Mon, November 24, 2008 — CIO — One business travel irritation is that it interferes with getting work done. If you have to give a presentation in New York tonight, and you need to create the PowerPoint presentation before you arrive, the problem isn't as much the time spent enroute than how much you can accomplish on the trip. Even when there's no specific must-do task, busy business travelers want to make time-in-transit productive working time.

Flying is often the only real option for longer trips, over two or three hundred miles. For short trips (say, under a hundred miles), the time may not be critical.

But for trips in the middle range, you may have better alternatives. For example, New York City is about 200 miles from my home in the Boston area. I can get to New York by plane, train or bus. (I can also drive, but not if I want to use my computer.) Which is the best option for business travelers? In this article, I'll share the productivity advantages and disadvantages for each transportation choice.

What Drives Notebook In-Transit Productivity

Based on my own experiences and that of fellow techno-travelers, the criteria for using a notebook computer productively while in transit include are, in order of importance:

Comfort: It's hard to get any work done if you can't open your notebook computer fully on a seat table and if you don't have at least some elbow room.

Internet access: Live e-mail requires Internet access, as does quick Web research, but you can do a fair amount off-line if need be.

Some travel venues have begun provisioning free or fee on-board WiFi or wired access. But if you don't want to wait on the travel vendor, you can roll your own. Mobile (cellular) service provides access to most non-airflight travelers, as long as you're in an area where there's service.

Very infrequent travelers may find a solution in Verizon's $9.99 BroadbandAccess Day Pass; no contract is needed. You'll need a device capable of accessing Verizon's wireless network, such as a notebook with embedded mobile broadband, or a Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess USB modem or ExpressCard. You can also consider upgrading your phone plan to include some data services, and learn to tether to your notebook.

Power: Keeping the laptop turned on is essential, but this is the easiest issue to address. Some vehicles have power outlets. If you aren't confident your notebook battery will last the entire trip, invest in a spare battery (usually the most weight- and space-effective solution) or buy an external notebook battery.

Time is, of course, a consideration. Does your preferred approach fit your schedule? You can work out the door-to-door time for yourself, given your previous experience. In addition to the time you spend waiting at the airline gate, factor in time spent waiting at baggage claim. Plus, most rail and bus service leaves from and arrives at downtown locations, while airports add at least cab fare.

Also, there is the reality of delays. Even trains can be delayed, although busses and planes are more likely to suffer from this.

Up, Up and...

In-flight Internet service is starting to be provided by some airlines. But between time you spend in the security and boarding lines, and take-off and landing use prohibitions, the odds are that you can't use your notebook for more than half the travel time anyway.

Given a comparable-time choice, stay away from planes, says wireless industry analyst Craig Mathias, founder of Farpoint Group. "Air travel is now completely inefficient for business people: Few flights, always full, no power, no Internet access, and 'keep things off for take off and landing,'" he says. "The seats are now so close together [that] it's too uncomfortable to type, unless you've got an end seat or first class."