Laptop Travel

With Summer in full swing and record-breaking hot temperatures across much of the country, it's important to remember your gadgets, too! Long days and Summer plans may eep you on the go, so it's easy to be tempted to store your laptop in the trunk of your car while you hit happy hour or catch a movie with friends. But, just like excessive heat can cause problems for you, it can spell disaster for your gadgets, too. Keeping a laptop in a hot car (even in the trunk!) can do serious damage. Remember these points before locking your laptop away:

• Your battery life will suffer. The batteries in many laptops are not heat-friendly, and repeat exposure can actually affect the battery life. Your battery may lose power sooner, become difficult to charge completely, or even die altogether.
• Your hard drive could get damaged. Excessive heat can cause the components of your computer's hard drive to expand, causing damage, even leading to hard drive failure.

For more laptop travel tips, keep reading.

Winter is in full effect, and I don't know about you, but it's getting pretty cold in my neck of the woods. While I do travel with my gadgets quite a bit, I've learned that cold weather is not always friendly for my laptop. You may not realize it, but freezing temps can be just as dangerous — if not more so — to a laptop than the Summer heat since there are hidden dangers you can't see. Check out these five Winter weather tips that will help ensure your machine sees the light of Spring this year.

• Keep it out of the trunk — Just like your cell phone, you'll want to keep your laptop out of the trunk for extended periods during cold days to prevent damage to the screen, and your hard drive from freezing.
• If you must trunk it, keep it bundled up — If you absolutely must leave your laptop in your car in freezing temps, wrap it up in layers — like a jacket or sweater — to keep it warm. You can also find laptop warmers (which are specifically made for laptops) to keep it from getting icy if you live in cold conditions.

See the remaining tips when you read more.

I've already been on the hunt for a laptop bag that doesn't look like a laptop bag, but this one kind of fell into my outstretched arms. The Tiffany Anisette B.A.G. Bag ($860) — B.A.G. standing for "business active girl" — not only holds your laptop (up to 17 inches), your personal effects and digital accessories, but it can also double as a diaper bag, or weekender when you're taking off for a short vacay or business trip. It's made of Italian leather, and of course, comes in an array of colors to match your fashionable wardrobe. You may think it's kinda pricey for just being an all-in-one tote, but here's the catch: there's actually wheels on this baby, and you can cart it around, saving your back from the weight of all your junk. Just think of how much less you'll spend on your weekly 90-minute massages, since you won't be under the pressure of your heavy electronics! It all evens out in the long run.

Although I'm hoping that my Summer travels are more for the purpose of pleasure than business, I can appreciate this Laptop Essentials Kit ($45) for either situation. The good news is, Sharper Image is thinking ahead (no, they aren't totally dead), and have made all the contents of this kit ultra portable — both mini sized, and with retractable cables for clean and easy storage.

Coming stocked with a mouse, a number keypad, USB cable, ethernet cable, iPod Cable, USB adaptor with four USB ports, and earbuds (as well as a few other goodies), the kit should be easy to toss in your laptop bag since all the contents come in a nice and neat leather case. Business travel just got so much easier!

Ahh, LAX. It's the place to go to not only spot celebs, but their tech as well. I loved The Wrestler, and even though it came up short in the tech department, Evan Rachel Wood is providing me with some eye candy with her laptop (and kitty!) in tow.

I spotted a few laptop cases that could pass for Evan's grey and lime green sleeve, but none that would fit the bill perfectly. And that's okay by me, 'cause let's be real — I don't need an excuse to take a moment (or a few hours) to browse eBags and Shopstyle's selections! Check out a few of my favorite finds below. Unfortunately, the kitty is one of a kind, so you'll have to find a similar feline on your own. Maybe PetSugar knows the breed?