Keeping the Mobile Office and Home Officer Online and Un-Harassed From the Road

By Jeff Zbar
www.homeofficehighway.com

More on the MiFi...

It's every home office, telework and road warrior's lament. At least those with kids (and a wife in search of 'net-time): How to get online, without attracting attention from the little scoundrels, who'll then want the Internet-connected laptop for their own.

Of course, RV parks across America promise "Free Wifi." Good luck finding a network that works...

Here's one review of the MiFi personal hotspot. Specifically, Daniel Terdiman said of mobile hot spot, it "converts the carrier's EV-DO signal into a Wi-Fi connection that up to five people can share. I had already used the MiFi to provide a signal for the iPod Touch at the very beginning of the trip so that, while sitting on a boarding airplane, I could download a large file from iTunes...Now, I realized that by turning the MiFi on and sticking it in my back pocket, I could become, in essence, a walking hot spot, allowing me to get online on the iPod Touch, no matter where I was. That meant that I could use the Skype app to make a phone call, run several other apps for one reason or another, and look up good places to eat using the device's browser..."

My two cents: This device has made working remotely seamless and breezy.

Battery life is estimated at four hours, and 10 times that for standby. The cost: About $50 after the rebate, and $40 a month for 250MB ($60 a month for 5GB). A "Day Pass" runs $15 — for those who don't want the monthly contract.

MiFi has helped avoid all the arguments and general calamity from last year — when laptop users had a hard time sharing Internet time. Just turn it on, power up the computer, iTouch, etc., and log on. After logging on the first time, the laptop, netbook or other devices saved the passcode. So no bulky or laborious steps to getting online.

So easy, even my wife could do it.

Jeff Zbar is on the road with his family in one teched-out, Internet-connected RV-turned-home-office – exploring the American South, visiting small towns and popular tourist destinations – and revealing just how productive a traveling family can be. Driven by Jeff Zbar, the Chief Home Officer, Home Office Highway shines headlights on a whole new "remote" office. Learn more at www.homeofficehighway.com.