Gear Guide, part three: Gear for the mobile

make up and start can be complex in the digital old age . When you hit the road , you ’re usually accompanied by a multitude of machine that demand your care and aid . But do n’t fret - we’ve got you covered with mobile appurtenance that will keep you connected , organized , and powered up .

Solio ’s Hybrid 1000Our Winter Gear Guide — in which we aid you determine the best ways to accessorize your iPhone , iPod , and Mac — continues . In this third installment , we plough our attention to roving gear that will aid you get the most out of your MacBook , MacBook Pro , or MacBook Air .

The sun king

Even when your on - the - go activities take you off the grid , your widget still postulate succus . Solio’sHybrid 1000solar battery and charger aggregate a solar venire and a Li - ion battery in a thin , lightweight , and furrowed natural enclosure . The Hybrid can recharge a wandering telephone or tally ten hours of playback to an iPod or another portable media player . You connect your gadgets to the ramp up - in power porthole , using the appropriate adapter - arranger for Nokia phones , as well as for gadgets that shoot down via USB and mini - USB interface , are included ( Solio sell arranger for a variety of other gadgets ) . The Hybrid 1000 charges via sunlight or , on sour day ( and at night ) , via USB or an optional AC adapter . ( necessitate a quick burst of great power ? One time of day of cheer can give you 14 moment of headphone talk fourth dimension . ) A work up - in carabiner clip lease you attach the Hybrid 1000 to the exterior of your coterie so it can charge while you trek .

$ 80;Solio

Stowaway storage

Mercury On - The - Go FireWire / USB hard driving force

Making sure you have a in effect backup is n’t a project that ’s only for family or power . It ’s just as crucial to keep a current backup when you ’re going Mobile River - perhaps even _ more _ so . Other World Computing’s500 GB Mercury On - The - Go FireWire / USB hard driveis capacious enough to back up even the largest laptop drives , with room to spare . Thanks to both FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 interface , connectivity and bootability are guaranteed , and because the machine utilize a low - power , 9.5 millimeter SATA drive , it should shape without a world power supplying on most figurer - even via USB . The exonerated polycarbonate inclosure is rugged and have a built - in aluminum heatsink to keep the drive cool , but the entire packet weighs just 12.5 ounce , so backups wo n’t give you a backache .

$ 289;Other World Computing

Solio’s Hybrid 1000

Studio 1 USB Desktop Recording Kit

Sound investment

These days , anyone can record - and publish - podcasts and execute telecasting voiceovers . But even a multimedia amateur postulate a nice microphone . MXL’sStudio 1 USB Desktop Recording Kitis an likeable starter kit that includes a good - quality USB condenser mike with a built - in low - latency headphone jack for monitoring . Just plug away the microphone into your Mac ’s USB port ( a 10 - foot cable is included ) , and you’re able to straightaway start tape , using your favorite audio coating . The kit also includes a minuscule collapsable tripod and a cosmopolitan tie-up adapter ; everything fits into cushioned compartments in the included hard - casing carrying case for mobile transcription sessions .

$ 100;Marshall Electronics

Pack some power

Frequent traveller know that few hotels and airport terminal provide enough places to punch in your laptop , your earpiece , and all your other electronic gadgets . If you could find a exclusive approachable outlet , you turn over yourself favourable . ThePortable mightiness Outletlets you rick that single outlet into a slew of spate - protected charging pick : three 3 - prong outlets and two USB big businessman ports . A 15 - inch cable with a flat wall plug offers flexibleness , and the unit ’s comparatively categoric design ( for a billow protector ) and light weightiness ( 7.5 ounces ) help oneself it match easily into your bag . Kensington also sell cables and adapters for power various electronic devices via USB - so you’re able to lead those bulky index blocks at plate .

$ 25;Kensington

The photographer’s friend

Tenba ’s Small Shootout Backpack

If you ’re an aim photographer , you ’ve belike discovered that have the right paraphernalia on handwriting - a tripod , the correct lens , your laptop - can make a big difference in catch and work the everlasting shot . The challenge ? Carrying that gear . Tenba’sSmall Shootout Backpackis a amazingly compact and ergonomic pack that offers an telling amount of storage . The big , reconfigurable tv camera domain can restrain two SLR camera , five to seven lenses ( depending on lens system size ) , and a flare . A freestanding , reinforced laptop compartment correspond a MacBook or a MacBook Air ( or any other 13 - column inch laptop ) . An innovative tripod - carrying system oblige any size of tripod , and there are lots of pocket for miscellaneous items . Clever side opening provide quick memory access to crystalline lens without requiring that you take off the backpack , and with weather - sealed zippers , caboodle of cushioning , and a stow - away rain screening , your geared wheel stays good and wry . The Shootout uses hiking - pack - grade shoulder joint and shank straps for puff and constancy ; you may zip a ready to hand cover over the straps when carry the dish by its handgrip or stowing it in an overhead compartment . Finally , for times when you are n’t require exposure , the camera - and - laptop computer organizer lifts out - gear in towage - to call on the Shootout into a standard backpack .

$ 184;Tenba

Mercury On-The-Go FireWire/USB hard drive

Familial baggage

Briggs & Riley ’s Family Backpack

Who says gamey - goal baggage companies are erstwhile - fashioned ? The folks at Briggs & Riley must have spent some vacation time with today ’s tech - obsess families , as theFamily Backpackcombines executive style with parent - virtual design . integrate 2520D ballistic nylon ( the “ self - repairing ” form ) , heavy - duty zippers , and soft twill weave facing over a thin layer of cushioning , this pack should stand up to abuse on the outside while keep your belongings safe inside . Thick , well-heeled shoulder shoulder strap and mesh - cover padding on the back make the rucksack wanton to bear ; it also mounts on the telescope handle of any rolling case . But what makes the Family Backpack unique is its organisational organisation . A padded sac fit a portable DVD player or biz system ; a enceinte main region obligate wearing apparel , books , and toy ; and numberless smaller pockets , inside and out , let you store diaper , bottles , supplying , and even a pouch photographic camera . Perhaps the best feature article ? A obliterable , insulated luncheon bag that sits on a small ledge at the top of the main compartment so it ’s always promiscuous to get at .

$ 199;Briggs & Riley

Studio 1 USB Desktop Recording Kit

Recharged, rested, and ready

Got a perfectly functional older Mac laptop computer that sits on a shelf , unused , because its battery dies minutes after you launch the lid ? Do n’t station it to the technical school necropolis just yet . or else , consider a young barrage fire . FastMac offer set - and - last - matching replacements for notebook from as far back as the original iBook and the Pismo PowerBook , all the manner up to the latest MacBook and MacBook Pro models . Even better , eachTruePower batterygives you more runtime than the original that shipped with your computer . And the company will recycle your old battery for no heraldic bearing .

$ 70 to $ 110;FastMac

Reusable bag

Keen ’s Alameda 15 bag

Keen’sAlameda 15is a stylish courier - style bag with the standard fixings : an internal pocket for 15 - inch laptop computer , external and interior text file pockets , two water supply - nursing bottle pouches , a mobile - phone sack , and a number of smaller compartments for multifarious items . But two things make the Alameda unique : First , while it ’s not as protective as some other bags , it ’s surprisingly lightweight ( just 2.5 pounds ) and flexible . Second , it ’s designed with the environs in nous . The lasting base is made of surplus rubber from the fellowship ’s shoe commercial enterprise . The laptop computer sleeve is made of recycled polyester and recycled and tame froth . And the zip fastener pulls and the strap ’s Cam River buckle are made of aluminum reprocess from old shoe mold .

$ 100;Keen