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by M Johnson Mobile computing is getting to a rather large industry. With Wi Fi(wireless internet) and many features a laptop computer can do it's no wonder everyone is buying them. Discount notebook computers offer high quality standards with a price that's easy to afford. Owning a notebook computer has never been easier and cheaper. Most of us that buy laptops will only use them for a few basic functions. Mostly, surfing the internet, using Microsoft Word, keeping notes for school, or for business purposes. New laptops come with everything, even the kitchen sink, but hardly anyone will use all the operations. Discount notebook computers from the same big name companies like IBM, Dell, HP and more offer the same high quality standards, but with a lower price tag, so that everyone can afford one. Discount notebook computers come with an operating system already installed and all you have to do is turn it on and get started. Buying a notebook computer has many advantages for everyone from kids, students, to busy professionals. You can take the entire office with you without wires to play educational software, do schoolwork in class, connect to the internet and connect to all your clients. Imagine what that could do for your business. Picture this for a moment, you have a notebook computer that weighs about five pounds in a nice case. You can be anywhere in the world and connect to the internet. Checking your favorite websites, e-mail, staying in touch with clients, or whatever. Maybe you're a student. Taking a laptop in class and keep track of notes, create documents and make learning a little more fun with the technology of a portable computer. What about the kids. Why spend all that money on an expensive computer when a discount notebook computer has the same technology, but a lower price. They can play educational games, even watch DVD movies(with optional DVD-ROM drive). There is literally no end to what laptops can do for you. It is very practicle because there are no wires, no bulky equipment and light enough to put them in a backpack, or a case and take it anywhere. The world is never going to operate without computers again. In fact, it's only going to get more advanced and technical. It is very necessary to learn to operate a computer because almost every job will have some type of computer technology. Notebooks are a great tool to use in your everyday life and they are getting easier to operate. Discount notebook computers offer all these advantages plus more! The main difference is the price. You could save up to 60% off the retail price and still get a great mobile computer. You no longer have to spend large amounts of money to get a great deal. By spending wisely, you'll save big. Discount notebook computers offer the best technology at the best price! Online Crazy Deals has more information about getting ahead in the world of computers. Be amazed at technology, but don't fear it. The more advanced laptops become, the more practical they get and operating them gets easier. Online Crazy Deals is a company that specializes in mobile computing technology including discount notebook computers. Advancing features and easy operation make laptops great for mobile computing |
Discount Notebook Computers are Easy to Obtain
Custom Gaming Laptops - Five Things You Must Consider When Building a Gaming Laptop
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by Laura Alter Gone are the days when you would have been laughed at if you walked into an all-night LAN party carrying your trusty laptop and expecting to hang with the giant computer towers standing at everyone’s feet. The gaming laptop computers of today sport huge, crisp LCD screens, cutting-edge video cards and full-size keyboards. Not only can these gaming laptop computers hang with the standard clunky computer tower, but they can also be ordered fully custom to meet the exact specifications of any gamer. Since there are so many customizable components in these laptops, a standard practice has been to create what some call a “system builder.” This is the page where you get to add and subtract components through drop-down menus in order to create the best gaming laptop computer for your needs and your budget. This type of page can be overwhelming to someone just starting the gaming laptop shopping process, but it is very manageable if you take it just one component at a time. The Gaming Laptop GPU This is the heart of a gaming laptop computer. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is a component that will make or break your gaming experience. If your GPU isn’t up to snuff, your games won’t play. Without getting into specific models since they change all the time, the key is that the graphics card not share resources with the computer. A gaming laptop video card must have its own memory on board. Generally speaking, standard off-the-shelf laptops will not have this feature. The two current makers of laptop video cards are nVIDIA and ATI. Without the Screen, You Don’t Have Much What good is a gaming laptop without a screen that can actually render your games? Now certainly, you can connect an external monitor, but if you can’t actually play on your gaming laptop without that external monitor, then your laptop isn’t all that mobile. While the technology and terminology for LCDs (liquid crystal displays) could take up an entire article in itself, there are a few key points to keep in mind when choosing from available LCD options for your new gaming laptop computer: native resolution, aspect ratio, rise and fall time, contrast, viewing angle, and size. Native Resolution. The native resolution is simply the setting at which your screen will render the clearest images. Since games are constantly in motion, slightly soft edges may not bother most gamers, but keep in mind that while this is your gaming laptop, you will likely also use it for other things like surfing the Internet. If the resolution isn’t comfortable, you aren’t going to enjoy using it. Aspect Ratio. As you probably know, a movie theater screen and a TV screen have different proportions. Likewise, there are widescreen format gaming laptops and there are laptops that have a standard aspect ratio –- like that of a TV. A widescreen format gaming laptop (a 16:10 ratio) has advantages and disadvantages. Many games today do not have a widescreen mode. This means that the game may stretch across the screen and become distorted or you may run it with black bars that fill in the sides. There are ways to get around this, but if you want an out of the box perfect experience, the widescreen format may not be for you. That said, a widescreen LCD does offer plenty of screen real estate for web surfing and other type of computer activities, and a game played in a wide format setting offers an expansive field of view. For this reason, there are some very loyal widescreen-loving gamers out there. Do your best to find a balance between current and future technology and what your computer habits are beyond gaming. Even with its limitations, the widescreen format is found on most of the best gaming laptop computers. Rise and Fall. The phrase ‘rise and fall time’ is used to describe how fast the LCD can respond to changes. In the past, LCDs have been plagued with the inability to render images as fast as computer games can spit them out. This presents a major problem for laptop gamers because if they can’t see the images properly, they can’t play the game properly. This lag can mean the difference between playing to win and barely playing. Fortunately, gaming laptop LCDs have come a long way and they are only getting better. While once it was impossible to game on a laptop screen, the gaming laptop LCDs of today offer 25 milliseconds or less rise and fall time while generally off-the-shelf laptops have 40 milliseconds or less rise and fall time. Contrast. If a gaming laptop LCD has poor contrast, that means that the black areas aren’t quite as black as they should be and the white areas aren’t quite as white. This is important to a laptop gamer because you have to see the game properly -– as it was intended to be seen -– in order to compete effectively. Look for a contrast ratio of 400:1 or higher in a custom gaming laptop computer. Viewing Angle. This is an often-overlooked LCD feature, but it must be considered if you are building a gaming laptop computer. Many high quality LCDs on the market are difficult to see clearly at any angle other than straight on and at the right height. This can be a big drawback to gaming on a LCD screen because a screen with poor viewing angles won’t allow others to watch the screen as you play and also hurts your view when doing something as simple as adjusting your seating, which can require you to then adjust to position of your laptop screen to see it properly again. But gaming on a laptop does not mean that you are doomed to have poor viewing angles. There are LCDs on the market that have amazing viewing angles –- up to 120 degrees. These screens not only allow gaming onlookers, but they also allow you to use that giant, crisp screen to do things like play movies and even make presentations. Size. In a gaming laptop computer, size is everything. Most gaming laptops are large, robust pieces of electronics. Having a machine of this stature means you also get to have a large screen. The best gaming laptop computer LCD screens out there are at least 15 inches. A crowd favorite is a 17 inch widescreen (even with the challenges that widescreens present). Largr 19 inch laptop screens are just starting to be talked about with consumers expecting to see 19 inch or even large models on the market in the near future. The best way to really get a feel for what laptop LCDs are all about is to take a trip to a local box store and play with the LCDs on the display laptops while keeping in mind what you have read here. While these laptops are not custom gaming laptops, you can see what the sizes really look like, what different resolutions look like, and what the viewing angles truly are so you can start to develop your own preferences. The RAM – What Type and How Much? The RAM (random access memory) found in laptops is called SODIMM (small outline dual inline memory module). The RAM is responsible for your processing power. If you are shopping for a custom gaming laptop, you will generally be offered DDR2 RAM with the choice of how much you want in your computer. Most high-end games being released today need 1GB of RAM for optimum, lag-free game play. Some people are going with 2GB to ensure that they can run multiple applications along with the game and not experience any slow down in response time. This is a large investment and you want to be able to use this gaming laptop for some time in the future. Most custom laptops are user upgradeable, but this should be left up to professionals. The CPU – Not Just Mobile Technology The CPUs (central processing units) found in many custom gaming laptops are identical to those found in desktops. These chips require a great deal of cooling power, which in turn can make your laptop louder than light weight, lower power ultra portables when the fans kick on and it can become somewhat warm to the touch. Don’t be alarmed by this -– it is normal. And with these desktop processors comes screaming power! Don’t waste your money on the latest CPU release that likely has an inflated price tag (and that price will likely come down before long). Stick with a current CPU speed that is offered by a reputable custom gaming laptop reseller, and you really can’t go wrong. The Gaming Laptop Hard Drive This is the final component to consider when building a gaming laptop. Laptop hard drives come in a variety of speeds and capacities ranging from 4200 to 7200 RPMs and 40 to over 100 GBs. For the most part, this is user preference. Whenever possible, go for a 7200 RPM hard drive, but if you need a capacity not offered in this speed, it’s okay to go for the 5400 RPM drive. Take a look at your current computer, and buy your capacity based on this. Also keep in mind that with many custom gaming laptop manufacturers, you have the ability to upgrade or add another hard drive at a later date. At the end of the day, gaming laptop computers are all about power. Don’t expect a twelve-pound notebook with a desktop processor, numerous fans, a giant heatsink, and independent video card to last on battery power all that long. But do make sure to enjoy the jawdrops that you’ll get as you walk into your regular LAN party location with your new, screaming-fast gaming laptop computer. Crack that puppy open, fire it up, and stand clear of the drool as you take on your favorite game with fellow gamers gathered around to take in the action. Gaming is not just for desktops anymore! Laura Alter works side by side with the gaming community everyday at http://www.pctorque.com -- a recognized authority on custom laptop news and technology. Visit PC Torque to learn even more about building the best gaming laptop computer. Please feel free to reprint as long as article and bio stay intact. |
Connect to the Internet Through Wifi
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by James Hunt Wifi known as Wireless Fidelity allows a user to connect to the internet without using network cabling. Whether it’s from your bedroom, couch, indoors or outdoors data can be sent and received within the range of a wireless base station. Wifi uses 802.11a or 802.11b technologies to provide a very reliable connection that is also fast and secure. Wifi is available to every type of internet user and allows multiple users to connect to each other, other devices and the internet. However, your connecting device will need to have a Wifi certified card (PC Card or PCMCIA card) and it will connect to other certified products such as a base station or access point. It also saves on the cost and distance limitations of using cables, not to mention the unsightly look of running cables throughout an area. These networks are very useful in the business and sales industry as they allow salespeople and travelers to connect to the network with ease and not be confined to one location to access applications such as email and databases. They allow business networks to easily expand and grow making a Wifi network a very useful technology in the business world. Businesses no longer need to abandon current network infrastructures and start over, they can simply use this wireless technology to easily change the network and allow for rapid growth. Wifi networks work at the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands and possible speeds of 11 or 54 Mbps. Their speeds are very comparable to 10baseT networks and allow for easy network access. A Wifi network is essentially plug and play as you can turn on a certified device and connect to the wireless network providing you have the proper authentication and security credentials. Wifi networks have security in the form of WEP (Wired Equivalent Protocol) that can provide the same level of security as that of a wired LAN. Wireless networks that are transmitted over radio waves are more susceptible to security problems, but WEP aims to provide security by encrypting the data sent over the radio waves. James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. |
Class Actions For Overheating Laptops - Justified Or Not?
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by Laurie Vella In the process of researching heat related faults with notebook computers we have been amazed at the number of class action related websites which are pointing a sharp stick at the majority of notebook computer manufacturers in one way or another. Class actions for faulty or defective notebook related cases have been noted as far back as 1998. Problems with electronic equipment are inevitable, irrespective of brand or place of manufacture. Complaints pertaining to the majority of notebook manufacturers seem to fester and multiply in online forums scattered around the web originating from many different countries. Comments on such forums at times appear to be ill-informed, inflammatory and irrelevant with a touch of mob mentality. Forum users also tend to peddle rumours and repair tips that often lead to a much worse situation that any unsuspecting notebook owner would dread, from having a notebook that needs some minor work done on it to fix the overheating issue to ending up with a very costly and often avoidable repair due to advice they shouldn’t have taken.. don’t pull apart you own laptop based on unsubstantiated advice from someone in a forum no matter how many times some guy tells you he has done a similar repair himself. Don’t get me wrong it’s OK to take informed advice and guided instruction, there's some very smart and skilled people offering their advice in forums and chatrooms around the net but you have to check the source of the information to see if it's based upon actual experience. Not every every consumer will be happy with everything they buy. So where does this type of litigation end? My guess is that it doesn’t. From what we can determine a lot of the hoo-ha relates to laptops overheating, which appears to be an issue in certain types and makes of notebook. Symptoms like machines freezing due to internals overheating and failure to reboot seem to be the norm amongst some notebooks suffering from design flaws in their cooling systems. I can’t help but feel sorry for the notebook manufacturers who strive to cater for consumer demands for more and more power from these devices, it's getting more difficult to keep doing this and maintain sufficient cooling for the machine itself. Not to mention the potential loss of sales or even market share that must plague them if they can’t provide the notebook specifications their customers want. If you have ever opened a laptop and taken a peek inside you would have seen some the wacky designs some of these cooling modules take form of, copper pipes, radiator type add-ons and fans, needless to say they don’t all work as well as they need to. Laptops overheating and malfunctioning isn't a problem that is going to go away anytime soon, as new machines become more and more powerful it exacerbates the problem, however with some regular maintenance you can keep your laptop's cooling system running as well as the manufacturer intended it to. About The Author Laurie Vella is a professional laptop technician with 10 years experience in the service field. He has accreditation for and has worked extensively with Toshiba notebooks. He also has You can find more info on laptop repair and other related issues at his site http://www.laptop-repair.info |
Choosing An Ultra-Portable Laptop For Your Computer Needs
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by Elizabeth Lord When choosing a laptop, portability is often a key feature. When you are traveling with your laptop frequently, taking your laptop on planes and long drives makes weight (or lack of weight) extremely important. Certainly, no one wants to be carting a ten-pound monster of a laptop in and out of a car or across an airport in addition to everything else you have to carry. Things to consider when buying an ultra-portable laptop: The prices are steeper with the smaller models of notebook computers, and it increases with processing capabilities and functions such as a DVD/CD-RW drive for your data storage and playback needs, as well as a little entertainment on long trips. Your typical notebook computer packs enough punch to handle wireless networking and all the basic functions (like word processing and other simple programs) just like your desktop PC can. You also have to watch out for mobile laptops that require extra gear. Battery chargers and other cables and accessories should be factored into the weight if weight is indeed the issue for you. Battery life varies with the efficiency of the processor, so check out battery life in any reviews you read. Best Reviewed Laptops Laptop manufacturers have seen the future, and are in a designing war to create the most mobile and smallest notebook computer. Product reviews place the Sony VAIO VGN-TX770P pretty firmly at the top of the list, and weighing in at just under three pounds, it certainly is portable. The VAIO has a great battery life, which is important, but is also one of the most expensive ultra-portable laptops available. The Toshiba Portege is a little on the expensive side, but was designed with the speed and power for business travelers without the bells and whistles. The Portege does not have an internal CD/DVD drive, but keeps weight down to just over two and a half pounds. The Averatec 1000 has a shorter battery life than the competition, but also has a much smaller price. It is the heaviest of the laptops listed here, weighing three and a half pounds, and has the largest hard drive at 80GB. The last laptop we’re mentioning is the Dell Latitude X1, which is light at 2.5 pounds, and has good battery life. It is missing a PC Card slot and an internal optical drive, but for anyone looking to travel light, it is definitely worth a look. Components to Think About • CPU (Central Processing Unit) The CPU, or central processing unit, is not upgradeable in most laptops. The CPU is high-powered enough in most laptops to function at a business level without spending extra for a more expensive chip. If you plan to watch videos or play games, however, you may need to find a computer with a faster processor. The most important factors of CPU’s in laptops are the balance between processor power and battery consumption, and heat output (the less heat, the better). The hard drive is upgradable in a unique way: if by some strange twist of fate you manage to fill up the 60 plus GB that these featured laptops come with, you can purchase portable flash hard drives to store your extra material temporarily. Portable flash drives are thinner than a pencil, just wide enough for a USB connector, and can be shorter than a man’s thumb. A single GB is highly affordable, and up to ten GB are available for big spenders. Unless you are working extensively with digital media, however, this should not become a necessity. The RAM in laptops is upgradable, and it is always a good investment to pack on the RAM. RAM is what stores data on what programs are running, helping them to continue to run. The screen size is fixed for the most part, meaning it should be factored in to the purchase of your laptop. A smaller screen is harder to read, however if it is too big it affects portability. A fifteen-inch screen (measured diagonally) is pretty standard for a balance between size and resolution. A large screen or wide screen is advisable for watching DVDs or other video media. The types of ports that your computer allows are important. Most laptops come standard with up to four USB ports, which are the most common types of port used today. If you have an older mouse that you intend to use with your laptop, remember to buy a USB adapter. USB ports make it much easier to connect peripheral gear. The optical drive is a simple choice. If you do not want to use a CD drive in any of its variations, then you can find a smaller laptop for your use. If being able to store your data is important, at least look at a system with a CD-RW drive. If you need to backup a large amount of data, look for a laptop with a DVD-RW drive. This option will make your system heavier and more expensive. Some laptops also come standard with a place to insert your media card directly into the computer for fast photo access. This is only important to you if photography is part of your job. The batteries that come with laptops now are much alike. The battery size matters less than the amount of power that the processor sucks up from it. If your laptop uses a lot of power, look into buying a spare battery so that you can switch them out when the power drops too low. The video card is not upgradeable, so be sure that if you plan to play intensive games or watch a lot of movies you have a more powerful card. For the average business traveler, however, the card that comes standard is powerful enough. Most laptops come with a touch sensitive mouse pad. Test it out to see if it is easy enough for you to use, and if you need the extra help then buy yourself a mouse. Just remember that you have to carry your mouse and mouse pad with you on trips. Last up for consideration is the wireless capability. For a business traveler, it is often important to be able to network wirelessly and connect to the internet wirelessly when opportunities present themselves. A Centrino processor internally or a wireless LAN (local area network) card allow you to connect. Hopefully this guide has given you a bit to think about before buying your next ultra-portable laptop.
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Cheap Laptop Computers; The New Teaching Medium of Today
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by Kenny Yong You will find Cheap laptop computers are easily available and every person who can afford one has one. These are the changes that have been brought along by the sudden decline in the prices of laptop computers. There used to be a time when only those with enough budget can afford to buy one. Most of these people are those that use laptop computers for their business and other important things. When cheap laptop computers were first made available in the market, everyone was jumping on ahead to get themselves one. Among those that availed of cheap laptop computers were schools and other institutional centers. Education is continuously being upgraded to make learning easier. Using laptop as a means to visually communicate and present ideas was already being done before. But not all educational centers have the budget set aside for this purpose. Only those with sufficient funds available can give their students this kind of learning process. The advent of cheap laptop computers have increased the number of educational centers incorporating its use in their teachings. Some of those who have not joined the throng may still be waiting for newer developments to take place. It would ensure that the use of cheap laptop computers would be easier for them. The use of cheap laptop computers does not necessarily make any big difference in how education is taught. Cheap laptop computers is more like a way of replacing pencils and papers. Teachers and students alike only have to have their own laptop to save their lessons on and let the students have the copy of those. Using cheap laptop computers in education changes the old style of teaching where the teachers are the only ones giving all the information. This time, students can do their share in the gathering of facts and information using their cheap laptop computers. These students can even come up with their own methods based from what is presented to them. Students are not merely receivers, they have become cooperators in their education. They will become more involved in the things that are happening inside the classrooms. For the teachers and professors, using cheap laptop computers as one of the medium of teaching will give more realistic views about the things that they are teaching. These things are made more justified by back up details that can be researched over the Internet. The more advanced cheap laptop computers can even give presentations and videos about the specific topic that these professors are teaching. Seeing them first hand will give students more capacity to understand what the professors may find hard teaching with the use of words and explanations. For example, students majoring in math can use cheap laptop computer spreadsheets to apply their logical findings and evaluations on. Biology students will find that seeing how reproduction is done using model interpretations make understanding the process easy. While those studying poetry and literature will be able to share what they have and know to their fellow students. This is what cheap laptop computers can do once incorporated with education. Take note that these are just some of the basis things. People will be able to get more capabilities from laptop computers that are sure to help them in their learning process. With cheap laptop computers, education can be a breeze. It will be a new kind of challenge that will surely captivate and motivate students.
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Are Refurbished Laptops the Best Value?
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by M Johnson Refurbished Laptops sales are growing at an alarming rate. Companies and business owners are having trouble keeping them stocked. Every top company including IBM, Dell, Compaq and HP are seeing a dramatic increase in the demand for refurbished laptops. Why? The answer is easy. They save people money and lots of it! Refurbished laptops come in at almost 60% off the original retail price. The difference between a new laptop computer and a reconditioned one could be several hundred dollars. Saving money in today's world just got a little easier. Have you noticed natural gas and regular gas gowing up about 50%? Surely you have, unless you live on the moon! Refurbished notebooks have become totally exceptable in our society because people are seeing extra savings buying something a little used. What exactly is a refurbished laptop? Here's the short answer. Someone buys a new laptop from a chain store, takes it home for a few days, or a couple of weeks. Then for one reason, or another decides they don't need it, or can't afford it. Usually within 30 days(depends on store policy) returns the notebook PC and gets a full refund of their money. The store cannot sell it as new anymore. So what happens to it? The laptop computer is sent to the original manufacturer for store credit. Now the manufacturer has to do something with it, so they begin the refurbish process(which means to refresh, or make bright again). The company goes through every detail to make sure the laptop works properly and looks new, but it must be labled refurbished. It is then distributed through the economy sometimes at over the half off the new price. At one time, or another most of the U.S. population has bought something used because they saw the difference in price. Those who did felt they didn't need to keep up with the Jones' and put the savings where they needed it. Buying used just shows how savvy a person is with their money and buying refurbished notebooks is a smart thing to do. Many students and business professionals need to stay mobile and must keep their notebook PC as current as possible to operate today's technology. The downside is it can be very expensive. Now it doesn't have to cost a fortune to keep up with current technology and stay mobile. Refurbished laptops provide the freedom from wires, and the ability to do almost anything, anywhere without the high price of a new mobile computer. Refurbished laptops are definately worth the value and savings. For more info on new and refurbished laptops visit OCD http://www.onlinecrazydeals.com Online Crazy Deals has information on buying refurbished electronics and will continue to bring the latest information on high tec equipment. Go ahead and share this information, but please leave the entire article in tact. Thanks for sharing your time with us. |
A Review of Refurbished HP Laptops
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by Max Bellamy HP refurbished laptops can be found on their website hpshopping.com. Just enter “refurbished laptop” into their search field and browse through the current selections. (Note that Hewlett-Packard also owns and distributes Compaq computers.) There you can purchase a quality refurbished laptop for up to 30% off the new retail price. The HP lines are named Pavilion and Omnibook; the Compaq brand offers the Presario laptop at refurbished rates. The Pavilion line is by far the most popular. They are most suited to replace your home desktop computer, or assist any student in creating the perfect reports and multimedia presentations. They are slim, sleek, and very mobile – usually under 5 pounds. In order of performance, the most common Pavilion notebooks are the ze4000, ze5000, and ze1200. They come as cheap as $1000 from the manufacturer. The Omnibook line is more suited to the serious home user and businessperson. They feature powerful, long-lasting batteries, interchangeable media bays, and ultra slim design – usually less than 4 pounds. These can cost as little as $1200 refurbished. The 20-30% savings is immense. They come with Intel Pentium 3, 4, or M processors. The most common lines are the 6100, 6200, and 4100 models. Ask the manufacturer or private refurbished laptops dealer for details on which Omnibook would fit you. The Compaq Presario line is perfect for the money-conscience laptop user. One Presario model utilizes an Intel Celeron M processor to power the amazing graphics capabilities. It features 512MB of RAM and a jaw-dropping 40GB of hard drive space. It includes a DVD/CD-RW, which allows you to both play and record any DVD or CD that you wish. You can get all of these features for only $800, making it not the least expensive of refurbished laptops, but certainly a great deal. As with most other manufacturers who offer refurbished laptops, HP offers a 90-day warranty. Refurbished Laptops Info provides detailed information on quality, cheap refurbished laptops by manufacturers like Dell, IBM, Toshiba, and HP, as well as refurbished laptop batteries and related products. Refurbished Laptops Info is the sister site of Rack Mount Computers Web. |
Apple's MacBook Pro - A Quick Review
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by Matthew Payne Apple has released the newest product in the Apple family -- the MacBook Pro. Since there are so many features to list, I'll just bullet them before my review: 15-inch: * 15.4 inch display * 5.6 pounds * 4x SuperDrive * 2GHZ or a 2.16GHz Core Due * One Firewire 400 Port * Two USB Ports 17-inch: * 17 inch display * 6.8 pounds * 8x SuperDrive * 2.16GHz Core Due * One Firewire 400 Port * One Firewire 800 Port * Three USB Ports Color The MacBook Pro comes in silver or black. I chose the black one as it is stunning. Performance The Intel Core Duo allows the MacBook Pro the ability to use the power of two processors on one chip. What this means is that the performance of the machine is doubled, while it only needs to power one processor. The front side bus at 667Hz, which Apple says "runs faster than any pervious Mac notebook," allows for graphics to be switched between 2D and 3D. iSight There is a built in iSight camera, so that you may video conference around the world use the iChat software. Overall The Mac Book Pro was a great machine. I've been using it for a while now and I absolutely love it. I doubt I'll be going back to a Windows based machine anytime soon! Matthew Payne is a contributing member of http://coffee-tips.quickprovider.com/ and http://articles.quickprovider.com - both high content filed article sites. |
How to Save Laptop Battery Power When You Really Need it
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by Kara Glover You’ve got a five-hour flight from Los Angeles to New York City, and one battery in your laptop. You’ve got work to do, DVDs to watch, and games to play. How are you going to get that battery to last? Well, hidden inside (and outside) your computer are lots of tricks to help you. Dimming Your Screen Your screen and hard drive use up more battery power than any other parts of your computer. You can dim down your screen to a point where your eyes still feel comfortable but you also save energy. On most laptops, you first dim the screen by holding down the “Fn” key (go ahead and find it because you may never have used it before). Then you look for a key on your laptop that either has a picture of a sun or a half-moon. (On my Sony Vaio that key happens to be F5.) If you find it, go ahead and hit it while still holding down the Fn key. A brightness adjustment box should show up on your screen. If you can’t find a key with a sun or half-moon on it, try hitting your various arrow keys while holding down Fn, to see if that works. Turning Off Your Screen Altogether If dimming your screen is good for saving battery life, turning it off when you’re not using it is even better. To turn off your screen, we’re going to have to go into some settings in the Control Panel. You’ll soon see these settings are not only good for turning off screens; they perform a whole host of battery saving functions. Click on Start, then on Control Panel. If your Control Panel is shown in the “Category View,” click first on Performance and Maintenance, then on Power Options. If your Control Panel is in Classic View, simply click on the Power Options icon. Next click on the Power Schemes Tab. Underneath where it says Running on Batteries and across from where it says Turn Off Monitor, choose how quickly you’d like your monitor to shut off when you’re not actively using it. That Power Options Properties box we just opened brings us to a whole host of other enticing options we can employ on our cross-country flight! Choosing a Power Scheme Windows XP offers two Power Schemes appropriate for laptops on the go. These are Portable/Laptop and Max Battery. They can both be chosen in the Power Schemes tab of the Power Options Properties box. Both power schemes conserve battery power. But Portable laptop adjusts what it conserves to the amount of power you need at the time, while Max Battery is much less flexible. It keeps your computer at a very low constant power rate no matter what you may be doing. So if you are planning on watching a DVD on that flight, which uses a lot of battery power, I don’t recommend using the Max Battery power scheme. It might not give you enough power. Each power scheme also has its own settings for when the monitor and hard disks should be turned off. Remember that both are huge energy hogs, and that both the monitor and hard disk remain on longer under Portable/Laptop than they do under Max Battery. The power scheme you choose also determines how long the computer will wait to go into Standby mode or Hibernate after remaining idle. Standby conserves energy because it turns off your hard disk and monitor. However, whatever you were working on at the time stays in memory (RAM) instead of being saved safely to your hard drive. The upside of Standby, though, is that when you press any key your computer will come out of the mode rather quickly. Hibernation saves even more energy because it saves your work to the hard drive and then shuts your computer down almost all the way. Inherently, of course, this means it takes the computer longer to wake up to its normal state, but when everything does come back on, it looks the same as before. To switch your computer to Standby mode manually, click on Start, then on Turn off Computer, then on Standby. To make your computer Hibernate manually, click on Start and Turn off Computer again, but this time hold down the Shift key down afterward. The Standby key switches to “Hibernate.” Click it and your computer will go into Hibernation mode. Creating Your Own Profiles Maybe you don’t like the two power saving choices Windows gives you. Maybe you want to create custom ones to suit your own needs. You can do that! I created one for “Long Plane Rides.” I adjusted the settings in the Power Options Properties box. For instance, I indicated I wanted my monitor to turn off after only 2 minutes of idle time, and my hard disks after 3 minutes. Then I clicked on Save As, named my profile, and clicked OK. Now maybe the battery will last even longer on the flight. Let’s go through some other choices in the Power Options Properties box. Under the Alarm tab, you can check boxes to either be alerted when your battery is low and/or when your battery is critical. You can even use the slider to make your own determination of just what is low and what is critical. Then you can click on Alarm Action to tell your computer to, for instance, sound an alarm or go into Standby mode when those moments are reached. Under the Advanced tab, you can choose what you want your laptop to do when you close the lid. You can choose it to go into Standby mode, Hibernation, or even do nothing if you wish. You can also choose what you’d like the computer to do when you hit the power button. If you’re interested in using your laptop’s Hibernation feature you should check the box under the Hibernation tab that says Enable Hibernation. Turn Off Wireless Network Card Your wireless card can also be a drain on your battery’s resources, so disable it if you don’t need it. (You don’t need it obviously on a plane, for instance.) If your laptop has a wireless card, simply take it out. If your laptop has wireless built-in, you can disable it in Windows XP by clicking on Start and going to your Control Panel. In Category View, click on Network and Internet Connections, then Network Connections. In Classic View, simply click on Network Connections. Once you’re there, right click on the wireless connection you’re using, and click on Disable. You can also disable your wireless network card through the Device Manager. Right click on My Computer and left click on Properties. Click on the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button. Next, click on the small black cross next to where it says Network Adapters. Locate your wireless network adapter, right click on it, and left click on Disable. You can also left click on Properties instead (after you right click on your network adapter), click on the Power Management tab, and check the box that says “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Some newer laptops with the Intel Mobile Pentiumฎ chip have a button somewhere on the laptop itself, for instance on the front, to enable you to easily turn your wireless on or off. You may have to check your laptop’s manual to find out if you have a button and if so, where it is. CPU Throttling The Intel Mobile Pentiumฎ laptops also sport a feature known as CPU Throttling (and named SpeedStep™ by Intel), that actually slows down your processor when you’re running on the battery. When you’re plugged into your AC, your processor runs full speed ahead. But when you unplug that cord, it shifts into a lower gear. A processor running at a lower speed and using less voltage saves your battery even that much more juice. So now you have a number of tools to implement in order to save your computer’s precious battery power. But maybe instead on that next long distance flight, you might want to think ahead and book a seat with a power outlet. ©2006 by Kara Glover Feel free to reprint this article in newsletters and on About The Author |
Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop
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by Cody Kahl Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out there? Does getting a used laptop seem like a better choice to you? Refurbished laptops are everywhere these days, and the word itself seems like a “buzz word” of the industry. But do these used machines actually hold up to the strict standard of the word “refurbished”? In this article I will discuss exactly what process a used notebook should go through before it is called “refurbished”, as well as the advantages and disadvantages purchasing one brings. Ok, so you see refurbished or recertified laptops being touted everywhere online these days, but are they all the same? The answer is no. Each company has a different process of restoring a notebook, and they aren’t all equal. This is what a good restoration process should look like: - An examination of all hardware components What this process should equate to is a machine that runs just as good as when it was brand new, (and sometimes look just as good). The most important thing you can do if you are looking at a particular “recertified” laptop is find out about the company selling it. Are they reputable? How long have they been in business? What process do their refurbished laptops go through? These are the most important questions you must ask. I’ll be honest here; there are many companies that claim that their notebooks are recertified, but this is really a lie. There is a risk involved when buying a reconditioned notebook, and checking a company out before you purchase can go a long way towards your peace of mind. That being said, good deals and quality notebooks can be found, and are found daily. Before I conclude this article I would like to go over a few of the advantages and disadvantages buying a refurbished notebook can bring. For one, the obvious advantage is that you can save a lot of money on a mobile PC that runs just as good as ever -- as long as the laptop is of good quality. This is the advantage that appeals to everybody when it comes to getting a reconditioned laptop. As for disadvantages? Well, as I said above, there is a risk when purchasing these notebooks. By doing proper research you can minimize this risk, but it will always be there. Another down side to these machines is that you are limited to whatever is available. With a new notebook your options are endless –- With a refurbished one, you have to take what you can get. All in all, I think buying a refurbished laptop can be a great idea; provided you take the time to ask questions such as the ones above. If done correctly, you can get a great portable PC that will last you a long time to come, and save you a lot of cash as well. ****************************************************** |
Deciding On Buying a 17 Inch Notebook?
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by Ernest R Peterson I have just recently gone out and bought a 17 inch notebook, and so far have been fairly impressed with its quality. It is definitely superior to the old IBM Thinkpad that I owned years ago. Back then, laptop computers were pretty big and bulky, with poor screen resolution. They were considerably more expensive than they are now and to top it all, the battery life was poor at best. I had put off buying a new 17 inch notebook for quite a while. I have always found the process of buying a new computer agonizing. No matter how long you wait, the very following week after you've made your purchase on whatever system you have chosen, out comes something cheaper, more powerful, at a lower price and with a better warranty! It is enough to drive you completely crazy. My new Dell 17 inch notebook is everything that my old laptop was not. It is sleek, low-profile, contains hours of battery life, and now comes with a high-resolution lcd screen that is just simply a joy to behold. The best thing about my new 17 inch notebook is how easy it makes working on-the-go seem. With the prevalence of wifi (wireless broadband enabled) coffee houses, I can now work from my 17 inch notebook from any part of town. I actually do quite a fair bit of freelance work, so the luxury of being able to do all my work on the go, when I want, and from where I want, makes my life almost feel like being on permanent vacation! I knew that the convenience of a new laptop computer was going to be worth it no matter what, and eventually I got and bought myself the new 17 inch notebook. And I am glad that I did. There is nothing that beats having your own laptop computer, especially a fully configured one at that. My sturdy 17 inch notebook has really changed my life, certainly for the better. Of course, for many people, getting a new 17 inch notebook computer like I have done might be a bad idea. If you are not that good at keeping track of your things, it is a definite no. You could easily lose your 17 inch notebook computer, along with all of your work and data, due to one careless mistake. And when I am done with my 17 inch notebook, I simply slip it back into my laptop computer sleeve, and can carry it around with me wherever I'm off to next. It is no burden at all, because of its light weight, and though I occasionally worry about having it stolen, or accidentally damaged, so far no harm has come to my computer. You can of course include insurance for it when making your initial purchase. ArticleDirectoryZone.com gives our readers the latest news, reviews, articles and write-ups on all issues related to technology and marketing. |
Dual Core Laptops - Sorting The Facts From The Fluff
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by Laurie Vella Mobile computing technology is ever changing and the latest evolutionary step is the development of dual core processor laptops. New CPU’s for notebooks. The recent introduction of the NAPA Platform has shown some significant enhancements on the older Somona technology. The new NAPA platform offers a lot of significant advantages for a dual core laptop such as a 60% performance increase with its physically smaller dual core processor which can utilise memory more effectively whilst using less power as well. What are the enhancements for laptops? Performance Increases: - Dual core processing with 667Mhz Front Side Bus We've been playing with a couple of the latest Toshibas to see exactly what these developments have to offer a real world user. Fingerprint Reader Technology. New fingerprint technology will allow users to bypass multiple password entry with one swipe of the finger. Bundled with some awesome software Toshiba owners can now utilise this technology to logon to Windows, access secure websites, secure files and folders and even logon to a laptop secured with a Bios password. Laptops that have the fingerprint reader hardware have now got the software to match and utilise what the fingerprint reader hardware can do. Toshiba’s new OmniPass and Protector Suite QL software gives the user all of the following features and functions. - Data encryption In addition to this sort of technology, Toshiba’s new Wireless Authentication logon feature is impressive to say the least. This technology coupled with the Toshiba Wireless Key Logon utility enables a user to setup their BT (Bluetooth) enabled mobile phone to act as a key, with similar password entry free logon from Bios to Windows simply by activating the BT function on your phone when in range of your laptop. There's been a bit of misinformation floating around regarding these new dual core notebooks so we'd like to clear up a couple of points. 1. If a machine has a stated processor speed of 1.66GHz then that's across both cores, not 1.66GHz on each core, the advantage over a 1.66GHz single core processor would be improvements in performance and data handling. 2. The new dual core processors don't require software written specifically for the CPU, you would still see an improvement running all your existing software. 3. A dual core notebook will actually run cooler than it's single core counterpart, this is due to the fact that the processor is more efficient and uses less power. This is a welcome development in the world of mobile computing where overheating machines are a constant bugbear for users. The evolution of dual core processors is big news in the laptop world, as they become more common in the marketplace it will be interesting to see how they cope with the multitude of applications that will be thrown at them. About The Author Laurie Vella is a professional laptop technician with 10 years experience in the service field. He has accreditation for and has worked extensively with Toshiba notebooks. He also has accreditation for HP and BenQ machines. You can find more info on laptop repair and other related issues at his site http://www.laptop-repair.info |
A Guide to Laptop Power Inverters
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by Razal K Rasheed Power inverters convert low voltage DC (direct current) battery power to high voltage AC (alternating current) household power. These electronic devices are ideal for running household appliances and electrical equipment in your car. Laptop power inverters allow you to take your laptop on anywhere with you. A laptop power inverter makes any traveling easier. It helps you recharge your laptop while you drive. A laptop inverter can convert the 12 volt DC battery power from a vehicle or airplane into 115 volt household AC electricity. Therefore, if your laptop battery runs down, you can simply plug directly into the AC outlet on the laptop inverter and keep functioning. Since they are compact and lightweight, laptop inverters are easy to carry and store. A good product is equipped with a shutdown timer that protects your laptop from low voltage and high voltage damage, and over-temperature damage. Many varieties come with user changeable internal fuses. A laptop power inverter works best with a battery that is in good quality and fully charged. Nearly all laptop inverters have built-in GFCI protection (ground fault protection), which is a characteristic that immediately turns off the inverter if it gets damp or wet. The device then readjusts the conditions and turns itself back on if the difficulties have been resolved. The GFCI protection avoids the consumer from electrical shocks and the possible risk of a fire. Laptop power inverters are highly expensive, since they are pure (or true) sine wave inverters. True sine wave inverters provide the most consistent, highest quality output power. Laptops are sensitive equipment; hence they require a true sine wave. Every modern AC appliance operates on a true sine wave inverter, whether it needs it or not. So laptop power inverters can also use to run tool battery chargers, professional audio/video equipment, certain medical devices, and variable speed tools. There are many power inverters available for laptops. Choosing the perfect inverter is always a challenge. Always select one that is rated high enough for the laptop(s) you are using. Razal K Rasheed, I am a software engineer working with a reputed software firm located in Kerala, India. I am also doing the job of freelance SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and content writing jobs. My SEO works includes develop websites; follow entire lifecycle of projects from search engine optimization (SEO) and registration, to implementing updates and maintenance of web sites. Including database programming, server and client side coding, page content optimization, graphics optimization, and excellent search engine ranking results. Freelance writing jobs with proven expertise in varied content based assignments ranging from website content, SEO content, press releases, news letters, articles, e-marketing pages, company brochures, blogs, training manuals, and all editing services. |
Laptop Care Guide and Spin-off
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by Rashme Wong There are several easy steps that you can use to maximize the life of your laptop computer. By taking proper care of your laptop computer, you will insure that you have the computer for several years to come. Further, if you take good care of your laptop, when you decide to get another laptop, you will be able to sell your existing laptop for more money. Below are some useful tips on how to care for your laptop computer properly. First, you should clean your laptop regularly. You should never use water to do so, as it can get inside the computer and damage the internal components. It is recommended that you purchase and use special electronic cleaning products or, at minimum, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab or q-tip to clean the keys on the keyboard. You can also purchase cans of pressurized air to clean out all the dust particles that accumulate in between the keys. Finally, be sure to clean the computer screen on a regular basis with a soft cloth. You should always carry your laptop computer in a protective case. The case will keep the computer from being exposed to too much sunlight or water when you are carrying it outside and it will also keep the computer partially insulated—especially, if it gets jarred around in your vehicle or the like. Further, it is better that you purchase a separate carrying case for your laptop: you don’t want to pack all of your belongings into one bag, only to have your belongings ruin your laptop by scratching it or crushing it beneath the weight of everything else you are carrying with you. Finally, it is important to protect your laptop computer at all times. Never leave it in an area where it can be exposed to extremely high or low temperatures, don’t pick it up incorrectly, or slam the computer carrying bag down on a hard surface while the laptop is inside of the bag. In the end, taking the above necessary precautions will increase the lifespan of your laptop computer. Rashme Wong is a successful Webmaster and publisher. She provides information on above article's topic. |
7 Reasons NOT to Take Your Laptop on Holiday!
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by Steve Robson Heading off on vacation soon? Then perhaps you're tempted to take your trusty laptop along for the trip. After all, you bought it for its mobility, and it's nice to stay in touch via email with your family and friends back home. However, just before you start packing, its pays to consider the downside of traveling with a laptop, particularly if you're planning to go abroad: 1. Weight A laptop (plus accessories) starts to feel heavy very quickly. And who really needs MORE luggage to carry around? 2. Security risk To you, it's a laptop computer. To a thief, it's a bag of easy money. (About $1000). And that bag is something you have to guard every second of your vacation. 3. Power supply problems You'll need a different power adaptor plug for each country you visit. And depending on your laptop power supply cable, you may also need a step-up / step-down voltage transformer. 4. Connection complications You'll need to find a way of connecting to the Internet. If your laptop is suitably equipped and you can find a local hotspot, you can take advantage of wireless Internet access. Otherwise you're stuck with dial-up modem access, which means a choice between: - using your existing ISP's local call number in the country you're visiting (provided your ISP has a local number! AOL and Compuserve generally do.) - making a long-distance telephone call to your regular dial-up number back home - signing up with a local ISP (rarely practical in the short-term) 5. Telephone socket trouble Different countries have different types of telephone socket. If you're planning on connecting via dial-up access, you'll have to bring a suitable telephone adaptor plug. You'll also need a digital signal tester to test for higher- voltage digital telephones lines. Otherwise you could end up frying your modem and possibly the motherboard too. 6. Extra insurance cover It's highly unlikely your travel insurance policy extends to laptop computers. You'll therefore need to arrange separate specialist insurance cover, which isn't cheap. 7. You're on holiday! Do you really want your office with you on vacation? Aren't you supposed to be getting away from it all? If you're beginning to think that traveling with a laptop computer is a major logistical exercise, then you're right. (Just ask any "road warrior"!) However, there IS an alternative: An Internet Cafe. Almost every city and large town now has several Internet cafes. To locate one when you're abroad, just ask your hotel receptionist or a friendly taxi driver. You'll also find Internet cafes in airports, railway stations, major hotels, business centers, public libraries, and even onboard cruise ships. Before you leave on your travels, simply ensure you can access your email via a web browser. (This is known as "webmail". Most ISPs offer this option automatically - just ask them if you're unsure.) Alternatively, set up a free webmail address (at hotmail.com or yahoo.com) for the duration of your trip and give it to anyone who might need to contact you. With webmail set up, all you have to worry about is remembering your email login and password. Everything else - hardware, connectivity, security - is somebody else's problem. To summarize: Unless you have a very good reason for taking your laptop on holiday, you'd be wise to leave the darn thing at home and use an Internet cafe instead. And who knows - maybe your laptop could use a vacation from you! About The Author Steve Robson is a successful technical author and contributor to http://HowToBuyALaptop.com - For advice on how to buy a cheap laptop, visit: http://howtobuyalaptop.com/cheap-laptops.htm |
5 Ways To Find Cheap Used Laptops
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by Erick Charles One of the first steps in your research should be to get on the Internet and begin your search. Your first stop should be eBay. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you already know that eBay is an auction site where you bid for items. It's also a great place to find hard to find items such as, a piece of toast with a religious icon burned into it, or a clip Elvis's sideburns. But, it's also a great place to find inexpensive used equipment, i.e. laptops. Once on eBay, you can do a quick search by typing “used laptop” into the search function. You're sure to find hundreds of selections, and name brands too. Spend some time there conducting your research. You don't have to bid right away so take your time. Compare prices, and look for sellers with good ratings. The higher the rating, the more reputable the seller. Another place to find used laptops is Amazon.com. Amazon is not only a great bargain store that sells new items—you can also find used items for sale at a great price, often a lot cheaper than their respective new items. If you've used Amazon before, then you've probably seen the links “new & used.” By clicking on this link when you do a search, you'll be able to see both options. But of course we're interested in used. You'll be given the prices for the used items, as well as its condition, and the rating of the seller. Still another stop you should make before concluding your research is Craig's List. This website is much like a newspaper classified section in its apparent simplicity. But don't let that simplicity fool you. Do a search for “used laptop” and you will find a huge selection. You can even choose by location to find something local, or you can opt to expand your search to other regions if you wish. One bad thing about Craig's List is that it doesn't include a seller's rating, so you have to be careful. One way to avoid being scammed this is to stick to buying locally, where you can have potential face-to-face interaction with the seller. One more place where you can try to find cheap used laptops is Overstock.com. Although this site won't yield as much of a selection as eBay, or Graig's List, and perhaps even fewer than Amazon, it's still a good place to look. You may find something in there you didn't see in any of the other sites, so it won't hurt to look. You don't have to limit your search to the Internet. You can also try doing a bit of off line research. Look in your local newspaper and see what turns up. Often times, some people will opt to sell their used computers by placing ads in the newspaper, so you may be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Try the Sunday paper since it usually has a larger classified section. There you have it—5 ways to look for cheap used laptops. By doing some thorough research, you're sure to find a great deal. With all of the selections you'll have at your disposal, you'll be able to find a laptop that has the features you're searching for, at a price range you're comfortable with. Erick Charles works as a SysAdmin for a government agency and has over two years experience in the computer repair field. He is eager to share his expertise with others. He created a website where even non-techies can find useful, computer repair information, and much more. Visit his site at http://thetechboy.com to find out more. |
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