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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 Justin Rubio.
When preparing for big shows like CES, Google I/O, or any of Apple’s many events, it's far too easy to come under-prepared — so I make sure to bring everything I could possibly think of in terms of electronics and, most importantly, hygiene. This usually consists of a couple of phones, lots of cables and chargers, my trusty laptop, and hand sanitizer (to fend off epidemics like the Vergeflu).
More often than not, I work remotely, so it's rare for me to have a fully-equipped bag ready to go on a moment's notice. As a result, getting all of my stuff together for a couple of days away from home involves the tedious, but necessary, task of creating a long list and checking items off as I throw them into my backpack.
The Basics
Backpack
I picked up my Case Logic Backpack just before CES 2012, and while a traditional backpack is far from the best solution for quick access to its contents, it does a great job at reducing back strain with the help of padded straps and a comfortable lumbar pad. Considering that my laptop weighs almost 6 pounds, going for a single strap or messenger bag was never really an option.
Asus K53SV with Windows 8
Windows is my operating system of choice, and Asus’ K53SV provides a nice design, quality specs, and gaming capabilities that can handle just about everything I throw at it. I find the chiclet keyboard comfortable and quick, and while the laptop’s color may throw some people off (some say it’s brown or pink, but I prefer plum), I personally am a fan of its distinct styling.
Phones
Currently, my primary phone is the Samsung Galaxy Note II, complete with Verizon’s logo stamped on the home button. I may be constantly judged for its size, but once I got used to its dimensions, it’s become normal while every other phone is tiny. I’ve also mentioned this many times to my colleagues, but the Note II’s battery is amazing. I can easily go through an entire day of battling for LTE at events without tapping into a charger even once. As a backup I have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus with an extra 3800mAh battery.
Asus Nexus 7
With my recently equipped Note II, my Nexus 7 has just about become obsolete, but you never know when you’ll need a bone stock Android tablet just to try something out. I don’t actually remember the last time I’ve used it, but I’d rather not be stuck without it.
Wireless Mouse and USB Thumb Drive
When sitting down at a table for extended periods of time, I prefer using a mouse over a trackpad. The Logitech M215 is affordable, compact, and gets the job done. I try to always keep a thumb drive with me at all times, just in case I need to transfer some big files in a hurry.
Miscellaneous
Apple EarPods and earphones
While sitting at my computer, I almost always have earbuds in. Whether it be to listen up for alerts in our chatroom or to vibe to some music, I want to make sure I hear every noise my computer makes loud and clear. Oddly, I don’t actually use any Apple products. I got the standard earphones with a 4th generation iPod touch that I received a while back, and I picked up the EarPods after they were announced while I was looking for a decent set of earbuds. I’m not going to say either set is great by any means, but I find both comfortable to use over long periods of time.
Sunglasses
As a resident of California’s very sunny capitol, sunglasses are a must. These Ray-Bans are actually quite old, and I’m not the biggest fan of the styling, but they are prescription glasses and I’ve been too lazy to get my eyes checked for a new set.
Pens and notepad
Even with a Galaxy Note II in my pocket, sometimes it’s just easier to jot down some quick notes using an ink pen and a notepad. The make and model of the notepad may differ from each show, as I have a tendency to misplace them around the house between events.
Hygiene and health
Just thinking about how many people touch each gadget at an electronics event makes me shiver, so hand sanitizer is a complete must. I keep a bottle of ibuprofen or any other over-the-counter pain killer with me to deal with headaches and body pains, and the albuterol is there to prevent any potential respiratory issues. I always carry breath mints with me because, well, I’m a decent human being.
