GETTING YOUR JUMP DRIVE ON

The must-have accessory du jour for business travelers is not a lighter laptop, a smaller carry-on or even a pair of drown-out-your-seatmate headphones. It's a crayon-length object called a jump drive, a portable hard drive that can be plugged into any computer's usb port, making it easier for workers to transport large files normally carried by laptop. Although the gadgets aren't new, they have gained a following among business travelers, who sometimes wear them around their neck on a chain or string.

Employees on the go say jump drives — such as SanDisk's Cruzer Titanium, which costs $129.99--make it easier to share big projects with co-workers when e-mail isn't readily available. Other consultants eschew carrying a laptop altogether, navigating airports (and security) with nothing but high-tech pendants dangling from their necks.