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Internet Online LapTop Warrior Discussion List
I - L-A-P-T-O-P W-A-R-R-I-O-R D-I-G-E-S-T

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September 11, 1998 Issue # 027
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.....IN THIS DIGEST.....


// -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- //

// -- NEW -- //

A Travel Alarm for Airport Security?
~ Jim Freidell

Personal Laptop Carrying Harness
~ Ray Johnson

Universal access to the internet.
~ Rob Jorgensen

Solar-powered Battery Inquiry
~ Dwight L. Song

Full-time RV'ers
~ Hershel Stolebarger

Connecting to the internet in Italy
~ Dominic Korbuly


// -- CONTINUING -- //

Trouble logging in with iPass in Africa
~ Jo Caragata & Jo Brooks

Checking Email on a cruise ship
~ Geoff Kleinman


// -- MODERATOR'S CORNER -- //

Email via telephone
~ Bob Lawson, Moderator


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// -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- //

At first I was concerned, but after the 12th time someone emailed
me the message about laptop thefts, I started to relax.

You've heard about it long ago, undoubtedly, the scam where someone
makes off with your laptop while you're stuck waiting to walk
through the metal detector at the airport. It seemed like a real
concern, but I got the Email so often that it quickly became clear
that the warning messages were bouncing around the Internet as
quickly as reports of the latest virus. Most of the virus warnings
appear to be hoaxes, so soon I assumed that the laptop theft
warnings were, too.

But I'm starting to rethink my cavalier attitude in light of
today's first post, below.


// -- N-E-W -- //

From: Jim Freidell <j.freidell@ieee.org>
Subject: A Travel Alarm for Airport Security?

Has anyone ever hear of a small travel alarm which could be
remotely activated in case one found that one's laptop computer was missing
after passing through airport security? Have you seen or heard of anything like
this, an alarm that could be activated that would
force a thief to abandon a stolen laptop?

I'm getting more concerned about the dangers of theft at airport
security checkpoints. I've used my own stealth techniques for 10+
years to hide the fact that I'm carrying a laptop. Another friend
has followed my lead.

We both MUST use our laptops when we travel, virtually every minute
we can.

Unfortunately, my friend recently had his laptop (a new $6,000 one)
stolen at the security checkpoint and presumes that someone saw him
using it in the airport frequent flyer's lounge and followed him to
the security checkpoint. I can assure you that his approach to
hiding the fact that he had a laptop is/was better than mine and
nobody on "our" side of the Xray machine could have possibly
guessed that an expensive laptop lay in his carry on.

My friend used an older leather attachŽ case (hard sided) into
which he had fitted foam to protect the laptop, and provide storage for
the charger, extra battery and other necessities. He used the file
dividers in the lid for papers, etc. The case was nice - acceptable
in any business environment - but was worn and looked on the
outside like a plain old briefcase like I carried every day for
years during the 1970s and 1980s.

He lost it right at security - the typical scenario where he was
held up by someone in front of him trying to shed metal from
various pockets and when finally through the metal detector the briefcase was
gone. A much fancier and more expensive (leather Tumi) case which looks far
more like it could carry a laptop, but which
contained a change of clothes and other necessities, was still
there. Interestingly also, my friend always sent his Tumi through
before his stealth briefcase so to give himself a little more
buffer of time.

The unfortunate part of this is that those of us in the consulting
business absolutely positively must have our laptops when we
travel. We use them extensively and literally do not have any time in which to
postpone laptop work (short of sleeping less than the 4
hours/night I personally average). Moreover, my business very often
involves complex multimedia presentations on the computer - no
laptop, no presentation; no presentation, no paycheck.

I hope someone has a solution to offer.

Jim Freidell
j.freidell@ieee.org
303-978-1262


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: Ray Johnson <JohnsonRC@EM.AGR.CA>
Subject: Personal Laptop Carrying Harness

I am looking for a portable carrying harness (for lack of a better
word) for laptop computers. Our work involves carrying a laptop
outside and entering data into a database remotely by radio. I
would like to have some sort of a platform and harness that would
allow the laptop computer to be supported in front of a person.
This would give hands free support, allowing a person to enter data
in a standing position while outdoors.

Are you aware of any manufacturers?

Thank you.
Ray Johnson
Centre for Plant Health
8801 East Saanich Road
Sidney, B. C. V8L 1H3, Canada
tel: (250) 363-6650 ext. 232, fax: (250) 363-6661
E-mail: johnsonrc@em.agr.ca


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: Rob <RCJORGENSEN@email.msn.com>
Subject: Universal access to the internet.

I like the emergency service number 911. You call if from almost anywhere in
the US and you can report an emergency. I feel that countries and phone
companies should conspire to offer free internet
access to everybody in a similar way. Access to the internet should be free and
global by dialing a certain number like 4683738 {Internet}, THEN access
numbers and the confusion finding and using
them could be eliminated. Maybe you can get President Clinton to help lead the
way to make the world smaller, at the very least the suggestion may take his
mind off Monica.

Rob Jorgensen


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: "Dwight L. Song" <ls385@columbia.edu>
Subject: Solar-powered Battery Inquiry

Is there any kind of sunlight charged battery (solar battery)
available for laptop on market? That should totally eliminate the worry about
running out of laptop battery energy. Thank you and awaiting your
reply.

Dwight L. Song
ls385@columbia.edu

Moderator's Note:
I contacted the fine people at Laptop Traveler. They carry solar
products, but they suggested contacting 1-800Batteries does at:
http://www.1800Batteries.com or 800/228-8374.


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: "Hershel Stolebarger" <hershel@thehomelist.com>
Subject: Full-time RV'ers

Do you have much discussion for full-time RV'ers?

We are starting this experience next year and would like information
on the best equipment and services available for us at this time.
Be aware, we sometimes will be spending weeks dry-camping in remote areas
fishing and hiking. I would like to be able to check and send e-mail
inexpensively without going into a town to use a telephone -
but that may not be possible today. It would be nice to know how
other RV'ers are handling their e-mail communications and what
advances are on the horizon. If you do not have information
available for RV'ers, I suggest you might want to do some research
in this area. Thank you.

Hershel Stolebarger
hershel@thehomelist.com


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: Dominic Korbuly <korbud@yahoo.com>
Subject: Connecting to the internet in Italy

I will be in Sicily in May 1999 and in Umbria and Tuscany in June
1999. Can someone advice me about internet providers, telephone #,
charges numbers to use to US.

Thanks.
Korbud@yahoo.com


// -- C-O-N-T-I-N-U-I-N-G -- //

From: Jo Caragata & Jo Brooks <joandjo@istar.ca>
Subject: Trouble logging in with iPass in Africa

I am writing in response to the problems reported regarding logging
on using iPass in Africa (see I-Laptop Warrior #25). You have my
deepest sympathies. I have never been to Africa, but I can feel
your pain. I have just spent three months in Asia and Southeast
Asia and iPass went with me.

I have come to the conclusion that logging on is like a lottery.
Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. Sometimes logging on
works like a charm and other times -- even from the same phone on
the same day - it is impossible. Frustration runs high.

Coincidentally you have the same ISP that I do. At various times I
contacted both iPass and Istar about these problems and one thing I
learned was that each of them will blame the other, or tell me that
my modem settings are wrong (ignoring the fact that sometimes
things are quite obviously alright), or as a last resort they pin the
blame on "line noise."

I am sorry that I don't have any concrete help for you, but maybe
you'll feel better knowing that you are not alone. I can only
assume that global roaming technology is not yet as good as we
would like it to be. Cross your fingers on your next trip. It just
might be the magic ingredient.

Jo Brooks
joandjo@istar.ca
Victoria, BC
CANADA


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: "g k" <gk@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Checking Email on a cruise ship

Regarding the question of checking Email from a cruise ship (see
I-Laptop #26), most cruise ships charge $15 per minute for ship to
shore phone calls. Even if you were brave enough to try it, the
throughput would be really poor (with a ship to shore call it
would be almost impossible for your modem to handshake at any reasonable
speed).

Your best bet is going to be getting your e-mail when you are at
Port. The downside of this is you will have to take your laptop
with you when you get off the ship.

My wife and I just got back from a seven-day cruise. We didn't take
our laptops, pagers, or cell phones...It was heaven. You might
want to think twice about lugging that Laptop and just enjoy your
time away!

Geoff Kleinman
http://www.kleinman.com


++++ Moderator's Corner ++++

Email via telephone

If you don't have a computer along but need to check your Email,
you can sign up for a service to have a computer read your Email to you
over the telephone. I recently got some promotional information
from a company called SayMail. I checked out their web site, but
haven't gotten a chance yet to test the service.

When you sign up for SayMail, starting at US$15/month, you get a
phone number in the US that you can call to have your Email read to
you. You can then have the Email message sent to you at a nearby
fax machine, or you can respond.

Here's how the web site puts it:

"SayMail lets you listen and respond to your Internet e-mail
completely by phone. It's perfect for business or leisure
travelers, or anyone who uses their e-mail frequently. Our computerized
telephone system will read your e-mail to you, line by line. You
can also send copies of your e-mail to any nearby FAX machine and even send an
e-mail reply message, all over the phone."

The web site is at http://www.saymail.com/ and there's an
autoresponder at: mailto:info@saymail.com for additional
information.

Plus, they're now running a free 5-day trial of the service.

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Subject: Funny phones in Switzerland and France

Last two times I was in Europe, I came across phones that puzzled
me. One was in Switzerland, the other in France. The phones were
of a modern variety. They were wired in to the wall with Swiss and
French modular phone line plugs, as one would expect. But on the
other end of the phone line that ran from the wall, there was a
US-style RJ11 plug.

Oh, boy, I thought, this should be easy to go online. Since these
were residential lines I wasn't worried about digital service, so I
took the line out of the phone and plugged it directly into my
modem.

Nothing. It didn't work.

So I got out my line tester and checked out what I was dealing
with. In both cases, I found the polarity reversed on the lines.
I was surprised. Has anyone found similar circumstances and can
anyone offer an explanation? It was my understanding that the
general rule that a phone was a phone the world over still applied
(with the exception of digital PBX systems, of course).

My immediate solution was to pull out my alligator clips and put
the polarity back as it should be.

Bob Lawson

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