The p-Code Machine

Last week I ordered the Ogio HipHop Messenger Bag from the Ubuntu Shop, which I received this week. And it’s a truely excellent laptop bag, it’s quite roomy indeed…

The usual suspects inhabiting the bag are obviously a laptop of  some sort and it’s corresponding power supply. Another indispensable item would be a nice travel mouse (in whatever variety you would like: wired, wireless or bluetooth). Since wireless access is not available everywhere, it’s a good idea to keep a couple of feet of (snagless) Cat 5e UTP cable in the bag for wired network and/or Internet access.

Modern laptops usually have an SD card reader built-in, however if you use CompactFlash you’re pretty much screwed, so keeping a cheap generic USB card reader in the bag is often a good idea.

Having operating system reinstallation media in the laptop bag is a good thought for longer trips as well… The Ogio HipHop messenger bag actually has a CD sized compartment for this particular purpose. Having some writable media (like a USB memory stick) in the bag can be useful at times as well.

There are a few less obvious things I tend to keep in my bag:

First of which would be a USB-Serial (RS232) converter, and a Cisco Rollover cable. It’s not that I need these on a continuous basis, but if I don’t keep these permanently in my bag, I will have forgotten them when I do need them.

Another item I rarely need, is Tylenol and some bandaids… Keep them in your bag, and one day they will come in handy (be it for personal use or someone else).

Keeping a random (interesting) magazine in the bag as well can be handy to pass time during public transportation amongst other things. I’ve heard of other people carrying an English dictionary as well.

If you own an iPod, keeping an iPod sync/charge cable in the bag can be a good idea. I generally put a few standard usb/mini-usb cables in there as well.

And last of course, I keep a pen or two, a notepad and some business cards in there too.