Archive for the ‘Computers’ Category

Dealing with Your Laptop while on Vacation

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Many business people have to remain in contact with the office even while enjoying a brief vacation.  Grupo Mayan professionals recommend that you consider the following if you have to bring your electronic devices with you to the resort.

So many things can happen to your electronic equipment while on vacation.  Most of us cannot travel today without our laptops because we have to remain in constant connection to the rest of the world.  Acquire a sturdy laptop bag if you wish to take it on vacation.  Laptops can be carried on most airlines but if you plan to check it in, be sure you have a case that will absorb shocks (most baggage personnel have to move an enormous amount of bags in an unbelievable period).  Expect some mishandling.

Before leaving on your trip, be sure to back up all the material on your drive to ensure you are covered if the laptop disappears or if it is damaged on your trip.  If you are using a company laptop, it is usually encrypted to protect company information.  Check with your IT professional to make sure your information is properly saved in case the worst happens.  If you donít have an encrypted system, you can always use other type of online services to back up your information.  Some companies even provide a system that will synchronize a number of systems so no information can ever be lost from one device.

Try not to advertise that you have a laptop if you want to avoid someone ëborrowingí it.  If you use the system on the plane, you may have unwanted people eyeing your laptop.   Of course, you should not leave your laptop or electronic devices unattended (unless you are tired of having them).  Check with your vacation spot to ensure that you will have access to Wi-Fi.  Grupo Mayan professionals reveal that most resorts have Internet access available for guests.  You should see what type is offered.  Some resorts have direct Ethernet connections for guest to take advantage of.  You may need to pack appropriate cables to access this form of Internet.

See what the charges are for using the Internet.  You do not want to check out and find that you are charged by the amount of data you access.  This type of rate can prove to be very expensive to pay for.  If you have to remain in contact with your business, there is no reason you cannot do so and still enjoy an excellent vacation.

Data Backup on Your Trip

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

You would be hard pressed to find a business professional that does not own a laptop and cell phone and uses it to conduct most business while travelling.  After all, say the Grupo Mayan experts in business travel, this form of technology happens to be the lifeline to their business and without it these days it might actually be difficult to do business.  There are many reasons why it is important to carry a laptop and cell phone while on business ranging from contracts that need to be revised to staying in constant contact with business associates.

With that said, the theft of laptop and even the damage to your equipment while travelling is a very real thing.  This particularly becomes a pain when you are gone for a week or two at a time.  Being cut-off from your business while you wait on replacement equipment can seem like it takes an eternity.

This article, say the Grupo Mayan experts, will focus on ways that you can backup all of your important business documents and make sure they are theft-proof so that even if these items are stolen or damaged, none of your clients or customers information is at risk as well as your companyís information.

One way to backup your information or the information used for your company as it serves the client or customer is to make sure that you e-mail copies of all the documentation to your work e-mail so that you or anyone at your office has access to this information, say the Grupo Mayan experts.

When you have a laptop, it is important to have it password protected as well as having a laptop lock with you in your laptop case at all times.  It is sometimes easy to get distracted if you are sitting in a restaurant working and it only takes 1 second for a thief to take off with your laptop as well as your cell phone.  The cell phone should be hidden at all times, but available for you to hear it.  The laptop lock can be attached to your laptop and the table you are sitting at on a secure spot of the table such as the center of the table.  You could even strap it to the chair you are sitting on as long as you do not use the leg of the chair.

Other ways to backup information from your laptop, according to the Grupo Mayan experts, would be to have a flash drive however flash drives are easily stolen as well if they are not kept in a secure place, so attaching your laptop bag to the laptop lock as well would be a great idea.  You could also backup the information you need to have a backup for on a CD and leave one copy in your hotel room and take one with you.

Another option would be to have an external hard drive to backup all important files because typically, the space that is available on an external hard drive is enough to backup your entire system if need be.  They are also small and compact and fit nicely in your laptop bag as well.

Make sure that if you are on the move, for instance walking down the street that your laptop bag is carried across your body, say the Grupo Mayan experts, instead of just hanging off of one of your shoulders.  It is too easy for a thief of a bike to ride by you and grab it off of your shoulder.

Grupo Mayan Resorts: Data Backup on Your Trip

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

You would be hard pressed to find a business professional that does not own a laptop and cell phone and uses it to conduct most business while travelling.  After all, say the Grupo Mayan experts in business travel, this form of technology happens to be the lifeline to their business and without it these days it might actually be difficult to do business.  There are many reasons why it is important to carry a laptop and cell phone while on business ranging from contracts that need to be revised to staying in constant contact with business associates.

With that said, the theft of laptop and even the damage to your equipment while travelling is a very real thing.  This particularly becomes a pain when you are gone for a week or two at a time.  Being cut-off from your business while you wait on replacement equipment can seem like it takes an eternity.

This article, say the Grupo Mayan experts, will focus on ways that you can backup all of your important business documents and make sure they are theft-proof so that even if these items are stolen or damaged, none of your clients or customers information is at risk as well as your company’s information.

One way to backup your information or the information used for your company as it serves the client or customer is to make sure that you e-mail copies of all the documentation to your work e-mail so that you or anyone at your office has access to this information, say the Grupo Mayan experts.

When you have a laptop, it is important to have it password protected as well as having a laptop lock with you in your laptop case at all times.  It is sometimes easy to get distracted if you are sitting in a restaurant working and it only takes 1 second for a thief to take off with your laptop as well as your cell phone.  The cell phone should be hidden at all times, but available for you to hear it.  The laptop lock can be attached to your laptop and the table you are sitting at on a secure spot of the table such as the center of the table.  You could even strap it to the chair you are sitting on as long as you do not use the leg of the chair.

Other ways to backup information from your laptop, according to the Grupo Mayan experts, would be to have a flash drive however flash drives are easily stolen as well if they are not kept in a secure place, so attaching your laptop bag to the laptop lock as well would be a great idea.  You could also backup the information you need to have a backup for on a CD and leave one copy in your hotel room and take one with you.

Another option would be to have an external hard drive to backup all important files because typically, the space that is available on an external hard drive is enough to backup your entire system if need be.  They are also small and compact and fit nicely in your laptop bag as well.

Make sure that if you are on the move, for instance walking down the street that your laptop bag is carried across your body, say the Grupo Mayan experts, instead of just hanging off of one of your shoulders.  It is too easy for a thief of a bike to ride by you and grab it off of your shoulder.

Grupo Mayan Resorts: Preventing Laptop Theft

Monday, July 20th, 2009

It really is a sad day when you cannot go sit at a cafe and enjoy the time you have working on your laptop without the fear of it being stolen, yet more and more the thieves are all too ready and willing to take what is yours.

In San Francisco for example, this has become a huge problem according to local police reports, but other places such as coffee spots or hot spots near major campuses across the nation face this problem as well, say the Grupo Mayan experts in business travel.

The key to preventing laptop theft, bottom line, is prevention, say the Grupo Mayan experts.  Using a laptop leash is a good option however, do not go cheap on this because this is one of the scenarios where you get what you pay for.  Make sure that the leash is made of sturdy metal and it will lock to your laptops security slot and then to a place on the table that is bolted to the floor, advice the Grupo Mayan experts.  The reason you do not want to just attach it to any leg of any table is because the table can be lifted and the lock slipped off of the leg.  Do not leave the laptop, even on a leash for any reason.  You are just inviting that thief.  Yes, the leash works well as a deterrent, but it only takes a pair of wire cutters to get it and take off.

Another strategy is to always have company of friends that you can trust to watch your laptop if you have to run to the bathroom.  There is a higher chance that this is one of the better theft deterrents, say the Grupo Mayan experts.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times.  This is not just for the good and safety of your property but of your person as well.
You could also bring your dog along, most cafes do allow dogs on their outside patio area and your dog is a good theft deterrent to most would be criminals because even if they are friendly, a dog knows what is and is not supposed to happen.

Lastly, say the Grupo Mayan experts, make sure that whatever you carry your laptop in it does not look like a laptop carrier.  Most women have laptop bags that look like purses these days and then the industry has gotten wise about the laptop thieves and started making bags that look more like backpacks.  Who wants to steal a backpack that probably has nothing but useless books and papers inside?   Also, make sure that all of the information you need from your laptop is backed up on another device, say the Grupo Mayan experts, especially if you are a student or use your laptop for business purposes.