Preparing for Travel, What To Take, Power Connections

Preparing for Travel

With the right travel preparations, you can use the notebook anywhere you go, to prepare your business documents, confirm your travel plans, surf the Internet, or simply stay in touch with those back home!

Here is what you should do before you leave home:

Note

Speed the trip through airport security by carrying a charged notebook. Inspectors want to see the screen display a message. The boot message is usually sufficient.

If your notebook is fully charged, the inspection only takes a minute or so. Otherwise, be prepared to attach the AC adaptor and power cable. And if you don't have these, the inspection might include a disassembly of the notebook.

•Back up your notebook's hard disk.

•Insert a fully charged battery to ensure your notebook is ready to quickly boot up at the airport security check.

•Fully charge all your batteries.

•Tape your business card to your notebook, AC adaptor, and batteries.

•If you run your notebook with battery power, maximise battery life by using power-saving features whenever possible.

•Take along any application or data files on diskette that you might need.

•Check that you have everything you need before you leave on a trip.

What To Take

The following are what you should take with you when you travel with your notebook.

•Extra fully charged batteries.

•Single-outlet surge protector.

•Appropriate AC plug adaptor for international voltage requirements.

•AC extension cord.

•Extra phone cord to reach wall jacks.

•A copy of "proof of purchase" for your notebook and other equipment or customs registration form for customs check.

•The Warranty Card or Service and Warranty Guide, detailing the international technical support phone numbers.

•Your notebook's Quick Reference.

Power Connections

With the right accessories, you can run your notebook almost anywhere! Your notebook self- adjusts to various power sources. The United States, Canada and most of Central and South America use 120-volt AC. Most other countries of the world use 240-volt AC. Make sure the power source falls within the system compatible range.

There are a few countries with areas that use DC as their main power source. You need a DC- to-AC converter in particular areas of Argentina, Brazil, India, Madeira and South Africa.

To use your notebook outside of your country, you need an adaptor plug. There are several different plugs available worldwide. You can buy these at an electronics supply store.

Getting Through Customs

With so many countries in the world, you can be sure that there are a variety of customs regulations. Plan wisely to get your notebook through customs by carrying the appropriate documentation to assure the customs agent that your notebook is not a recent purchase.