Making use of your train time

There's a glow on the face of Evert Tan, but it's not from the sun that has yet to rise.

The 29-year-old Carpentersville man is typing away on his laptop computer in preparation for another round of classes at the University of Illinois-Chicago college of dentistry.

Tan rides the Metra train from the Big Timber stop in Elgin to Chicago every day - and like many commuters these days he uses technology to maximize his efficiency.

"It's very productive, actually," said Tan, who sits on the top level where there are single seats and more privacy than the first level's dual seats. "I go five days a week. It's almost 15 hours' extra study time. I never thought about it that way. It's hard to spread papers in a train, so I went digital."

Tan used to drive downtown, but that was too stressful.

He bought a broadband card so he can connect to the Internet from anywhere and secured an extra battery in case one runs low.

"One time I saw the entire row of people with laptops. It was pretty rare - v and funny," Tan said.

Over the years, laptop computers have Sure, people still read the newspaper or immerse themselves in a good book.

But broadband cards allow access beyond hot spots at the coffee shop, meaning e-mail is never more than a click away.

Devices like MP3 players have replaced bulky compact-disc players, which skipped during those points in the commute when the train swayed back and forth.

Blackberries allow even the most space-crunched commuter to access e-mail, so there are no surprises at the office.

And you can always text people.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, worker productivity between 1997 and 2007 grew at a 2.6 percent annual pace, which is up from the 1.6 percent annual pace between 1987 and 1997.

And that includes only time in the office or along the assembly line.

The solitary train ride to the Loop is no more.

People are always connected and have the option to work, relax to some music or pass the time playing games or watching movies.

Managing time

Peter Nateras has been a train conductor for 23 years, the last 17 for Metra.

He began to really notice the proliferation of phones, Blackberries and iPods about four years ago.

During the inbound commute, Nateras said, people are more focused on work, using their gadgets to prepare for the day. On the way back to the suburbs, they're more for relaxation.

"It's more micromanaging your time more than anything else. They're trying to be efficient with their time," Nateras said. He's accustomed to trying to get the attention of dosing riders enthralled with their music or watching a movie. "It's a little hard getting their attention sometimes, but you manage."

Rod Ladines of St. Charles doesn't look at his commute as extra time to work.

Rather, it is part of his actual workweek.

Ladines, a Chicago-based consultant, spends six hours in his office because he's on the train for two each day.

"The client is very flexible as long as you're available and you're working. There's no wasted time for me," said Ladines, who notes his commute now is vastly different from 10 years ago. "Before I was just dozing off and reading comic books. Now, I can actually get home early."

Michael Sreckov, a South Elgin resident and sales consultant, may get home a little later than some people.

But when he's there, he's 100 percent focused on spending time with his wife and 2-year-old.

"I really work that hour on the computer," Sreckov said. "I try to take care of business. If I've got an hour of downtime, I might as well."

This morning he's lightening the mood by reading the Yahoo horoscope for about six other riders. If he didn't have a computer, he'd read or sleep.

"You'd be surprised what you can get done. I booked a vacation on the train last week," Sreckov said.

Blessing and curse

Jocelyn M. Stroupe, principal at a Chicago architectural firm, has been commuting from Schaumburg for 17 years.

When she first began her commute, she recalled seeing more people reading books or the newspaper.

Stroupe began using her laptop about five years ago and can no longer imagine life without it.

"There's things about it that are good and bad," she said. "It's a blessing and a curse because you feel compelled to always be doing work. It's hard to get away from it."

Ruby Blasak-Rodriguez, an East Dundee woman who teaches computer classes downtown, uses her laptop on the train because there are fewer distractions.

"I like doing this on the train because people don't bother you," she said. "The employer definitely gains."

Better family time

When Matt Gale moved from Woodridge to Elburn, he wasn't looking forward to his new 70-minute commute each morning.

But it has turned out to be a boon for Gale, an information technology manager.

He works ahead on his laptop, never has to stay late, and has real quality time with his wife and two children every night.

"Now I feel a lot better. I get so much done. I don't look at the work stuff when I get home," Gale said. "Before, I needed to spend additional time (at home) looking up stuff."

Brian Sullivano, who lives in Geneva with his wife and three children, uses his laptop to prepare for his marketing job at a soft-drink company downtown.

"The train is a great opportunity to plow through some of your e-mails. It gives me two hours a day to make sure I'm focused on my family (when I get home)," he said. "The key is everyone has to set their own limits. For me, the commute is the perfect opportunity to work."

Chilling out

Not all technology is for work.

Jacob Clinard, a Batavia man who works for a downtown staffing firm, prefers to play some Madden 2008 football on his Nintendo DS.

If he didn't have the game system?

"I'd just read a book," he said.

Kent Taylor doesn't play baseball, but he has all his bases covered.

The Geneva man rides the train downtown with a laptop to type, Blackberry to check e-mail and a portable DVR to watch downloaded movies.

This morning, he's killing time watching the 1998 flick "Fallen" with Denzel Washington.

Six years ago, Taylor had neither of these gadgets to work more or simply pass the time.

"I don't know if (the commute) is better. From one aspect, I don't have any surprises when I get to work," he said.