I wrote about the PogoPlug a couple of years ago (Tech Bit 59). PogoPlug is small, inexpensive (under $100) device that turns an external USB hard disk into cloud storage you can access from any computer, either via a web browser or a small software download that turns your PogoPlug cloud into a drive on your computer (usually the P: drive).

I have recently accepted been involved in a contract to support the Small Business Administration website that has me living, at least for now, in Washington D.C. while my family and home office remain in Aurora, Colorado.

Living and working a bit over 1,500 miles from home has forced given me an opportunity to apply several of the technologies I have written about in the past. Their integration should prove that it is possible to replicate your home office and communicate while you are on the road.

In the last article we looked at projectors for your presentations. Buying one for $400-800 can quickly return its investment compared to renting one from a hotel for $200+ per day.

You’ll still need to rent a screen from the hotel. One option, if you bring your own extension cord, is to ask only for the screen and defer on the A/V projector support package, which is often only a screen, an extension cord and a stand for the projector. Instead of the stand, just ask catering for a cocktail round to put your projector on (usually they don’t charge for those).

Back in Tech Bit 24 I mentioned Priceline as a low cost option for hotels, the negative being you don't know the name of the hotel until you "win."

I had recommended using two websites, http://www.biddingfortravel.com and/or http://www.betterbidding.com/, which are forums where the members post their winning deals. Finding the relevant data is a bit of a challenge.