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When it comes to mobile computing, I don't like being weighed down. Which means that I usually travel with the smallest number of accessories that'll get the job done--and I'm a fan of ones that involve as little in the way of bulk as possible.

I'm not alone, of course--throughout PC history, crafty manufacturers have tried to help folks like me by incorporating accessories right into portable computers. They've built the power brick into the laptop. And the mouse (no, not a touchpad or a trackball--a mouse). There have even been notebooks with built-in printers. 

All of these innovations have failed though--surely in part because none of them were as satisfactory as their stand-alone counterparts. So accessory minimalists like me are left having to carry at least a few items when we hit the road. Here's a rundown of what I carry, and how I keep things simple:

The power brick. If you're only going to tote one accessory, it's probably going to be this one. I'll pay more for a laptop with a compact AC adapter; some means of wrapping up the cable is a plus.

An international power adapter. You only need this when you leave the country, but when you need one, you really need it. In the old days, these adapters tended to be a hassle, with too many varying plugs for different countries to keep track of. In recent years, though, clever all-in-one adapters that work practically everywhere on the planet have appeared. Here's the one I use.

Wireless broadband. Did I say the AC adapter is the one most essential accessory? I lied. I've been known to go out for the day without the brick, but I won't leave the house without my USB EVDO. I've still never owned a notebook with an integrated cellular connection, in part because I don't one tied to a particular carrier. But with any luck, my next laptop will be one that uses Qualcomm's Gobi technology to connect to any wireless carrier. Or maybe my wireless carrier (ahem) will let me tether my phone (ahem) as a wireless modem.

The bag. I like slim, lightweight laptop bags that add as little bulk and weight as possible. Lately, though, I haven't been carrying a bag at all--I've been using snap-on shells which protect the laptop's case. They're as close to being a laptop bag built into a laptop as you're going to get; the main downside is that the shells need to be custom-fit to specific notebook models, and they're only available for a few of them. And oh yeah, the lack of pockets for accessories, which leaves me stuffing items in my pants pockets.

A USB cable for my phone. In part so I can sync if necessary, but mostly so I can charge the battery using my laptop as a power source. I'm awfully fond of retractable cables--if I had my way, every cable would retract.

A thumb drive or two. They may be one more thing to carry, but they're mighty handy, and you can just stick one (or two or three!) in your pocket in case you need them.

Headphones. Or, ideally, a headset, so I can use Skype. I like 'em to be compact--at the moment, I'm using this, but yes, I'd really like something smaller that retracts. (If you have any recommendations, lemme know.)

A presentation pointer. Only when I'm going to be presenting, naturally. I used to carry a clunky standalone gadget--but I'm happy to say that in recent years, I've used software that turns my phone into a remote for PowerPoint.

The mouse. Actually, I'm perfectly happy traveling without one. (Also, I often use a laptop in my lap, so there's no place to put a mouse.) That means that I care about the touchpad. Bigger is better, the buttons absolutely need to be below the pad, not flanking it, and multi-touch gestures (such as dragging two fingers to scroll) are a plus. But if I did want to pack a mouse, I'd get one I could pack inside my computer.

So what accessories do you find indispensable? Do you try to reduce the load like me, or do you like to be prepared for just about anything? Chime in down in the comments--and don't forget about that you can also get a shot at a new gaming PC, notebook, or netbook by participating in the WePC community.

More discussion of laptop accessories on WePC.com:

Here, Put These in My Computer (MightyGirl)

Accessories: The NOTCOT Essentials (Jean Aw, NOTCOT)

Top Five Genuinely Useful USB Gadgets (MightyGirl)

Must-Have Netbook Accessories (Wil Harris, ChannelFlip)

Eight Essential Accessories for Your Netbook (Desire Athow, ITProPortal)