::: The EdTech Advantage :::

Here’s a few pics of my MacBook when I’m on the go. I try to create my own “little office space” wherever I go as long as there’s space and I’ll be staying at that spot for a while.

(1) First essential item is my Podium Coolpad. It provides very good stable elevation for the MacBook and also allows me to swivel the base if necessary.

(2) Next essential item (not completely necessary, but with Random Shutdown Syndrome and heating issues, I don’t want to take any chances!) is a fan cooling pad. Although the Podium Coolpad does provide airflow space between the table and MacBook bottom, it doesn’t hurt to provide additional ventilation, especially if working for extended time periods.

(3) My next mini-office favorite is a small external keyboard. I’d bring my full white Mac keyboard — but it’s too big to pack in my suitcase and heavy, too — quite overkill for the supposed road warrior. I like this keyboard since it really is about the size of a laptop keyboard. I guess I’m just too careful with my MacBook — minimizing the use of the built-in keyboard as much as possible. At any rate, using an external keyboard also provides better ergonomics … plus I can put the keyboard on my lap and still maintain a very good viewing angle on the MacBook screen. One thing to remember — most keyboards out there are “designed for Windows”. By default, using such a keyboard switches the functions of the command and options keys, so I downloaded a free program that switches them back to the standard Mac positions.

(4) Next on the list are my ergonomic mouse pad and tiny wireless mouse. I’ve used traditional flat mousepads in the past — and I think mousepads with wrist support are better for your mousing hand in the long run. Even in short uses, the wrist support does provide noticeable comfort. You can also opt to use a regular flat mousepad favorite and get one of those mouse pad “wrist pillows” — usually a small bag filled with lots of plastic beans.

(5) Of course with more than two USB devices to connect to my MacBook, I need a small USB hub. I just got one of those small generic ones from Surplus Computers.

(6) So there … my whole setup. It’s quite obvious that I try to bring my whole office with me when I travel. Of course I could be a minimalist and just bring along the MacBook and nothing else. But there’s something about closely replicating my true office setup — somehow I get less distracted (not using trackpad, etc.) and I do get more things done. But that’s just me.

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Filed under: Educational Technology