Mobile Working – Using a Laptop Outdoors

This blog post is about mobile working using a laptop outdoors.

I’ve mobile worked for years, but that has often been using a laptop indoors at various locations, else for short periods outside. This article is about mobile working for hours at a time outdoors using a laptop, which is different to being a road warrior using WIFI in hotels, cafés, caravans etc. At the locations I work outdoors at, I do not expect WIFI access, a seat, a surface for the laptop or even transport nearby.

Even though it is only March, I’ve already worked outside for hours using a laptop and this blog post covers what I am carrying with me, then with a view to following up in the future, with changes to my mobile working kit and a bit more about my experiences.

Note: I always tell my wonderful girlfriend roughly where I am and have my mobile phone with me. I also always have water and food with me.

Where I work

I’ve already caught the sun, walked miles and got plenty of fresh air. Alas I’m not going to share my working locations, but I live on a beautiful island and there are many places I can work outside as long as it is warm enough. I can get on a bus, train, walk or a mixture and have a different work place any day there is sun.

I generally try and stay within walking distance of toilets! A secondary requirement is water supplies, but if need be I carry extra water with me.

The laptop setup

First of all as it is March, there are slightly different requirements to summer working, for instance I’ve had minimal issues with sun glare, but I expect that to change. However currently I have set my mouse to be extra large and changed my background desktop colour to a dark colour, to help with viewing. Believe me, booting up a laptop and then not being able to hardly see the screen isn’t fun. This will probably become a bigger issue during the summer, which I will adapt to deal with, and cover in a follow-up article.

Laptop battery power is a factor, but I own three laptop secondary bay batteries (two of which are new) for my old laptop, plus a few front slot batteries. I don’t actually need to take these all out (just as well, the weight would be awful), but I have to consider whether I am working outdoors the next day and recharge times.

So a scenario would be, I’ve already charged my three secondary bay batteries, taken two out with a front bay battery. Then when I return I put the laptop on charge, but know I already have one fresh secondary bay battery for the next day. So if I can’t recharge for any reason that day, I’m okay for the next.

tecra 8200 laptop

I own a couple of laptops these days, but my outdoor workhorse is an old Tecra 8200 (released around 2001’ish)! It weighs a ton, but has a lovely keyboard to write with. If you are familiar with the UK tv show ‘Only Fools and Horses’, this Tecra 8200 is like Triggers broom! I have rebuilt it over time from other broken Tecra 8200’s. I recently disposed of my supply of Tecra 8200 parts, so when this laptop dies, that is the end of the road and I will invest in batteries for my Dell D630 and take that out instead, though the keyboard isn’t as good. As it is an old laptop, it has been cheap to maintain and the brand new second bay batteries I brought last year were cheap, indeed far cheaper than batteries for my new laptop.

laptop keyboard

I’ve setup my own battery power profile, which keeps the screen bright, but I’ve also slowed down the processor speed, which seeing as the laptop is slow by today’s standards, makes its usual speed archaic! However it is all about what you require, and that suits me fine. I’ve chosen software that is light weight, such as AbiWord which meets my writing demands. If I need a browser, I turn the processor speed up and run Firefox, but I will probably find a light weight alternative shortly for web browsing.

I do receive a lot of email, but my colleagues know I won’t respond quickly as I will focus on my work, even when not outdoors. So when out, I rarely check email, unless I really need to. If I need to perform some research, the internet costs via my mobile provider are reasonable if I use it in moderation. However mobile internet access isn’t always available. It is important I concentrate on what I require to get the job done, not buy into sales and trends, which would prove costly.

The laptop backpack

I’ve always been a fan of backpacks, and always used one for work or personal use. When others have lugged about briefcases and laptop bags, I’ve strolled along with a backpack, from childhood to being a manager in an office to today being self-employed for years.

targus backpack

Years back I brought a good Targus backpack that has a sleeve for a laptop. It is big enough to meet my demands and I use it weekly, even when not working. It has seen heavy use, but is still in great condition.

laptop sleeve

The current kit

What you carry is all about practicality and what you truly need. Want to take a magazine, paperback or Kindle to read? Don’t bother unless travelling for days at a time. Instead enjoying the surroundings and fresh air should be good enough.

mobile working kit

I have an old hand towel in the bag to sit on. I have a couple of pairs of spare shoes laces, as the last thing you need is to struggle with broken shoe laces, especially if walking miles. I have a camera and spare batteries  for the camera and laptop as who knows when I want to take a photo or record a video.

A USB cable which when hooked up between my mobile phone and laptop, turns into an internet connection. My mobile phone is important obviously for emergencies, but also as mentioned for internet access, but I resist checking emails unless I really need to. I will general tweet from the mobile phone itself, rather than the laptop. Social network access is primarily via my mobile phone, but sometimes I will access social networks via my laptop or not at all.

what is in the backpack

I keep my mobile phone headphones in the front when not in use, but often if on the phone walking along, I will use the headphones to keep my hands free. When I was at a location earlier this week I was expecting a call, so had the headset plugged in and didn’t have to move my laptop when the call came.

An important recent addition is the ‘lap-it’, which is a lightweight lap desk, which I’ve used in different locations, such as sat up against a wall or sitting on a bench and even indoors. It folds up and easily fits into my backpack.

lap-it lapdesk

I also carry a water bottle, but if I know I’m going to be out all day, I either know where I can refill the bottle, else carry more water in a second  larger bottle. Plus there is room for my lunch, but during the summer my lunch will get its own lunch pack with freezer icepack.

To be continued…

So that is my outdoor mobile working setup currently, but as the weather gets warmer and time unfolds I’m sure there will be changes to my kit. I will write follow-up blog posts in the future and also cover my experiences.