mode))
(Bluetooth A2DP Audio Device, Bluetooth Hands Free Profile Audio Device) - Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset – A wired stereo headset that is pitched for game-playing use but can serve as an adequate stereo headset for music listening or video viewing. Definitely has some kick in the sound.
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with detachable microphone boom) - Plantronics BackBeat Pro Bluetooth noise-cancelling headset – A durable Bluetooth stereo headset with active noise cancelling for use when travelling. Has that clear sound along wiht that punchy bass.
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone)
(Bluetooth A2DP Audio Device, Bluetooth HandsFree Profile Audio Device, Active Noise Cancelling) - Sony MDR-10RC Stereo Headphones – A pair of high-quality stereo headphons set up for new recording techniques and able to work as a multi-purpose stereo headphones setup.
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headphones with a headset cord with inline microphone) - Voyetra Turtle Beach M3 gaming headset – A popularly-priced gaming headset that is good for games, video content or listening to popular music that has the bass.
(Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with inline microphone)
Mobile Printers and Scanners
- Canon PiXMA iP-100 Portable Inkjet Printer – Canon’s current successor to their famous BJC-80 mobile inkjet printer that is capable of being operated on battery power.
(Colour Inkjet Print) - HP OfficeJet 150 Portable Multifunction Printer– The first ever battery-operated mobile printer that can scan and copy without the need for extra accessories
(Colour Inkjet Print, Colour Scan) - Brother DSMobile DS-940DW Wi-Fi Mobile Scanner – A highly-portable duplex scanner that can scan to a microSD card or a host computer vai USB or Wi-Fi. It can also scan to your mobile devices via Wi-Fi.
Input Devices
- ZCan Plus scanner mouse – A regular USB mouse that doubles as a scanner for all those small documents that you accrue on the road.
(USB, Colour Scan) - Logitech MX Anywhere 3 Bluetooth mouse – A Bluetooth mouse that doesn’t need a dongle to work with Bluetooth-equipped computers like most laptops, while using Logitech Darkfield technology so it can work on glass-topped tables and desks. As well, it works on built-in rechargeable batteries so you don’t need to keep that pack of AA or AAA batteries with you to keep the mouse going.
(Bluetooth, USB receiver dongle)
Mobile Network-Attached Storage
- WD MyPassport Wireless – A mobile network-attached storage that works as a “home and away” media server and also acts as a “quick-transfer” device for photos that exist on you digital camera’s memory card.
Computing Equipment that blends in with your lifestyle
At home
Computers
- Sony VAIO Tap 20 – A 20″ tablet computer that equally works well on the coffee table or kitchen bench as it does at a regular desktop or dining table used as a temporary workspace
Printers
- HP Photosmart 7510 – A standard desktop multifunction printer that is able to blend in with one’s living area yet be able to do what most regular printers can do.
- HP Envy 120 – A slimline multifunction printer that can exist well in the main living areas, especially as a secondary or light-duty printer
Label Printers
- Brother VC-500W – A ZINK-based colour label printer that comes in to its own for creating custom colour labels for your preserving or similar needs.
On The Road
Computers
- Dell Inspiron 13 2-in-1 (Windows 10) – A 2-in-1 convertible laptop that becomes a tablet, and can be used equally at home or on the road for content creation or consumption.
- Dell Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1 (Windows 10) – What Dell has offered for a 14″ right-sized 2-in-1 convertible laptop that becomes a tablet and can work well on the road or in the living room whether to create or enjoy content.
- Dell XPS 13 Kaby Lake (Windows 10) – Dell’s latest take on an ultraportable design that they had perfected especially when it came to value for money along with providing the essential features. Give any of the subsequent XPS 13 series computers whether as a clamshell form or a 2-in-1 convertible form a consideration.
- HP Envy x2 detachable tablet (Windows 8) – A computer that can become a tablet one moment yet clips on to a keyboard to become a fully-fledged laptop.
- HP Envy4 Touchsmart Ultrabook (Windows 8) – A 14″ notebook computer that implements touch-enabled computing as Windows 8 is meant to be used.
- Lenovo Yoga2Pro convertible notebook (Windows 8) – A 13″ convertible Ultrabook that folds over to become a tablet and has that full-width keyboard.
- Lenovo Yoga3 Pro convertible notebook (Windows 8) – The premium 13″ successor to the Lenovo Yoga2 Pro as a convertible that folds over to become a tablet or laptop.
- Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 (Android 4.2 / Android 4.4) – An Android-based iPad competitor that has an integrated kickstand.
- Sony VAIO Duo 11 slider convertible (Windows 8) – An 11″ slider-convertible computer that can become a tablet or a notebook computer just by you sliding it in or out.
- Sony VAIO Fit 13a convertible (Windows 8) – A 13″ convertible Ultrabook computer that has the full-width keyboard yet becomes a tablet.