How many times have you been in a tight situation? How many times you need to improvise with what you have?

Last week, I have to pick up my medical check-up result, and I got X-Ray films to carry.

Problem: I’m riding motorcycle. You can’t fold the X-Ray films.

So I empty the water from my Rubbermaid chug bottle, and filled it with curled X-Ray films, like this

Since the film is inside the plastic, I had no problem and also, the orange cloth is the shock-dampener + water-absorption material inside the bottle should there still left a bit of water that might contact with my X-Ray films.

And i was able to carry this document on a motorcycle that speeds at 100KM/h

If you have mobileoffice tips and tricks, do share with us yea. Use the contact form too or mail at ikhwan[dot]nazri[at]flavert[dot]com

Hi everyone. It’s like I’m on hiatus for not writing anything for 2 months. Actually, it was because Fasting month that I didn’t go to any Mobileoffice and then Eid (raya) month. So here goes the second backpack review. Today what I’m reviewed is Built Bulletproof Backpack thanks to AlimBag. It is called ‘bulletproof’ because the design looks like Kevlar Vest, the bulletproof vest being used by police, swats, and soldiers. [DISCLAIMER] BUT PLEASE DON’T TRY TO ACCEPT BULLETS USING THIS BAG AND I MEAN IT. so yeah continue to the review.

As usual, I’ll be comparing with my current bag, Targus Spruce. You may want to read the review of Targus Spruce EcoSmart Backpack here.

The Type & Size

This Bulletproof Backpack type is superslim type. It is meant for you to appear stylishly, to bring only the laptop with essential tool and doesn’t want to bring other stuff. With this bag, you’d be able to bring a laptop underneath your blazer or for motorcycle riders, underneath your leather jacket or raincoat. It doesn’t have thick padding but the back is a mesh. it will snap to your body and i don’t think it will follow the contour of your spine, in contrast with padded Targus Spruce. However on that point, at least the mesh is much more comfortable than my first Golla. Mesh provide decent airflow. The one I’m testing is Medium sized and I kinda have problem to wear it because I’m fat. The shoulder strap are bit small and kinda limit my shoulder movement. Or maybe I just testing it once without give ample time to adapt with that situation. The front shoulder velcro strap is there to help the grip, but I kinda find it funny. But if combine it with carabiner hook (usually found within Golla range of handphone pouch) it’s pretty useful.

The Compartment

Bulletproof Backpack has ONLY three compartment. There’s shoulder compartment, top-load laptop compartment and side load extras compartment. Shoulder compartment is there for you to put iPods, handphones. Nicely placed at shoulder straps at the left side. The second is the top-load laptop compartment. Pretty roomy even I put my MacBook Pro 15. Adrian, the owner of Alimbag said it might fit 17″ MacBook Pro. The third, side-load compartment is there for you to put plugs & essential tools located at the right side.

To test the compartment, I’ve inserted my Macbook Pro & 3 extremely essential tools. As for laptop, you can see how roomy it is. I even can pull the top-load lid till I can see the apple logo. And from Built Bulletproof Backpack official website, they fit an inch hardcover book, a fastcompany magazine and I didn’t know what size of that macbook. That height should be around 3-4 inch so I guess the topload compartment can held 4-6 inch thickness. However, I don’t think it is heavily padded like Targus Spruce. So I think if you fall with your laptop at your back, it may break. I

As for side-load compartment, I insert plug for laptop, USB cable for handphone (+ it does charging) & Kensington Lock. As usual, do not ever, ever leave your laptop unattended, insecured. So with Macbook pro inserted + those tools being inserted inside side-load compartment, it become a bit bulky, but not too bulky. No I didn’t arrange the tools properly since we mobilewarriors live a life on a run.

The Others

Since there’s no more other component and compartment, there’s no others LOL.

The Price

This slim bag, I forget, SUPER SLIM BAG, is priced at RM359 at AlimBag store. While the price is near with Targus Spruce Backpack, the bag focuses in it’s style, lightness, agility & simplicity. I might bought it because of it slimness as I’m a motorcycle & bicycle user, but yet to know the effects to my back.

The Conclusion

Given the price and few drawbacks, those who want to buy this bag need to consider carefully given the price. It is a good bag but without much use. You can’t put much stuff. Since it’s ‘snap’ on your back, if you put too many it will be too tight. Plus, if you put too many stuff I think the bag may break. But then one thing i like for the slimness is that imagine you’re on ‘standby/on call’ mode, you can bring just the laptop and the plug without worry about anything else. And at one point, I imagine when I have babies and kids, this bag will suit me because I can put baby carrier in front, without losing much agility.

As for motorcyclist, this bag will suit you and will fit into your raincoat. As far as I know, Givi Raincoat have big ‘back opening’ so it can cover your big laptop bag. But if that’s not the case, this bag will solve it.

For analogy, this bag is for Code-Ninja, not for Nerd-Samurai. If you can’t understand the analogy, you’re less geeky :p

Okay sorry for the insult. As you can see, Samurai’s shield are heavily padded, bring many equipments to war, bring long swords with longbow and arrow. Ninjas only bring shuriken-star, knife, and poisoned needles.

Rating – 4 out of 5. Scores same as Golla.

You can get this bag at Pavilion KL, at AlimBag. You may see AlimBag’s online stores here or email him- alimbag82[at]gmail[dot]com or call him at 0123370933

Back to App Showdown. For this week, another must-have for mobile-warriors: Dropbox.

Dropbox in a nutshell is an online backup + file sharing + file syncing across multiple computers and devices.

Let me break it up for you.

Online Backup

First of all, Dropbox allows you to backup wirelessly of your folder. If you’re using free account, you got 2GB’s and up to 100GB available for paying customers. Every time you create, modify, and delete your files in designated dropbox folder, it will upload the file to the server. You can also restore deleted  and previous file version.

File Sharing

You can share your files with your friends and colleagues with just few clicks (see images below). Means that when you’re doing work for particular projects, once you made changes to a file, we can see the changes instantly (provided you have extremely fast internet connection). Aside from sharing with our colleagues, we can also give ‘public url’ to our clients.

File Syncing across multiple computers & devices

For me this is the WIN features of dropbox. Since every time there’s changes to Dropbox, the file will be uploaded. Imagine this scenario. You need to rush to a presentation and inside the car, you realize you left your specific thumbdrive with specific presentations. You can simply contact your staff at the office to share it inside, say, your company folder. Once you arrive at the client office, all you need to do is connect to internet, wait for few seconds and then you’ll see the presentation available in your laptop. WIN

Another feature is that say you have different PC in office and personal MAC at home. Previously all we did is we save the files and transfer via thumbdrive. Forget thumbdrive. All you need is dropbox. Set the dropbox at your office computer, and personal MAC, and you’ll be able to sync it. Just make sure all files are up to date before you’re going home. Once you arrive at home, if you leave your MAC turned on all the time, the files already there. Every files and folders that has been saved in your dropbox will display little green mark indicating it is available on the ‘cloud’.

And before I forgot, you can sync it to your iPhone, Android phone too. But the method is a bit different because the file are available on-demand. I can presume it is because if all of your files sync non-stop with your mobile phone devices, it will consume a lot of traffic/bandwidth and then it will cost you a lot. So the files only available when requested, but will be stored on your device once you loaded it.

Endnote

With that, i hope you find Dropbox is useful for your mobile working. Another one thing if you’re cheapskate, you can have up to 8GB free by simply referring to others. Every of your friends who install Dropbox via your invitation, you and them will get extra 250MB. Sweet. If you need bigger space, I find it really worth it.

Make use of it yah! ( and if you’re just want to start using it, get extra 250MB by using my dropbox referral invitation

The second App Showdown is Teambox. I myself tried few Team collaboration tools. Namely Bantam Live. Then last two weeks I remember fellow Mobilewarriors Arzumy/Hakim Albsrawy twitted about Teambox. Since Flavert/Weddingkami work remotely in every own spaces, we need few stuff like virtual whiteboards or service to share project updates.

Since I’m a fan of desktop apps, most of screenshot is desktop app version. Don’t worry, still the same with webview.

Let me start with an Overview Panel when you login to your Teambox

When you login, you can see the overview of your Projects. Definition: Projects in Teambox is a project that being run in a company. However, since we want to use the apps for free, I decided that Weddingkami is a Project. And all projects received by clients will be defined as Tasks.

Read more yea

And now this is task. I have one task not completed. That’s why 10 May is in red.

Now let’s proceed to Project View. Currently I only have Weddingkami, but with many task inside.

The Overview is the first view that you’ll see once you go into Projects. It is much alike Yammer window. You can paste attachment and all. You can see some attachment below the long post I blurred.

This is All Conversation. Conversation: Threaded topic/ discussion. And you can paste attachment and all too. The diffierence with the overview is I see Overview is kinda like announcement, and Conversation is much more topic oriented. Let’s go deeper into one of the Conversation

In this ‘Online Advertisement’ Conversation, as you can see, there’s a list of people following that conversation. Here it can be more oriented without roaming to other topics rather than Overview.

This is All Task List. Since most of our Task List using clients name, we decide to blue-ed it. Every main task have a sub-task. As you can see, Weddingkami Template Design is empty. And all below are our clients. So the Ideation has left behind is my assigned task, and there’s remaining two site assigned to Faisal Arba’in for Publishing task.

Now this is inside specific task. This task is assigned to Faisal Arbain and the status is still open. I can also view completed task to keep track with.

Now this is Pages. For me, this is can be a single repository to everything. Here I kept all details/notes/everything about the project and also future plannings. It is a directory that serve as references. Let see inside one of the Pages.

Now this is one of the Pages. Here I put all related info about this particular client. I can put inside Task list too but again as I said, for better maintenance, refer everything and every details inside Pages.

And lastly, this is Files. It simply list all files that you’ve uploaded. Now this is neat.

I skipped Time Tracking since we’ve yet to use it. It’s only one month we’ve been using it, and love it when we paired with Yammer. This video below is to show you how we make Teambox, originally a web-apps to become Desktop apps.

So get your Teambox now. Pair it with Fluid and you got a nice desktop apps

Stay tune for more App Showdown!

Hi all. How have you’ve been? it’s March already in 2010 and I hope you’ve been doing good. Well quite some time I didn’t post an Officekami sermon LOL but behold, the first review : Targus Spruce EcoSmart Laptop backpack review.

I receive this bag from Text100 Malaysia that were looking for Mobile Warriors. Targus wanted to know opinion on their latest product so here I am, offering myself to take part of it. My first laptop backpack is Golla, the older model that is side-load type. I always love backpack type rather than sling type. It is a good bag indeed for having slim-type cutting. It will be frequently mentioned too in this review because that is my baseline standard.

The Type & Size

Targus Spruce is a Backpack type. As a backpack type, back-support is important for your spine. Targus Spruce indeed have a good back-support and I’ve tested it by wearing it while on motorcycle and also, bicycle. Yeah I do cycling to nearest cafe, which is Old Town Ampang Waterfront and Coffee Sugar & Spice, Ampang Waterfront 2. I was surprised with the comfort provided. I’ve yet to test Golla when cycling. But when I’m on motorcycle, I did felt back-pain because Golla doesn’t have that proper back support. As for shoulder straps, Targus Spruce has a thicker padded support to compare with Golla so it is much more comfortable. Targus Spruce is a bit bulky for me ( or my eyes did deceive me ). The reason I pick Golla at first is the slimness and the cut. Both of the bags can fit 15″ laptop and from what I stumbled on the net previously, Targus Spruce was built specifically for MacBook Pro.

(front pocket)

The Compartment

Targus Spruce have a lot of compartment. The standard type of backpack usually have 3 compartment. The most front is usually stationery. The middle compartment is used to put documents and the last compartment is for laptop. Additionally, Targus Spruce has a compartment for MP3 players at your right and water bottle holder at the left, to which Golla didn’t have. The most front compartment have an outer-inside pocket (the one near the label ‘Targus’) and pretty small for me to stow all my Apple VGA Adapter, Nokia Video Out Adapter, a PSP lanyard. The net-pocket inside stationery compartment is a bit smaller so it’s a bit cramp. In that pocket I usually put one or two blank CD/DVDs because I do burning on the go (mobileoffice For The Win!). Golla pockets is a bit larger compared to Targus. Then, Targus Spruce has a lot of net-pockets. The second compartment sports a bigger area and a net-pocket also available. It is much bigger than Golla and the net-pocket inside the document compartment is an advantage. One thing that I notice here is that the material in between stationery and document compartment seems thin and filmsy to me to compare with Golla, but I’m unsure of the real sturdiness. Maybe it was build using stronger but thinner polimer, I didn’t know. The laptop compartment is a top-load type. Heavily padded to protect your precious laptop.

(Front compartment)

The Others

Targus Spruce has a resizable water bottle holder. This is beneficial for me since for my Golla, I have to hung my Ruby a.k.a Rubbermaid Water Bottle using hook. And it was left hanging behind. Totally uncool. With Spruce I able to put water bottle and yeah, a lot cooler. Their MP3 compartment, I’ve yet to utilize it since I’m using iPod Shuffle that I can clip where I want haha. One thing weird with Targus Spruce is at the end of their shoulder strap, is somewhat like a clip. It is a nice finishing indeed but with that shape, I figured out I could clip it to what other thing god knows hahah. Fun Fact: Targus Spruce is an EcoSmart bags that designed with environmental conservation in mind. To put it simpler, they used recyclable materials for this bag. HOOOHAH! The fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles and all plastic components are recyclable. All zips are nickel-free. Surely contribute to greener earth.

The Price

From what I ask Eevon, Text100 representative, Targus Spruce priced at RM398. OMG! That is, for me, is kinda expensive but to think of how my back felt nowadays, it may deserve it. With rich features and the build quality, it totally deserve that price.

The Conclusion

For me, Targus Spruce is an extremely good laptop backpack. I’ve wear it on bicycle and motorcycle and I felt not a single uneasiness even I’ve just tested it. The bulkiness of the bag sometimes can be easily forgotten just because the comfort provided. Even they have smaller stationery compartment, their document compartment is much bigger to fit anything else.  This is definitely a luxury item and perfect for an expensive gift to mobilewarriors

Rating: 4.4 out of 5. Yeah, freaking high. Golla scores at 4 for me.

Where you can get this bag at Malaysia? I’m a bit unsure bout that, but you may want to look further info about Targus Spruce EcoSmart here.

Do you always find it a problem to go to toilet when you’re working alone ? I bet most of us are. In fact, I am.

Of course for us, who work with laptops, it’s the most precious things. All the documents, files, spreadsheets, company secret weapon inside it. Not to forget the laptop itself is precious. So be cautious even when you ditch your bag at the sofa and proceed to the counter to make order. The moment your eyes looking away from your laptop, it isn’t safe anymore. So below I would like to share some tips that I practice to make sure my laptop always safe.

Order before taking a place

Depends on the location you go, if you went to Self-serviced restaurant, don’t ever leave your belongings to the spot you want to work. Even it’s for a minute. I know you want to ‘mark your territory’ and didn’t want other people to take it, but it will risk your thing. The alternative is always have a something else to mark with. Such as jackets, blazers ( but don’t put wallet/car key inside it ), or you could put tumbler or umbrella, to mark your territory, if you must.

Baristas/Food servers is your guards

If you have an urge to go to toilet, or need to pick up a call and require some silence that will leave your laptop unattended, then ask the friendly waiter or baristas to look over your laptop. I’ve once, ask Bangsar Village 2 guards to look over my laptops even I already ask the baristas to watch for it. Can’t rely much on baristas and waiter sometimes because they’re gonna be occupied with customers so I decided to ask the guard. You can ask people nearby your desk to look over it, well that if you trust them.

Kensington Lock

Kensington Lock is one of the effective solution if you’re working alone, doubles with help from guards and waiters. Lock your laptop to an immobile objects such as pillars, or the desk. And when tying the lock to the desk, always makes it hard for thief to dismantle in minutes. I usually lock my laptop with table and chair. That way the thief will need more time and of course, they have to steal the table and chairs all along, unless they’re well prepared enough to bring Metal Cutter to cut in a snap. That’s why even I’m using Kensington Lock, I always ask the waiters and guards to guard my stuff.

Co-Working

At this moment, you’ll surely miss your officemate. What you can do is bring your officemate to work outside with you or ask your best friend who working with other company and can work outside to accompany you. This way, all of the problems and solution above can be solved. However, beware if you’re co-working with person who you didn’t know so much, you’ve just met them once or twice or ten times, or didn’t consider best of best of best of best of closest friends ( notice how deep the relation is). Why? They might be the one who can become the bad person too in this cases. I for one thing, still lock the laptops even if I’m having a meeting with client and need to go to toilet. If the clients ask your action that seem distrust them, just tell them it’s your policy.

Software – iAlertU

For Mac users, there’s a software named iAlertU that will arm your laptop. It’s pretty nifty Freeware. When you wanted to leave your laptop, you can ‘arm’ your laptop and leave it. The application will ‘arm’ your laptop with alarm and whenever something happens to your laptop, it will blast it alarm sound just like Car Alarm. There’s 6 detection sensors

1. Keyboard – it will alarmed if someone press the keyboard. I disabled this because I need to disarm the alarm.
2. Motion Sensors – it will alarmed if someone just pull the laptop and move it’s motion sensors.
3. Trackpad/mouse – it will alarmed if touch/use the mouse/trackpad. I disabled this because I need to disarm the alarm.
4. AC Adapter – it will alarmed if someone tripped and when they steal they just pull out the power
5. Devices – if you’re sticking your USB, and someone pulled it.
6. Screen close – You leave your laptop with ‘open-screen’ and when they steal they fold it, it will trigger the alarm.

Besides blasting it Car-Alarm sound, the application also will take picture of the thief and mail it to you. That’s nifty for a free application.

So I hope all the guides above will help you to secure your laptop. Be Aware. Be very aware of your surroundings.

Talk about jackets and blazers while listening to Cake – “Short Skirt & Long Jacket” please.

Jackets & blazers play important role to my personalities and also appearance. On daily basis I only wear T-Shirts and occasionally, slippers. Even me in my college days only wear slippers to lecture halls. Comfy, it is. However realizing that if I’m lucky on that day, I may have to attend some meetings and therefore, I bring jackets. Wearing jackets for meeting, even with T-Shirt inside help raised my personalities and seriousness, where I didn’t have it at all time LOL.

But apart from carrying your jackets to swap your personalities easily, they can become a tool inside your mobileoffice too

1. This is your table!

Starbucks Borders, Gardens Midvalley

Before I order the drinks what not, I will walks and survey the area to seek for the things I need such as plugs, the level of the char and desk and also the view. After finding my spot, I’ll mark it with my Rubbermaid Chug Bottle and also, yes, my jacket. Putting bottle just isn’t enough and i’m still paranoid, by not leaving the laptop unattended. So jackets is pretty revealing and also, it’s big enough indicators that this is SPARTA your table :p

2. Your company when it’s raining and cold.

Yup I bring jackets if it’s raining and it will surely get cold inside this mobile office. much alike the normal offices.

3. A sheet of comfy on top of hard wooden chair.

Sometimes, you have to sit on the hard wooden chair that can’t provide comfort to your back and butt. What I’ve did is I just fold my jacket and then put behind me as my back support.

//==

So guys, don’t forget to carry your jackets too. Rise and shine Mobile Warriors!

If you have little time to know about mobile office, and don’t want to kill your office time now, then watch my not-so-lightning talks for about ten minutes during BarCamp KL  April 2009

Else if you lose your motivation and want to read, then here’s my slideshow during the same event.

I think both of the things above explain it all about Mobile Office / Office Kami

if you’ve been following my twitter or my YM status, you’ll discover that i always said ‘Mobile Office’. Today, it’s the 18th.

I do have office, but it’s there on a far far away in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Going mobile is our solution, although here in Malaysia, it’s not the trend. People even ask “You didn’t have an office?”. Come on dude, be free. Be totally free. So here are the essential tools and also, tips if you’re planning to go mobile.

Tools

so here i have is my laptop bag and handphone. I’m using Golla Backpack, which is nice when walking, but a pain when riding a motorcycle with it. Because, it doesn’t have a back-rest padding. It has 3 compartments but before i proceed with compartments, why Anne, my handphone was there?

Handphone

Handphone nowadays is just another essential tool. but i include in this picture because my phone, Nokia N93, capable to scan any wifi hotspots. some cafes and restaurants do have that notice ‘ WIFI Free’ or something like that, but with Anne, apart to check whether the wifi around are secured or not, i can also check my emails quickly. with this handphone also i don ‘t need to switch on laptop or switch on Wifi catcher and so on thingymajig.

So this is the first compartment in the backpack. oh i didn’t put the power adapter in this picture so sometimes, it’s pretty messy inside this compartment. so the stuff inside the first compartment is the thing below

So i got Apple VGA Adapter, Kensington Lock, Sharpie Marker, Tissue, Eye Mo Moist, Lanyard, a CD and DVD.

Apple VGA Adapter = as wherever you go, there’s a little potential that you’ve to did a presentation. that’s why i always bring it.

Kensington Lock = your bestfriend when you’re alone. Always and always lock your laptop if you’re going to leave it unattended. even at the client office. better safe than sorry.

Sharpie Marker = a lot of things you can do with a pen, pencil, or marker.

Tissue = apart from normal usage, if you ran out of paper, you can draw on tissue anyway. = Cikjee’s idea, my lecturer.

Eye Mo Moist = reduce eye strains. use eye mo moist.

Lanyard = sometimes you went to conference or so and want to show your fanboyism towards branding on the lanyard. in my case, i bring Mobile.Actionscript.it that i got from Giorgio Natilli during last year Flash Lite Classes.

CD & DVD = your clients might want their files while you’re away from your office. rather than buying from nearest stationery shop, you might want to bring just one or two from your stock.

So this is the second compartment. unlike the first, the second compartment doesn’t have any section. so this is the thing i put inside the second compartment.

So here what i have is.. chop, pos express letter + envelope, a book, a kain sa