How to get things done at the beach

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How to get things done at the beach

Written by: Donna Ann Peck 968 views

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Laptops and the internet have changed not only the way we work, but where we work. On glorious summer days, I take my work outdoors.

A few products launched this summer would make it easier to keep the creative juices going while enjoying the sunshine.

If given the chance, where would you do most of your reading? in bed? at a bar or cafe? on a train or airplane, at the beach house? The Amazon Kindle DX is a reading device that lets you read wherever you roam.

Everything from annual reports with graphs to flight manuals with maps to musical scores can be viewed on a single, crisp screen. Kindle reads like printed words on paper because the screen works using real ink and doesn’t use a backlight, eliminating the eyestrain and glare associated with other electronic displays.

You can download or receive new content in less than 60 seconds from the Kindle store without a Mac, PC, or WiFi hot spot. More than 275,000 books are now available in the Kindle Store, including New York Times best sellers, U.S. and international magazines and newspapers, and 1,500 blogs. Carry all your documents and your whole library out to the beach house in one slender device. The DX is thinner than most magazines. Cost: $489

At the top of my wish list is the Apple iPhone 3GS. It’s a phone, video camera, internet device with some dazzling new features thrown in. You can make calls using the sound of your voice with hands-free voice control. You speak into the iPhone saying, “Call Chris Waters” or “dial 800-275-2273” and your iPhone begins dialing. You can also tell iPhone to play your favorite audiobook or podcast.

You can send audio recordings that you make with Voice Memos using the multimedia messaging service. Let’s say Kathy, back at the office, wants you to see a presentation she’s rehearsing for a client, she can upload the video to MMS so you can watch it. You can then record your comments and suggestions and send them back to her. Cost: $199.

The next thing I crave for working outdoors is the Shuttle, a laptop bag from Higher Ground, a company that provides gear for the laptop lifestyle. The shuttle is a carrying case that converts into a portable computer workstation. Side pockets hold cables, power adapter, iPods, and DVDs and other accessories. A handy cooldeck flips down, and your laptop rests on non-slip riser pads under which air flows, keeping things cool. Think of it as a desk that follows you everywhere. The hip design and vibrant colors (royal blue, wasabi green, tangerine) add an element of fun. Cost: $39.95

Not to knock cocktail napkins, but the GTD Trifold Notetaker Wallet is a classier alternative. Capture random thoughts that occur at unexpected times by slipping this black leather accessory from a jeans pocket or bag.

This essential GTD tool has two compartments with slots for five cards plus a window slot for your drivers license. There’s also a full size pocket for cash. When you instantly record your creative ideas your mind is free to let go of the low-level task of remembering. Who needs stress: this is a partial vacation, right? Nothing beats pen and paper when you are strolling along the beach, jotting down thoughts related to what you’re working on.