Atlantic Upright Virtual Office

Business travel. It's not the traveling that's so bad. It's often the lugging of luggage that's so lamentable.

In an effort to make business travel less taxing, Atlantic Luggage Company has created the Atlantic Upright Virtual Office. Part overnight bag, part laptop case, this beast is built to take the abuse of travel in style. It can easily stash a night or two's clothing, and its built-in shoe case and toiletries pouch makes packing a breeze.

For the business traveler, the Virtual Office is one durable, portable office. Three easily accessible, dual front organizational pockets can store files, tickets, papers and pens.

But what sets this wheeled brute apart is the DirectAccess side zippered laptop pouch. This innovation makes navigating airport security a breeze. No more awkward fumbling through a laptop case - whether standing at the x-ray machine, or replacing the unit after examination. Once repacked, two durable in-line skate wheels and a handle measuring 20 inches (for overall extended height of 36 inches - thought compact enough to fit into even small or cramped overhead bins), make jockeying this pup through busy airports a breeze. It even makes a perfect briefcase for use about town.

Made of durable denure ballistic nylon and carrying a lifetime warranty, the Virtual Office has earned a top nod from Consumer Reports - as well as with travelers keen on controlling their carry-ons. Cost: $169, from AtlanticLuggage.com or 1.888.8.ATLANTIC.

Jeff Zbar, the ChiefHomeOfficer.com, is a speaker, writer and expert on alternative officing. He is the author of Teleworking & Telecommuting: Strategies for Remote Workers and Their Managers (Made E-Z Products, 2002); Safe@Home: Seven Keys to Home Office Security (FirstPublish 2001) and Your Profitable Home Business (on CD-ROM from Made E-Z Products). Visit his Web site to subscribe to Home Office Success Stories, his free electronic magazine on home business and teleworking.