A Lapful of Laptop Accessories
As a relative newcomer to portable computing, I’m having a field day searching out accessories that make my notebook model ever more useful on the go. Entire catalogs are now devoted to laptop accouterments. Some are are a definite asset to the traveling work station. Following are items that I found particularly useful. Most are available at retail stores.
Portable printers: The Citizen PN60 Pocket Printer is tiny--just 10 inches by 2 inches by 1 3/4 inches, and weighs in 18 ounces--2 pounds, 10 ounces with the battery, AC adapter and computer interface cable. It comes with a replaceable black ink cartridge, good for about 30 pages of text, (optional color cartridges run out after about 14 pages) and a Windows- or Apple-compatible floppy disk driver for a smooth interface with your laptop or notebook computer. As a decidedly non-technological type, I found the machine easy to get up and running by carefully following directions. You just connect a few clearly identified cables, install the drive into your computer (it must have a 3.5-inch disk drive) and print. The single-sheet printer produced perfect printouts using regular copy paper. But the machine is very slow. While the operating statistics say the PN60 can print two pages a minute, numerous tests clocked the printer at 3 1/2 minutes per page. A company spokesman said the machine is faster when not in a Windows environment, but agreed the PN60 is not meant for long reports, nor multiple copies of text. The machine comes with an AC adapter, computer interface cable and one black ink cartridge. Though larger and heavier, I preferred Citizen’s slightly older and larger (11 3/4 inches by 4 1/2 inches by 2 inches) Notebook Printer II, which has a built-in five-page paper feeder. An optional 30-page paper feeder that snaps on to the bottom of the Notebook Printer II makes this model even more versatile, though, like the PN60, it printed at a slow 3-plus minutes a page. The larger model weighs twice as much as the PN60--2 1/4 pounds and nearly 4 pounds with the battery, AC adapter and computer interface cable. The 30-page sheet feeder adds another 11 ounces. Still, in my book, the Notebook Printer II is well worth the extra weight and size.
Citizen PN60 Pocket Printer lists for $399, but sells for less at computer stores. Rechargeable battery is $79, black ink cartridges are $9.99 a pair, color cartridges $13.99 a pair. Notebook Printer II and cartridges cost same as the PN60. Rechargeable battery and 30-page sheet feeder are $69 apiece.
The Pentax PocketJet printer is a smidgen smaller and lighter than the Citizen PN60--and 10 times faster, churning out a page in 20 seconds flat. In addition, it requires no ink cartridge, because it works entirely with thermal heat. But there’s the rub, too. The printer requires Pentax Thermal paper. Though Pentax’s brand is less shiny and stiff than the kind you’ll find on a standard fax machine, printouts still have that fax look--a brownish tinge to the text, instead of a sharp black. In addition, the paper is vulnerable to heat and sunlight and fading over time. While the company says the paper should hold up for up to five years under normal filing conditions, Pentax does recommend keeping the paper out of the sun and making a plain-paper copy of any documents that will be stored long term. Having to carry around a stash of Pentax paper (which is not yet readily available at most office supply stores) and worrying about disappearing print are serious detractors. But the speed of the machine makes this a good choice if you need fast printouts of temporary records on the road. The PocketJet comes with a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery, AC adapter, computer interface cable and 100-sheet box of thermal paper.
Pentax PocketJet Printer has a list price of $499, but sells for less at computer stores.
Mini surge protector: Most computer users keep their desktop machines plugged into a surge protector to avoid damage to hardware and lost data from errant electrical impulses. Curtis Manufacturing, a computer division of the Rolodex Co., has developed a single outlet miniature version that provides the same protection on the go. Just attach it to the end of the power cord, plug it into the wall socket and you’re set.
Curtis Single Outlet Surge Protector (SP100) is $4.99; Safe Fax model with phone jacks (SP200) is $9.99 at computer stores.
Floppy disk/camera filter file: Domke, well-known for its sturdy camera bags, has introduced a wallet-style pouch that does double duty as both a computer disk and camera filter carrier. Made of ballistic nylon with a heavy canvas binding, the file has nine 3 3/4-inch-square see-through Mylar pockets lined with soft nylon. Each pocket accommodates a 3.5-inch floppy disk, square filter or circular filter up to 82 millimeters. When folded, the pouch measures 12 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.
Domke 9-Pocket Filter/Disk File is $35.95 at camera stores.
Computer light: While the newest laptops have excellently lighted screens, the same cannot be said for those dark keyboards, especially when you are typing in darkened planes or dimly lit rooms. The ASF Notebook Computer Light clips to the top of any laptop, shedding welcome light on keyboards and adding extra light to back-lit screens. The light runs on four nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries or an AC adapter, both included. The light also will operate on four standard AA alkaline batteries (not included), which have shorter lives than NiCads, but are more available in a pinch. The light comes with a soft carrying case, as well as two extra bulbs that store conveniently in the battery compartment.
ASF Computer Notebook Light (item NCL 480) is $49.95 from the manufacturer; telephone (800) 771-3600; fax (800) 625-6897.
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