I am a recent convert to the world of the laptop computer. I know that there are those of you who are shaking your heads and wondering how I could even call myself a writer for all these years when I have been tied down to the cumbersome desk computers. The truth is, I genuinely liked having an organized workspace and being able to compartmentalize my work life with other aspects of my world. Strangely enough, while I entertained the idea of getting a laptop in the future, and I fantasized about what it might be like to be a little more mobile—the truth was that I just didn’t imagine it would be such an advantage. Now I am playing catch-up (fast) and getting up to speed on all this mobility.
Today was a day that required some errand running. While I got up early and got to work, I needed to get out of the house by noon or so to get to the library, check in on a cat I am looking after for a traveling friend, and a few other errands. “Just in case” I slipped the laptop in my bag before I headed out the door, thinking if I had time, I would stop off at the bookstore and do some writing if the inspiration took me. What actually happened caught me a little off guard: missing my bus transfer by about 5 minutes, I wondered what I would do for the 25 minutes until the next one. Ordinarily, I would head for nearby shop or do some reading. Instead, I whipped out the computer and was able to write two articles, sitting on a bench in the breezy sun, while I waited for the next bus. Talk about efficiency! I felt quite elated at having made such good use of the time (and made a little money while waiting.)
At my friend’s house, in between cat-tending and doing a few other maintenance chores, I was able to get a little more work done, check in with my e-mail and take care of other business. I felt like a multi-tasking wizard. And wondered why on earth I had been so reluctant to take the laptop plunge?
See Also: Laptop, P.C., or Both?