At many hotels, all you have to do is ask and you'll get a business traveler's dream room with dual phone lines, data ports, speaker phones, a printer, paper clips, a stapler, a fax machine, an ergonomic desk chair, good lighting and maybe even a computer. The chain also provides pager rentals, graphics services, a notary, videoconferencing, and a shredder on each floor. Brookstone, Sharper Image and other tony gadget companies can help you stay calm and refreshed while on the road. Consider a white noise machine to help you sleep, a security alarm to give you peace of mind, or a travel-sized humidifier to keep you healthy. Information Updates Keeping in touch with the home office is where the really cool toys come in.
Laptops are de rigueur but old hat.
And while they're getting lighter, smaller, and more powerful, they're being eclipsed by newer technologies that are taking over some of their functions. Unlike a laptop, they run for two months on two AAA batteries. Synchronizing software tells your desktop or laptop everything your hand-held device knows, and vice versa, in minutes. Even if you carry a laptop on the road, a palm-top can help conserve the laptop's limited battery power. With additional software or accessories, hand-held machines can connect to the Internet and wireless networks.