Whenever
I travel with my laptop, I usually do a bit of pre-trip shuffling.
It’s probably exactly what you might expect. Or at least wouldn’t
be surprised to hear.
Generally
speaking, technology has advanced in ways that my laptop can now
actually be a hinderance where once it bordered on being a requirement.
For example, whenever I need to check in for flights. Just ten
years ago, without a smartphone and most companies still in the
early stages of app development (if they even had an app), some
type of computer access to the internet was likely needed to make
sure you had things set up for your flight. Today? Geez, between
getting your laptop internet access and navigating a web site,
it turns out a smartphone and app combination can be significantly
faster and easier. In fact, funny side story…
This
past summer I needed to set up a couple of accounts for a variety
of different reasons. The industries and work involved were not
even remotely associated. Yet, in both instances, the companies
involved directed all transactions to their apps. Basic information
on the web site but no transactions possible. You were effectively
shut down if you wanted to use their service but didn’t want to
use your phone and their app. Yes, we’ve come a long way in a
short time. Ok, back to my laptop…
So,
smartphone in hand, I don’t need to take my laptop in order to
accomplish things during any few nights away from home if I want
to contact an airline, check my e-mail, or any number of assorted
things where a laptop might have been beneficial to have around
on previous journeys. Most of those assorted things are easier
now if I don’t use the laptop.
But
that doesn’t mean all of it is easier or even possible with a
handheld device.
I
admit, in many ways I’m old school. At least, if you consider
being uncomfortable writing longer texts or social media messages
on the screen of a phone old school. I’d rather being using a
keyboard to sort out, compose and send an e-mail.
When
it comes to writing, I actually have a desktop setup at home and
want my laptop around if I’m going to be working on the road.
This means I need to move some files around if there is anything
in particular I’m working on that I’d like to spend some time
with during my trip.
Like
I said, nothing too surprising.
Depending
on the objects at hand, I’ve done this in all sorts of ways. The
flash drive shuffle is one option, loading them on from one location
and then downloading them off at the other. I’ve even e-mailed
something to myself for this reason or that, and just opened the
e-mail and accessed the attachment.
I
don’t believe any of this has you too stunned. You might arch
an eyebrow or shake your head, using normal demands and your own
technological savvy to judge my habits, but overall I think we’ve
all been there in at least an extreme moment… running late, one
last thing, crap it’s all packed, fine just e-mail the darn file
and take care of it later since that’s the easiest thing to do.
Whatever works, get it wrapped up and move on.
Ok…
so there I am, a flash drive or two and my laptop. Depending on
a variety of things—if it’s an important project, when I think
I might have a significant amount of time to work on some things
and want to be certain I have them—I might even build in a redundancy,
loading the files on the laptop and bringing them on a flash drive
or maybe even having multiple flash drives with the material.
Now
I get it. Some of you are laughing at me. Multiple people are
stunned I don’t just work off of a primary laptop for everything
and avoid the need to move anything. A few are wanting to know
why I don’t have a better grasp of clouds and various storage
possibilities. (In some cases it’s personal preference, in some
cases it’s that old school cynical nature.)
But
I’m willing to be at least a handful of you understand the motivation.
After all, there’s nothing like the joy of coming home and placing
your laptop bag on the floor of a room, heading to do something
on the computer, and realizing in order to get the file you need
you’ll have to unpack your laptop, turn it on and wait for it
to get situated (such as starting up, connecting to the home network,
etc.), then begin searching for and moving around the material.
And I think we’ve all had issues with corrupted storage devices
or computers that are nearing the end of the road, where if only
we had a backup the world would still be ok.
Anyway…
recent trip… laptop bag… flash drive with work on it.
This
morning I started unpacking a few things and I went to grab the
flash drive I had used for some material. I thought I had two
in the bag. I pulled out five.
Five
flash drives.
I’m
going to be honest, it wasn’t as exciting as finding an unexpected
twenty in the pocket of my jeans.
My
version of old school tends to lean in the direction of tangible
results. For example, I like being able to hold the source of
a movie or music in my hands. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate
or even love streaming services. I do. I use them. But when it
comes to ownership of an item… paying a higher cost for a fleeting
moment of permanence, however fleeting technology allows a cassette
or VHS tape to be permanent ownership… I’ve just seen too many
headaches. Services that went out of business, hardware that failed
with no backup, and the stories go on. And… hold on, new paragraph
for this one…
For
some reason, lately I’ve been bumping into issues with my passwords
for some web sites. I know damn well… not darn well, damn well,
so you know I’m serious… I know damn well I’m using the correct
password. But denied, denied, denied, as if I’m the problem no
matter how slowly and carefully I am in entering it.
And
so, for now, I do still use a flash drive. Or, apparently, flash
drives. Five of them. (At least until the next trip, when I’ll
likely find a sixth.)