I thought it might be of benefit for those planning on starting to work away from the office for a few tips on what to pack in that mobile kit.  There are many, many things to include, but it will eventually be dependent on the work you intend to do.  While this topic could be really in depth, I’m taking a quick overview of what to look for in a mobile office on a budget.  At the very least, here are a few suggestions

Laptop

It goes without saying that you’ll need a WiFi equipped laptop.  What I would recommend is that you go for one of the lower-priced workhorses in the $700 to $1000 (US) price category.  This assumes you’re a Windows or Linux user of course.  The reason for going for less expensive (but still powerful) unit is simply for loss purposes.  Whether through damage to the device or the possibility of it being stolen.  You won’t feel as bad at loosing/damaging a $750 Acer or Gateway than that $4000 17″ gaming laptop you always wanted.  Trust me.

Must haves in a laptop are at least a 1.8GHz Dual Core Intel or AMD (doesn’t matter which) processor.  Minimum of 2GB RAM.  More is better, but I’d not bother going over 3GB for the average user with a 32bit operating system like Windows or Linux.  Most laptops in this range will have a minimum 120GB HDD.  Just make sure your hard drive spins at 5400prm and not 4200prm - it does make a performance difference.  Don’t worry about spending extra for a faster 7200prm unit.  WiFi is a necessity, make sure it supports 802.11b/g though “a” and “n” are ok to have in addition to “bg”.  Bluetooth is a “nice to have” but depending on how you work, it may be a very useful thing to look for - it’s not always going to be standard in this price range.

Don’t sweat Windows Vista vs. Windows XP.  Vista Home Pro rocks on this hardware range.

Mouse

Don’t try to use the touchpad in the laptop and think your saving space or weight in your bag.  Get a good quality, but inexpensive wireless mouse.  Right now I’m thinking of two different paths.  A Bluetooth mouse will require one less adapter to plug into a USB port and one less dongle to loose.  On the other hand, not all laptops in the price range I’ve pointed out have Bluetooth included.

The other one to look at is something like the Logitech VX Nano.  The “Nano” in this case is in reference to the USB dongle.  It’s super-small and only protrudes out from the laptop by about 1/8″ and is intended to be left in the USB port rather than taken out when you’re done using it.

Whatever route you go, most of these mice are designed to be shut off when stored in your bag.  Batteries usually last around 6 months.

Headphones

Here is another useful hardware piece to make sure to have with.  I try to keep several pairs with.  One larger, comfortable, over-the-head USB set with microphone boom for VoIP work.  Excellent call quality with something like this.  The others are the usual phono plug type earbuds - again with microphone, but that’s just my choice as I use them for video work as well as tunes.

There are Bluetooth stereo headphones out there and if you already have Bluetooth in the laptop, it may be the way to go for tunes as well!

Camera

This is only needed if you do any video work.  This is an area where I recommend buying the best quality in the readily available consumer webcam lines from Microsoft, Logitech, or Creative.  I use the Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro and highly recommend it.  Microsoft and Creative have similar devices.  One note here - I’d match your mouse provider if you’re a Microsoft or Logitech user as I’ve found driver compatibilities when using different manufacturer products.

Cables

You should bring a selection of cables.  Make sure to pack the cables from your digital camera, phone/pda, USB charging cables for things you would bring with.  In addition, think about packing a 6′ standard USB peripheral cable, a 6′ mini-USB, and a 10′ Ethernet cable.

Other Stuff

There are many, many things to add to a mobile kit, but remember that you’re going to be carrying this around on your shoulder.  As for a bag, I recommend a good-quality backpack style.  It should have a dedicated laptop space, some side pockets for cables, power  supplies, or other longer items, several pockets for cables, mice or cameras, and of course space for notepads or folders or binders.

Of course this is only a start and barely begins to address your personal style.  That of course changes the dynamics quite a bit.  Maybe your a Mac person, which changes a number of the items in this post (but not by much).  So start working on finding what you need and getting set up.  What would you add or change in this list of basics?

Photo credit: rheauchyr