The Verge - Whats in your bags

What's in your bag, Russell Brandom?

2013-05-03T15:15:07Z

What’s in your bag? is a recurring feature where we ask people to tell us a bit more about their everyday gadgets by opening their bags and hearts to us. Show us your bag in this forum post. This week, we’re featuring Russell Brandom.

I travel light. Occasionally I need a camera, but most of my work gets done on a single laptop, so I’m happy to keep my go-bag light enough that I can trek over to the library without too much fuss. I also don’t like backpacks (or at least, not outside of a camping context), so I’m limited by how much weight my arm can handle. It’s a good thing: less to worry about. I’ve found I only have the mental capacity to carry five or six important objects before I start losing things (for instance: my hat, earlier today), so it’s important to keep things pared down.

Bag

The bag

To be honest, I have to travel light: my choice in bag doesn’t leave me much room. I got this briefcase on eBay for $50 a few years back. It came with big grotty leather straps on the front that I threw out almost immediately. I’m pretty happy with what’s left. As you can tell, it’s taken a lot of punches over the years, and I suspect it’ll take many more before it gives out.

Basics

MACBOOK AIR 13-INCH

This is the standard-issue for Vergers, and although I was skeptical at first, it’s totally won me over – more with speed than anything else. Solid state drives are a beautiful thing. I’ve got a MacBook Pro at home, but at this point I only crack it open for music programs like Ableton and whenever I want to hook something up to my TV. Otherwise, the extra startup time just isn’t worth the wait.

THE BOOK

I bounce back and forth between reading my Readability queue on the subway and reading old-fashioned paper books. I like the paper version a lot better, so I’ve always got one on me. I got this Michael Paterniti book as a galley from a friend at Random House. It’s about cheese and betrayal, and I’m interested in both of those things.

THE PHONE

I got a Droid 4 because I wanted with a physical keyboard to take notes with. It's faster than typing on a touchscreen, and that part of it still works. Unfortunately, the battery now lasts me less than two days, and the camera is so bad that all my snapchats look like gray-blue fuzz. Sometimes, in life, we make mistakes.

Other stuff

THE HEADPHONES

I have a good pair of Sennheisers at home, but these Urbanears are easier to lug around. They’re not much for bass, but it’s good enough for transcription and emergency playthroughs of Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk. Also crucial: they’re slim enough to fit under a wool hat, as they did for most of this winter.

THE NOTEBOOK

I try to keep a bunch of different notebooks around in case I need to grab one on the way out the door. This one’s a limited-run Doane Paper model from a few years ago, probably the most photogenic of the bunch. So far there are notes from two stories in it: last summer’s Maker Faire and a book review I wrote in March of 2011. The rubber band is to keep it from flopping open, because I’ve kept it in my back pocket so long that the spine is completely wrecked. But the paper still works fine.

What's in your bag, Carl Franzen?

2013-04-12T15:40:04Z

What's in your bag? is a recurring feature where we ask people to tell us a bit more about their everyday gadgets by opening their bags and hearts to us. Show us your bag in this forum post. This week, we're featuring Carl Franzen.

This is my bag. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Seriously, though, when we were doing this shoot at the Vox Media NYC office and I dumped all the stuff out of my bag out onto my desk, I was actually a bit concerned about how spartan my contents were. But we are all about truthful representation here at The Verge, so I wasn't going to edit any more flashier gadgets in there. Besides, I stare at a computer screen many hours every day. I could probably do with a few less screens en route.

Bag

This Ben Sherman leather, polyurethane-coated messenger bag has never been my first choice. I’ve always tried to travel as lightly as possible, and this bag always seemed just slightly too big and bulky for my liking. I also don’t like how the strap seems to persistently, creepily loosen on me without my doing. It’s made in China. I bought it for over $100 when I lived in Washington, D.C. for a few months in 2009, because I wanted something more “professional” looking than my Jansport backpack. Then when I moved to New York a year later, I tried to switch to a few Brooklyn Industries bags of varying size and function, but they all proved too small. So this is the bag I use now, and I’ve actually grown to love it, despite its flaws.

Basics

Macbook AiR

This is my work laptop. I have coveted the Air lineup since it was first introduced in 2008, but again, I sort of fell into it after a while. My first computer that was entirely mine was a white Macbook, which I destroyed in college while drunk and disorderly one night. Then I upgraded to the silver Macbook Pro first-gen. After upgrading the RAM on that and using it for a few years, I finally acquired the 2010 unibody Macbook Pro I still have now as my personal machine. But that’s been eclipsed lately by the Samsung Chromebook (Series 3) my girlfriend gave me, which I find totally sufficient for my purposes at home, mainly browsing and email. Chrome is not mature enough as an OS for me to use as a work machine, it doesn’t support enough software I need.

iPhone 4S

Just one, the iPhone 4S. Still the best phone out there, in my opinion (iPhone 5 is too long for me). I use a busted Otterbox Defender case, the bottom portion of which broke off after I dropped my phone on the ground one time, leaving behind a dangling plastic shard (chad?) that nearly sliced my hand open. I had to break that part off to make it safe again. I am hard on my personal technology.

Sony MDR V-6 Headphones

Similar but not quite as good as the Sony MDR-7506 headphones the Vox studio uses, but cheaper. Less than $70 on Amazon now. I carry these with me if I know I’m going to be out of the office for a few days. Otherwise, they are on my desk and I use earbuds for travel.

Other stuff

Wallet

Given to me as a gift by my parents in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove several years ago for Christmas. Manufacturer uncertain, but I believe it came from Eddie Bauer. Verging on George Costanza thickness because I tend to keep a lot of freemium, “buy 10 get one free” coffee cards and other sentimental crap in there.

China Daily

In this age of the declining print newspaper, somehow, in Brooklyn Heights, there appeared a dispenser for China Daily. I try to grab it for a quarter on the way to work.

Orange

The absolute best fruit. More robust than a banana, it has a protective skin that’s fairly easy to remove, is delicious and filled with vitamin C, which I swear helps heal colds. I have at least one every day.

Vox Metal water bottle

I acquired this during my first week from the old Vox office kitchen cabinet. Made by Klean Kanteen, I think. Stainless steel. Filled with seltzer.

Pen

For writing notes on the newspaper when I’m done with it. I prefer clicky pens. No cap to lose.

Travel Toothbrush

Duane Reade. Like a few dollars. Worth every penny. I usually have a travel toothpaste as well but we ran out at home so I had to dip into and use all of that, unfortunately.

What's in your bag, Aaron Souppouris?

2013-03-29T14:30:05Z

Because I work remotely, my bag was shot 5,200 miles from my London home at a tradeshow, so a lot of my equipment didn’t make the journey. Like most of my colleagues, I own a stupid amount of tech. Unlike most of my colleagues, who make the effort to bring every single piece of technology they own to events, I prefer to travel as light as possible. Traversing a show floor with 23 pounds of junk for ten hours a day really isn’t for me.

For me, mobility and comfort is everything. If I could, I would literally carry nothing, but until someone develops a way to send my thoughts directly to the internet, that’s not really practical. As long as I have a laptop, a camera, and a phone, though, I can do everything The Verge needs me to without much issue.

Bag

I bought the Tucano Multitasking vertical messenger bag about a year and a half ago and it’s served me pretty well. While I like the idea of traveling light, I still manage to fill it with way too much stuff. Even when filled to the brim it’s still light and comfortable, and the slim profile prevents it from being a hassle to carry around all day. I also have a hefty Lowepro backpack for times when I need to carry a full-sized DSLR or more than one laptop, but my vanity prevents me from using it too often.

The Basics

13-inch MacBook Pro

When I started at The Verge back in November 2011, I owned a Vaio Z, an Ubuntu desktop, a Galaxy S II, and an Asus Transformer. How times have changed. Despite the fact I spend half my day shouting at OS X for not doing what I want it to, my colleagues have created dozens of time-saving scripts and apps for Apple’s OS, making it a much better fit than Windows for the things I do the most — writing and image editing. I’ve recently upgraded to a new MacBook Air, but if Sony was to bring back the canceled Vaio Z with a lovely touchscreen and Windows 8, I think I’d bite.

Phones

From the moment I got my first Nokia as a teen, I’ve been obsessed with phones. Because of that, I change my primary phone on an almost-monthly basis — I’m never satisfied. Back in January when my bag was shot, though I was rocking an HTC 8S and 8X (for my UK and US SIMs) combo. I’ve since moved back to Android, but I still keep the 8S around as a secondary device because it’s just so damn pretty, and I appreciate Windows Phone’s simplicity. The battered iPhone 4S is perhaps the world’s most expensive alarm clock — my brain is programmed to only wake me up after hearing a specific combination of four of Apple’s most annoying tones — and also doubles as an ultra-reliable tethering option when paired with my MacBook.

Other stuff

Tablets

I’m in love with my 3G Nexus 7. I use virtually every Google service you can think of — I was even an avid Google Wave fan — and when I’m not using an Android phone the Nexus keeps me connected and productive. The iPad mini, again with a 3G SIM, is mostly a dedicated gaming machine for me, facilitating my addictions to Letterpress, Ridiculous Fishing, and countless other iOS-exclusive games.

Camera

I use a NEX-F3 for my Verge camera duties whenever I can get away with it, but without the manual controls of its more expensive siblings it’s a hassle for quick shots. Because of that, and my hatred of full-sized bags, I currently spend trade shows running around with a hefty Nikon D3200 hanging around my neck. I’m currently weighing buying a NEX-7 and a load of new lenses versus purchasing a D7000 and using my current selection of glass; my credit card company probably thinks the latter is a better idea.

Miscellaneous

Vice(s)

I smoke, and yes, I know, that’s disgusting. Unfortunately I’ve been smoking for a very long time and neither my mind nor body shows any sign of wanting to stop. Equally unfortunate, the UK has banned smoking virtually everywhere — if they knew how regularly I work from home I probably wouldn’t be able to smoke there either. As such, I have a number of tools at my disposal. The pipe is strictly for indoor, private use; the Marlboro Reds are for those rare occasions I can actually smoke outside of my own home; and my Smoke Relief e-cigarette is for everywhere else.

Assorted

If my Minecraft Creeper wallet makes me feel younger than I am, my Bubble Bobble cardholder gives away my status as an eighties child. The cardholder is always stocked full of my Verge business cards, and also keeps my wireless “Oyster” London transport card safe. Not pictured is my notebook (if The Verge ever decides to start a “What’s in your pockets” series you’ll get the chance to gaze upon my little black book), my painkillers, or the (roughly) 7,483 different connectors and wires I stuff into every orifice of my bag.

What's in your bag, Tom Warren?

2013-03-15T17:50:03Z

When I'm packing for an event I try to squeeze every gadget possible into my bag. It often feels like I'm moving home, and I'm probably a prime target for would-be muggers, but there is no perfect phone, tablet, or PC right now. Everything fits in somehow, especially if I'm travelling overseas to an event. This bag is a modern day Mary Poppins production, so expect some surprises throughout.

Bag

My bag of choice is a Case Logic laptop case. It's slimline and has some thick foam padding throughout that makes it perfect for trade shows and events. It also has a number of compartments that are ideal for storing phones and various accessories. I'm particularly fond of the rear case that lets me quickly store a laptop or tablet. I've dropped it a number of times and my gadgets have always remained safe. The only downside is the single strap, which bothers my shoulder if I've packed a lot of gear inside. Overall it's lightweight and you don't end up looking like a grown man wearing a backpack. Bonus.

The Basics

13-inch MacBook Air (mid-2011)

Yes, I use a MacBook Air like 99.9 percent of The Verge staff. I might be the resident Microsoft expert, but Apple's hardware is still appealing for Windows use. I've held off running Windows 8 directly on the MacBook after some early trackpad issues, but Apple recently updated its Boot Camp drivers so I'll be taking the plunge soon and ditching my existing virtual machines. Speaking of Apple, I'm a big fan of the iPad mini. It's the perfect form factor for this type of device and I haven't touched my iPad since I bought one.

I also rarely go anywhere without a dedicated Windows machine, or two. I have been testing a couple of Samsung tablets (Ativ SmartPC / Ativ Tab) and you will usually find me with a Surface too. I'm still on the fence about using a Surface Pro full time, mainly because of lap use, but I'm hoping the perfect all-around Windows 8 form factor arrives soon so I can finally ditch my MacBook for good.

NOKIA LUMIA 920

My daily driver is typically the Nokia Lumia 920 right now. When I'm visiting the US I use a cyan AT&T version, but back home I use a red or yellow unit (yes I'm an Arsenal fan). I like to keep up-to-date on all mobile operating systems so I switch phones regularly; lately it's been between an iPhone 5, Nexus 4, and other Windows Phones. The Nokia Lumia 920 has some drawbacks in terms of features and app selection, but the camera is second to none. Given that I spend way too much time in dimly lit pubs, the Lumia's low light performance fits my needs perfectly.

NIKON D5000 / aF-S 18MM-55MM

I'm a fairly basic guy when it comes to photography. I have a Nikon D5000 with the AF-S 18mm-55mm lens and shoot the majority of my photos with this. For live blogs and events I'll use a D7000 with either an AF-S 18mm-200mm or 40mm macro lens. Cameras are like Excel to me, I don't use half the settings but I get the job done.

Other stuff

Mi-Fi and Wedge Mouse

Connectivity is key for my job so I keep a Huawei Mi-Fi in my bag just in case. My iPad mini has since turned into my hot spot of choice, but it's always useful to have a Mi-Fi around just in case. I also use a Microsoft Wedge Touch mouse. I wouldn't recommend it for hours of use, but it's particularly useful when you're mobile and want to get some work done without a touchpad. It's Bluetooth, too, so no pesky dongle required.

Windows to go and USB sticks

I never go anywhere without a USB key handy. I have a Windows To Go stick in my bag at all times, which allows me to boot a Windows 8 instance on any PC. I also have a 16GB stick which is useful for quick file transfers, especially for photos. Cloud services like Dropbox or SkyDrive might be useful, but nothing beats the speed and ease of use of a USB stick just yet.

Business cards

I seem to burn through business cards at a decent rate. If you're at a trade show, then these are still essential for quickly distributing contact details. I have a fairly iconic image on my particular cards, see if you can guess what it is.

SIM adapters

Sim adapters are essential for me personally. I switch phones so regularly that I'm constantly swapping from a nano SIM to Micro SIM. I also visit the US regularly so I keep a spare AT&T SIM in my bag to switch across once the plane touches down.

What's in your bag, Nathan Ingraham?

2013-02-22T15:30:04Z

Compared to Dieter's bag, I go in the opposite direction when packing. I specifically try to bring exactly what is necessary to get the job done, and I use the smallest bag I can to help avoid overpacking. Sure, that could leave me open to disaster if my gear fails, but everything here has proven itself many times over. I've been trying to apply this mindset to every occasion I have to pack a bag: what exactly do I need for this trip? What redundancies can I strip out to save space?

Bag

This year, I decided to go with my medium cargo bag from WaterField designs — it's not a huge bag by any stretch, and actually doesn't fit my camera, but its small size means that I'm careful about what exactly I pack. It also has a variety of well-placed pockets for storing all of my various accessories, and the main laptop compartment is actually not hidden by the flap — this makes grabbing my computer much quicker. The bag is starting to look a bit worn after five years of use, but it's as functionally sound today as it was on day one. When I need my camera, it travels in a Lowepro Cirrus TLZ 15 holster, which I often throw it into my bigger Timbuk2 bag for longer trips.

The Basics

13-inch MacBook Air (mid-2012)

Yup, it's the obvious choice, but I'm still continually amazed by how many boxes this computer manages to check: it’s thin and light but still has excellent battery life, a great keyboard, trackpad, and screen, and is much faster than most other computers I’ve used. Seriously, I hate my iMac now. Thanks, flash storage! I cut a good two pounds from my bag this year just by using this computer, and my shoulder definitely thanks me. The MagSafe adaptor and Ethernet dongle are “just in case” accessories — the MagSafe in particular was useful in our trailer full of older MacBook chargers.

Canon 50D / EF-S 15mm-85mm

This trusty Canon 50D and EF-S 15mm-85mm lens have shot probably 97 percent of the photos I've taken for this site. I also borrowed a 7D during CES to shoot video — but in my normal life, the 50D camera serves me just fine despite its age. The 15mm-85mm really hits the sweet spot in terms of focal range for nearly everything short of liveblogging — it's not as fast or quite as sharp as Canon's 17mm-55mm f/2.8 lens, but the extra range makes up for it. I left a few lenses home this time, but as I expected, I didn't need them.

iPhone 4S (Verizon)

I have conflicting feelings about my iPhone 4S pretty much every time I pick it up. I'm just plain tired of using iOS after many years with an iPhone, and Verizon's 3G speeds are laughably, shockingly slow compared to HSPA+ — to say nothing of LTE. Still, the camera continues to impress and delight me, the app selection is second to none, and it gets the job done in nearly every situation. (Though the slow data speed means it takes a good bit longer than I'd like.) I won't hesitate to replace it once my contract is finally up, though — perhaps with the next Nexus.

Nexus 7

This tiny tablet serves a few purposes — it lets me scratch my Android itch, and it’s an ideal reading or movie-watching device while traveling. It's not so crucial to getting work done, but it's a good companion in the few bits of downtime at the end of a long day when away from home. That said, a tablet might not make the cut for the next big trip — I didn't use the Nexus 7 very often much at CES, though its light weight means it wasn't much of a burden on my bag.

Verizon Jetpack

Lets me get online anywhere I am. It's hard to put a price on that.

Other stuff

Notebook and pens

Having an analog backup is never a bad idea, though I would have preferred a smaller notebook for this event. I know I have one somewhere around my house, but couldn't find it in time. My dependency on dead tree material is at an all-time low, though — my next notebook will definitely be a tiny model that I can easily jam in a pocket and forget about.

Apple in-ear headphones w/ remote + mic

I've used the Apple in-ear headphones with remote + mic for some years now and haven't found a pair of earbuds that I prefer more, despite sampling a number of alternatives. Doesn't mean these are perfect by any stretch — the cord noise is a particular issue. However, they sound good, are comfortable, work well with my phone, and don't break the bank. The phone charger is an obvious when traveling for work. While my iPhone still usually makes it through a day with ease, big events are notoriously cruel to a phone's battery.

Business cards

Collect 'em all! Still the best way to reliably and quickly share contact info, though I'm not very good at dealing with the ones I pick up afterwards.

PS Vita

Purely a luxury item, but this thing does an excellent job at killing time on flights, between layovers, and in the hotel. Going back to playing games on the tiny iPhone screen is a downer after spending time with this beautiful piece of hardware. The screen is great, and there are more than enough games to keep me busy. Completely superfluous, but it brought me more than enough fun to justify a spot in my bag. The days of dedicated portable gaming devices might be numbered, but the Vita remains my favorite way to game on-the-go.

Shades

The sun is notoriously bright and cruel after less than four hours of sleep.

Products to survive CES

Lip balm because Vegas is dry, hand sanitizer because Vegas is a germfest, Advil because Vegas causes headaches, and gum just because.