What do you bring to a blogging conference?

I’ve attended many blog conferences and I tend to take the same tech gadgets with me.  Twitter is always a flurry with questions like “should I bring a laptop” or “do we need extension cords”?

This is what I typically carry in my bag.

1. I have an HP mini which I love because it’s so easy to transport especially when I am flying.  However it’s got it’s limitations and if I want to do any “heavy” blogging or vlogging, it’s probably not a wise choice.  Mine is also equipped with a solid state hard drive, which means it’s less likely to suffer damage being carried and banged around.  Smart purchase if you are in the market for a new one.

Some people don’t want the bother of carrying the laptop especially if they have an iPhone or smart phone.  I like being able to get on twitter and facebook and do a quick blog post if I get the chance.

2. Don’t forget the charger for that laptop.  And don’t leave it in the hotel, not that I would know anything about that…

3. iPhone or smart phone…almost a necessity these days.  I had to attend an event without my iPhone once and found it difficult to maneuver the fast pace of the event without it.  Tweeting, texting, catching up with friends…all easier with an iPhone, Droid or Smartphone.

4. Again charger for phone…see number 2.  And if you mail any swag home don’t pack the phone in said box…not that I would know anything about that either…

5.  Take your camera!  You will want to capture more than just friends and sessions.  Take a tour of the area and participate in any photowalks.  This is a great time to see parts of the country you are not familiar with!

6. Flip cameras are great for capturing impromptu moments at fun parties or capture part of a speech that moves you.  Watch out though when they are turned on you at just that moment.  Not that I…well you get it.

Any other gadgets that you can’t live without when you attend a conference?

Are you interested in cleaner air?  The HEPA tower will not only reduce odors but is equipped to fight germs and capture allergens.  Honeywill purifiers will eliminate up to 99.97 percent of airborne pollutants that pass through their filters, trapping allergens such as dust, mold spores and pollen and helping everyone in the room  breathe a little easier.  Some Honeywell air purifiers can also be effective at fighting germs such as bacteria and fungi.  The Compact Tower that I received is ideal for dorm or apartment living and retails for $89.  Having had other brands or purifiers I was particularly happy with the noise level.  There is nothing worse than a buzzing sound that you can’t talk over, and this one produces only a slight hum.  And it’s sleek style fits any decor.

My son loved the The Honeywell Quiet Set 5 Whole Room Tower Fan (HY-105), mostly because he always runs hot and was always turning up the air.  This way he can have some air and we can keep the house at a good temperature for the rest of us.  This unit will allow you to experience maximum cooling comfort without the loud noise of a traditional fan to bother you or your roommate.  I was so impressed again by the low noise level.  In fact, at the lowest settings, the sound from a Honeywell QuietSet fan is virtually undetectable with measurement equipment. And if you want soothing sound options instead, like “whisper” and “white noise,” these fans have those settings as well. It’s a little taller than I would have expected, but the lack of noise makes up for it.  And again it’s sleek design can blend into a room easily.  Suggested retail price of $54.99.

Honeywell has long been a name you can trust and they are still producing quality and cutting edge products.

The P-TOUCH Labeler is an easy-to-use handheld labeler great for helping students and parents to get organized and keep that level of organization throughout the school year. Best of all, with kids in mind the new Deco mode will allow students to jazz up labels to match their personality and style.

Still want more?  The P-Touch labeler can be used to:

• Label binders/folders with appropriate school subject (i.e. English, Math, Science, etc), so all information pertaining to that particular class is in one place for the student to reference
• Decrease chances of losing school smaller supplies (e.g., calculators, pen/pencil cases) and sports equipment/bags, it’s beneficial to label them with a name and contact information.

After labeling the shelves and notebooks, we got to the important stuff.  Easy to use, even your kids will have fun…like this….

Glad we won’t get that cell phone mixed up marg …. !

And it works.  I think that’s what surprised me the most.  I got to test drive the product and with the exception of a really faded receipt it worked flawlessly.  It’s the perfect home office tool.  Personally I would love a smaller version for travel as that is one of my biggest issues – losing receipts.

You scan your receipts which go to an inbox.  From there it pulls the name of the store, amounts, taxes…and you can edit amounts, put them in folders and add notes.  Then toss the paper!  Now your receipts are kept forever online!  Comes with it’s own software, so you set it up and you are ready to go.

But now I can come home from the store and immediately scan the receipts.  There is a Windows and Mac version available, and for only $200 it’s not a bad scanner.  Not bad because of the technology it packs.  It will really help during tax season I can tell!  Check out the video for more..

I was glad we had the New Air AC unit (which I had gotten for review) to put in his new place.  With money tight, having an energy friendly unit is key. Uses a more environmentally friendly refrigerant.  Better unit to have all around.

It can be easily moved around the studio apartment, (comes on rollers), from his living area to bed area…which in his place is basically 5 feet, but it’s nice to know it’s easy to handle. And at 60 pounds, it didn’t break my his back… With space limited it’s nice to be able to easily move it out of the way.

Works an area of approximately 350 square feet making it perfect for an annex office, dorm room, or perhaps an unfinished basement.  So many possibilities!  And the Air-N-Water site has other products you might find useful…electric fans, water purifiers, wine coolers…you’ll want to check them out!

Independent research shows that students who regularly use handheld graphing calculators like the TI-Nspire understand underlying mathematics concepts better than students who do not. This improves student performance in school, which results in higher grades, increased self-confidence and reduced stress. It’s a must-have for middle school, high school and college students who wish to understand math better or improve their performance in school. Plus, it’s permitted on many standardized exams, including the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, PSAT/NSMQ and Praxis, as well as many state tests.

Other features that set the TI-Nspire apart….

– A streamlined keypad with alpha keys located at the bottom for texting

– A scratchpad that lets users perform quick calculations without opening a new file

– An enhanced home display with menus and clickable icons for easier navigation

– The ability to show math problems four ways – as graphs, tables, equations or text problems – at the same time, on a single screen

– Software that allows students to transfer work between the handheld and a laptop or home computer so they can see and work on problems on a larger screen

We got to test drive this model and had no trouble setting it up and working it.  It uses a series of menus to perform functions.  The kids know computers so well this will be a natural progression.  And the fact that it can sync with their own computer allows them the ability to work on the surface of their choice.  In fact my daughter who is a senior and used to graphing calculators found it a fun replacement for her old one.  Now if it could only guarantee SAT results!  Oh well, with some things she’s on her own!

Make sure they have the safety devices they need

The government estimates some 60,000,000 cars, minivans and SUVs are riding on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires sustain unseen damage, grip less, wear faster and carry fewer loads. Keeping tires inflated properly is so important to ensuring a safe drive.  And teaching your kids to check is one safety measure that is quick and easy.

The Accutire Digital Tire Gauge

Accutire’s Digital Tire Gauge is handy to have around and the fact that it’s digital makes reading it easier.  Kids will think they are carrying around another cool gadget.  No squinting to see where the line hits and guessing at the number.  Add this to your college packing list!  Available from Tire Rack for $8.95.

I use the Clingo car mount (affiliate) to hold my iPhone especially when I am using it as a GPS.  The green sticky material is not letting go of your gadget as you drive along, but will peel off with ease when you take it off yourself.  No need to worry about your phone falling off mid-drive.

• Securely holds ANY phone or mobile media device you own.
• Provides hands-free, heads-up mounting of your phone for easy viewing and safe driving.
• Quick and easy installation on your dash or windshield.
• Allows multi-axis adjustment for infinite viewing angles.
• Adhesive free, leaves no residue
• Retains secure grip with simple care

The iPod holder has the same green Clingo technology but has a string to hang around your neck.  Perfect for working out.  The technology is super cool but the “not having your gadgets fly all over the place” is REALLY cool!  Clingo is the way to go!

Every once in a while you try a product that makes your jaw drop. I think my first smart phone had this effect. I’m still amazed that a PEN is the next product to do that! It’s the Livescribe PULSE SMARTPEN and it couldn’t be easier to set up and work. In fact if will change the way you take notes, share notes, study notes and archive them.

What I like

The pen setup is easy.  Too often I am given tech products that need translation in the setup.  The steps are easy to follow and anyone can be writing and recording in minutes.

I had the opportunity to review the PULSE SMARTPEN, Livescribe’s latest app-friendly smartpen that captures everything you write and hear. A very cool and sleek pen, you do the writing and everything is saved and can be uploaded to your computer. The Livescribe’s Application Store gives you the ability to customize the gadget with all sorts of learning tools and study aids including a Spanish dictionary, thesaurus and calculator. Now taking notes and audio in class is so much easier and the data can after uploaded to a computer to store where you can search by keyword, transcribe to text, or share with classmates, friends and family as a Pencast (interactive Flash movie).

What I wish

There are cords and manuals to keep track of.  I wish that any tech product that comes with multiple cords, plugs, and manuals would give you a bag to hold it.  I can’t tell you how many usb cords I have in a drawer that belong to “something”.

EARN THE BASIC CERTIFICATIONS FOR LIFE

The basic certifications that can be earned to help boost your resume are the CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications. If you intend to obtain these certifications, do so before the year ends. CompTIA currently offers a lifetime certification on these programs. After this year, they will no longer do so. As of January 1, 2011 the certifications will have to be renewed every 3 years. This is the ideal time to obtain these certifications if you’ve ever thought about going into the IT industry for any reason.  You may not even be ready to do a career change but if you think there may be a possibility keep the lifetime certifcations in mind.

CERTIFICATIONS OPEN DOORS

The world is changing as a result of the hardened economy that the United States has faced over the course of the last couple of years. Some highly sought after jobs no longer exist as a result of the ever changing face of business industry and if you are thinking of retraining or looking into a new industry, its time to start researching and seeking technology certifications.

In the article on what certifications to obtain, the author makes a good point that some tough decisions must be made before deciding on the appropriate certification path. The article also provides helpful information about how to determine if the certification is valuable within the industry. Which ever certification program you choose, opportunities for new careers will be available to you when you make the decision to obtain technology certifications.