MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air Travel Tips

MacBook, MacBook Pro, Macbook Air,

Tips for Traveling

These tips are for all "MacBook" users despite your particular model. 

Secure it with a password

When you first set up your Mac and create a user account by default that user account is set to automatically log you in each time you boot up or wake up from sleep. While this may be less of an issue for a desktop Mac in your home, we highly recommend that you turn OFF the automatic login on any MacBook notebook. This way if you lose it, or it's stolen or someone tries to access it when you're not looking, they can't just get in and have immediate access to all of your info.

Put your name on it

Sounds silly, but when traveling, anything could happen. Its always better to be safe then sorry. Just remember the old playground saying “I don’t see your name on it!”.

Dim the display, turn off the keyboard light and bluetooth while on battery 

While this is great when you have plenty of power it's an extra drain on your battery. So ways to stretch battery life when traveling include turning off the keyboard backlighting, turning off Bluetooth an dimming the display as low as possible, especially if  watching a movie.

Create an "On the Plane" location

Mac OS X has a location manager (not nearly as functional as the one from Mac OS 9, but it works). You can create a location called "On the Plane" that basically turns off Airport and all networking. This way the MacBook isn't constantly looking for a WiFi network. Since it's a location you can easily switch to it under the Apple Menu and when you land, switch back to "Automatic" location.

Get AppleCare 

If you have a MacBook, you should get AppleCare. It isn't that MacBooks are any more problematic than desktops, it's more about the potential expensive repair costs if something does go wrong after the one year warranty is up. A MacBook repair could easily set you back hundreds and hundreds of dollars (exceeding the value of the computer). So whenever you buy a New Mac and especially a MacBook, AppleCare is an automatic purchase.
 

Use your longer cord

Your MacBook came with a separate extension cord that replaces the little "duck head" prongs on your AC adapter. Not only does this give you double the length, but it's also makes the adapter more power strip friendly by taking up a lot less space. Its rude when you walk in a meeting and some MacBook user is hogging two to three outlets with the fat power brick. 
 

Get a USB or MiFi data card
 

Until we get iPhone tethering from AT&T, you might consider getting a 3G data card. Your MacBook comes with WiFi built-in and that's great if everywhere you travel has WiFi coverage, however, most people still finding WiFi to be a hit or miss scenario at best in the places that they go. So carry a 3G data card that gives you high speed internet pretty much anywhere you have cellular service. The plans aren't cheap (averaging $60/month), but for a road warrior that needs to have connectivity just about everywhere, they can't be beat.
 

Back it up before you leave

Luckily backing up is less of an issue now with Leopard and Snow Leopard than it used to be. Remember to make sure you're backed up before you head out the door. If something happens to your MacBook while you're traveling and it needs to be replaced or the hard drive crashes, at least you know you have a complete backup that can be restored to your new one the minute you get home.
 

Take a bootable backup with you 
 Most people depend on their MacBook everywhere they go. What If your hard drive dies or OS gets hosed, and you don't have time to do a restore. You need to be able to boot up immediately and get to work. In addition to having a Time Machine backup at home, carry a Firewire portable hard drive that has a a SuperDuper clone of my entire hard drive on it. Also update this before you head out the door too. If something goes wrong, you can pull out my portable drive, boot and keep working and can figure out the problem later.

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