What’s in your bag? is a recurring feature where we ask people to tell us a bit more about their everyday gadgets by opening their bags and hearts to us. Show us your bag in this forum post.
What’s in your bag, Joanna Stern?
is an Emmy-winning journalist and author of the upcoming book I AM NOT A ROBOT: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything.
You’re looking at what I call my “event bag.” Before a press event or business trip, I dump everything out of my usual everyday bag (a Hayden-Harnett Ibiza Flight Tote, if you must know), pull out the Ogio backpack, and stock it up (each and every pocket) with the tech I need. On the particular day this was shot, I had just returned from Hong Kong, where I covered the Galaxy Nexus launch and Asia D, and I had packed up my bag with two review units I received while I was away. Below you’ll find a list of my bag’s contents, which is really a hodgepodge of stuff I had left inside it from doing live coverage and traveling across the world. And yes, I love this job, but my back doesn’t.
Gear and gadgets
13-inch Macbook pro (Late 2009)
This is my main rig. It's seen better days — the keys are starting to pop out and the trackpad is worn — but I've got an 80GB X25-M Intel SSD inside, which makes it just as fast as it was when I got it two years ago.
motorola droid 2 Global
This phone is a story in itself. Summary: My name is Joanna and I need a hardware keyboard.
CANON Eos Rebel T2I
While most of the team shoots Nikon, I transitioned to Canon last year. I find the T2i really easy to use and it's much lighter than my old Nikon D90.
ASUS UX31 AND DELL XPS 14Z
These are two laptops I had just gotten in for review. At the time of this, I was bringing them from my apartment to the office, but I really try to incorporate what I am reviewing into my everyday life. If that means lugging home two laptops, so be it.
OTHER ELECTRONIC NECESSITIES
The rest are accessories I need on-the-go. There's the Samsung Mini External hard drive to make up for that aforementioned 80GB SSD and a hefty bag of cords, in which you'd find two Micro USB cords and two Mini USB cords. Those are mostly for tethering my camera to my computer when liveblogging and charging my Verizon LTE MiFi. And, of course, a WA-7 plug adapter — they have different plugs in Hong Kong.
Analog living
A spiral notebook and ink-based stylus
I still take notes in meetings on paper. I have an issue forgetting pens, so that's likely a pen I stole from someone or some restaurant.
Sunglasses
Funny story about these sunglasses. I lost my Ray-Bans this summer and I bought these cheap children's sunglasses at some store by the beach. They have turned out to be my favorite pair. Also, it was sunny in Hong Kong.
wallet
I realize my wallet is ridiculously big, and the thing is, I basically just use two credit cards and my ID. If only my phone was my wallet...
keys
One of those keys unlocks The Verge reviews closet, which is a temporary home for lots of lucky gadgets. Sometimes I imagine the products fighting with each other when I leave at night, a la Indian in the Cupboard.
Hair clips
I have long hair. I like to put it up with these clips. I wish these had some sort of tracker built inside; then I wouldn't lose so many of them and I wouldn't clip them to everything I own.
magazines
I actually prefer physical mags to reading them on my iPad. I had been carrying around the Glamour issue since I went to an event about "Women in Tech" at Conde Nast. (It was a great panel moderated by Kara Swisher, though I still don't have any interest in reading Glamour.) I still haven't gotten a chance to read the Twitter story in New York Magazine.
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