Technology Tip of the Week

Are You Making Good Choices When It Comes Your Computer Bag?
The Agency provides bags to help protect our computer equipment and most people use them regularly and appropriately. Below are some “best practices” worth sharing related to the use of computer bags:

• Don’t put any liquids (even an empty pop can) in your computer bag. We have had several computers in bags ruined in this manner. Remember -- liquids and computers are not friends!
• Don’t overstuff your bag. You can certainly store a limited amount of papers and other items in your bag, but overloading it will put stress on the frame of your computer, causing damage such as a bent case or a broken screen.
• Don’t keep a list of your passwords in your computer bag. Find a much more secure spot!
• Don’t store your portable hard drive/Time Machine drive in the same bag as your computer. You can lose both your original files and your backups if the bag is lost or stolen. (Remember that we have unlimited storage in Google, so consider uploading important documents into Google as an additional backup.)
• Switch your wireless mouse off when not in use. An enabled wireless mouse stashed in the bottom of a bag may unpredictably affect your computer. Also, switching off the wireless mouse when not in use will extend its battery life.