Laptop Computer Tips

Apple MacBook MB062LL/B 13.3" Notebook PC Review

2007-12-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

Stylishly and intelligently designed for your on-the-go digital lifestyle, Apple's MacBook is the perfect confluence of affordability, innovation, and powerful computing. This latest iteration of the MacBook line is pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which adds over 300 new features including easy backup of your most important data via Time Machine, a redesigned desktop that helps eliminate clutter, and the newest version of the fast-loading Safari web browser. It also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes.

Measuring a mere 1.08 inches thin and weighing in at only 5.0 pounds, the MacBook cuts a slim profile on any desk (or in any backpack or briefcase). A durable polycarbonate shell in white keeps it ready for the rough and tumble of everyday life, and a magnetic latch keeps the screen closed without a catch--that means no moving parts to snag, jam, or break. It also offers a unique keyboard design that sits flush against the bed for a sleeker, lower profile. Other standard Apple "extras" includes the Apple Remote and Front Row media playback interface, built-in iSight video camera, and Apple's magnetically connected MagSafe power adapter, which safely disconnects when under strain.

Boosted in speed with Intel's latest chipset (dubbed "Santa Rosa"), you'll enjoy quick and nimble multitasking thanks to the 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 processor. The 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability, and the integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi LAN enables computing freedom from wires and compatibility with older 802.11b/g routers as well as the faster throughput of Apple's Airport Extreme. Other hardware features include a 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (4 GB maximum), 8x combo Superdrive (for burning dual-layer DVDs as well as CDs), built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), a FireWire 400 port, DVI video output, and Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144 MB of shared memory.

Preloaded with Leopard and iLife '08
The biggest Mac OS X upgrade ever, the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system features over 300 new features, including:

Time Machine, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac
A redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs
Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application
Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them
A brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock
Major enhancements to Mail and iChat

Leopard's new desktop includes the redesigned 3-D Dock with Stacks, a new way to organize files for quick and easy access with just one click. Leopard automatically places web, email and other downloads in a Downloads stack to maintain a clutter-free desktop, and you can instantly fan the contents of this and other Stacks into an elegant arc right from the Dock. The updated Finder includes Cover Flow and a new sidebar with a dramatically simplified way to search for, browse and copy content from any PC or Mac on a local network.

Time Machine lets you easily back up all of the data on your Mac, find lost files and even restore all of the software on their Mac. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac. In the event a file is lost, you can search back through time to find deleted files, applications, photos and other digital media and then instantly restore the file.

The MacBook also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications that make it easy to live the digital life. Use iPhoto to share entire high-res photo albums with anyone who's got an email address. Record your own songs and podcasts with GarageBand. Break into indie filmmaking with iMovie and iDVD. Then take all the stuff you made on your MacBook and share it on the web in one click with iWeb.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
The Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor has a 2.2 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an enormous 4 MB of Smart Cache, an L2 cache that can be shared between the cores as needed. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

The Intel Core 2 Duo's 128-bit SSE3 vector engine handles 128-bit computations in a single clock cycle, accelerating data manipulation by simultaneously applying a single instruction to multiple data. And its two execution cores are designed to share resources and conserve power, helping it to achieve higher levels of performance since it uses fewer watts. And with 4MB of shared L2 cache, the MacBook is a multi-tasking monster. With such substantial L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently. And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle.

Hard Drive and Memory
The 120 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0. The 1 GB of PC5300 DDR2 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 512 MB) have an industry-leading 667 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to a whopping 4 GB.

Wireless Connectivity
The built-in 802.11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources. It works seamlessly with the new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n. Use the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone. You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague.

Display and Graphics
Whether you're working on a Keynote presentation or watching a movie before you catch a flight, every document, video, and photo on your MacBook will look sharp on the glossy 13.3-inch widescreen display. With pixel-perfect 1280-by-800 resolution, it's great for viewing and working with media. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which provides 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory. It features Intel Clear Video Technology, which delivers outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Video Conferencing with Built-in iSight
Artfully placed in the display bezel is an iSight camera, which enables easy video conferencing as well as allows you to snap pictures of yourself and create video podcasts. Using the iChat AV application, video conferencing is integrated into your iChat buddy list, so initiating a video conference is a breeze. iChat also lets you hold audio chats with up to 10 people and provides high-quality audio compression and full-duplex sound so conversation can flow naturally. For video podcasting, you can record a short clip using the iSight camera, then use iWeb to create a video blog entry or post your GarageBand-recorded podcast.

Apple Innovations
One of Apple's most celebrated innovations is the MagSafe power adapter connector with offers a magnetic connection instead of a physical one. So, if you happen to trip over a power cord, you won't send MacBook flying off a table or desk--the cord simply disconnects, without damage to either the cord or the system. As an added nicety, this means less wear on the connectors.

The trackpad can tell if you've got one finger on the pedal, or two. With two, you can easily scroll around your documents or open contextual menus. When you need right-click functionality, simply open ÒKeyboard and MouseÓ in System Preferences and enable the secondary click preference.

And with the included Apple Remote and Front Row software, you can show off your latest photos and access your iTunes music and playlists from across the room. You can also use it to watch downloaded movies and TV episodes as well as control playback of DVD movies. The Apple Remote features a minimalist six buttons--just press the Menu button to activate Front Row and begin to navigate through your media. You can even use the remote to control Keynote presentations in iWork '06.

Other Features

8x slot-loading SuperDrive with the following write speeds: 8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
Mini-DVI port for video output (VGA adapter and mini-DVI to DVI adapter sold separately)
Built-in stereo speakers and omnidirectional microphone
Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out
Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port
Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted "T" arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
Solid-state scrolling trackpad for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
Kensington cable lock slot
Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
Measures 12.78 x 8.92 x 1.08 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 5 pounds

Included Software
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools); iLife '08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand); Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive; iWork '08 (30-day trial)

What's in the Box
MacBook, Apple Remote, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord, lithium-polymer battery, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation

Product Description
Comes now with the new Mac OS 10.5 Leopard with over 300 new features, such as a stunning new look to the desktop, new ways to browse thorough your files with Cover Flow, Quick Look, Time Machine and many more. The most advanced and affordable Mac notebook ever gives you a blazingly fast mobile architecture in a beautiful design that costs less than slower, clunkier models. It's like getting a sports car for the price of a scooter. MacBook is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a performance-enhancing 4MB of shared L2 cache. MacBook keeps you untethered courtesy of built-in Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless. Thrill to a high-res 13.3" widescreen TFT LCD screen for text and graphics. See that little lens in the display bezel? That's the built-in iSight camera. Use it to video chat simply by opening iChat AV and clicking a buddy icon (or three). Or fire up Photo Booth and take a few snapshots with the iSight, play around with 16 fun effects, then admire your handiwork. That little camera lets you create web-ready videos, too. Just open up iMovie and start the action. From there, iWeb makes it one-click easy to get your talking head on the web. 13.3 Glossy WXGA (1280 x 800) Display Built-in iSight Camera and internal omnidirectional microphone Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory 8X Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD+-R DL/DVD+-RW/CD-RW) Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g/n) Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector) 2 USB 2.0, 1 Headphone out; 1 Microphone-in, mini-DVI output port, 1 FireWire 400, 1 RJ-45 LAN Approximate Unit Dimensions - 12.78 (W) x 1.08 (H) x 8.92 (D) Approximate Unit Weight - 5 lbs

Price: $1,294.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
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Toshiba Satellite A135-S4527 15.4" Notebook PC Review

2007-12-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

Easily mobile at just 6 pounds, the Toshiba Satellite A135-S4527 makes it easy to get your work done with a large, bright 15.4-inch widescreen LCD. The XGA-resolution screen (1280 x 800) permits side-by-side viewing of documents for increased productivity. It's also great for using as a media center, with Toshiba's unique Express Media Player enabling you to bypass the system and access CDs and DVDs with a touch of button. This affordable notebook PC is powered by Intel's 1.73 GHz Core Duo T2080 processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance and efficient power consumption. It also offers a 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer/multi-format DVD drive that also burns CDs, integrated 54g wireless connectivity, and Intel GMA 950 video card with up to 256 MB of shared video RAM.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

Processor: The Intel Core Duo T2080 processor is built with the Mobile Intel 945PM Express chipset, and it has a 1.73 GHz processor speed, fast 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
The Intel Core Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the next version of Microsoft Windows, code-named Vista. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. It's more efficient, thanks to Intel's Power Coordination and Deeper Sleep, which help to transfer power only to those areas of the processor that need it. It also features Intel's Digital Media Boost, which delivers enhanced performance on floating point-intensive applications such as CAD tools, 3-D and 2-D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming.
Hard Drive: The 120 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) is just above average in size for business notebook PCs. It provides more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
Memory: The 1 GB of built-in memory (PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is a good start for power users, and it offers a decently fast 533 MHz speed. It has two memory slots, enabling you to add up to 2 GB of RAM for worry-free handling graphics-intensive presentations and multiple open business productivity applications. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.
DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.
Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers a launch button for the Express CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.

Screen, Video & Audio
This notebook has a 15.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 256 MB of shared video memory. It also features an integrated audio card with headphone and microphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This Toshiba Satellite has an integrated Atheros 802.11b/g wireless-LAN that enables you to easily connect at wireless hotspots wherever you roam. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
1 VGA monitor port
1 S-Video out
1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II, PCMCIA R2.01, PC Card16, CardBus)
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
5-in-1 memory card reader that's compatible with Secure Digital (including SDIO), MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card memory cards

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Toshiba software includes Disc Creator, Recovery Disc Creator, and Speech System. Third-party software titles include Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8 SD, Google Desktop and Toolbar, McAfee Internet Security Suite (with 30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.45 (WxDxH) and weighs 6 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 4000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2.5 hours (depending on usage). It has a 4.5-hour full charging time.

What's in the Box
This package contains the A135-S4527 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

Product Description
TOSHIBA A135 S4527 Satellite Notebook. Value priced with technology you will value, the Satellite A135 SS4527 is sleek and lean, combining the Intel Pentium dual core processor performance with a 15.4 in diagonal WXGA display and TruBrite technology. And Toshibas DVD SuperMulti optical drive reads and writes up to 11 formats with a DVD RAM that acts like an HDD /select units. Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN technology lets you work and play on the move, connecting you easily via wireless LAN networks in your home, office or on the road. Designed specifi cally for mobile computing, the Intel Pentium dual core processor combines mobile processor technology with exceptional value, allowing a lighter Satellite design. The 15.4 in diagonal WXGA widescreen display with TruBrite technology takes the strain out of viewing spreadsheets and other data. Games and movies come to life without those bothersome black bars. With Toshibas ConfigFree feature, mobile and wireless computing are now simple to manage, allowing users to easily switch profiles and devices as needed. Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN technology lets you work and play on the move. No more searching for phone jacks, network cables, or plugging in special cards. You are easily connected via wireless LAN networks in your home, office, and in wireless LAN hotspots at airports, hotels and coffee shops.

Product Description
The Satellite A135-S4527 is sleek and lean, combining the Intel Pentium dual-core processor performance with a 15.4-inch diagonal WXGA display and TruBrite technology. Toshiba's DVD SuperMulti optical drive reads and writes up to 11 formats with a DVD-RAM. Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN technology lets you work and play on the move, connecting you easily via wireless LAN networks in your home, office or on the road. The 15.4-inch diagonal WXGA widescreen display with TruBrite technology takes the strain out of viewing spreadsheets and other data. Toshiba's ConfigFree feature, mobile and wireless computing are now simple to manage, allowing users to easily switch profiles and devices as needed. Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN technology lets you work and play on the move. You're easily connected via wireless LAN networks in your home, office, and in wireless LAN hotspots at airports, hotels and coffee shops. 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD display at 1280x800 native resolution (WXGA) Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 8MB-256MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory Atheros 802.11b/g wireless-LAN RGB (monitor) output port, S-Video output port, Microphone input port, Headphone output port, i.LINK IEEE-1394, USB v2.0 - 4 ports Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version) Dimensions - 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.47 inch Weight - 6.0 pounds Toshiba 1 Year Standard Limited Warranty

Price: $879.00
You Save: $320.00 (27%)

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Discount Notebook Computers are Easy to Obtain

2007-11-10T05:22:00.001-08:00

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

Custom Gaming Laptops - Five Things You Must Consider When Building a Gaming Laptop

2007-11-10T05:20:00.002-08:00

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

2007-11-10T05:20:00.001-08:00

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.
Read more at http://www.wifi-central.info

Class Actions For Overheating Laptops - Justified Or Not?

2007-11-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

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
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

Choosing An Ultra-Portable Laptop For Your Computer Needs

2007-11-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

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:

• Price

• Features

• Weight of Additional Gear

• Battery life

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

• Sony VAIO VGN-TX770P

• Toshiba Portege R200

• Averatec 1000

• Dell Latitude X1

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
There are several key components to a laptop that should be considered before any purchase. This is important because it is difficult, if not impossible, to upgrade many of these components in laptops. The primary components are:

• CPU (Central Processing Unit)

• Hard Drive

• RAM (Random Active Memory)

• Screen Size

• Port Types

• Optical Drive (CD, CD-RW, & DVD-RW)

• Removable Media (like a camera memory card)

• Batteries

• Video Card

• Touch Sensitive Mouse Pad

• Wireless Capability

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.

You may use this article in its entirety if the links and resource box stay intact.

For more interesting articles on laptops, batteries, accessories, and laptop reviews, go to http://www.cheap-laptops-guide.net

Cheap Laptop Computers; The New Teaching Medium of Today

2007-11-10T04:35:00.000-08:00

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.

For more fresh information on Laptop, visit us at Laptop.InfoRevealed.info.

Are Refurbished Laptops the Best Value?

2007-11-10T03:02:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-10T03:01:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-10T02:58:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

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. 

Feel free to reprint this article in newsletters and on
websites, with resource box included. If you use this
article, please send a brief message to let me know where
it appeared: kara3334@yahoo.com

About The Author

©2006 by Kara Glover
Kara Glover is a Computer Tutor and Troubleshooter. You
can find her tips, articles, and tutorials on topics such as
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at her website:
http://www.karathecomputertutor.com

Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop

2007-11-08T14:05:00.001-08:00

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

- Diagnostic and performance test

- Cleanup

- Cut & scratch repair (not always necessary)

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.

******************************************************

Cody Kahl is creator and writer of Toshiba Laptops Guide – A site

dedicated to providing only the best used toshiba laptops information.

Cody believes in quality, and this free resource proves it.

******************************************************

Deciding On Buying a 17 Inch Notebook?

2007-11-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

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

- Latest Intel 945 Chipset

- Generation 3.5 Intel Integrated Graphics

- DDR2/667 Dual Channel Memory

- Lower power consumption = Increased battery life

- Latest IEEE 802.11 Standards

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

- Individual fingerprint application assignment

- Multiple print storage

- Fingerprint website access

- Bios fingerprint authentication

- Single touch boot feature

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

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

2007-11-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-11-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

by Erick Charles

There are many reason why one would want to buy cheap used laptops, the main, and most obvious reason being that a new laptop is simply too expensive. If your goal is to find a cheap used laptop, then take some time to do the research, and you will be sure to get a great deal. I will detail 5 ways you can use to locate the right used laptop that suits your needs, and price range.

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.

Laptop – Finding Takers From All Quarters

2007-10-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

by Carly

While the first quarter of this century promised for a wake in of technological innovations, detail R&Ds have made sure that advancements in the field would continue for far more years to come. Today's world is bearing fruits in the form of many such endeavours. Inventions of automated systems is one such phenomenal step towards equipping world with more rapid gains in every productive purposes.

The automation process, however, to a large extent is guided by the computers of this modern world. In the case of any business process the effective participation of computer in upgrading overall production is not a hidden fact any more.And while we talk of computers, a laptop in its portable avatar is more equipped to be consulted during any decision making process. It is one mobile technological marvel of this century that by virtue of its portability regulates many an important functioning. Impacting decisions and effectively influencing the fates of many a processes across the world.

Thanks to the population of features that these devices nowadays come with. With multi-purpose roles, they are more able to meet your requirements now. Dell, Apple, Compaq, Toshiba, IBM, Acer and many other laptops manufacturers, today, come ahead to offer you with products that speak of many a performances. Aided with advancements in micro-technology there are processors to fulfill each needs.All the laptops, today, comes stuffed with more than enough system memory and PCI slots to accommodate future enhancement necessities. Resultantly, laptops with 128MB or 256MB memory possibilities are coming equipped with 1GB and above of system memory. These statistics stand true for hard disk drives too. From 10GB specialities laptops, today, come equipped with 100GB of hard drive. Enough space to accommodate many of your data. To equip you with space for more movies and music, optical drives in laptops offer supports for files in CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM and DVD-RW formats. Any type of disks are just ready to be played now.

Not to forget the vast range of connectivity options. They come with internal modems, WLAN (WiFi) and Ethernet support. While all these options maximise functions of a Cheap laptops, they are finding more acceptance from the crowd that was once more inclined towards desk tops only.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Replacing a Laptop Hard Drive

2007-10-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

by Loyd Case, PC Magazine, August, 2007

Q: I have a laptop computer (IBM ThinkPad with a Centrino 1.6-GHz processor and a 60GB hard drive, 5,400 rpm). I'm looking to replace the 60GB drive with a new one, and I do want to make a drive image. I have successfully imaged desktop hard drives several times using DriveImage software, but a problem arises with laptops.

In desktop computers you have two or more IDE or SATA connections, and it is easy to copy the data from the old hard drive to the new hard drive. But my laptop appears to have just one socket, for one hard drive attachment. Any ideas on how I can connect two IDE drives and have the laptop recognize them? — Costas Georgas

A: One thing you can do is to buy a compact USB case designed for 2.5-inch laptop hard drives.

If you go this route, you'll simply install the new hard drive into the USB hard drive case, then boot from your DriveImage CD. From there you'll perform the familiar task of copying the image from the internal drive to the new USB drive. (This is assuming that your version of DriveImage recognizes external USB disks; if not, you may have to upgrade.)

Once that's done, swap the internal drive for the one in the USB case. You'll be able to boot from your new drive, and as a bonus, you'll now have a small external hard drive for backup.

Apricorn ( www.apricorn.com ) offers several kits in its EZ Upgrade series to facilitate this process. We've successfully upgraded several laptops using an EZ Upgrade kit.

Copyright © 2007 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.

Backup Data On Your Laptop

2007-10-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

by: John Ugoshowa

If you were to look at past statistics regarding the information that has been lost in regards to laptop computers, you would find yourself amazed. Even though this information can be astounding, many of us still don’t take the time to back up the information on our laptops.

To put it in simple terms, nothing in the computer industry is fool proof. Hard drives can crash, the laptop can get stolen, or it can even be dropped and rendered useless. To ensure that we are never left without our precious data, we should always create a backup of our information.

There is no mistaken the fact that over a million laptops have been stolen over the years in the United States alone. Anytime a laptop is stolen, chances are that it won’t be recovered. If the information wasn’t backed up, then the owner will be left with no laptop - but more importantly - no backed up data either.

Just like you can with desktop computers, you can also create a backup of the data on your laptop as well. You can use online services, back it up remotely, or use several other methods to ensure that you keep all of your data. Preserving your data is something you should really look into, especially if you have business material on your laptop.

The best way to go about backing up your data and files is to burn them to a data CD. Data CDs can hold up to 700 MB (Mega Bytes) of data, which means a lot of files. To back things up this way, all you need is a CD/RW burner in your laptop, which most of the newer ones come with.

The only drawback to laptops is the fact that they don’t offer near as much storage or security measures as a desktop PC. Desktop computers have a lot more power, and they can also do things (including backups) in a fraction of the time.

The laptop computer was designed for on the go use, which is the main reason why people don’t really think about backing up their data. When the thought finally does come to mind, it is normally too late to do anything about it.

As mentioned above, the easiest and quickest way to backup your laptop data is to use an online backup service. Depending on your connection to the Internet, it can take anywhere from several minutes to several hours. Although it may take you a little bit of time, you’ll have the satisfaction in knowing that your data is there if something should happen.

Whether it’s for your business or personal use, you can’t go wrong backing up your data. You should always create a backup of your data at least once a month, even more than that if you have a lot of important information that you add to your laptop on a frequent basis.

Notebook PC Warranties: Study Them Carefully

2007-10-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

By Joshua Feinberg

Over the past five years, the price points on notebook PCs have been driven down dramatically. However, lower purchase prices not withstanding, notebook PCs still have a rather unique warranty service dilemma.

If a keyboard, mouse-equivalent (tracking-stick or touch-pad) or display fails on a notebook PC, you won’t find inexpensive, third party replacements parts readily available at local retail stores.

Study the Warranties

So as your clients’ virtual CIO who decides on what particular brands and models of notebook PCs to recommend, it’s important to scrutinize notebook PC warranties. With notebooks, individual hardware components are much more specialized than components used for desktop PCs.

For example, notebook hard drives are not as generic as desktop PC hard drives (although notebook PC hard drives are getting more standardized).

Parts Not so Common

As your client’s virtual CIO, you would have great difficulty trying to find a replacement notebook PC hard drive locally at a warehouse club or office supply superstore.

And even if you or your clients miraculously could find one, the price likely would be at least double the cost of a comparable desktop PC hard drive. As a result, the value of hardware component warranty coverage on a notebook PC is substantially greater.

The Bottom Line about the Notebook PC

Unlike desktop PC hard drive replacements, notebook hard drive replacements can be expensive, both from a soft cost perspective as well as the cost of the actual replacement part. Moreover, because notebooks require specific parts, it’s pretty difficult to quickly obtain appropriate replacement parts on your own.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Biz Tech Talk. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg can help you grow your computer consulting business, the RIGHT way! Sign-up now for your free audio training program that features field-tested, proven Computer Consultants Business Tools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Feinberg

External Laptop Batteries

2007-10-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

By Richard Romando

External laptop batteries provide the user with almost seven hours of uninterrupted power. This is a major breakthrough in this field because laptop users had to depend on normal batteries that only worked for two hours. The most important advantage that an external laptop battery offers is that the user does not have to connect his laptop to a power source every couple of hours in order to recharge the conventional battery. Therefore, an external laptop battery is the best solution.

External laptop batteries are very cheap and can be charged by an external battery charger. A laptop user can make a decision about the chemical that is used for manufacturing these batteries such as Nickel Cadmium or NiCd, Nickel metal hydride or NiMH, Lithium ion or Li-ion batteries.

The price of an external battery may vary from $120 to $200 and these batteries are available on the Internet as well as in the regular market. As computers and other related appliances are becoming cheaper, the prices of laptops are also dropping. This means that more and more people are using laptop and for longer periods. These batteries are ideal for those who want an extended power source for their laptops when they are traveling. An external laptop battery connects to a laptop through an AC adapter plug and usually have two output levels. It consists of an adapter, a chord and thirteen other connectors. Another advantage that these batteries provide is that they are universal in nature. This means that an external power battery that is manufactured by a particular company can be used with a laptop of another make and model.

External laptop batteries are revolutionizing the IT world by providing more mobility and extended power for those who want to use the laptop for more than two hours without worrying about power interruptions.

Laptop Battery provides detailed information on Laptop Battery, Laptop Battery Chargers, External Laptop Batteries, Cheap Laptop Batteries and more. Laptop Battery is affiliated with Cheap Cell Phone Batteries.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Romando

Tips For Optimal Laptop Power and Functionality

2007-06-07T09:19:00.001-07:00

Are you sick and tired of your notebooks battery cutting out on you when you need it most?

Are you always buying new batteries because your old ones aren't lasting as long as they should be?

If either of these questions apply to you, then read on.In this article I will discuss some of the things you can do to conserve your batteries power so that your laptop runs longer. I will also discuss some easy things you can do to ensure that your battery gets the long life it deserves.

First, let's cover some of the things you can do immediately to cut the amount of power your laptop is sucking from the battery.

Remove all cards from your notebooks slots when you are not using them. Believe it or not, some of these cards will suck power even when not being used!- If your laptop has a power management function, use it.

Things like lowering the brightness of your screen and turning off the screen saver can also help tremendously.- Turn off your wireless port when not in use.

This may seem pointless, but power is used by the wireless port scanning for the nearest "hot spot"- Put your laptop in sleep or suspend mode rather than rebooting it.

Rebooting your laptop uses much more power than simply letting it "sleep".

This one is something that many people should do – Carry a spare battery. By purchasing a second battery you can double the amount of time your laptop can go for.The above recommendations work great for adding some much needed time when it comes to your notebook battery, but nothing will help if your battery isn't being properly cared for. Below are some general tips you can use to ensure that your battery will function correctly.

Do not store your battery in extreme temperatures – Not too hot and not too cold.

A new battery should be fully charged and then discharged when you receive it.- Discharge your notebooks battery fully before recharging it again. Consider getting a rapid charger/conditioner for this.By following the above recommendations you can ensure a long life from your laptop battery as well as optimal performance..

List of Laptop Accessories You "MUST" have

2007-06-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

You've laid out good money for your laptop computer, but you're not done spending just yet.There are a few more laptop accessories you may want to consider to make the package complete.

1: Laptop Case / Bag

As the newest member of the mobile computing force, you're required to take an oath of safe computing. And that starts with investing in the most important of laptop accessories - a laptop bag. You can't very well go traipsing around the world with your laptop exposed to the elements.When it comes to laptop bags, you can spend $25 for a small case made from less expensive materials on up to several hundred dollars for one made of top-grain cow hide.However, in the end, the most important consideration is whether your case can hold your laptop, plus all the other goodies that go with it (like the ones described here).

2: Software

Did your laptop come with software? If so, did it come with the right software - the software you actually need to perform whatever tasks you need to perform? Don't just assume you have everything you need. You'll probably need to add some software, as well as go online to update the software that was included.

3: A Real USB Mouse

Track pads and eraser nubs that fill an obvious need. However, given the option, most people would rather user a real mouse.If you stop and think for a moment, you're likely to realize that many places where you'll be computing actually are suitable for a real mouse.So one of the most useful laptop accessories you can buy isa USB mouse, keep it in your bag, and use it whenever you're able.

4: A Cat5 Ethernet Cable

Your built-in Ethernet port won't do you much good if you get to your hotel room, discover an Ethernet connection, and don't have a cable. Some hotels provide them; others don't. Always come prepared with the right cable.

5: A Standard Telephone Cable

The same holds true for your modem connection. If you don't have a cable to get you from your computer to the phone jack, you're not going anywhere in cyberspace.

6: Disposable Cleansing Cloths

Over time, the display on your laptop is going to get dusty,or even smudgy. You're playing Russian roulette with your laptop if you attempt to clean your display with paper towels and spray cleaners.Instead, use disposable cleansing cloths. These essential laptop accessories are designed specifically to clean laptop displays. Always have a stash on hand.

7: USB Drive

A USB drive is a storage device about the size of your thumb that plugs directly into a USB port. Capacity-wise, they're relatively small - usually well under 100 MB. However, they're very useful for moving files quickly and easily from one computer to another, e.g.,moving a Power Point presentation from your laptop to your business associate's laptop. A USB drive also makes a great temporary backup medium for the really important files you create on the road.

8: Blank CD-R Discs

You've just finished your big sales presentation. Someone from the audience approaches you afterward and asks for a copy of the presentation.You'll make a better impression if you: a) ask the person for their email address and tell them you'll email the presentation later b) ask for their physical address and tell them you'll maila CD later c) burn them a CD of the presentation on the spot. In case you didn't figure it out, the answer is c.

Always be prepared with these inexpensive laptop accessories.

9: Stereo Headset

It's great to be able to watch DVD movies no matter where you are. Imagine watching your favorite flick at 30,000 feet.There's just one problem.The family in the row behind you has absolutely no interest in hearing the dialog from Pulp Fiction. Do yourself and everyone around you a favor. When you're watching movies or listening to music in public, use your headphones.

10: Security Device

Laptop security devices come in many shapes and sizes.For example, most laptops include a security dock that allows you to attach your laptop to some immovable object via cable, much like you'd lock up your bicycle outside the grocery store..

How Secure Is Your Laptop?

2007-06-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

This article seeks to give you a solid knowledge base regarding the subject matter at hand, no matter what your previous experience on the topic.

Hundreds of thousands of laptop computers are stolen every year, yet only a tiny percentage of those laptops are ever improved. Most notebooks are swiped when they are left unattended in positions, lodge conference quarters, taxi cabs, and known spaces such as airports and balanceaurants. When your laptop is sold on the boulevard, priceless records is mystified with it. Sometimes the records, not the computer, is the really point. A devious thief with access to private niceties stored on your laptop's hard compel such as, name, address, year of birth, side niceties, and party security number, could inflict havoc with your private finances and trust rating.There have been many high profile victims of laptop theft.

just a laptop computer was stolen from California chief Arnold Schwarzenegger's compel desk, Margita Thompson. Access to confidential following records may have been the prominent motive behind the theft of this notebook.Protecting your laptop computerjust IBM has shaped a fingerprint bookworm for pick Thinkpad T42 models, that could well be the outlook of laptop security. The fingerprint bookworm creates a biometric layer of security almost impossible to fissure, but what about the balance of us with elder notebooks?Below you'll find 4 valuable habits to guard your laptop computer.mainframe cable hairCable hair should deter the casual robber. Many laptops are equipped with a common guarantee Slot (USS) that allows the notebook to be close to a cable wedge. They can be purchased cheaply at position resource outlets and computer food.drawing your laptop computer Permanently etching your precious notebook may look like a desperate calculate, but marking the external basis of the laptop with your telephone number and address, may deter thieves and, if stolen, rise the attempt of having the laptop returned to you.

mainframe indicate detectorsEquipping your notebook with a indicate detector terror that sets of a loud clatter if it is enthused. Such an terror might trigger a thief to discard the laptop. An intebalanceing disparity is a small radio transmitter that triggers an terror when a notebook moves more than 10-20 feet away from a receiver reserved in your prize, wallet or steal. Such an terror would indeed alert the thousands of people a year who cleanly desert their laptops in taxis.mainframe trackingStolen laptops can be electronically traced with a software tracking symbols installed inside the laptop's hard compel. Tracing programs, such as Cyberangel work when the laptop connects to the Internet and secretly hearsay the position of the laptop.

During the second part, we must switch to a more serious side to fully communicate the subject matter in a way for all to understand.

Computrace special proffers a parallel mass through a three year deal and agrees to pay up to $1000 if your notebook computer is not improved in thirty time. Ztrace is a visitors present an intebalanceing twist to laptop tracking. They proffer a ability to distantly erase or encrypt aware records on your laptop after it is stolen.The portability of laptop computers is both a gain to active executives and to laptop thieves. education to assure your notebook will stop their pains and keep your laptop and precious records safe.

Comparing Refurbished Laptops and Used Laptops

2007-05-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Until now, you had heard about this subject plenty of times, but really didnt understand what all the fuss was about.

Yes they do as we will point out some reasons laptops are labeled differently. Let's begin by examining each phrase followed with a short definition:

Refurbished Laptops

Refurbished laptops are PCs that have been bought new by a consumer and has been used between 1 day and 3 months(depending on the store). The customer returns the laptop to the store for any number of reasons. At this time the store cannot sell it "as new". It must be returned to the original manufacturer for refurbishing- which means, "to make bright, or fresh again, renovate". Most stores offer a 30 day money back guarantee and within that time period is when most of the laptops are returned for a refund and sent back to the manufacturer. Thus refurbished laptops are born. Refurbished laptops are not new, but the closest thing to it because most are within a couple of months old. Refurbished laptops will have better processing speeds, more memory, newer Windows OS and the most up to date technology.

Next we have:

Used Laptops

Used laptops are generally a little older, but are in perfectly working condition. Used laptops are perfect for people wanting to use a mobile computer for only a couple of applications, but still needs the mobility of a laptop. You can use these to run software programs in areas outside of an office where a desktop is not practical. Used laptops will have lower processor speeds, older Windows such as 98 and 2000, less memory space, but will still operate as a new one because they have been sent to a qualified computer technician to be reconditioned to it's original specifications. Used laptops are perfect for students doing homework, a professional that only needs to operate a few programs, or for someone who just wants to access the internet without the bulk of a desktop.

Then of course comes:

Cheap Laptops

Cheap laptops are basically a laptop that has minimal programs, lower memory and older OS programs. Cheap laptops are only cheap in price and not in quality. Most people looking for this kind of laptop is seeking a basic mobile PC to run only a couple of applications, or software programs. Cheap laptops are also used by those who only wish to surf the net, access e-mail, or any number of functions that don't require massive amounts of memory, or lighting speed processors. Cheap refurbished laptops work as new they are just a couple of years older than a refurbished laptop. If a student only needs to run one software program, or if an office worker just needs to create spreadsheets outside of the office cheap laptops are perfect. These are the choice of many people because they are basic and "cheap".

Let's recap all this information into a nutshell:
Refurbished Laptops-newer, faster, able to operate more applications, latest technology
Used Laptops-a little older, basic Windows OS, slower processor speeds, less memory
Cheap Laptops-older, mainly for schoolwork or operating a few applications, lower memory

Go ahead and save the money and buy a used, or refurbished laptop, but be careful who it is bought from. Make sure you see the words "Factory Reconditioned" because a highly skilled technician will do the better job.

Refurbished Laptops - Are They For You?

2007-05-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

By Dave Klein
Refurbished laptops are popular choices for those who need a new laptop, but do not want to spend a lot of money. Refurbished and used are not the same though. A used laptop usually means that a private individual is selling their computer for some reason. Often, there are no guarantees. A refurbished laptop is one that is certified for resale and usually offers some sort of guarantee or warranty.

When buying a refurbished laptop, you will be looking for one will many of the same features and qualities of a new laptop. Consider the size of laptop you are looking for before making a purchase. If you will carry your laptop with you on travels or on business trips, research the smaller, lightweight laptop versions. This will usually be much easy to carry than the larger sized laptops. Also, when looking at refurbished laptop computers, think about the size of memory you will require.

Many of the lower priced laptops come with minimal amounts of memory. That may be fine if all you need from your computer is very basic web access and data processing. If you need to store large amounts of documents, videos or pictures, look into getting a laptop with a larger amount of memory.

The other thing to consider when looking for a refurbished laptop is the speed of the computer. Laptops are generally a bit slower than desktop computers, but with new technology, a good laptop can be just as fast. If you are considering a refurbished laptop, make sure that its features can be upgraded if necessary.

It is important to remember that refurbished laptops are generally a better risk than buying a used computer. Used computers usually have no guarantee and what you buy is what you get. Refurbished laptops are carefully repaired and are certified for resale. These laptops have been thoroughly examined and inspected for worn and damaged parts. This means that in theory, you get a "new" laptop and a fraction of the cost. Also, refurbished laptops usually come with a warranty or guarantee making them a wise buy for consumers concerned with the quality.

Refurbished laptops can be purchased several ways. There are many online dealers who sell certified refurbished laptops. Often these dealers purchase and refurbish products by the lot which makes them able to sell them to the consumer for a lower price. Also, check with manufacturers. Many times, if you are looking for a specific brand, they can recommend authorized sellers of their refurbished equipment. This is often a good way to get exactly what you are looking for and know for certain it is being purchased from a reputable dealer.

Before you purchase any refurbished laptop, it is highly recommended to make sure you know whom you are dealing with. Be aware of computer dealers that you do not know or cannot verify they are a genuine company. Refurbished laptops are often the target of sales on the black market and are often found to be stolen goods. If the dealer does not offer a warranty, consider purchasing the computer from somewhere else.

Refurbished Laptop Batteries

2007-05-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

By Max Bellamy

There are three refurbished laptop battery types, each named for its component materials:

Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries are hardly ever seen anymore. They have dismally low capacities (2000-3000 mAH) and contain heavy metals that harm the environment. Worst of all is the dreaded "memory effect". When you recharge a NiCad battery before it is completely drained, the longevity of the battery is compromised. That is the memory effect.

Nickel Metal Hybrid (NiMH) batteries have twice the capacity of NiCad batteries (4000-6000 mAH) and are half as susceptible to the memory effect. But these too are becoming rare.

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are today's laptop battery standard. They have all the capacity of a NiMH battery, but zero memory effect and zero toxins. Bonus: Li-Ion batteries weigh half as much as NiMH batteries.

In purchasing a battery, the consumer has three options: used, refurbished, or new.

Used laptop batteries that are not refurbished will probably only last you 30 minutes to an hour before needing recharging.

Refurbished laptop batteries are available from most manufacturers and retailers of refurbished laptops. These batteries are renewed, recharged, and tested. They are much better than plain old used batteries, but not quite as good as new.

New laptop batteries last a good couple of years "600-800 recharges" as long as they are properly cared for.

Extending Battery Power

Whenever you are using your laptop near a power source, use the A/C adaptor. However, sometimes you will be forced to use your laptop with no access to a wall outlet, and the battery will run low. Here are three things you can do to extend the remaining power in the battery:

First, if your laptop processor features a power-save mode, switch over to power-save mode. This will slow the laptop by up to 50%, doubling battery life for that time period.

Second, turn off extraneous energy-sucking elements. The major power vampires in your laptop are the hard drive, the CD and DVD drives, any networking devices, and any excessively bright screen settings.

Third, you can double overall battery capacity by installing a second battery. Your laptop must have a universal bay in order to do this. All you have to do is remove the CD-ROM or floppy drive and put a battery in its place.

I Just Got My Brand New Notebook!

2007-05-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

by Vita V.

I recently got a 17 inch notebook, and am quite impressed with its quality.

It is so much better than the old IBM Thinkpad that I had years ago. Back then, laptop computers were big and bulky, the screen resolution was poor, they were even more expensive than now, and the batteries had very low life expectancy. But my new Dell 17 inch notebook is everything that my old laptop was not. It is sleek, low-profile, with hours of battery life, and a high-resolution lcd screen that is just simply a joy to look at.

I put off getting my new 17 inch notebook for quite a long time. I have always found the process of buying a new computer agonizing. No matter how long you wait, the very next week after you buy whatever system you have chosen to purchase, there is something cheaper and more powerful at a lower price and with a better warranty. It is enough to drive you completely batty. Nevertheless, I knew that the convenience of a new laptop computer was worth it, and eventually I broke down and bought my new 17 inch notebook. And I am sure glad that I did. There is nothing that beats a laptop computer.

The best thing about my 17 inch notebook is how easy it makes work on the go. With the prevalence of wifi coffee houses, I can work from my 17 inch notebook from all about town. I do a considerable amount of freelancing, 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 a permanent vacation. And when I am done with my 17 inch notebook, I slip it into my laptop computer sleeve, and can carry it around me anywhere. 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. My sturdy 17 inch notebook has really revolutionized my life. 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 good at keeping track of your stuff, 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.

How I Selected The Best Notebook Computer For Intensive Number Crunching And Stock Market Analysis

2007-05-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

by Peter Lim

Having used a desktop computers and notebook computers that had been officially supplied by the company where I was employed, there was no need to worry about what type of notebook computer or whatever configuration that was required in my work.

So when I finally had to purchase my own notebook computer for personal private use, I found myself facing a myraid of questions. Just what should I look out for when buying my own notebook computer?

First, I found I had to quantify my own needs for a notebook computer. Having quantified my needs, which was to do a lot of number crunching and to perform technical analysis and charting of stock prices online, I found that even low priced models could perform work that was demanded by my needs.

I was pleasantly surprised that my needs did not demand a high priced model.

Secondly, the notebook computer I required would need to be sufficiently light. In the process of identifying the notebook computer, I decided I did not need a subnotebook, as most notebook computers weigh between 5 to 7 kg, with a subnotebook weighing at 5 kg or less.

The standard notebook computer was sufficient for my needs coming with some wordprocessing software that was already installed as part of the package that comes with the computer and with Internet access capabilities. All I need was to install my specialized technical analysis program to monitor the stock prices.

At the same time, advances in notebook computer technology ensured that I had wireless technology and can hook up online at any hotspot outlet. This would allow me to have mobile wireless access anywhere I go. I could also use a pen drivefor additional mobile storage.

Finally, I also decided that I really do not need to use the provided upgrade functionality for the notebook, perferring to use the notebook for a period of two years at most. This was because I discovered parts and accessories were expensive, and going the way of upgrades to be expensive. Changing to a new model completely after two years appear to be a better proposition in terms of more power, functionality and cost savings.

Having made these decisions, the next step was to go online for a price comparison. Shopping online allowed me the convenience of researching each one of the notebook computer that caught my attention, without feeling pressured to make a quick decision.

There were some sites that allowed the added convenience of comparing different models side by side, and doing so was very useful in helping me to make my final decision on the notebook computer.

If you are faced with the task of purchasing your own notebook computer, the considerations which I have mentioned above will help you in your initial selection in making a wise decision.

Rugged Laptops Hard Drives

2007-05-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

by John Wally Smith

Solid State Disks(drive) - SSD

Rugged laptops use Solid State Disk (SSD) as hard drives instead of the usual conventional disks. Hard drives used in rugged laptops are not regular hard drives, with spinning platters. Solid state disks use non-volatile memory such as flash or volatile memory such as SDRAM.

Non-volatile memory SSDs retain memory even during sudden power outages, ensuring data retrievability, a good advantage when you are using rugged laptops that you operate in difficult situations.

SSDs don’t have any moving parts, so they tend to be more solid and at the same time more silent than regular disks. An other thing that makes a SSD stand out of the rest of the regular hard drives is the price, which is significantly higher than the rest.

Using a SSD is more secure from this point of view than a regular disk. A regular disk can only be protected from vibrations and shocks by some procedures such as wrapping the hard drive with a soft, thin, pliable, jell-like material. This material absorbs a lot of the shock induced by vibrations, drops, hits, etc.

Flash SSDs are extremely fast since these devices have no moving parts, eliminating seek time, latency (there is no read/write head to move) and other electro-mechanical delays inherent in conventional disk drives. They are also more rugged than hard disks and offer greater protection in hostile environments.

Flash-based means that it uses flash technology to erase blocks of memory before writing to them. Solid state disks have limited lives based on the fact that they have a limited erase cycles.

Some features that recommend SSDs for usage in rugged laptops the fact that solid state disks can endure wider temperature fluctuations in the environment, does not heat up, is totally silent, is lighter, and uses very little power.

Due to the fact they use little power make SSD the hard drive of choice for rugged laptops, extending the laptop autonomy. Rugged laptops are often used outside the office, far from a power supply, so the battery life is a crucial feature and using Solid State Disks as hard drives became a wise decision.

A Purchase Guide To Budget Notebooks

2007-05-11T03:15:00.000-07:00

by Roberto Modesto

Since it became commercially available back in the early eighties, notebooks called the attention of computer users because of its small size and portability. Not much of a commercial success back then, it only took a short time before the computer industry improved this item, up to a point that is now considered to be one of the best selling computer consumer products.

For one who intends to buy a budget notebook, he may have some difficulties in picking the right one, since there are several notebook manufactures offering so many models. Budget notebooks are in a class by itself with basic features but capable of delivering full solutions for computer related tasks.

For an easy guide to budget notebooks, check the following major manufactures:

SONY

Sony VAIO notebooks are fashioned products targeted to consumers who demand flexibility and power without compromise. It is expected to find features such as 15.4`` WXGA, duo core processor and 100 gb hard disk. Although not the cheapest of budget notebooks, it compensates the higher price by offering more technological features.

Most common features one can expect from Sony budget notebooks: 1 - Intel Core Duo Processor T2250 1.72 Ghz; 2 - Windows Vista; 3 - 1 gb DDR2 ram; 4 - Widescreen XGA display type; 5 - Intel graphics media accelerator 950; 6 - 100 gb SATA hard disk 5400 rpm; 7 - CD-RW/DVD rom; 8 - wireless lan 802.11 a/b/g; 9 - Modem and Lan port 10/100; 10 - USB connectivity; 11 - It weighs around 6.5 pounds; 12 - Lithium ion battery up to 5.5 hours; 13 - One year limited warranty. Price starts from U$ 929.00 and up according with optional accessories.

DELL

With features such as 15.4`` WXGA, duo core processor and ATI Radeon Xpress graphics, Dell budget notebooks offer a flexible combination of power, mobile productivity and entertainment at a good price.

Most common features one can expect out of these notebooks are: 1 - AMD Turion 62 X2 1.8 ghz/1mb cache processor; 2 - Windows Vista; 3 - 512 mb ram; 4 - Widescreen XGA display type; 5 - ATI Radeon Xpress 256 mb video graphics chipset; 6 - Up to 80 gb hard disk; 7 - CD-RW/DVD rom; 8 - It weighs around 6 pounds; 9 - 9-cell lithium ion battery; 10 - One year limited warranty. Price starts from U$ 549.00 and up according with optional accessories.

TOSHIBA

All Toshiba budget notebooks feature an 15.4`` diagonal WXGA display, DVD optical drive which reads and writes up to 11 formats, high speed wireless lan (802.11 b/g) for easy connection in networks.

Most common features one can expect out of these notebooks are: 1 - Intel Celeron processor with 1+ Ghz; 2 - Windows Vista; 3 - 512 mb ram; 4 - Widescreen XGA display type; 5 - Radeon Xpress 200M video graphics chipset; 6 - 60 gb hard disk; 7 - CD-RW/DVD rom; 8 - wireless lan but no Bluetooth connectivity; 9 - Modem and Lan port 10/100 mbps; 10 - USB and firewire connectivity; 11 - It weighs around 5 pounds; 12 - 4-cell lithium ion battery; 13 - Tv-out s-video; 14 - One year parts and labor warranty. Price starts from U$ 599.00 and up according with optional accessories.

HP

HP Budget notebooks with features such as 15.4`` display screen, AMD Sempron 3500+ and a sophisticated black resin finish, offer an attractive mix of style, mobility and performance.

Expected features one can find in this HP notebook category: 1 - AMD Sempron 3500+; 2 - Windows Vista; 3 - 15.4`` WXGA Widescreen; 3 - 512 mb ddr2; 4 - CD-RW/DVD rom; 4 - Wireless connectivity 802.11b/g wlan; 5 - It weighs around 7 pounds; 6 - Nvidia video graphics chipset with 256 mb; 7 - 6-cell lithium ion battery; 8 - USB, lan and modem port; 9 - Integrated stereo speakers; 10 - 60 gb SATA hard disk; 11 - Tv-out s-video; 12 - One year warranty in parts and labor. Price starts from U$ 569.00 and up according with optional accessories.

A while ago portable electronics devices were a luxury at an expensive price. Nowadays it became an affordable must have kind of product for lots of people. Notebooks are in this category for sure! And basic notebooks are the best option for those who are in a tight budget. So, if portability is a must for your personal or professional computer related tasks, waste no more time. Get yourself a budget notebook!

How To Deal With Liquid Spills Onto Your Notebook

2007-05-11T03:02:00.000-07:00

It's a common tradition. We are all guilty at some time or another of having liquids or drinks next to our notebook computers. Although the unique marriage of coffee and a laptop seem to be an inseparable pair (been to Starbucks recently?), there is some risk involved. Accidents certainly happen, and the results of a liquid meeting with the insides of a notebook can be ugly!

If you are one of the lucky few to have a Panasonic ToughBook CF-18, then please disregard the rest of this article (The Panasonic CF18 notebook can handle it, but yours probably can't!). However if you are one of the other 99.9% of laptop owners and have a machine that doesn't get along with liquids very well, we have some steps that you can take to save your investment when an accident happens.

Don't plan to bury your notebook just yet...

Assess the situation before taking action. Is the notebook hooked up to AC power or running on battery? If the machine is running on battery power and is NOT connected to an AC outlet, your first line of defense in to swiftly shut the machine down. Be sure the device is not sitting in a puddle and the power switch area is dry. The quickest method to shut down is to hold the power button until the device powers off. Next remove the battery and place it off to the side. If the laptop is connected to an AC outlet, try to separate yourself from any contact with the liquid. Make sure you're not touching any metal with your body (place your opposite hand in a pocket and check to see what you're standing or sitting on) and then quickly yank the plug from the AC outlet. Then follow the instructions above to remove the battery, etc.

Now that you are out of immediate danger to yourself, you have the opportunity to care for the notebook. Remove all USB components, PCMCIA cards or any other external device. Be sure to carefully wipe off the notebook and all components carefully and place them out for the drying process.

Time to play the waiting game. Surely you are anxious to see that your notebook is still functional and your data intact. Here is the good news; providing you did not here any "buzzing", see smoke, notice an immediate malfunction or notice any obvious problems prior to shutting down, the machine is most likely in good shape. At this point you MUST allow at least 24-48 hours to be absolutely sure the device has indeed dried out completely. Make sure to leave the laptop open so air can circulate. If you have a cooling rack, commonly used for cooling baked goods, it might even be helpful to place the notebook on that to make sure air is circulating as well as possbile.

After waiting for your notebook to dry properly, try powering up with the battery first. If the battery is dead, replace it in the unit and charge it for awhile. For your "first powerup", you will be best off performing this on battery power. Does all appear well? Congratulations and Amen to that! Notice anything funny? Immediately shut down the machine and bring it to an authorized service center.

One simple thing to remember is that data travels between all components in your computer via an electrical current. Once any liquid - even a minute amount comes in contact with any of these components while the unit is powered on, you are sure to fry something inside of that case! Luckily most accidents involving spills are only a minor setback provided proper steps to power down and dry your device are taken. Hopefully our advice will come in handy in case the unexpected occurs.

From Red To Green: Are Hot Notebooks Cool?

2007-05-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

by Thomas Schramm

Much like the first Americans who experienced nuclear power, or a TV set in their home, the health repercussions of computers are not entirely known. It is a sobering thought that those who have spent their lives bathed in the glow of their monitors may find themselves decades from now in poor health, with conditions caused from any number of harmful emissions from their desktops, whether chemical or electromagnetic.

The Hot Topic

Like stilted houses on hurricane coasts, laptops of today seem to be climbing higher and higher off of workspaces in dorm rooms, offices and coffee shops. The “hot” issue with laptops is exactly this. Batteries in laptops run hot; sometimes so hot that they can cause the computer to shut down, that is, if the user can still handle the keys. As a result, these notebook computers are being hefted higher and higher off of their desks. Sometimes this is done with proper stands and other times with books or coasters, either way it is meant to allow for proper heat ventilation.

A recent report by Stephen H. Wildstrom on Business Week Online sheds more light as to why exactly most laptops run so hot. According to the article, the problem lies with the lithium ion batteries nestled inside of most modern laptops. Lithium ion batteries are great because they generate enough power to support high performance laptops with high processing speeds. However, as the battery meets the processor’s need for power, it heats up. This is mainly due to the fact that laptops are small, compact and very poor at allowing heat to escape from their innards.

While overheated laptops are certainly an inconvenience and uncomfortable to use, there are more potentially lethal and destructive surprises waiting within lithium ion batteries. Wildstrom says that lithium ion batteries rely on electronic circuits, a sort of fail-safe so to speak, to prevent violent chemical reactions. Unfortunately, as of late, these systems seem to be failing in the notebook computers of a couple major notebook manufacturers.

However, heat doesn’t seem to be the only problem facing the laptops of today. In order to compensate for the heat, cooling fans blast on at a high RPM, generating a noise that sounds like a fighter jet turning on its afterburners directly overhead.

While laptops are good for people when on the go, it seems that many people are simply using their notebooks all the time, even when seated at their home office, or designated workplace.

Because of this, the user’s productivity goes down due to the distracting blasts of noise from the cooling unit, his health is jeopardized and put at risk due usually poor ergonomic setup of the workplace and to the overheated batteries, when in reality, they could be using other methods of computing that would prove more productive.

Turning Green

So how are these problems to be solved? A better ergonomic choice is to use a notebook stand with an external keyboard and mouse to have a better physical position, with the notebook battery removed. However the noise and the higher level of radiation are still there. What can be done?

The best choice is a silent and environmentally friendly desktop computer. The computer can be tucked away; the keyboard, mouse and monitor can be set up ergonomically. Ideally the screen is about 25 inches away. The top of the screen is at eye level. The keyboard and mouse are in a light color to keep the contrast difference to the monitor to a minimum and help reduce potential eyestrain.

Constant exposure to electromagnetic radiation due to not so well shielded computer cases and electronics increases stress levels as the body has to spend energy to maintain its own energy field. Once you start working with a well shielded and silent computer you'll feel the difference very quickly.

A high quality, green and silent computer can also increase productivity up to 20%. Michael Kim of InspiredTraffic.com reported increases of 10 to 20% since switching to a green desktop. He had been using mostly his notebook before. Now the notebook is only for the road. As a side effect, he reduced his electricity bill by about 30%. The silent computer made him turn off all other noise sources in the office. And he feels fresher after the work day is done.

He also reports that the TCO’03 compliant monitor causes much less stress to his eyes than before. The TCO'03 rating means that the monitors are built to the highest ergonomic and environmental standards.

Make sure to ask your computer dealer for a desktop that is free of lead and other heavy metals, has greatly reduced levels, up to 97% is possible, of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), toxins and carcinogens, from the electronics and the enclosure. Also make sure that the computer is silent.

The Next Step

Now its time for you to decide what is the best way to improve your surroundings. Think of your families or employees well being. Create the healthiest and most environmentally friendly computer workplace and reap the immediate benefits.

3 Hot Selling Notebook Computers

2007-05-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

The laptop market is an overcrowded field with literally hundreds of offerings available to consumers. Some laptops are very basic models with Celeron processors while others are full blown multimedia powerhouses. Featured here are three top models from the “plain Jane” to the middle of the road, to the fully loaded.

Dell Inspiron 1200 – It is possible to purchase a notebook computer for considerably less than $1000 and Dell offers several models below this threshold including the Inspiron 1200. This particular model is the price leader amongst laptops especially when rebates are figured in. A recent Dell advertisement has been touting the Inspiron 1200 for just $499 after a $150For rebate is received. What do you get with this model? Not a whole lot: an Intel Celeron M Processor 350 (1.30 GHz/1MB Cache/400MHz FSB); Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition; 30GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive; and 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive. Surprisingly, Dell does include wireless capabilities in the form of a networking card.

HP Compaq nx9600 Notebook – HP’s acquisition of Compaq has produced a nice line up of notebook computers including this particular model geared toward those consumers replacing their desktop computer. Retailing at just over $1300 [before $100 rebate] this midrange offering is nicely loaded as it offers a 17" screen; Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition; an Intel Pentium 4 Processor with Hyper-Threading Technology; a 40 GB hard drive; a 12 cell battery; wireless connectivity; and graphics oriented software.

Sony VAIO FS675P/H Notebookspacer – The Sony Vaio name is typically associated with high performing, high priced offerings. The VAIOฎ FS675P/H Notebookspacer fits the bill as this workhorse retails at just under $2000. Chief features of this model are: an Intel Pentium M Processor 750 (1.86 Ghz); Microsoft Windows XP Professional; DVD+R Double Layer/DVD+-RW; 1GB RAM; and a 100GB hard drive. The screen is 15.4" Widescreen5 LCD with XBRITE Technology and all of Sony’s top digital software for photography, video and audio are included as standard equipment.

All three models attract different types of consumers, but each model is a standout in its respective class. Consumers are the winner when it comes to shopping for a laptop as prices continue to drop, new features are added, and technology improves with every new model marketed.

Upgrading A Notebook

2007-05-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

by Sezer Bozkurt

Desktops have been long known to be upgrade-able in terms of memory and hard drive space but little is known about upgrading notebooks.

The first thing to consider is the notebook itself. It must have expansion slots for extra sticks of RAM if you wish to upgrade memory. This can also be done by replacing the current stick of RAM but this method is not cost effective.

To upgrade a notebook the bottom cover must be removed. When doing this any warranty the notebook has will become void so if you choose to upgrade your notebook, you must be prepared to forfeit the warranty.

Upgrading RAM on a notebook is no different to upgrading RAM on a desktop. If your notebook has additional RAM slots you simply need to purchase some more RAM and install it in the empty slots. If your notebook doesn’t have expansion slots you will need to replace the existing stick of RAM. If you had a 256mb stick of RAM, you would replace it with a 1GB or 512mb stick.

Replacing the hard drive is a lot easier but complicated at the same time. Replacing the actual drive is quite simple. You simply disconnect the existing drive and replace with the new one. The complicated part is recovering all your drivers and so forth from the drive. Without your drivers the hardware in your notebook will not function correctly. It is important to make sure you have all the original driver CD’s that came with the notebook.

In the case of data files you have on your notebook, you can simply back up to DVD’s and CD’s, but if you do not have a burner, you can simply buy an external case for a notebook drive and use that to store your files.

Upgrading a notebook, although not as easy as with a desktop, can still be done.

The Capacity Of Laptop Batteries Explained

2007-05-07T09:45:00.002-07:00

by Marcella Smith

Laptop batteries are rated by, Voltage (V) and Milliamp-hours (mAh). Voltage is the rate at which energy is drawn from the battery and Milliamp-hours represents the capacity of the battery. The Milliamp-hour rating corresponds to the run time of the battery. A battery with a high Milliamp-hour rating, has a relatively longer run time than a battery with a low Milliamp-hour rating.

Batteries with different Milliamp-hours can be used on the same laptop provided the voltage rating is the same. The voltage rating has to match that of the original battery or as recommended by the computer manual. Using a battery with a different voltage setting can seriously damage the laptop. The power ratings of most compatible/replacment batteries are higher than the original manufacturers' batteries. This will not damage your laptop, in fact, it simply means that these batteries in many cases last longer than original manufacturers' batteries. Ask the experts like PowerUp on compatible replacement laptop batteries.

The run time of a laptop battery will vary on individual notebook computers, based on the applications being used (i.e. high graphics, games), the number of times something is saved or retrieved from the hard drive and/or CD Rom drive, the memory of notebook, and chemistry and capacity of the battery. A 'realistic' average run-time for a battery is 1.5 to 3 hours. Using devices like a wireless adapter on the laptop also drains the battery considerably.

The life of a battery under normal use is around 500 to 900 charge-discharge cycles. This is about one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As the rechargeable battery begins to fail, the running time of the battery begins to decline. See the Laptop Battery & AC Adapter Information page for advice from PowerUP.

Small Business Owners And Used Or Refurbished Laptops

2007-05-07T09:45:00.001-07:00

by Blair Stephens

Small business owners are often plagued by technology questions. For instance, if you have remote team members, do you let them use their own computers or do you outfit them with laptops? If you have a sales staff that goes on site, can you really afford to buy the laptops they should have? In some cases, perhaps you are ready to buy a number of laptops for your staff that can be checked out and taken on the road or home in any number of circumstances. But where do you begin? If you have a small business budget, you may not have the capital to go to Dell, Compaq or Hewlitt Packard and buy 6 machines. Even if you did have the cash on hand, are you making the most strategic investment?

If you are ready to buy a number of laptops for sales staff members, you should not just run out and buy. First, how many laptops do you really need to outfit your staff? If you have 4 sales reps for instance, who are inside/outside then perhaps you need 2 laptops that can be kept in the office and checked out for sales calls. If you have only outside sales reps, each staff member will probably need their own laptop. If you have a staff that is made up of both inside and outside sales staff, the outside sales staff should probably have their own machines while the inside staff should have a pool from which to check out on an as needed basis. Consider your staff and the volume of need and then purchase accordingly.

Second, what do they really need in the laptop? If your sales reps are simply going to a call and making a power point presentation or a presentation on the internet, they probably won't need a lot of computing power. If you have staff that wants to work from home occasionally and all they are doing is word processing or spreadsheet work, they too will not need a lot of hard drive or ram to meet their needs. If you have a staff that does graphics work or programming, you may want to have a few laptops on hand that can handle that kind of work. Additionally, if you have technical sales engineers who need to demonstrate a technical or software product, you'll need to ensure that their machines can handle whatever they need to.

Third, you need to consider peripherals. Are they going to take any kind of projector with them? Do they need to be able to burn files onto CD? Do they need multiple USB ports or wireless access on the road? Will they need a larger laptop display for presentations? All of these are important issues to consider and to strategically plan for. You want to make sure that your remote staff can work effectively with no problems while protecting your bottom line.

Finally, you need to consider what kind of laptops you will buy. In today's market of swiftly moving technology, you could conceivably buy used laptops of refurbished laptops to outfit your remote staff or to create a pool of laptops for your company. If you think in terms of your needs and your budget, this may be an ideal solution. You could buy a couple of high end laptops for the staffers who really need to computing power and at the same time you could buy a number of used notebook computers or refurbished laptops for the staff members who don't need the same amount of power. By thinking strategically, you can outfit a remote staff or a sales rep with what they need while avoiding the budgetary stretch you can't handle.

If you are a small business owner, you don't need to outlay cash on technology that won't be used to its fullest extent. Get your technical people the computing power they need to take your products and organization to the next level and make sure your sales reps have adequate laptop computers to optimize their time on the road. With technology constantly changing, if you commit to buying cutting edge computers for your whole staff you may be walking straight into bankruptcy. Buy smart and your business will grow while your budget stays trim.

3 Benefits To Owning A Refurbished Laptop

2007-05-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

by Erick Charles

If you like having the latest and greatest, then refurbished is not for you. However, if you don't mind minor cosmetic damage, and the fact that someone else has used your laptop, then you may want to consider purchasing a refurbished laptop. But why would anyone want to purchase a refurbished laptop as opposed to a brand new one? In this article, I will tackle this very issue, and give 3 reasons why you should own a refurbished laptop.

The first reason why purchasing a refurbished laptop may be a good idea is that they are a lot less expensive than their newer cousins. Of course, refurbished implies that it has seen prior usage, so refurbished laptops are generally older models, and you don't always know how their previous owners took care of them. But refurbished also implies that someone has taken the time to fix, and often times replace, any broken components. Do some research and only buy from reputable sources.

The second reason why you may want to purchase a refurbished laptop is that, because of their low cost, they are more expendable than new models, and make a great second laptop. As I explained above, refurbished laptops are generally a lot cheaper than a new laptop so if something should happen to it, you're only out maybe a few hundreds dollars as opposed to a new laptop which could cost you thousands.

The third reason why you may want to consider purchasing a refurbished laptop is that since you'll be spending a lot less money on the computer itself, you can afford to spend more upgrading it with newer, and better components. For example, you can add memory to speed it up, or upgrade to a larger hard drive. You should, of course, make sure that your computer can support these upgrades before you even purchase it. If it can't, then look for one that can before making your final decision.

If you decide to purchase your first refurbished laptop, make sure you do plenty of research. Refurbished means used, and you don't kow how the previous owner took care of it. Buy from a reputable source that offers some sort of warranty. Most won't warranty the battery or software but will provide at least a 30 day warranty for most of the hardware.

I've discussed three benefits to owning a refurbished laptop. They are low in cost, make a great second laptop, and you can spend more on upgrading the components. Make sure to do your research before you buy, and owning one will be a pleasant experience.

7 Activities You Must Accomplish Before Getting A Laptop Or Notebook Computer

2007-05-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

by Steve McArthur

If you will just slow down and take time to look around at all of the laptops or notebooks that are available, you'll find that is time that is well spent. If you are like me, then you want to buy the best laptop for your specific needs that you can afford. The following is a list of things you might want to consider before you make your decision.

Consumers looking to buy a laptop need to know a little bit about what they plan to use the laptop for; they need to establish a spending budget; and they need to know where to find the best deals on a laptop. With this in mind, below you will find several shopping tips that are useful when looking to buy a laptop computer.

First, the consumer shopping for a laptop needs to ask themselves what they plan to use the computer for. Do you plan to use the laptop as an organization tool? Do you need to use the computer for work related tasks or will you be using it primarily for recreational
enjoyment?

Do you want to be able to perform special tasks on the laptop and if so what tasks? Such questions will determine the type of software applications you may require and how much memory your particular laptop will need in order for it to serve your needs.

Finally, you will need to think about future uses for your laptop computer. Do you think that you will want to upgrade in the future? If so, it may be cheaper to pay for added features now, instead of down the road.

After you have determined your needs, you will have to establish a realistic budget. How much can you reasonably afford to spend on a laptop computer? If your budget is tight, you might want to consider a refurbished laptop or, if you can afford to do so, you may want to
wait until you can get the new laptop you desire. Either way you should be realistic and honest with yourself, and don’t be willing to compromise the quality of the laptop over affordability.

Finding the best deals on a laptop is not a difficult task. Spend several days comparatively shopping on the Internet for the best laptop

1. What kind of monitor do you like? Do you want the old-fashioned type that weighs about fifty pounds? I've found that the new LCD monitors which are crystal clear are well worth the extra expense.

2. Do you need this new laptop or notebook to be used mainly in the home, on the road, or at school?

3. Keep in mind that laptops and notebooks are generally much slower than a desktop PC. So you might want to spend a little bit more money to find the right mix of CPU speed and RAM that meet your needs.

4. You will probably need lots of memory, so don't skimp in this department. You'll find that most of these lower-priced laptops and notebooks are sold with 128 MB of RAM. This is not near enough memory for most practical applications.

5. Make sure the laptop or notebook that you buy can be upgraded. There will come a time when you'll want add this to that to your computer and you want to make sure that it will be of upgradable.

6. There's all kinds of batteries on the market. But you are probably better off if you stick with lithium batteries. They are far superior to others.

7. Go ahead and get the biggest hard drive you can afford. In my opinion 20 GB is a bare minimum. Of course if you can afford it, get 40 GB.

When you start checking prices, you'll find that you can pay twice as much for laptop as you do for a desktop PC. So make sure that you really need a laptop or notebook as opposed to a desktop PC. If you're on an airplane all the time or spend a lot of time on the road in motels, you don't have a choice, you'll have to buy a notebook or a laptop.

I've noticed lately that there are tons of laptops for sale on eBay. There is much diverity in models, types, and manufacturers. You can get as many features as you are willing to pay for and can buy not only from the United States but from other countries as well. Just be careful and read the entire description before making a bid.

Finding The Right Laptop Backpack For You

2007-05-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

by Trevor Kassulke

You have spent a lot of money on your laptop. You want to make sure you have the best way of carrying it with you. Laptop backpacks have become the trendiest answer to this need. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect laptop backpack.

Laptop backpacks are a casual looking and easy way to carry your laptop and other mobile gear hands-free. They provide plenty of storage space and using the adjustable shoulder straps will ensure a secure and bounce free way to carry your laptop. A laptop backpack with an included laptop sleeve is especially good to have, and increases the security and safety of your laptop.

First consideration in finding the perfect laptop backpack is comfort. If you're not happy with the way it feels on you then you really are not going to care about the other features. Make sure your laptop backpack manufacturer has taken your comfort into consideration. Simple things like a variety of choices on how you can wear the straps show that the creator was thinking of comfort.

Another big consideration is padding. No matter how far laptops have advanced they are still fragile pieces of equipment. Accidents do happen. Make sure your laptop backpack is equipped with enough padding to protect your expensive cargo.

Next on your laptop backpack consideration hit list should be workmanship. You bought a laptop because of its portability and that means you want to take it everywhere. Make sure your laptop backpack can handle an extended period of use with little wear and tear.

Another important but often overlooked aspect to consider in your search for the perfect laptop backpack is creativity. Laptops come with a lot of accessories and more are being created every day. Make sure your laptop backpack has lots of compartments for all these little, but important, extras.

Finally, if budget allows, look for the wow factor. Laptop backpack manufacturers are starting to add things like water-resistant outer fabric and closed-cell shock absorption foam padding for the laptop backpack owner that has everything.

This is the type of thing that deveopers have included in the latest laptop backpacks:
multi-compartment design for maximum organization, water-resistant hidden hood and hidden side water-bottle pocket, side-access zipper, CD pocket with headphone port, deluxe organizer with zippered mesh pocket, pen pockets and removable key fob, s-shaped padded shoulder straps with suspension system, thumb-ring pulls and removable cell phone pocket.

Adjustable side compression straps, zippered front pocket with contoured daisy chain and monster hook, mesh padded back panel and tuck-away waist belt, ribbed grab handle

So now you have the essentials needed to go out and find the best laptop backpack for you. Have fun.

Laptop Battery Life: How To Get More Of It

2007-05-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

by Christine Harrell

When to get a new laptop battery

If you've got to recharge every 2 hours, it's time for a new battery! Most of us put off buying a laptop battery until the computer practically won't hold a charge at all. Buying a laptop battery may not be as interesting a purchase as buying something new for your closet, but once it arrives, you might wonder why you waited so long to make your life so much simpler. Once you get it installed, try out some of these tips. If you treat your new laptop battery well, it may just last until the 8-hour battery finally becomes available.

The Benefits Of Aluminium Laptop Cases

2007-05-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

by Richard Henderson

People who take their laptops on the road with them would benefit from purchasing products like aluminum laptop cases. We put a lot of information on our portable personal computers and we also put quite an investment in the products. It only makes sense that we protect these valuable items as much as we possibly can.

Investing aluminum laptop cases may seem a little over the top. After all, these products can run a few hundred dollars. Some are even more expensive than refurbished laptop computers are to begin with. However, when you consider everything that goes into your portable PC then you may rethink your outlook on the investment.

There are those of us who may be perfectly satisfied with using a simple soft case that offers adequate protection from casual daily use. However, so much can happen when you take your computer on the road. If you find yourself traveling with laptop in tow for more than one or two days each week you might want to invest in something that will protect your investment
like aluminum laptop cases.

In order to insure that your laptop computer is kept protected from the elements when you take it out on a daily basis you can consider the benefits of investing in aluminum laptop cases. After you consider the benefits of these products you may find yourself looking for one for your own use.

First of all, the aluminum laptop cases are made of sturdy material that will take more punishment than any soft carrier. The metal holder is designed to absorb shock and this can save your precious computer from serious damage. One incident that damages your laptop can cost you an awful lot of cash. If your computer is protected from just one jolt then the
aluminum laptop case has already paid for itself.

What I love about these products is the peace of mind in knowing that my laptop is adequately protected from harm when I am outdoors. I take my computer everywhere and I used to lose sleep over the idea of having a mishap when away from home. Aluminum laptop cases were the perfect solution to the travel dilemma. I now feel safe and secure knowing that my laptop is protected.

Another benefit to these aluminum laptop cases is their attractive designs. The sleek cases are offered in silver tone or a smoky metal tone that reminds me of charcoal. I chose the former for a stylish look that offers a little shine. It is great to know that the aluminum laptop cases not only offer protection. They offer style as well.

Laptop Skins - Enhance The Computer Experience

2007-05-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

by Kathryn Lively

As the technology improves, you may notice laptop clamshells appear sleeker and thinner than ever before. Many are made available in standard colors like slate blue and silver, yet are still attractive and functional.

Of course, no two laptop users are the same, just as no two laptops are used for the same purpose. The serious businessperson will appreciate the design of his laptop as is, and leave all the necessary bells and whistles on the hard drive. For the creative user who wishes to establish an identity, a laptop skin may be the ticket for computer enhancement.

What is a laptop skin? Essentially, it is a vinyl covering that affixes to the top shell of the laptop computer. As you open your laptop to work, whether at school or the coffeehouse, people will be able to see the design of your choosing. Think of it as wallpaper for the outside of the computer. Laptop skins may replicate famous artworks or display logos of favorite sports team, or may enhance the look of your computer with a psychedelic or quirky design.

A quick Internet search for laptop skins will land you hundred of leads on retailers. Depending upon the style and size of the skin, you can expect to pay at least twenty dollars to dress up your computer.

Why do you need a laptop skin? Some might dismiss skins as a frivolity, but under certain circumstances laptop skins can be quite functional.

Identity

When you create a custom designed laptop skin, you are creating an identity. In a sea of conformity, where everybody uses similar styles of computers, one can get lost. Having a laptop skin reflects your personality and may even establish your unique qualities. Plus, if you're in a crowd and have set down your computer, you will be able to find it much more quickly!

Protection

Depending upon the style of skin you use, you might find it protects the clamshell quite well. Having a laptop skin can guard your shell from dings and scratches and whatever else befalls a computer during transit.

Marketing

A custom laptop skin can enhance your brand, which is especially helpful if you sell products. Create a custom skin with your business logo, URL, or phone number. Your laptop becomes a small billboard that everybody will see as you work in coffee shops or other public places that offer free wireless. Twenty dollars is great investment for lasting advertising.

Whether you use your laptop for business or pleasure, you can jazz up the staid appearance with a functional, attractive skin. Show your true colors!

Laptop Cases: A Chic Fashion Accessory

2007-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

by Raffaella Camera

For back-to-school or back-to-work, what are the latest trends in technology fashion? A laptop bag, as protection, is a must-have. And having the bag match the style and personality of the laptop owner is just as important to enhance professional image, stylishness, and even flair.

Although laptop briefcases continue to be the most popular style in the laptop bag category, there are three new recent fashion trends, which mean more versatility for the laptop owner:

Lightweight laptop messenger bags and sleeves for students and people on-the-go

Laptop bags with matching, removable sleeves

High-end laptop totes that can be used as a laptop bag or just for an evening out

Students and metropolitan dwellers, for whom moving quickly is a must, are taking advantage of the new trend in light, sleeve-like messenger bags and laptop sleeves with removable shoulder straps. Designers such as Paulpac and Kipling have created very lightly padded messenger bags that won’t add extra weight while protecting a laptop. Opt to insert an additional removable sleeve for extra protection, or carry the messenger as a light, everyday bag for anything from books to gym clothes to files. Similarly, many laptop sleeves, which have traditionally been inserted into non-padded bags as added protection, are now available with their own removable shoulder strap for standalone portability. This versatility means a laptop sleeve can protect a laptop inside a regular non-padded bag, or be used by itself, carried over the shoulder to quickly move from one place to another. Key designers offering this solution are Lifepod and Mobile Edge.

Growing in popularity are laptop bags with removable, matching laptop sleeves. The bags have light padding; the matching, removable laptop sleeve is also padded to offer extra protection. It’s easy to carry the laptop in the sleeve from location to location, rather than carrying the entire laptop bag. Or the bag can be carried by itself without the sleeve when a laptop is not in tow. Brands such as Kipling, Piquadro, Tucano, Melissa Beth, and Frances & Grace have designed bags specifically for this adaptability.

The laptop brief has been around for a while, and continues to be the most popular style, but what else is there? There has been an increase in high-fashion laptop totes and other styles of bags that not only serve as a laptop bags, but that can stand alone as sophisticated, fashion totes. The designs and fabrics of these accessories are as ornate as any designer handbag, and feature construction of fine leathers and more expensive findings, clasps, and stitching. Brands such as Acme Made, Gina B, Lodis, Athena and Adrienne Vittadini are driving this, allowing ladies to transition from day to evening without changing bags.

Raffaella Camera, together with Elaine Sanders, co-founded Kolobags.com, the best place online to , and other functional fashion accessories from today’s leading designers.

Teaching Vs Technology: The Great Debate About Laptops In Classrooms

2007-05-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

by Jaxxon McVee

In a world where technology runs ramped, mobile technology can be found everywhere from cellphones to laptops. This technology is able to be used on the road, in a coffee shop or in meetings where as before, you had to be in an office tied down to a dedicated machine. Recently an increasing number of laptops are finding there way into classrooms worldwide. Some educators are concern that possibly laptops are not changing learning for the better. Some schools that use computers as part of their curriculum are being scrutinized by others.

It's important to remember that laptops are not here to change the learning process. It's not just about having a laptop replacing a pen and paper but merging technology with academics. The need for teacher/student communication must improve as technology becomes part of the curriculum. Teachers must become facilitators in the learning process and encourage each student to become more involved in the learning process.

Laptops in the classroom open up a new way of teaching theories. It can be the key ingredient to learning. Just think about it… Physics students now have a way to breakdown radioactive materials and see it right in front of them. Math students will be able to utilize spreadsheets to apply their logic and see them really work. English teachers can evaluate peers poetry and prose. What a much better way for our children to learn. Access to other additional knowledge is endless with the use of greater technology. This will enable students of all learning abilities to be able to grasp the theories that they are taught.

As for what the students think about using this technologically advanced method to learning, most feel that it is a refreshing change in learning. Instead of getting out of date static texts they can see breaking news as it happens. It is much more useful to the learning process for the teachers to be able to show relevancy to daily life.

It's no way around it. The need for laptops will continue to grow as an available tool to have in the classroom. It will have to be monitored closely to avoid problems, but the benefits that it will bring to learning are phenomenal. Soon the so called naysayers will need to go along with it.

Using A Laptop To Manage Your Life More Efficiently

2007-05-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

by Ismael D. Tabije

Nowadays everyone needs a computer, especially if you’re a student. Academic life can be hell without a computer. Gone are the days when you could hand in handwritten papers. Also, in this fast-paced world typewriters are too slow and cumbersome. So, be it for writing essays, crunching mathematical calculations, researching the Web, or collaborating with fellow students via instant messaging and e-mail, no one can efficiently manage student life without a handy computer. So, if you’re one of those students wondering what sort of a computer to invest in, then you should seriously consider getting a laptop instead of a desktop.

There are many reasons why laptops are better than desktops. Laptops are now accessible with improved upgrade-ability, dazzling large LCD screens, powerful processors and multi-media features as advanced as those on any desktop. And laptops have the added advantage of mobility as well as the fact that they require less space. In fact that is their strong point. Laptops provide you advantages and privileges in learning and obtaining information everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you are, with a laptop the world of information is at your fingertips. You can take them with you to make power point presentations at seminars. This is not possible with a desktop. Just imagine lugging your desktop all the way to a seminar!

With a laptop you can work anywhere, not just in your room. So, if you suddenly feel like it, you can decide to get some work done at the park or while you’re in a train, car or airplane. Also laptops are a valuable investment because they’ll be a great help not only during your academic years but also later on when you start working. For example, in a situation where you’ve to take your office or vital data along with you on your business or personal trip, a desktop is useless. On the other hand, with a laptop you’ve no problems. A laptop is lightweight and easily fitted into the overhead storage bin of an airplane. That brings us to its next advantage, size.

Laptops come in a variety of sizes to suit your needs and purposes. However, depending on the size, the price of the laptop tends to vary. Also, many laptops come with impressive technical specifications that are better than most ordinary desktops. With hard drives of up to 100GB or more, with RAM up to 2MB or more supported by Intel Pentium 4, most notebooks are able to handle almost all computing applications and functions with ease. Also, the laptop can be used as a convenient backup for your vital files and programs. It’s a cheaper and safer way of protecting all your sensitive data.

So, laptops are the smarter option, not only if you travel a lot and you need the computer to be accessible to you at all times. However, it has its disadvantages as well. For example, laptops are very delicate and need regular care. Also, they’re not as durable as desktops that are made of stronger stuff. So, a desktop has the advantage over the laptop when it comes to pricing, durability, and ease of maintenance. However, nowadays, laptops are becoming cheaper by the minute. And as more and more notebooks are being sold, the price will drop even more. Even if the price is currently a little higher than a desktop, the gap is closing really quickly. When compared to all the other advantages that a laptop has over a desktop, I don’t think that it’s that difficult a choice to make.

Four Things to Consider When Choosing to Repair Your Laptop

2007-05-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

by Razvan Marian

A broken laptop can be a very stressful situation especially if the laptop in question is used every day and is an important part of your job, school or business. The purpose of this article is to offer you some things to consider when it comes time to get your laptop repaired.
1. Repair vs. Replacement: One of the first questions that usually come to mind is "Is now a good time to just buy a new laptop?" The answer to that question is... "It Depends." Depending on the severity of your laptop repair, the falling prices of most laptops and the age of your broken laptop, it may be a wise choice to throw in the towel and spring for a new laptop. Some of the types of repairs that would warrant this action are:

a) A broken LCD screen
b) A broken motherboard (beyond component level repair)
c) A severely damaged case

These types of repairs are the most costly (usually ranging from $300 to $700) and factoring in how long you have had your laptop this may be a good time to get a new one.
2. Your data: Whether you are replacing your laptop or repairing it, you still have to figure out what to do with your data. If you can't turn on your laptop it makes it very difficult to backup your data. That is why it is very important to do regular backups of your laptop data to guard your self against this situation. This will also give you a way to access your data while your laptop is getting repaired. Some laptop repair services offer data backup and recovery with their repairs. Make sure you ask about data recovery and backup options when speaking with a laptop repair service.In addition to recovering your data, you also want to ensure that your data is safe and secure with who ever you choose to repair your laptop. With that being said, you want to make sure you choose a reputable repair service for your laptop repair.
3. Repair cost: I don't know about you but I want to know how much my laptop repair is going to cost before I send it in. This is a tricky situation because most laptop repair services need to diagnose your laptop to find out what's wrong with it before they give you a price. Even some of the laptop repair services offering flat rate repair, do not cover the parts that it takes to repair your laptop. If you are worried about repair costs, do not ship your laptop to a company that says they need to diagnose your laptop before giving you a repair cost. You are opening yourself up to getting a big shock once you find out what the bill is going to be.

4. Not all laptop repairs are handled equally: There are a lot of laptop repair services that will simply replace a major component rather than repair the affected area which can cost you 3 to 4 times the cost. For instance, let's say you have a problem with your motherboard. One service center may simply replace your motherboard and charge you anywhere from $300 to $700 for simply changing out a part, when another laptop repair service center actually takes the time to diagnose the problem and discover you have a bad capacitor on your motherboard and repairs the damaged component, saving you the cost of a new motherboard.
I hope that this article has given you some insight into the world of laptop repair. So before you choose a laptop repair service center to handle your laptop repair, do some research, speak with them over the phone and ask questions. The more informed you are about what to expect and what to look for in a laptop repair service the more you can save.

Justin Anderson is the webmaster for NotebookMechanix.com, offering flat rate laptop repair services nationwide. If you are in the need for quality laptop repair services, let one of our trained technicians help you out.

Laptop Insurance: Insure Your All-time Companion

2007-05-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

by Jenny Black

We are increasingly carrying our laptops with us, wherever we are traveling. These laptops have been transformed as our steady companions, without which our lives will not be any more easy and comfortable. Almost all our works are done through the laptops. Investing in a personal laptop is not less an amount; it is just next to investing in your cars. So you would definitely not want to put them in any sort of risks; and for this reason you should surely purchase a laptop insurance plan if you own a laptop.

Because of its portability and its size, a laptop becomes an easy prey to thieves and snatchers. Apart from that because of its complicated mechanisms it can easily get damaged. Even if we take extra precaution not to manhandle our laptops; but accidents do happen. We cannot avoid them; instead we can ensure that if any sort of damage happens to our laptops, we can fix them conveniently without spending much from our pockets. This can be done through purchasing a laptop insurance policy for your laptops. Apart from accidents our laptops can also face data corruption, virus attacks, system crashing down, peripheral malfunction etc and all these can be taken care of by laptop insurance

Many people will think that it is useless to spend more money on laptop insurance because laptops can be insured through home contents insurance policy. But it should be kept in mind that your home contents insurance will not cover for any loss of your laptops outside your homes. Who will insure your laptops when they are in office or when they are traveling with us to any distant country? The answer to this lies in laptop insurance.

Laptop insurance is essential for students, businessmen, schools etc. Laptop insurance policy is an annual policy and it will cover your travels and your office. With your laptop insurance policy, you can even add on your digital cameras/ digital camcorders and other software associated with the laptops.

You have to do an extensive research to find for a perfect and a suitable laptop insurance policy for your laptops. The pros and cons of each and every laptop insurance policy have to be studied. Many insurance companies now have their own websites where they have fed all the required information. You just need to surf those pages and find for yourself a perfect laptop insurance policy at an instant. Do you now need to delay anymore? Obviously no! Go and get hold of a perfect laptop insurance policy now!

Backup Data On Your Laptop

2007-05-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

by Daniel Travers

You would be surprised to learn the quantum of data on laptops which have been irretrievably lost. Yet we don’t take time off to create essential backups on our laptops.

Lets face it - a computer is not a hundred percent trustworthy machine. The hard drive can crash, laptops get misplaced or dropped rendering it useless. To make sure that our precious information that is stored is never lost forever, we must keep back ups of the information stored.

Did you know that over the past years, over a million of laptops have been stolen in the United States alone ? when a laptop is stolen, chances are that it will never be found. In that case, the owner is not only without a laptop, but also without any information!

Back up data is all the more important if you have business information stored in your computer. Like desktop computers where you can create back ups, you can create back ups in your laptop as well. Using online services, remote back up operations, or many other methods are available which help you to store back up information on your laptop.

One of the best ways to store data is to burn a data CD. These data CDs have 700 MB memory space, which can hold a lot of data and files. To do this you need a CD/RW burner built in to your laptop. Most of the newer models carry this facility.

The biggest drawback of laptops is that the storage capacity and security system is not as proficient as a desktop. Since desktops are more powerful, they can store data, including backups in a jiffy.

Laptops were designed for people on the move – so the idea of keeping back up data never crossed anyone’s mind. When it does occur, it is perhaps too late.

As already mentioned the quickest and simplest way to create back up for your laptop is to use online back up services. Based on the speed of your internet connection, the operation can take from several minutes to several hours. Though the process is time consuming, but it is worth your while as at the end of the day, you are left safe and secure.

Keeping a back up data is always safe whether you use a laptop for personal or official use. Try and create your back ups at least once a month or more often, depending on the quantity of information you store everyday.

Daniel Travers is a staff writer at Computing Times and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Games Enthusiast.

How To Upgrade Your Own Laptop For Under $175

2007-05-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

by Erick Charles

Do you have an old laptop lying around just collecting dust that for whatever reason, you no longer use? It just seems so antiquated, and slow. All you want to do is get rid of it. The hard drive is too small, and the memory sucks, plus you're already planning on getting a sweet newer laptop.

I was in the same predicament. I have a 2 and half year old Compaq Presario 2500 that's seen better days. I was thinking of giving it away, or putting it to sleep in favor of a newer laptop. It was my workhorse for the longest time, and had seen some serious abuse and usage. I was ready to put it to sleep and move on when I decided to refurbish, and upgrade it.

Just like I did, you may not have to get rid of that old laptop just yet. I'm going to show you how I breathed some some new life into my old laptop, and I did it for under $175. Consider this a perfect time to polish off your tech skills. I will show you how I upgraded my laptop, and how you can too.

Unlike a PC, there are only a few components that can be easily upgraded in a laptop. The main 2 are the hard drive, and the memory. If you were skillful enough, you could replace the motherboard, and if you knew how to solder, then you could possibly fiddle with the processor as well, but we'll work under the assumption that this is beyond your knowledge.

You won't need any fancy tools to upgrade your laptop. All you'll really need is a jeweler's screwdriver set which you can get for under $10 from any hobby store.

Before you begin handling any of the internal components, make sure your laptop is turned off, and that you remove the battery. There's no sense in getting shocked. Also, make sure to get rid of any residual static electricity by touching the chassis before you dive in.

I went to my favorite online hardware store, http://newegg.com, for my upgrade purchasing. I go to that website because it's loaded with every type of computer hardware under the sun, and they have the best deals I've found. I had to really focus on the task at hand because once there, I'm like a kid in a candy store.

The hard drive is relatively easy to get to and replace on most laptops. However, I still had to check my laptop's user manual for hard drive removal instructions. Originally, my laptop had come with a 40GB hard drive, but I wanted to double that. I found an 80GB Western Digital Scorpio hard drive at NewEgg.com , and for only $80.99, this is the one I went with.

Next came the memory. Originally, my laptop came with a paltry 256MB of RAM. I wanted at least 1GB because my laptop had been moving glacially slow. I'm not sure how I dealt with it for all those years. Please note, that not all laptops can support a memory upgrade so you should make sure yours can before you buy anything.

To see if mine could, I went to http://ramfinder.com. You can go there too and see how much RAM your laptop can support. Fortunately, the Compaq Presario 2500 can support 1 GB so I went with two 512MB Corsair memory sticks, which I got from NewEgg for only $45.99 each.

Once I had the hard drive and the memory installed, I re-loaded the operating system, and all the drivers. The whole process from start to finish (after I had the components shipped to me) took about 45 minutes, and now I have a laptop that behaves like new but cost me only $172.97. Considering a new laptop with equal components would have cost me between $700-$900, I think I did pretty good, and you will too. Just follow this simple guide and you can save yourself hundreds of dollars while extending the life of that old laptop of yours.

Article Source: http://www.articlemap.com

Erick Charles is an IT professional who is eager to share his knowledge with others. He has created a website to help even non-techies become more comfortable with their computers. You can visit thetechboy.com for more information.

Should You Buy A Used Laptop Or A Refurbished Laptop

2007-05-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

by Brenda

You may be thinking that you are not able to afford a laptop computer, but perhaps you have not considered a used laptop as an option. A used laptop will afford you the opportunity to own a notebook computer at a price that will not put a huge dent in your wallet. Often you can purchase a gently used name brand laptop at a fraction of the retail cost.

There are many avenues to consider if you are thinking about purchasing a used laptop. You may decide to check your local ads, purchase one off lease, or purchase a refurbished computer. There is no right or wrong answer when deciding which method is best for your purchase; it is really up to you.

However, you may be more comfortable purchasing your used laptop off lease or buying a refurbished one. While there is nothing wrong with finding your laptop through the local newspaper ads, buying one off lease or refurbished may offer you a little more protection.

Whereas you have to deal with an unknown individual if you purchase through a newspaper ad, buying a leased or refurbished used laptop offers a bit more security, as most times you are dealing directly with a company; and it is much easier, most times, to solve potential problems with your purchase when you are dealing with a company.

One company that has a great reputation of offering used laptops is Compaq. You can often purchase a virtually new, used laptop from Compaq for hundreds less than you would spend on a new laptop computer. These used laptops are sold as “refurbished”, which can mean something as minor as a scratch on the cover.

There is no need to be hesitant if you are considering purchasing a used laptop. In most cases, you will find that your laptop will perform just as well as a brand-new computer. And if your used laptop is refurbished, there is a strict set of guidelines that companies must follow when reselling these computers to the general public.

Almost all companies that sell used laptops work extra hard to ensure that their product will perform for the consumer for a long time to come. You should also be sure to check into warranty information for the used laptop that you are considering purchasing. If you take a little care, you should have no problem finding a used laptop that suits your needs.

Guaranteed To Discount Battery Gateway Laptop

2007-05-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

by Boysoda Zee

As you begin to read through this informative article, give each point a chance to sink in before you move on to the next.

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this item you'll find that the business of Battery Gateway Laptop is surely no exception.

After buying the latest, top-of-the-line refurbished laptop, it is optional to buy a feature laptop processor battery that will guarantee that the investment performs at most capacity. A built-in 7600mAH Lithium-polymer battery can stretch the laptop battery life up to 5~8 hours. There are laptop processor batteries on the souk for all of the top brand-name laptop manufacturers, as well as the harder to find models.

Several websites suggest a broad variety of laptop batteries for all main manufacturers, with Dell, Apple and HP. Many of these websites trade the laptop batteries at great discounts.

If you feel that you havent learned anything new thus far, there is a whole new realm of information in the rest of this article.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a focus are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the finalize picture.

There are a few equipment to be considered when buying a markdown laptop battery. First, protection track can foil the battery from over-charging or short-circuit. Also, try to opt for a self-switching battery output voltage, 14 -24 V that is automatically change based on different laptop model.

Some companies, like Laptop Batteries 4 All, give a massive database of laptop batteries with the circle name, sequence of the laptop, or the laptop battery part number. They proffer great deals and discounts on laptop batteries. On this site, they give main brands like Dell Laptop Batteries, Gateway Laptop Batteries, Sony Laptop Batteries, Toshiba Laptop Batteries, IBM Laptop Batteries, Apple Laptop Batteries, Compaq Laptop Batteries, and HP Laptop Batteries.

Another company, Lion Battery distributes crop that converge the maximum feature values and specifications. Each product is hardened for appropriate performance by the manufacturer and rechecked prior to shipping to the customer. They place a high priority on effect deliveries. normal orders will be shipped in 48 hours or less, and also respond to an crisis need by providing an burning solution.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the newest on Battery Gateway Laptop. balance what you've educated here to outlook articles so that you can wait alert to changes in the subject of Battery Gateway Laptop.

Over time, you will begin to understand how these concepts really come together if you choose to venture into this subject further.

Boysoda Zee is the owner of Battery Laptop How to find the best battery gateway laptop , to protect family and yourself, even if you know nothing about battery gateway laptop.www.air-bag-suspension.com/battery-gateway-laptop/

How To Select The Best Business Laptops

2007-05-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

by Tim Childree

The corporate life is hectic, so it is important to have a fast, reliable, lightweight notebook that can maximize your daily output by keeping your projects organized and your workflow streamlined.

One of the first things you need to look for in a business laptop is wireless connectivity. A wireless networking card allows you to connect to the Internet via thousands of wireless networks (also called hotspots) located nationwide. This means more convenient and readily available access to your emails and business clientele.

Another great option is a bluetooth card, which will allow you to connect and transfer data between your PDAs and your notebook, without the need for messy wires, which can add weight and clutter to your carrying case.

A third feature to look for in a business notebook would be VGA and S-Video outputs to ensure connectivity with any projectors you may need to utilize for video or slideshow presentations.

As far as individual specifications, you really only need a base-line configuration with integrated graphics to handle any word processing or basic programs like email clients, DVD software, web browsers etc. Unless you plan on doing an inordinate amount of multi-tasking or video production, it would be wise to put any extra cash into other accessories like office suite software, which can really help you manage your day-to-day workload.

Whether at home or on the road, a good business laptop can really improve the quality of your work by providing you with all of the essential tools you need to efficiently manage your daily tasks. From planning your appointments and schedules to writing reports, sending email, and staying up-to-date with all of the latest business news and headlines, a business laptop is the only device that can effectively handle all of your work-related duties in one convenient, easy-to-use system.

Please, check out these recommendations for the best notebook computers for business.

This article may be republished freely as long as this copyright notice and box of resource links are included at the bottom.

Copyright © 2007 MALIBAL, lLc

MALIBAL is the Home of the World's Fastest Laptop! Headquartered in Las Vegas, this groundbreaking company has transmuted the world of mobile computing with its nonpareil laptops and unrivaled 24-hour USA-based support.

Keeping Your Laptop Like New Always

2007-05-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

by Ismael D. Tabije

Laptops are expensive. Therefore you need to take real good care of it. And laptop maintenance is not a one time thing. It should be a regular exercise. To prevent your notebook's LCD from becoming smudged or dirty you should clean it regularly. We recommend spraying a diluted window cleaner onto a soft, non-abrasive cloth and then lightly wiping the screen with it. It might be simpler to just spray the detergent directly on the screen but it’s not recommended as the fluid can trickle down into the bezel at the screen's bottom which could in turn damage the computer's circuitry.

When it comes to getting rid of dust, dirt and food crumbs off the keyboard, a vacuum cleaner's brush attachment is ideal. There are handheld vacuum cleaners, specifically intended for PCs that can remove the dust and food from in between the gaps on the keyboard. But if you’re traveling, a vacuum cleaner would be quite cumbersome. In such cases, you can use a canned aerosol cleaner to spray a blast of air between keys. And in case you spill something on the keyboard, you should immediately switch off the laptop and place a towel over the keyboard, and turn it upside down to drain the fluid and prevent it from leaking into the computer's circuitry.

And if you happen to travel a lot, your laptop is only as good as its battery. Luckily, most laptops today use lithium ion batteries that aren't afflicted with the memory-loss problems of the older nickel-cadmium batteries. However, in time it’s inevitable that your notebook's battery will lose its ability to fully hold a charge. So, make sure that you replace the battery every 18 to 24 months. However, if you don’t use your laptop often then you might not need to change the battery so frequently. One way to make sure that your battery lasts as long as it can is to reduce your screen's backlighting. Also, configuring your power settings so that the display shuts off after inactive periods can significantly increase the life of a battery.

However, there’s more to the maintenance of a laptop than just making sure that the exterior is clean and neat. When using it, always remember to keep it in a cool environment. A laptop computer generates a lot of heat and too much heat can damage the internal circuitry. So always try and keep your laptop in a well-ventilated and cool environment. Also it’s important to ensure that the fan grills on the sides, back, or bottom of the machine are not blocked while it’s in use. Also, LCD displays are fragile devices that need special care. So as much as possible, avoid touching or playing with your LCD screen. And clean the screen only with the approved cleaning materials.

Another risk to your laptop is viruses. So make sure to get hold of an anti-virus program and keep it updated. Buying an anti-virus one-month and not updating it regularly makes the whole process useless. Your laptop could be exposed to hundreds and thousands of new viruses every month and if you don't update your virus definitions then some viruses will go undetected by the program. And to make the whole process less complicated, most anti-virus programs have automatic update methods, so that you don’t have to remember to do it manually.

And always use a firewall on your Internet or network - enabled laptop. Also block out all the unnecessary ports and close all loopholes to prevent a hacker or virus from entering your hard drive. And whatever you do, don't drop your laptop. And finally always keep it safe inside a carrying case, especially when moving it or traveling.

Article Source: http://www.Article-Warehouse.com

The writer, Ismael D. Tabije, runs the website, www.bestlaptopnotebookdeal.com, where you can get tips for buying top laptop brands at cheap prices from reliable online merchants.

Cheap Refurbished Laptops - Why They Cost Less

2007-04-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

by John Ducharne

If you want a good deal on a laptop computer, the best place to shop is online. Laptops at the store are rarely all that cheap and when they are, they might be unreliable used laptops. So while folks are waiting in line at the local computer store and overpaying for their new laptop, those buying a cheap refurbished laptops online can find bargain prices, in their pajamas.

It is vital to research what specific type of laptop you need but after you have spent some time thinking about that, you can then start comparing prices online. Most retailers offer products online at a discounted price. Because online retailers can ship the laptop straight to you, the customer, as opposed to the store, they save money and usually that is why they don't have to charge you as much. Also, when a manufacturer wants to get rid of a certain kind of laptop through a closeout sale, they will often sell their products over the web before they do it at the physical store.

Buying cheap refurbished laptops online is convenient, easy, and can save you lots of money. Be wary of online companies with ambiguous privacy policies or unsecured networks. If you are buying cheap refurbished laptops, it is probably best to simply go to the website of your favorite local store and see if they selling the laptop you want over the internet. You can also go a little further by visiting the physical store first to get a feel of the laptop computer you desire. Test the weight, size and general appeal. This way you can count on a kinesthetic approval before you get that steep discount online.

John Ducharne shows you how to snatch great deals and get a discount laptop. Learn all about cheap refurbished laptops and take the next step towards a portable office.

Laptops Are More Affordable Then Ever

2007-04-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

Laptops are more affordable then ever. Prices have dropped enough to make laptops available to most consumers who need a mobile computer for school, work or personal use. Even though they are more affordable, buying a laptop is still a major investment. One way to soften the financial blow is by purchasing a used or refurbished laptop from either a private seller, a retail vendor or a liquidator who is clearing out off-lease laptops. While the price may be lower, there are many things consumers must learn before buying a used laptop. Shoppers must: know the seller, know the products, and know where to buy.

Know the Seller

There are only three types of used or refurbished laptop sellers: retailers, private sellers, or scammers. It's imperative to know from whom you are buying because that determines how you approach the buying process. You deal with a private seller very differently from an online retailer. Of course, if the online merchant is a reputable e-commerce site (some examples listed below), then you shouldn't need to worry about this, but there are some great deals to be found online if you stay educated and wander outside the standard computer stores. There are several red flags to watch out for when determining with whom you are dealing (and if you should deal with them at all!):

-Check the feedback. Is there a feedback system on the site? If the seller seems to be a merchant, do they have consistent track record providing the product you want to purchase? If the seller seems to be an individual, do they have more than one model for sale? It would be unusual for a private seller should to have more than one model for sale at a time – if they do, be suspicious.
-Check the payment method. Are the payment terms odd or inconvenient? Do they only accept Western Union? (Never send money via WU to someone you don't know. There is no recourse if you have trouble, and scammers know this!)
-Check the seller's location. If the seller is international, this shouldn't be an immediate red flag, but if they are international and offer free shipping, this is a major red flag. This wouldn't be cost efficient for anyone but a scammer.
-Check the photos. Are there any actual photos of the laptop? Generally, a scammer doesn't have the actual product in hand to take photos, but keep in mind that they can easily swipe photos from a personal website. The absence of real product photos does not indicate a scam, but it should be considered as a part of the bigger picture.
-Check the time. Is the seller in a major hurry? Is it a 2-day auction? Legitimate sellers can also be a in a hurry, but if you feel that the seller is really rushing, make sure to take this into account.
-Check the deal. You know what they always say: "If it sounds too good to be true…" I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but totally unbelievable deals are just that – not believable.
Bottom line: If you feel suspicious, listen to your gut. A private seller that is trying to come off as a retailer will probably have holes in their story that you can expose by checking for red flags. A private seller trying to scam you probably won't have their ducks in a row well enough to pull off a swindle on an educated consumer.
Know the Products.
There is a difference between a used laptop and a refurbished (reconditioned, remanufactured) laptop. A used laptop is just that – used by another person for a certain period of time and now it needs a new home. Perhaps the seller has cleaned up the notebook for sale, erased the hard drives, and gathered up all the original manuals and packaging, but it's possible he has done none of that. Refurbished, on the other hand, usually describes a notebook that has been returned to the manufacturer, repaired, cleaned-up, repackaged, and sent out with a short warranty period attached. These laptops are generally sold by an online retailer, so you often have the security of knowing you may be able to hold them accountable for problems (though you can't be sure of this – check their specific policies). Of course, 'refurbs' also come with a higher price tag, but you pay for that added security. It's possible that a refurbished system will have some light surface scratches, but most often you can't even tell that the unit was ever used.
Some things to keep in mind when shopping for a used (not refurbished) laptop:
-You will probably need to buy a new battery. There are specific draining and charging procedures for laptop batteries. Chances are that the seller did not always follow these procedures (does anyone?). Make sure to account for the price of a new battery when you are shopping so you aren't hit with an unexpected after-purchase cost.
-You really have no idea what that laptop has been through. Laptops were created to be mobile. You really don't (and can't) know how many times that laptop was dropped, spilled on, walked on, etc. While the seller is obligated to disclose any known defects, you can't be certain to you are hearing the whole story. These undisclosed accidents could cause you problems down the line.
-Expect some scratches. With movement comes scratches, so depending upon the age, expect a certain amount of wear and tear. If you are prepared for this, you won't be as disappointed. If it doesn't affect the performance of the computer, try not to worry about it.

Know Where to Buy.

While you can scour any laptop-related site for potential for sale ads, you also end up wasting a great deal of time that way! Instead, there are a handful of high-traffic websites out there that consistently have used laptops and refurbished laptops for sale. Here are a few:
If you are in the market for a used or refurbished laptop, you should take some time to get familiar with market conditions and the systems that tend to become available. If you are researching on Ebay, watch some auctions to see how the bidding goes. Get very comfortable with used laptop pricing before you get emotionally attached to any one system. If you are shopping in a more retail environment, like TigerDirect.com, you won't need to watch prices change like an auction, but the inventory changes often and if you don't see what you want there now, keep checking back. Make sure to check return policies on refurbished systems to avoid any possible buyer's remorse.

Used and refurbished laptops provide an excellent opportunity to get a nice laptop at a very nice price. While the prices are much easier to swallow than new units, buying used does come with a certain set of risks. Education is power here (and money in your pocket, in the case of a scam), so stay ahead of the game and don't rush into any to-good-to-be-true deal without making sure you know what you are getting. If you do your due diligence, you should end up with a quality system for a fraction of the new price.

Jastin is the owner of Laptop Shop. You can find more information at batterynotebooks.com

Four things to consider when choosing to repair your laptop

2007-04-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

by Razvan Marian

A broken laptop can be a very stressful situation especially if the laptop in question is used every day and is an important part of your job, school or business. The purpose of this article is to offer you some things to consider when it comes time to get your laptop repaired.
1. Repair vs. Replacement: One of the first questions that usually come to mind is "Is now a good time to just buy a new laptop?" The answer to that question is... "It Depends." Depending on the severity of your laptop repair, the falling prices of most laptops and the age of your broken laptop, it may be a wise choice to throw in the towel and spring for a new laptop. Some of the types of repairs that would warrant this action are:

a) A broken LCD screen
b) A broken motherboard (beyond component level repair)
c) A severely damaged case
These types of repairs are the most costly (usually ranging from $300 to $700) and factoring in how long you have had your laptop this may be a good time to get a new one.
2. Your data: Whether you are replacing your laptop or repairing it, you still have to figure out what to do with your data. If you can't turn on your laptop it makes it very difficult to backup your data. That is why it is very important to do regular backups of your laptop data to guard your self against this situation. This will also give you a way to access your data while your laptop is getting repaired. Some laptop repair services offer data backup and recovery with their repairs. Make sure you ask about data recovery and backup options when speaking with a laptop repair service.In addition to recovering your data, you also want to ensure that your data is safe and secure with who ever you choose to repair your laptop. With that being said, you want to make sure you choose a reputable repair service for your laptop repair.
3. Repair cost: I don't know about you but I want to know how much my laptop repair is going to cost before I send it in. This is a tricky situation because most laptop repair services need to diagnose your laptop to find out what's wrong with it before they give you a price. Even some of the laptop repair services offering flat rate repair, do not cover the parts that it takes to repair your laptop. If you are worried about repair costs, do not ship your laptop to a company that says they need to diagnose your laptop before giving you a repair cost. You are opening yourself up to getting a big shock once you find out what the bill is going to be.

4. Not all laptop repairs are handled equally: There are a lot of laptop repair services that will simply replace a major component rather than repair the affected area which can cost you 3 to 4 times the cost. For instance, let's say you have a problem with your motherboard. One service center may simply replace your motherboard and charge you anywhere from $300 to $700 for simply changing out a part, when another laptop repair service center actually takes the time to diagnose the problem and discover you have a bad capacitor on your motherboard and repairs the damaged component, saving you the cost of a new motherboard.
I hope that this article has given you some insight into the world of laptop repair. So before you choose a laptop repair service center to handle your laptop repair, do some research, speak with them over the phone and ask questions. The more informed you are about what to expect and what to look for in a laptop repair service the more you can save.

Article Source: http://activeauthors.com

Justin Anderson is the webmaster for NotebookMechanix.com, offering flat rate laptop repair services nationwide. If you are in the need for quality laptop repair services, let one of our trained technicians help you out.

How To Prepare A “bug Out” Laptop Kit

2007-04-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

by Tom J. Smith

Can you imagine being away from your computer for an extended period of time? No internet, no email, no funny jokes, no games to play? Many people have found themselves in this position when the unexpected happens. In the event of a natural disaster, terrorist event or a bird flu pandemic, having access to your computer could be a lifesaver. Are you one of the many people who have all their personal and financial records stored on their computer with no back up and no way to access them in the event of an emergency?

Because we are so wired these days, a backup laptop computer should be considered part of your essential survival gear just as much as a 3 day supply of food and extra water. You can either choose to use your existing laptop or buy a used one specifically for use in the event of an emergency.

Now you could buy one of the laptops that are made to withstand extreme conditions but that will set you back several thousand and probably isn’t necessary. You can find a number of good used laptops online for a few hundred dollars. It doesn’t have to be the latest and greatest, it just needs to get the job done when you need it to. A good basic laptop with a cd rom and a good battery will do the trick.

Items you will want to add will include a wireless card for accessing the internet. While your internet access may be down you may be able to find a hot spot for access. Most laptops will have a built-in modem, if not you will want to add a modem card also. Cell phone connectors so you can access the internet via your cell phone. You may need to add internet access to your cell phone plan. Modem and network cables, you need to be able to plug and play. Power cable and ac adapters. A 12-volt adapter and converter. You could run your laptop directly off 12 volt or run it through a converter to charge the battery. A spare battery. Any other laptop accessories you feel necessary such as external mouse or even a solar battery charger. With this setup you should be able to access the internet either through dialup or wireless. You may also want a small external hard drive or flash drive. A portable printer is nice but not absolutely necessary. All needed software should be loaded along with a backup or emergency startup disk. Don’t forget to load in your favorite bookmarks.

You will need to decide what files you want to take with you. You should have a backup from your main computer of your personal and financial records. Burn these to a cd. You could have another cd with your household inventory complete with digital pictures. If your house is destroyed you have a record of the contents. Consider scanning in family photos so you have a backup of those. Don’t forget to have a copy of all your passwords for accessing online sites and accounts. Address book and email contacts will also be important. Any other or vital documents that would be hard to replace and are essential to recovery after any type of emergency should be backed up. Consider scanning in copies of your will, birth certificate, marriage certificate, titles and deeds. Because this information is private consider security software to encrypt it in the event it fell into prying eyes.

You may want to build a cd reference library of information that could help you survive a disaster and recover. Backwoods Home Magazine offers back issues on cd including one specific to survival. The Mother Earth News also has back issues on cd. Both would give you a wealth of survival and how to information. You might also include foreign language cds, learning cds appropriate for your children’s ages, games, if you can’t live without them and to pass the time. Reference books could include encyclopedias, yellow pages for your area, maps, cookbooks and anything else that will help you out.

If you have high-speed internet access at home, get a list of dialup numbers from them for around the country or consider an AOL account or other national provider. If you can’t access the internet one way you should be able to access it another way.

Now, the whole idea of this setup is to “bug out” with it. Grab and go in the event of an emergency. You will want to store it all in a good laptop case with easy access. For extra protection you may want to consider a waterproof case (good in the event of a flood) or a hard side case such as an aluminum one that photographers use to protect their equipment. Other family members should know where you keep it so if you are not at home and they need to leave they can grab it for you.

Before you pack it all away, test it out. Make sure your connections are working and it starts up without problems. Test it once a month and make sure the batteries are still charged. Try accessing the internet through dialup and a wireless hot spot. Work out the bugs before you need to use it in an emergency.

Having a backup bug out computer will help you when the unexpected happens and get you back on the road to recovery.

To stay up to date on avian influenza, bird flu and the h5n1 virus visit The Bird Flu Index Find links to bird flu websites, official medical and government sites and full information about how the bird flu could turn into a global influenza pandemic. Search through the article archive for the latest bird flu articles.For the latest bird flu news visit The Pandemic Zone
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The Refurbished Acer Laptops Freak

2007-04-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

by Keith George

If you want to get in on the portable revolution, then one of the best options available is to look around on the internet for used laptops. Do you think of laptops in the same way many of us do: a fairly small portable computer that can open and close like a suitcase, with all of the capabilities of a desktop. Acer laptops have a well-deserved reputation for being some of the best laptops in the world.

Refurbished laptops have been around for a long time and will remain so because people everywhere are catching on to the incredible savings. And, refurbished laptops are definitely worth the value and savings. Refurbished laptops are a good value as the customer gets upgraded models with faster speeds, more memory, and more features at a discounted price.
Refurbished laptops are computers that have been bought new by a consumer and has been used between 1 day and 3 months.

Do not sacrifice quality for a special price, first priority is to make sure you’re buying laptops that can get the job done. And don’t let the small size fool you, laptops are very powerful.

Full laptops are the style notebook you’re used to, they range in size and weight, but are generally much heavier and bulkier than the other options. Refurbished laptops are considerably less than a new notebook computer and the best part is that it is easier than ever to hook up a home network.

Many new laptops can cost thousands of dollars while most refurbished laptop computers usually cost less than a couple of grand, and often less than $500. The major reason for the trend with laptop computers, is that they have simply become more of a tool and less of a novelty. Also, the evolution of dual core processors is big news in the laptop world and 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.

No matter what awards for best rated laptops or what percentages of the world market that Acer acquires over the next few years, you can be sure that Acer will continue to put out the innovative products that they are known for. Personally, I think of used Toshiba laptops as retaining the same quality as the day they were bought, with solid keyboards, which made them expensive to buy, but also means that on the second hand market they hold their value.

Used laptops are those that have been used by a consumer for any length of time and then resold. No matter how you feel about laptops, they - and their successors - will be around for a long time. Of course, no matter how fascinating it is to think about the portability of laptops, there should be some concern about making work so portable. You should take a look at the software that is featured on Apples laptops and desktop computers.

The advances in computer electronics have brought us to the point where we can take these mobile and portable notebook computers all over the world. We can conduct business from home with our notebooks, and even connect our laptops to a computer network in San Fransisco from a coffee shop in Texas.

Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews.A related resource is Acer Laptops.Further information can be found at Sports & Travel.

The Brief History Of Apple Laptops

2007-04-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

The release of the Apple laptop was the product that helped put Apple back on top in the computing world. For years, Apple had been appreciated by graphic designers, artists, and other visually minded people who appreciated the plethora of graphics programs on Apple’s computers. And for this reason, Apple became entrenched in a niche market and struggled gain footing as a serious competitor in the computing world.

But with the launch of the Apple laptop, Apple was able to finally break free from this restrictive mold. Apple was able to separate itself from the crowd with a visually appealing product that catered to the customer’s needs and wants – a powerful computing machine that was easy to use.

Apple laptops, such as the iBook and PowerBook models, were visually unique also. They stood apart from other laptop designs with their trademark sleek white or shimmering silver color and a curvy design that lacked edges. These laptops appealed to both the upper echelon as well as the common dweller.

The Apple laptop also incorporated accessibility into its design. This Apple product was different in that it could be used with PC and Windows products, which is one of the attributes that helped propel Apple beyond its constrictive refines. Apple users were no longer restricted. Another plus is that the Apple laptop tended to outperform comparable laptop PCs.

The novel design of Apple laptop even included a built in trackball which served to set it even further apart from its competition. No other laptop manufacturers included such a feature that was integrated as well. With the Apple laptop, the trackball was placed in front of the keyboard making it easier to use and much more comfortable will.

Apple even managed to package its laptop into a smaller space than other PC manufacturers. The Apple laptop was less than 2.5 inches thick and only covered an area slightly larger than a letter-size sheet of paper. And in addition to that, it weighed in at only 6.8 pounds, while its PC counterparts averaged well over 8 pounds and lacked many of the features found in even the cheapest desktop system, such as hard drives and mice.

By incorporating features that other laptop PCs did not include, the Apple laptop managed to gain footing in the IT world and propel itself to the top of the ranks. And by remaining on the cutting edge of technology, Apple shows no signs of slipping yet.

Brenda has is a frequent user of the apple laptop but also uses the dell laptop. She's gotten her last apple laptop for free, via the website.

The Most Common Chemicals Used In Laptop Batteries

2007-04-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

by Trever

The most common chemicals used in laptop batteries are:
NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) - This is the oldest technology and is the least commonly used nowadays. NiCad batteries are prone to the "Memory effect" and are heavier than the newer technologies. NiCad is not environmentally friendly chemical as it contains heavy metals, which cannot be disposed of in landfill sites. Most manufacturers have stopped producing batteries of this type chemical As an end user it will be increasingly difficult to source these batteries. The best alternative is external battery packs. This is an external battery, with run times of up-to 10hours and is compatible with most manufacturers.

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) - These batteries are less likely to be prone to the memory effect and have a much better power to weight ratio than NiCad. This is a commonly used chemical. These batteries are also being phased out by most manufacturers. However, many have lithium-ion versions that are compatible. Always consult the manufacturer or a reputable laptop battery supplier.

Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) - This is becoming the dominant technology due to its excellent power to weight ratio. Such considerations are becoming more important as mobile devices become smaller and lighter and battery weight becomes significant. Another plus point for Li-Ion is that it doesn't suffer the memory effect at all. These batteries do have a tendency to lose charge quickly towards the end of their effective life span. If this starts to happen the battery must be replaced.

These three technologies are quite different in the way they charge and therefore should not be substituted unless the device has been designed to take different chemicals. The owner's manual will describe which batteries are suitable.Lithium Ion laptop batteries are available at ComputerBatteries.co.uk

Laptop Battery Capacity

Laptop batteries are rated by, Voltage (V) and Milliamp-hours (mAh). Voltage is the rate at which energy is drawn from the battery and Milliamp-hours represents the capacity of the battery. The Milliamp-hour rating corresponds to the run time of the battery. A battery with a high Milliamp-hour rating, has a relatively longer run time than a battery with a low Milliamp-hour rating.
Batteries with different Milliamp-hours can be used on the same laptop provided the voltage rating is the same. The voltage rating has to match that of the original battery or as recommended by the computer manual. Using a battery with a different voltage setting can seriously damage the laptop. The power ratings of most compatible/replacement batteries are higher than the original manufacturers' batteries. This will not damage your laptop, in fact, it simply means that these batteries in many cases last longer than original manufacturers' batteries. Ask the experts like PowerUp on compatible replacement laptop batteries.
The run time of a laptop battery will vary on individual notebook computers, based on the applications being used (i.e. high graphics, games), the number of times something is saved or retrieved from the hard drive and/or CD Rom drive, the memory of notebook, and chemical and capacity of the battery. A â€˜realistic' average run-time for a battery is 1.5 to 3 hours. Using devices like a wireless adapter on the laptop also drains the battery considerably.

The life of a battery under normal use is around 500 to 900 charge-discharge cycles. This is about one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As the rechargeable battery begins to fail, the running time of the battery begins to decline. See the Laptop Battery & AC Adapter Information page for advice from PowerUP.

Laptop Battery Care

Most laptop batteries when purchased are sent out in a discharged state. The laptop batteries require to be "run them in" to achieve maximum performance and the best service life. Simply insert the battery into your laptop and allow it to charge fully and then, fully discharge your battery (i.e. run your laptop using battery power until it switches off) then fully charge your battery once again.

It is possible that when you first put the new battery into your laptop it will show it is fully charged almost straight away, but it doesn't power the laptop for very long. This does not mean the battery is faulty, simply take out and reinsert the battery, fully charge it once again and this should solve the problem.

It may take some time for certain laptops to recognize new batteries and you may have to run a calibration program that you can access through the control panel on your laptop. If in any doubt please consult your user's manual for your laptop.

Make sure that you fully discharge your battery from time to time, as this will prolong the useful service life of the battery. If you are not going to use the battery for some time (perhaps a month or more), remove it from your laptop in a fully charged state and store it in a cool dry place away from sources of heat and light.

Trevar is the owner of Notebook Battery. You can find more information at Notebook Store

Laptop Notebook - What Defines A Laptop

2007-04-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

by Brenda

The laptop notebook computer is one of the greatest technological advances to come along. And you will probably find it difficult to eschew the computer if you live if the modern world, unless you are Amish. The desktop computer was a wonderful invention, but the laptop notebook computer is gaining a powerful momentum that is hard to ignore.

While people have come to use the terms laptop and notebook interchangeably to describe the portable computing devices that business owners and stay-at-home moms alike carry around, there are a few differences between the two.

A laptop computer is a portable computer that is small enough to fit comfortably in the user’s lap. They are a bit larger than their counterparts – the notebook computer. Laptop computers are normally larger to include such features as built in or removable CD ROM drives.

Most standard laptops will feature a 14 inch to 17 inch screen, a full featured keyboard, 2+ hour battery life, integrated audio system, mid to high level graphics cards, integrated modem and WiFi capabilities, and a built in or removable optical drive. Laptops offer the ability to be upgraded to some extent also.

A notebook computer is designed to be ultra-portable and ultra-lightweight. Therefore, it includes the minimal amount of features necessary to provide the greatest degree of mobility. Standard notebook computers feature 4+ hours battery life, minimal graphics system, no internal optical drive, 12 to 14 inch screen, integrated modem and network capabilities, and the smallest possible keyboard. It is also normally thinner than a traditional laptop computer.

With technology improving at such a rapid pace, though, it is now possible to include much more computing power into a smaller space. This may be one of the reasons that the line has become blurred between the laptop and notebook computers. Now, both of these mobile computing devices have simply become known as the laptop notebook.

And since the differences are so slight, there really is no harm in putting the two into the same category. Most people do not care enough to recognize the difference in the terminology anyway. They just know that they want their laptop notebook along for the ride.

Brenda is an avid user of her laptop. She has received her last laptop notebook for free. She maintains resources on how to get a free laptop via her free laptops website.

Keeping Your Laptop Safe

2007-04-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

by James

Statistics show that a laptop computer is stolen every 53 seconds in the USA, and in San Francisco, the Laptop is the most common item stolen from a person. Your laptop computer can contain your entire life, from important work through to downloaded music, personal photos, and even confidential bank and credit details. With this in mind, of all the items you carry with you on a daily basis, your lap top computer should be the one that you take most care of.

There are a few golden rules to follow when it comes to keeping both your computer and the information contained in it safe. Some of them are simple, and easy to follow, others require a little more discipline to keep on top of, but bearing in mind the value of both the computer and its contents, it is essential to take its security seriously.

The reason why laptop computers are so popular with thieves is exactly the same as why they are popular with regular people. They are convenient, stylish, and portable. We like them because they allow us to work on the go, thieves like them because they can pick them up and go before we notice.

The first rule to follow is that if you do not need your laptop, leave it at home or at work. Why run the risk of getting it stolen by having it with you if you don't need to?

Whenever you have your laptop with you in a public place, whether you are working or not, do not let it out of your sight. Do not leave it at the table in a restaurant when you go to the bathroom, and if you can possibly avoid it, carry it with you at all times. You should also avoid leaving it on show in your car. If you must leave it in the vehicle, make sure you lock it in the trunk rather than leaving it on display.

Because the data held on your laptop computer can as valuable to a thief as the computer itself, you should take measures to protect your files. Passwords might make accessing documents inconvenient, but they could make the difference between a thief getting access to your bank account or not.

One last important thing is to always back up your data regularly. If the worst happens, and your computer is stolen, don't risk losing months of work just because of one scumbag. Copy essential information onto a desktop machine, or a pen drive to ensure that if you lose your laptop, you can get up to date quickly rather than losing time collating information that you have lost.

James writes for ADPmods. You can find more information at adpmods.com.

The Gaming Laptop Lover

2007-04-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

by Louise H Wasa

To keep in touch with your business, friends and to receive and deliver information, people carry their laptops. In that way they can access the internet, have conferences, and many other features that their desktop computer can do back at the office. We now see that this handy device has become an integral part of our society, just like the cell phone. Modern technology makes it possible also to connect wireless or using a cell phone as a transmitter.

You can save very much money by getting computer parts at really cheap prices and assemble your own computer laptop. There are many reasons why you would want to buy cheap used laptops. The main reason is of course that a new laptop is simply too expensive, especially if you want a laptop that is specially designed to gaming online. If you want to find a cheap used laptop, do the research and you will have many opportunities to get a great deal.

When buying refurbished laptops, you will have fast speed, loads of system memory, updated software, updated technology and a cheap price. Refurbished laptops work as new they are just a couple of years older than a new laptop. The only device you might want to update is the graphic cards.

The current portable computing market is very strong and offer hundreds of choices from full laptops, to portable media stations, to ultra-portable PCs, to smart phones and you really need to know what you are looking for prior to going out to purchase. Notebooks are the most portable computers you can buy. They are small and will be your best co-worker when you are traveling around. And, they will weight a lot less than the laptops you might have been used to. The state of the art, ultralight, ultra chic and ultra portable laptops are definitely a good example of what cutting edge technology means.

The idea of a true gaming laptop is a feasible one, and plenty of companies have offered their units onto the marketplace as proof of this. All the extra dual power and hyper threading will finally put some punch into laptops and especially gaming laptops. Now, as more games come on stream which can take full advantage of all this new technology, you should expect your gaming enjoyment to increase.

Gaming laptops need the fastest processors available and cutting edge graphics cards. If you will use your computer only for 3D gaming or setting up a powerful workstation that will be on most of the time, then the best choice is probably a desktop PC. The gaming laptop computers of today have big, crisp LCD screens, cutting edge video cards and full-size keyboards and joystick options.

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Louise H Wasa always writes about valuable news & reviews.A related resource is Gaming Laptops. Further information can be found at Home Mortgage Cycling.

Anti-theft Programs Allow Laptop to be Tracked

2007-04-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

by Austin Luna

So you just purchased a very nice, expensive laptop computer for your creative desktop. No corner was overlooked in terms of storage, processor speed and graphics capabilities. Now it's time to protect your investment in a way that is fairly new and very unknown by your average criminals.

Anti-theft software designed for installation on a laptop is out there and available for purchase from a few different companies. Search the internet for "anti-theft software for a laptop" to get started.

After grabbing the anti-theft software and installing it, a small, hidden tracking program is activated. This program runs in the background and should not affect your laptop speed. The software works when the laptop is connected to the internet. Most anti-theft programs send a file that includes the location of the laptop to a monitoring server or email address.

A few of the companies that make this awesome software are computrace and ztrace.

Fix a dead pixel on a LCD screen

2007-04-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

After you brought a new laptop home just to find a stuck pixel glaring back at you? Don't panic! Quite often, these pixels can be fixed with a bit of gentle massaging. Using a soft material (such as a lens cleaning rag) to protect the screen, gently rub the dead pixel in a clockwise motion for 30 seconds.

Benefit From Studying With The Laptop

2007-04-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

by Linda Correli

The progress of technology is astounding. Mankind attained fantastic, unprecedented peaks during the last century: the invention of the phone, TV-set, radio, if to mention some. Could Newton or Einstein ever imagine that piles of their books and treatises can be stored in one, by the first sight rather small electronic machine called computer? The invention of the computer can be compared at least to the first step on the moon surface, which was a small step for a man, but a Herculean step for the mankind.

Technology is a power that drives the world. As lazy creatures, we have surrounded ourselves with the fruit of progress and enjoy our life effortlessly, taking advantage of convenient, helpful, indispensable and irreplaceable machines, created by our hands.

Nowadays we can’t imagine our life without these machines. Let’s take computers, for instance. We can’t get along without them anyway. Eating, drinking, and communicating via computers, at last living with them. They have become our obsession, perhaps because they armed us with the abundance of new, versatile possibilities or just because we’ve got used to them and they’ve become our mechanical toys.

However, computers, especially portable ones, can serve not just as funny toys, but excessively useful tools in our work and study. Studying with the laptop is a dream of every college student. In today’s fast moving world this tool is just indispensable and studying with it can become a real pleasure.

With a laptop one doesn’t have to carry piles of books and papers, have the risk of misplacing them, or searching everywhere for something lost. It’s very convenient to have all documents, materials, tutorials, manuals and what not arranged in order, in one place which is always in hand. Laptops eliminate the heavy backpacks straining on one’s back and can easily fit in a backpack. They are lightweight and can be operated on batteries. The main point is to charge them regularly.

Hence, it is your personal belonging; you don’t have to share it with anybody any longer, as you shared your big, bulky PC with your classmates. By the way, while working you are sitting at a nice clean desk without any loose papers flying around. And one more advantage is that you don’t need any stationery, which always gets lost in the most unsuitable moment.

Laptops give you advantages and privileges in learning and acquiring information. Studying with a laptop is like having the world of information at your fingertips. You become familiar with the equipment, software, data analysis, data base compiling. Your opportunities with a laptop are unlimited, they have nor boundaries.

However, advantages come with the responsibilities. Working with a laptop helps you become more organized and to categorize all information connected with your studying. By using laptops you learn how to use technology and remain up to date with what is happening in the world. Laptops make the process of studying more dynamic and fun. They can be passed among your friends, moved around the classroom, carried with yourself and taken to your field trips.

I didn’t intend to promote or to endorse the popularity of the laptops anyhow, but I just took advantage of using them myself and decided to share my experience with you. If it is possible to make our life easier, less laborious and more enjoyable, so let’s go for it and change it for better!

About the Author:

Linda Correli is a staff writer of www.CustomResearchPapers.us She students write college research papers, term books, admission essays, book report and many other types of writing assignments: from personal statements to professional case studies. For more information and help, please, go to: http://www.customresearchpapers.us

Read more articles by: Linda Correli

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

How to Decode Asus Notebook Model Codes

2007-04-17T02:28:00.000-07:00

Original Post by Petetaro

Hi again, my dear visitors

I think you know Asus brand, right?
Asus is a big (may be a biggest) computer hardware seller (including laptop), and also well-known in most countries of the world.
Laptops from Asus comes with reasonable price, fair speed, and good serve of customer services.

I got my own one, and now it seems to be slow and useless for a heavy tasks like creating 3D work and so on.

Look at your Asus laptop (if you have one), you may see a line of codes started with character 'A'. Yeah... as you can guess, 'A' stands for Asus for sure, but what are the rest? That's our today's topic about.
Now, I'm going to teach you how to read the Asus code for Intel-powered Laptops

Let's see this example:

Model Code: A8Jn16DSM100Td

Separate it to this: A8-Jn-16-DSM-100-Td

You'll see that the code is just a combination of sub-codes.
The meaning of sub-codes can be categorized by colors as followings:

Red: Notebook series model
Orange: Graphic card model
Green: CPU clock
Blue: Optical drive type
Purple: Harddisk capacity
Black: CPU type

cofusing?

Let's see more details...

Some notebook series models

A8 = All-purpose laptop with 14" wide screen, 2.4 kg. weight
A9 = Large laptop 15" , 3.2 kg. weight
F2 = Large laptop่ 15" , 2.9 kg. weight
F3 = Large laptop 15" wide screen, 2.9 kg. weight
M9 = Small laptop 14" , 2 kg. weight (light)
U5 = Small laptop 12" , 1.4 weight (very light)

Some graphic card models

H, F, R is on-board unit
Jn = Geforce 7300 (replacement of Jc)
Jm = Geforce 7600
Js = Geforce 7700
Je = Radeon X1450
Ja = Radeon X1600
Jp = Radeon X1700

CPU clocks

From the example, model A8Jn16DSM100Td tells us that the CPU clock is 16. The number sixteen must be calculated before knowing real CPU clock. To calculate the clock, simply divide that number by 10 and the result is the minimum range of clock frequency, that is 1.6 Ghz. For the maximum range, just put 9 at the end of the minimum range, and you'll get 1.69 as a result.
Total CPU clock available for this model is between 1.6 to 1.69 Ghz.

Optical drive type

DSM = DVD Super Multi
CMC = Combo Drive

Harddisk capacity

The unit of harddisk capacity showed as GB (Gigabytes), so 100 means 100 GB

CPU Type

c = Celeron
d = Core Duo
Td = Core 2 Duo

For the nearly coming CPU - Core 2 Quad, its code should be something like "Tq". And you may made a guess for more future model codes or even those existing model codes in the market.

That's all for how to decode Asus notebooks model codes. I hope this could be help for whom who wants to buy a new Asus notebook, beacuse you now have an ability to define its specifications by just looking at its code!

Intel Centrino Pro Officially Announced

2007-04-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

by Intel.com

Intel Corporation today officially announced Centrino Pro processor technology for business laptop computers, which features Intel vPro technology currently used in desktop PCs.

“With Intel Centrino Pro processor technology, IT managers will be able to manage and protect their notebooks over Wi-Fi. In addition, administrators can manage both wired notebooks and desktop PCs regardless of their power state or the health of the PC. The result is better protected PCs, increased IT department compliance, more accurate PC inventories, fewer desk-side visits and less interruption to business,” the Corporation announced.

Intel Centrino Pro will be available in the second quarter this year as part of the company’s planned introduction of the next generation Centrino platform code named ‘Santa Rosa’, which is designed for use with Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs.

“A new wireless component, Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N will give users more freedom to do more, farther away from their access points with support for the draft 802.11n specification delivering up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range. Users will also enjoy improved graphics performance and support for Microsoft Windows Vista’s latest graphic interface Aero. In addition, the optional Intel Turbo Memory means users can experience up to two times faster performance when loading frequently-used applications, and up to a 20 percent faster boot time,” Intel says.

Intel

Previous article version (10/20/2006): Forthcoming Intel’s notebook platform, codenamed “Santa Rosa”, which is designed for use with Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom) processor, is to be officially named “Centrino Pro”, Digi Times reports according to the laptop makers.

“In the second quarter of 2007, Intel will launch its new Core 2 Duo CPU lineup, which includes the T7300, T7500 and T7700 models, featuring Socket P connector, 800MHz FSB and 4MB L2 cache, as well as the T7100 with 2MB of L2 cache. Simultaneously, Intel’s GM965/PM965 chipsets and 82566MM Gigabit Network/Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN network chips, which all support Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) and Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT), will be announced to complete the Santa Rosa platform,” the report says.

The Centrino Pro, introduced at Intel Developer Forum as “Santa Rosa” platform last month, will incorporate 802.11n Wireless standard, ‘Robson’ NAND Flash hard drive cache, Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 integrated card and 3G WAN card. The new Intel Centrino platform will feature 667Mhz up to 800MHz frontside bus, but the bus speed can be dynamically reduced and raised, as required by the operating workload.

The first Intel Centrino platform, codenamed “Carmel”, was launched in March 2003. The second-generation Centrino “Sonoma” platform, started in January 2005, while the current “Napa” Centrino platform, was introduced in January this year.

Laptop Slipcover Can Save the Day

2007-04-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

by Daneil Rochard

Today's world has already become too competitive that most people prefer to do business anytime and anywhere. It is for the reason that a single moment left for idling may mean losing a lot in the arena of business. So you will not be too surprised if you happen to board the train and someone beside you is busy operating his laptop.

Because these notebooks or laptops are always taken to all places, there is a high risk of them getting scratches, getting cracks, and many other possible damages. But to offer a solution to this problem, there is now a variety of laptop slipcovers which are often made available in the market. The laptop slipcovers come in leather cases, attach case styles, and bags.

Since the laptops are delicate equipment, the materials for the laptop slipcovers are often made to be durable and damage resistant. It is always expected that the laptop slipcovers will provide more than enough security for the laptop. Mixing up fashion and usefulness, there is a wide variety of laptop slipcovers which are often chosen by today's laptop users. It is a matter of finding the one that will work best for you as the user.

The Top Laptop Slipcovers

In a recent survey, it has been found out that there are the most sought-after laptop slipcovers. Here they are:

The Vertical Computer Bag. This laptop slipcover can be conveniently slung over your own shoulders. It is also heavily padded inside so that the laptop unit is unharmed despite your constant traveling.

The Tom Empire Builder laptop slipcover. This sort of bag-like laptop slipcover is one of the widely used in America. It appears to be sophisticated and elegant unlike any other cheap laptop slipcover. There are several pockets too so that putting anything inside will be convenient enough for you.

The custom laptop slipcover. The custom-made laptop slipcovers often come in leather materials. Having it the customized way is likewise letting your personality mingle with your possession. The craft appears with your own design preferences.

There are many kinds of laptop slipcover, searching the most protecting one for your laptop can help you in case of an accident. Try to avoiding buying the cheapest one that you find, because when you will most need this protection you find it useless.

Learn more about protecting your laptop and furniture with the Laptop Slipcover at the slipcovers site http://slipcover.advice-tips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Roshard

Free 8MB Wireless Broadband from Google

2007-04-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

by Petetaro

You'll not believe this! Google offers us 8MB in-home wireless broadband for FREE!!

Yet, What kind of wireless thing is that...?
It is "Google TiSP (beta)" which will be weirdly installed...in your toilet!!

Let's see how to install it

Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines.

Installing a typical home TiSP system is a quick, easy and largely sanitary process -- provided you follow these step-by-step instructions very, very carefully.

#1 Remove the spindle of fiber-optic cable from your TiSP installation kit.

#2 Attach the sinker to the loose end of the cable, take one safe step backward and drop this weighted end into your toilet.

#3 Grasp both ends of the spindle firmly while a friend or loved one flushes, thus activating the patented GFlush™ system, which sends the weighted cable surfing through the plumbing system to one of the thousands of TiSP Access Nodes.

#4 When the GFlush is complete, the spindle will (or at least should) have largely unraveled, exposing a connector at the remaining end. Detach the cable from the spindle, taking care not to allow the cable to slip into the toilet.

#5 Plug the fiber-optic cable into your TiSP wireless router, which has a specially designed counterweight to withstand the centripetal force of flushing.

#6 Insert the TiSP installation CD and run the setup utility to install the Google Toolbar (required) and the rest of the TiSP software, which will automatically configure your computer's network settings.

#7 Within sixty minutes -- assuming proper data flow -- the other end of your fiber-optic cable should have reached the nearest TiSP Access Node, where our Plumbing Hardware Dispatchers (PHDs) will remove the sinker and plug the line into our global data networking system.

#8 Congratulations, you're online! (Please wash your hands before surfing.)

Note: If you have any difficulty installing, operating or simply living with TiSP, we suggest joining the TiSP Help Group.

How can Google offer this service for free?

We believe that all users deserve free, fast and sanitary online access. To offset the cost of providing the TiSP service, we use information gathered by discreet DNA sequencing of your personal bodily output to display online ads that are contextually relevant to your culinary preferences, current health status and likelihood of developing particular medical conditions going forward. Google also offers premium levels of service for a monthly fee (see below).
Note: We take your privacy very seriously. So we treat all TiSP users' waste-related personal information with tremendous discretion, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

That's how Google offers something cool to us. Please made an immediately register for this product before Googlers have changed their mind.

P.S. Google has posted this stuff on 1st of April.

Source: Google.com

Recharge Your Laptop Battery Through Laptop Bag

2007-04-16T02:00:00.000-07:00

Original Post by Petetaro

Is this true? - This question may appears in your mind

Yes, and absolutely yes

A German bag-selling and designer company named PICARD has invent a new innovative fashioned laptop bag embedded with solar cells, called "PICARD Solar".

The Solar Bag is definitely on the list of the must have accessories list of 2007. It will recharge laptops, Phones and Mp3 Players and the solar panels already react in a room light situation. Picard Solar will be released this August and the price ...emmm... will be around $670!; Oh my god... looks like I don't need them right now.

Here is what PICARD says about their bags.

Our customers cherish our PICARD products as reliable daily companions and expressions of their lifestyle. They love the luxurious feeling and pleasant smell of fine leather. They appreciate the perfect workmanship. And they enjoy modern, hip designs and fascinating innovations.
For us, all of this is a reflection of our high quality standards and deeply rooted expertise. With confidence bred from experience, we apply our heritage to the stylish transformation of the latest fashion trends.

You may interest in more details on this Picard Solar bag, visit PICARD Spring/Summer 2007 website for more information.

Vista-ready laptops

2007-04-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Source: TimesOnline
Edited by Alex Pell

Britain is a nation of laptop lovers. After years of jostling for supremacy with full-sized computers, laptops (also known as notebooks) have taken the upper hand. Today they account for 70% of all computers bought by consumers, and the average price paid is £570.

So what do you get for your money? A surprising amount. For starters, most come with the new Windows Vista operating system preinstalled. Given that Vista costs around £200 on its own, or a bit less if upgrading from Windows XP, this seriously sweetens the deal. Vista is more user-friendly than XP, offers enhanced security, and includes fancy Media Center features — or at least the Home Premium Edition does, and this is the version supplied with all of the models under review, apart from the PC Nextday.

Upgrading an operating system by yourself is a faff, so if you’re toying with the idea of a new laptop, getting Vista bundled is a sound incentive, although some experts urge caution until the inevitable new-software gremlins are ironed out.

There are, of course, caveats. Vista is a power-hungry beast and although it will run on most recent computers it is far more sprightly on a PC with at least 1GB of Ram, which all of the laptops under review have. A still better option is to upgrade to 2GB at the point of purchase, for around £100.

Despite varying prices, these machines have more similarities than differences. Each model features a DVD burner and, with the exception of the large-screened Hi-Grade, weighs around 2.8kg: not ultra-light, but eminently portable.

The size of the screen governs how a laptop is used. Smaller screens are fine for short spells but could leave you squinting if you watch a full movie. The Hi-Grade aside, all the models here have either a 14in or 15in screen. Laptops tinier than that look appealing and have their merits, but are usually pricier and suffer from fiddly keyboards and poorer performance.

All of the machines reviewed have built-in Wi-Fi and a slot for adding, say, a 3G data card — handy for e-mails or web browsing if away from your normal internet connection.

Apart from the cheap-as-chips Advent, each features a dual-core processor, the single biggest computing advance in years. Even if your needs are limited, a dual-core laptop is better equipped to run background chores — such as a virus scan or ripping a CD to MP3 — without slowing the machine down. These delays are frustrating if you’re editing an urgent document. In fact, three of these laptops — the HP, Sony and PC Nextday — include the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor, albeit a modest version. Given their reasonable price tags, none offers blazing-fast 3-D gaming. However, the Evesham and the PC Nextday make a fist of playing fairly recent games.

The real differences relate to the size of the hard drive — where your documents, music and photos are stored — and overall build quality. Even the two cheapest machines boast an 80GB drive, which is enough to hoard a trove of digital goodies, though more is better, and most models here offer at least 100GB. Only home-movie buffs or those with a massive music library will fill the HP’s capacious 160GB.

Another key factor is battery life. The figures cited are with light use and in real-world conditions could halve. That said, you can dramatically enhance your battery by tweaking the power settings within Windows — a trick well worth trying.

The single biggest casualty of economy is how a laptop is put together, and crucially that includes the keyboard. We place great emphasis on how well-sized and spaced the keys are, and whether they are suited for proper typing.

Only the two pricier models,— from HP and Sony — have their own custom-designed chassis and screens. All the other companies buy generic components to reduce costs. There is nothing wrong with this, but it’s no coincidence that the Sony and HP performed best in PC Pro’s reliability survey, proving that you get what you pay for.

Lastly, consider the warranty. Evesham offers three years while Sony gives just one, although bigger companies are more likely to get you back up and running if your machine dies while you are in Rio on business. It’s worth extending this cover when you buy if it’s not too pricey, as fixing a laptop that’s not under warranty is painful, both in cost and aggravation.

JARGON BUSTER

Clock speed The operating speed of a processor in gigahertz (GHz). Rarely a reliable gauge of performance

Dual-core Latest generation of processors; far better for multitasking or handling routine background jobs

Hard drive/hard disk Where software and data are stored. Capacity measured in gigabytes (GB)

Graphics card Drives the display; vital for 3-D gaming

Processor PC’s “brain”, responsible for all calculations

Ram Live memory. Vista needs 1GB but 2GB is better

Vista Latest variant of Windows that replaces XP

EXECUTIVE TREAT

Five stars

HP Pavilion dv2278ea — typically £910, or £850 from www.rankhour.com

Stylish yet solid, with generous battery life

From the striking glossy finish to the rattle-free keyboard, this is a class act. The 14.1in widescreen display is smallish, but this helps trim weight to an acceptable 2.4kg, and the screen is of sufficiently high resolution to be able to display a document while video-conferencing on the built-in webcam. A generous 160GB hard drive is big enough to store a good music library and the speakers sound full bodied. Okay, the processor is no better than those of the other models reviewed, the 3-D graphics are modest, and a one-year warranty is just plain tight, but it’s solid, reliable and the battery lasted a full three hours. If gaming isn’t your thing, this HP is a smart move.

COUCH POTATO

Four stars

Hi-Grade Ultinote A9900-2050 — £821 from tinyurl.com/34m2pc

Big-screen entertainer beset by sluggish performance

Not all notebooks are meant to be mobile, and the Ultinote is one such — it is a “desktop replacement”, designed to be moved only from room to room. It weighs 3.6kg and features a big 17in screen, which proved ideal for watching Ugly Betty using the built-in digital TV tuner, or for simultaneously working on two documents open side-by-side. The keyboard is large, well laid out and provides good wrist support, and the two-year warranty usefully includes accidental damage cover. As an all-round entertainer the Hi-Grade Ultinote is impressive, although it is held back by a slightly ageing processor and pedestrian graphics that will prove a deterrent to power players.

STYLE GURU

Four stars

Sony Vaio VGN-FE41E — typically £800, or £764 from www.microwarehouse.co.uk

A joy to own despite the skimpy warranty

This isn’t the best looking Vaio that Sony has made, but it still easily outclasses all but the HP for aesthetic allure. The keyboard had exactly the right amount of travel (a common flaw with laptops) and the large touchpad proved responsive. The bright 15.4in screen was vivid, and a built-in webcam proved ideal for video chats. Despite a fiddly lid clasp and spongy hinges, this is a solidly built machine with a decent 120GB hard drive. The 2hr 45min of battery life will please commuters, even if the weight of 2.8kg is a tad porky for a Vaio. A one-year warranty is miserly at this price, but Sony provides proven reliability and a generous software package. A fine choice overall.

FAMILY RUN-AROUND

Four stars

Advent 7113 — typically £450, or £404 from www.dixons.co.uk

Outstanding value for the undemanding owner

A Vista laptop for £400 is a rarity, but Advent — PC World and Dixons’ own brand — has squeezed in a bucketful of gadgetry plus the Home Premium version of Windows Vista. Cheap laptops are often flimsy, but this 2.8kg Advent is solid, with a rigid case and sound protection for the good 15.4in screen. A rattly keyboard with some strangely positioned keys lets the side down and the 1hr 53min battery life will frustrate mobile professionals. The Intel Celeron M processor is ancient but okay for browsing, word processing or playing DVDs. However, attempting several tasks at once floored it, and the 80GB hard drive is modest. A bargain, but not for gamers or movie makers.

MIXED BAG

Three stars

Evesham Quest A425 — £821 from tinyurl.com/2unn8e

Tiptop security and warranty, but modest battery

A solid choice for professionals on a budget, this is the only model here with a fingerprint reader, enabling you

to assign all your passwords to one swipe of a finger so that no secrets are lost if your laptop is left in a taxi. Businessmen, however, won’t like the 1hr 30min battery life or the poor viewing angles that hamper presentations on the otherwise swish screen. At least there’s a webcam for video conferences, a responsive keyboard, and an excellent optional three-year warranty. This Evesham is the only machine on test with an AMD processor, and performance isn’t too far off the pace. It’s also, unexpectedly, the most credible gaming beast in this herd, and at 2.9kg not too heavy.

CHEAP THRILL

Three stars

PC Nextday Zoostorm 52-4601 — £550 from tinyurl.com/2pgar8

Big-budget performance on a shoestring, albeit flawed

You expect compromises at this price, but this PC Nextday is better than you’d think. It managed some 3-D games, while the Intel dual-core processor meant less thumb-twiddling when multitasking. In fact in terms of performance it went toe to toe with the best machines here. The trade-off, though, was a shortish two-hour battery life and the amount of heat produced; asbestos trousers may be required, which is a worry given the skimpy one-year warranty. It includes only a cut-down version of Vista, has a mere 80GB of hard-drive capacity, and screen quality is only so-so. But if you’re after the maximum bang-per-buck in a laptop, you’ll struggle to find better value.

Research supplied by PC Pro magazine Reviews adapted by Stewart Mitchell Prices include Vat and delivery

Do I Need NVIDIA SLI Technology For My Notebook Computer?

2007-04-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

by Tim Childree

When shopping for a notebook computer, there are a few things that you should consider before making your purchase. Of course, the price is one of the primary determining factors when deciding which notebook to get, however, there's one other thing that should be considered even before you and your computer salesperson talk about price. You must carefully check a notebook computer's specifications – see what it has 'inside' – so that you can establish whether it is particularly suitable for the portable computing tasks that you have in mind.

NVIDIA SLI Technology

SLI (Scalable Link Interface) is a proprietary technology developed by NVIDIA, an acknowledged world leader in graphics processing technologies. NVIDIA is responsible for some of the most commonly used programmable Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in PCs all over the world today.

A Graphics Processing Unit or GPU is a dedicated graphics-rendering device. High graphics resolution (visual realism) and fast graphics rendering are the chief advantages a GPU has over integrated graphics.

For increased graphics output, NVIDIA has developed their SLI technology, which facilitates the link-up of two GPUs. The SLI application rests on the premise that a computer's graphics processing speed and performance can be increased significantly (up to 2X over a single graphics solution) by combining the graphics processing power of two GPUs. In effect, when the computer user is calling up a 3D image, the two GPUs share the graphics-processing load resulting in smoother performance and faster load times.

NVIDIA SLI Technology In Notebook Computers

It has long been a point of frustration for notebook computer users that graphics processing in desktop computers is far more satisfactory than in notebooks. That is why the introduction of NVIDIA SLI technology for notebook computers in 2006 was very exciting news for these hardcore PC enthusiasts.

With NVIDIA SLI for notebook computers, two mobile GPUs (particularly the NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7950 GTX), which have graphics processing capabilities comparable to desktop GPUs, can now be bridged for extremely high-speed, high-quality graphical performance in notebook computers.

Why You Need NVIDIA SLI Inside Your Notebook Computer

If you are a computer games aficionado who just has to play Doom, Half-Life, Chronicles of Riddick, Age of Empires, Tomb Raider, or any other GPU-intensive game wherever you are, than you better look for an NVIDIA SLI-ready notebook computer. Combine the power of two NVIDIA mobile GPUs, the parallel graphics processing rendered by NVIDIA SLI, and a high-resolution LCD and you will have intensely realistic graphics and an immensely satisfactory gaming experience with your notebook computer.

This article may be republished freely as long as this copyright notice and box of resource links are included at the bottom.

Copyright © 2007 MALIBAL, lLc

MALIBAL is the Home of the World's Fastest Laptop! Headquartered in Las Vegas, this groundbreaking company has transmuted the world of mobile computing with its nonpareil laptops and unrivaled 24-hour USA-based support.

Please, check out these recommendations for the best notebook computers.

How to Organize Messy Shortcuts on Your Desktop

2007-04-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

Original Post by Petetaro

Hello, my dear visitors

Before we start, I'm going to ask you to look at your current desktop

Is it mess?

awwww... Com' on, say the truth ;)

hehe... Alright, that's enough for greetings

Today we're going to modify your messy & boring shortcuts to make it looks nicer

We will install a nice bar to store your messy desktop shortcuts

I recommend you two softwares to response for this task:

1. Rocket Dock

Here is the description from its official website

RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha blended application launcher. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock.

And a demo video here

Rocket Dock will make your Windows XP desktop look like desktop in MacOSX

As you can see on the top of desktop, that is Rocket Dock

You just drag all your shortcuts to the Rocket Dock bar, it will make a copy of that shortcuts on it, then remove those shortcuts from desktop.

You can download Rocket Dock for free at: http://www.punksoftware.com/rocketdock

2. Stardock's Object Dock

This is more likely the Rocket Dock, but you can insert more gadgets on the dock, such as weather forecast, calendar, clock, etc. It also provide an optional dock for more more shortcuts holds.

Object dock can be downloaded at: http://www.stardock.com/products/ObjectDock
*remember that object dock isn't a freeware

From my own opinion, I think Rocket Dock is pretty large enough to store all shortcuts you have, also it consume less memories than StarDock, and last... downloading Rocket Dock is definitely FREE! So just try them and judge it yourself.

Congratulations! now I think we already got a nice-looking desktop without those messy shortcuts any more. Next time I'll bring you more details on how to manage themes. Visit me soon!

When To Rent A Laptop Computer

2007-04-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

by John Beagle

Most companies either lease or buy their computer equipment, but why or when should a company rent laptop or notebook computers?

Here are a few reasons to rent a laptop computer:

-If you need technology on short notice or for a short time, it is best to rent a laptop.

-If you need a large quantity of laptop computers for a training class, it is best to rent laptops.

-If your laptop computers are on back order but your staff isn't, it's best to rent laptops for immediate installation.

-If you need a wireless laptop computers for travel and all your company laptops and notebook computers are wired.
People confuse computer renting with leasing.

Renting is short term in nature and is very flexible. Leasing, like buying is a fixed arrangement.

You can extend the rental or cancel at any time with no penalty. Leases can't be cancelled without a 'severe penalty'.

Renting laptops is totally flexible, requires no capital budget and can often be accomplished with a company credit card. For most companies, renting is as easy as getting office supplies.

Rental companies have expert computer technicians who deliver, install and test your laptop rental right at your office, training room, trade show booth, seminar, convention or conference.

Rental companies have everything you need and a backup plan if something unexpected happens.

Other reasons why businesses rent laptop computers include temporary offices, traveling executives and temporary employees.

Temporary Offices
Temporary offices can be made complete with rental laptop computers, printers, copiers and fax machines. The hardware will be configured to your company specifications and installed at any remote location in the United States or Canada.

Rentacomputer.com has set up temporary offices in hotel rooms, trailers, warehouses and convention centers. Temporary offices have been set up for State and Federal Government agencies such as FEMA, the FBI and the IRS. Also legal firms, television networks covering hurricane disasters, movie studios setting up "on location", and new building construction sites, corporate mergers and takeovers.

Traveling Executives
Traveling executives won't have to carry portable laptop computers through airports or other public transportation facilities. Executives can have technology, preconfigured and tested, waiting at their final destination! Traveling with technology is one hassle that can be easily avoided by calling a computer rental expert like a Temporary Technology Travel Agent.

Temporary Employees
Temporary employees need temporary technology. By renting laptop computers you can coordinate the installation and removal of computers, printers and other technology for any period of time specified. If you hire temporary employees, hire temporary technology too.

Next time you have a temporary or special need, consider renting laptop computer technology and technical expertise.

About the Author:

John Beagle is a writer for the Tech Travel Agent© services of Rentacomputer.com, a laptop computer rental firm that installs rental laptop computers nationwide in the United States and Canada. The client website can be found at http://www.rentacomputer.com.

Read more articles by: John Beagle

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Speed up your laptop - Part 3

2007-04-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Original Post by Petetaro

After we finished previous two steps:
Speed up your laptop - Part 1, and
Speed up your laptop - Part 2

Next one is: Manage Start Menu and Taskbar

After applied this technique to your laptop, you should feel the difference of startup loading time (yes, faster for sure).

Well..., first, we're going to start from managing start menu.
Managing start menu does not effect the startup loading time, but help reducing a bit delay from popping it up.

> right click on the start button itself, select properties

> on the first page, select classic start menu

now, your start menu should become a Windows 98 styled start menu. The advantage is it does not implement many graphical components as the Windows XP styled does, so there will be no delay from calling it.

For the managing taskbar part, I recommended you to read carefully before performing changes

Clear Quick Launches

Quick launches are those small-icon next to the start button. Your laptop will load these buttons in the start-up time. decreasing quick launches = reducing startup time!

There are two ways to manage quick launch icons

1. uncheck the Show Quick Launch the properties of start button > taskbar tab. This will disable the use of quick launch icons - in case you never use it

2. delete unused quick launches, just right click on the one that you need to remove and select delete

Disable Applications on System Tray

System tray are the place where small active application icons lived, certain stated on the right most of the taskbar (if you didn't move taskbar, it'll be on the bottom-right of the screen). System tray's applications absolutely consume your startup time. Some people have more than ten application running on the system tray which is the bad idea to have them. To disable applications on system tray, please carefully consider which one is required to keep (ex. Anti-virus), or useless. Some application provides the option to disable its application on the system tray, such as ACDsee, Snagit, MSN, etc. Applications that does not provide the system try disability option, you should follow these steps

1. click start button
2. access RUN...

3. type in the box: "msconfig" (exclude double quotation)

4. select Startup tab

5. look for the application name that you cannot disable from its program, uncheck the box in front of the name

6. keep doing step5 until you cleared all unwanted startup applications

7. machine restart is required after finished

you can hide the existing icons that you must live it, such as Anti-virus icon, Automatic update, volume adjustment icon, etc, by:

1. right click on start button, select properties
2. choose Taskbar tab

3. hit Customize... button

4. select the application you want to hide, then change it behavior to Always Hide

5. hit OK to finish

Congratulation! Now, your Start menu and your Taskbar have been optimized!

-------------------------------------------------

Speed up your laptop - Part 3 by Petetaro
Author website: Laptop and Notebook Computers Tips and Tricks
My content is free to use. If you want to use please copy the ENTIRE post up to this point, and make sure you put my name as the author. Thank you.

------------------------------------------------

Related Article:
Speed up Your Laptop - Part 1
Speed up Your Laptop - Part 2

Travel Bags

2007-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

by Mary Lorainne

Another type of luggage bags that require to be carried with us today are the laptop bags. Laptops have become an ultimate necessity today. It can be business meeting for you or a pleasure trip, you will notice that you are carrying your laptop computer to every and any place you go.

Laptops are used to carry your important data. There is no other convenience when you are going places like the laptop to carry your data. It can be business meeting you are going to or it can be a pleasure trip. If a business meeting, you can store and create you presentations, reports, write business letters, etc while you are on travel.

When on a pleasure trip, laptop can be used to stay in touch with your friends or business associates. You can even combine pleasure with business. However, laptop is a delicate electronic item to handle. Therefore, there needs to be taken a special care of this piece of electronics.

There are several manufacturers of laptop bags today in the market. Each offer special bags for each different make of laptop or different model of the laptop, since each laptop has different specifications.

Laptop bags require to be easy to carry and easy to handle. These bags are also designed in such a way that we can hold them near to ourselves so that the risk of damaging the laptop then is reduced substantially.

Laptop bags are also designed to hold certain laptop accessories like the chargers or CDs or external mouse, etc. Therefore, laptop bags are equipped with pockets to hold all these accessories.

The design of laptop bags is made in such a way that there is enough padding so as to protect it from any harm. The laptop bags offer security to the laptop and are handy to carry.

Laptop bags are made from different materials. The most famous ones are the leather laptop bags. Since the material is soft, stylish and offers great variety to the user. Ballistic nylon is another material that is used to make laptop bags. Though it not as elegant as the leather laptop bags these bags also offer great comfort and utility to the user.

All laptop bags are fitted with excellent quality zips, good quality belts and have two types of handles always so that the laptop can be held in whatever way one wishes to hold it.

Laptop bags can cost anywhere with in the range of $80 to $200. So thereby you can make your own choice about the laptop bag

Source: Submit Articles at ArticlesBase.com

Speed up your laptop - Part 2

2007-04-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Original Post by Petetaro

Again, after we finished Speed up your laptop - Part 1, now move on to the next step.

The second step called: Clean Your Desktop

So, you may questions that "Why cleaning desktop is needed?"

The answer is, to optimize your desktop and speed up your startup process.

Yeah...looks like someone get confused, so I'll show you the proof.

First check how many shortcuts are there on your desktop, is it more that 10?
If yes, your computer has to work hard on loading them at startup. If no, your desktop already a bit optimized.

Let's see why startup time effected by the shortcuts

Each shortcut worth at least 1 KB, this can be proof by dragging any shortcuts to a folder, for example, My Documents. After dragged the shortcut into a folder, you will see its file size shows beneath the shortcut name.

If a shortcut is 3 KB worth, and you got 10 of them on your desktop, your machine will take time loading 30 KB shortcuts at startup, right? If you can reduce the number of shortcuts, you desktop would be optimized. This come to the concept that: why cleaning desktop is needed.

Oh... I almost forget to tell you about another kind of shortcut called "Application".

The application shortcuts are those downloaded and executable files. The file size of application shortcuts may be 100 times larger than normal shortcuts. Once you place those applications on the desktop, your computer is absolutely slow down.

The best way to manage those shortcuts and application files on the desktop is to keep it somewhere, such as creating a new folder, rename it as your favor, then put those things together into it.

Well, you may group them in as many folders as you want, but remember that - many folders also generated more disk spaces used. So create it as necessary.

Grouping shortcuts advantage in reducing load time for each shortcut. If there are hundreds of shortcuts grouping in one folder, Windows will determine it as a shortcut and finished it loads faster!

Another benefit of grouping shortcuts is easy use, you may find the right place to lunch the programs by just looking at group name; easier and faster.

The main shortcuts, such as My Network Places and Internet Explorer, may be unnecessary if you are not always config something with your Network Card, and using other Internet Browser such as Mozzila Fire Fox.

To remove unnecessary main shortcuts, right click on desktop, select properties
Then select Desktop tab

click on Customize Desktop button

In General tab, remove check from shortcut name that you think it's unnecessary, press OK to finish

Congratulation! Now, your desktop looks cleaner, and yes, optimized

For the next time I'll explain more in detail about desktop optimization. Sounds cool right?
-------------------------------------------------

Speed up your laptop - Part 2 by Petetaro
Author website: Laptop and Notebook Computers Tips and Tricks
My content is free to use. If you want to use please copy the ENTIRE post up to this point, and make sure you put my name as the author. Thank you.

------------------------------------------------

Related Article:
Speed up Your Laptop - Part 1
Speed up Your Laptop - Part 3

Five Things To Ensure Smooth Working Of Your Laptop Forever

2007-04-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

by Kanishkm

Laptop gives you an upper edge as you can carry all the useful information with yourself. But, for most of the beginners maintaining the smooth working of laptop becomes a cause of concern. Here is a list of five things that will make your laptops as good as a new one.

In this age of information, people want their electronics everywhere. They like to carry all the information available with them, as they feel anything can be required anytime. Laptop gives you an upper edge as you can carry all the useful information with yourself.

Now once you have realized that laptop is an essential thing for you, the next step that follows is that what are the things that can make your laptop the best. Or we can say that there are some steps that help you maintain an overall good health of your notebook computers.

The top five things that make your laptop the best are:

1.The most important thing in your notebook computer is your battery. You should always try to maintain a good health of your battery. In order to do so, you should charge the battery of your notebook to the fullest of its capacity after running it into empty, once every week.

2.A hard disk clean up should be performed every six months. You should clean up the files that are of no longer in use with security back-ups.

3.When you feel that you no longer need to work on your laptop, do not simply unplug your notebook PC. Your laptop should be shut down in a proper manner. Also never leave your system over night after finishing your work.

4.To maintain a good health of your notebook, you should continuously detect and repair the errors on your hard disk by using a scan disk tool, once a month. You should also use the de-fragmenting tool, which is there in your accessory box, to de-fragment your hard drive.

5.Always use proper cleaning materials to clean up your LCD display.

Taking note of above mentioned five pointsPsychology Articles, your laptop will always work as smooth as a newly bought notebook.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author writes articles on different topics. To get more laptop articles visit http://www.iwantnotebook.com/

Notebook Computer Penalties

2007-04-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

by Richard Kier

Notebook computers can be incredibly convenient for anyone who needs to travel or work in multiple locations. While external hard drives and flash drives can be used to carry around a hug amount of data, being able to work on the same machine, one that's been configured by you for your specific needs and style, is a major attraction. And with a notebook computer you can do a little work, or watch a video, surf the net, etc nearly anywhere you go. You can't do that with an external hard drive.

Prices have dropped and performance has improved, but you are still going to have to make some compromises. Substantially more powerful and flexible desktop systems are also now available for prices that are quite a bit lower than any reasonably well configured notebook. You have to pay a premium for your notebook's portability. Notebooks are also less comfortable to use than a desktop system, though this can be corrected with an external keyboard and a mouse - but, you won't be carrying a full size keyboard around when you travel. Ergonomically, notebook computers are simply impossible without external devices. So you also incur a comfort penalty. And usually the notebooks keyboards are more compact and may not have all the keys you'd like. Finally, they are also normally configured differently than full size keyboards. This can affect your productivity to some extent.

A desktop system is usually pretty easy to upgrade - even to add additional devices to. It can also usually handle more memory than a notebook computer and run a more powerful processor. Notebook computers can be hard to upgrade and your options can be quite limited. They generally have just two memory slots and are limited to maximum of 1 to 2GB of RAM. Replacing the memory is probably the only upgrade that won't require a specialized service center.

And unlike desktop systems which are relatively easy to repair, notebook computers are not only difficult to repair and require specialized, highly trained technicians, they also require specialized parts. If they are even available. I've built 5 or 6 computer systems for myself from scratch as well as upgrading them, adding more devices, etc. It isn't all that difficult. But mess with my laptop? Not a chance. I've upgraded the memory and that's it.

So, when a desktop system goes belly up, I'll replace the mother board (or whatever component failed) - or start from scratch and build a better system and recycle the devices that are still useable. However, if my notebook computer develops a problem, I've got serious and probably expensive trouble. Almost anything that goes wrong is going to involve specialized components of one kind or another. Remember that it takes some manufacturing ingenuity combined with miniaturization to cram a reasonably capable computer into a notebook case. So if you get yourself a notebook computer, make sure there's a service center nearby or be very clear on what you'll need to do if problems develop. You might also want to double check the warranty and see what components are covered and for how long and if you might have pay anything for certain repairs during the warranty period. Then get an idea of what it might cost after the warranty expires.

Overall, there are quite a few penalties involved in buying, using and fixing notebook computers. Mobility, however, has turned out to be an overwhelming advantage far overshadowing the negatives for a great many people. And, by now, many can't even imagine living and working without a notebook computer. Would I recommend you get a notebook? Only if you need the mobility, otherwise it's not a wise use of your money. Would I give up my notebook computer? Not a chance.

Additional articles and information about notebook computers can be found at http://AltNotebooks.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Keir

Speed up your laptop - Part 1

2007-04-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Original Post by Petetaro

NOTE: This technique only supported for Windows-machine

Why speed up is needed?

Think that you bought a laptop (notebook computer) for $1,000, what you need from it is fast processing speed with a large amount of disk capacities right? So, do you satisfied with that speed or just follow my instructions to boost its current speed 10 to 20 percent more. Sounds interesting, right? OK, follow me.

The first part I will describe how to boost your laptop speed by Disabling Services

What are services?

Services are operating system instructions or processes that execute for some task such as Automatic Update -> tasks on controlling Windows Update.

To disable some unused services help regaining some system memory and faster your Windows start-up.

How to Disable Services?

First, you need to access the Control Panel.
Control Panel can be accessed through

Start > Control Panel
Start > Settings > Control Panel (in classic start menu)

In classic view, look for the Administrative Tools
In category view, enter Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools

In both views, enter Services

You'll see the windows like this

Now it's time to clear off those unused services. Keep in mind that disabling services could be effected some software that depends on services we're going to disable (just some software only). So better try disabling it one-by-one and see the following effects, if none, go on another service. Want to know what each service does?, just click on the services names and the description will show on the left or browse to Process Library.

Here is the list of services we're going to disable

Automatic Update (should be disabled if you aren't boring of Windows Update)
ClipBook
COM+ Event System
COM+ System Application
Error Reporting Service
Help and Support (should be disabled if you aren't using Windows F1 help)
Indexing Service (file indexing service, you don't really need it)
Infrared Monitor (exists only in some infrared built-in typed laptops)
Messenger (old-styled Windows messenger, should be disable unless you still using it!)
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (you don't share your desktop to anyone right?)
Print Spooler (required for all Printers, if you don't have, disable it)
Remote Registry
Routing and Remote Access
System Restore Service (used for recovering system while it fault - you MUST be sure that your machine are not full of bugs to disable it)
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper (not the TCP/IP itself, just a helper)
Telnet (not recommend for network terminal machine)

The red name is the Windows Services which are applications-effected after disabling it, for example, if you disable Automatic Update, you may not get any update from Microsoft (but you'll get back amount of RAM in return).

Blues are safely to disable.

Steps to Disable Services

1. In the services windows, right click on the service that you need to disable then select properties

2. if service status is started, click Stop, otherwise do nothing

3. change the status type to Disable

Now a Service has been disabled, keep doing this from 1 to 3 until you finished all list above. From this technique you will gain some memory (RAM) back from the system and reduce a bit start-up time for Windows.

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For whom who wants to copy this article (for website content or whatever)

My articles are FREE to Copy, but, in exchange, please put the link to this post as the reference and don't forget to put my name as the author.
Thank You, Petetaro

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Related Articles:
Speed up Your Laptop - Part 2
Speed up Your Laptop - Part 3

How To Choose The Best Student Laptop?

2007-04-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

by Titus Hoskins

Merchants are singing those three magic words again, 'Back to School' and the fallout is everywhere!

Just as you're getting your deep dark pre-cancerous tan going -- you hear those words -- and it spells the end of summer. Once again we are bombarded with advertising, featuring the latest in 'teen ware' 'school ware' and 'metal detector ware'. Kidding!

Is it just me or does it seem this year there is a lot more 'Back to School' advertising for notebooks and laptops? They seem to be everywhere... on TV, radio, and online.

Laptop ads are everywhere. Why is this?

Well, notebooks have come down in price, they have become more affordable, even for the modest student. Laptops have also come down in size, making them ideal for that school napsack, or dormroom. They have also become tougher and sturdier... better equipped to meet the hard/wear/tear that students give it.

With notebook technology changing every two years or so; notebooks can now handle most tasks students throw their way. These advanced notebooks can do the job. They also present a much stronger entertainment value to students, they can handle better graphics and gaming, but most students try to keep parents in the dark about this factor as they plead for a new laptop for college or school. All this pleading is further fueling the demand for laptops.

Then there is a little thing called the Internet. Throw in a wireless connection and the student laptop is coming into its own. Big Time!

The Internet has become a second teacher/parent/counselor to most students. God help us all! But it has also become a priceless source of the collective knowledge on this planet; frightening but true. The Internet is an invaluable source of knowledge for any high school/college student.

Not having ready access to all this knowledge and information will put any student at a disadvantage with his peers. It's a very competitive world, in high school, in college and in the future job market; every student should have an even playing field.

That's where the little notebook computer enters stage right!

Laptops or notebooks have quickly become a school necessity. When? How? Why?...

It's the perfect learning tool for students:

* very portable, you can carry them anywhere, class, cafe, dorm, home...

* very convenient, you can take notes in class, type up assignments, print assignments, communicate home, access the Internet...

* very tough, many newer notebooks are designed to withstand a good pounding and keep on computing, ruggerized for sturdy use...

* very powerful, notebooks or laptops are catching up to their desktop cousins in computing speed, hard drive storage and performance...

* very affordable, prices have dropped and are falling even further, laptops are now outselling desktop PCs so this price will drop even further, there's a whole slew of used and refurbished laptops hitting the market...

If you're a parent, student, or guardian; here are some of the factors you should consider when buying the best student laptop or notebook:

* size, it must be small, lightweight and very portable, fit comfortably under the arm or in that backpack

* sturdy, it must be tough, sturdy, ruggerized, and able to take more than one hard knock because students are students

* connections, wireless connections should be offered, the Internet is such a valuable tool in itself - a student should be able to access it anywhere. Most notebooks have these connections but check -- a printer port, a 56Kbps-modem, a VGA port for an external monitor, and should have at least one USB port for external keyboard/mouse, digital cameras, drives, and MP3 players

* technical specs, it should have enough RAM, storage space (hard drive) and computing speed to do any job the student can throw at it

* battery life, make sure your student notebook has a reasonable battery life, 5 hours or more

* price, it should be reasonably priced, refurbished laptops may be an option for those on a strict budget

However, some words of wisdom, students or parents shouldn't skimp too much -- if you're spending 10's of thousands on an education, you should also provide for the best possible equipment in the form of a sturdy, lightweight high performance laptop. Besides, a high quality laptop will last for years... just imagine your son or daughter writing their resumes on it after they have finished college... keep this image in your mind as you go about buying that perfect student laptop.

About the Author:

Check out some of the top rated laptops for students here: http://www.bizwaremagic.com/notebook_for_students.htm Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins Click here for Free Desktop Calendar http://www.bizwaremagic.com/Free_Desktop_Calendar.htm compliments of the author and DATEwise.

Read more articles by: Titus Hoskins

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Cheap New Laptop Discover The Hidden Secrets Of Buying A Cheap New Laptop... Guaranteed!

2007-04-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

by Steve McArthur

Cheap Laptop

Should I buy a cheap laptop or a cheap desktop? When planning to buy a cheap laptop computer, you need to consider factors that go well beyond performance and memory

Buy a cheap laptop with older technology Rapid advance in technology makes it meaningless to buy the latest technology at a high price.

When cheap laptop computers were first made available in the market, everyone was jumping on ahead to get themselves one. But the average user can find themselves cheap laptop computers that provide all that they need in power, connectivity, and then some. But for the average user, you can find cheap laptop computers that provide all the power you need and then some.

Scan through gaming forums and local gaming community if you do not already have friends who like to play computer games, then scanning through gaming forums on the internet is another way to get good and cheap deals for used laptop. Now here is the key to finding the right cheap computer laptop for you, and that is to figure out exactly what you need it for. The key to finding the right model for you is to figure out exactly what you need it for.

However if you do not require the portability of a laptop, play a lot of 3D games, graphic intensive applications, if you care about upgradeability to prolong the lifespan of your investment, then desktop pc is a smarter choice for you. Furthermore with a desktop pc, you can always upgrade to a bigger and better screen whereas for laptop you are stuck with the same screen display for the whole lifespan of the laptop. An Acer laptop with touchpadAs personal computers, laptops are capable of the same tasks as a desktop PC, although they are typically less powerful for the same price.

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. ýKeyboard: Laptop keyboards are quite different from the keyboards we use with the desktop computers. By the end of the 1980s, laptop computers were becoming popular among business people.

As you get to know more of what you are talking about, you must decide which features are the most important to you in a laptop. Another invention that is revolutionizing laptop batteries are the new external batteries that offer a run-time of about seven hours (also depends on the programs being used on the laptop) at about half the price. Alkaline batteries are the cheapest among batteries, but incur the highest cost per cycle.

You may now get a laptop for below $400. The modern UK market is going quite fast in terms of Laptop markets. The online purchase of laptops is always suggested as that ways you are able to find the best buy with thorough research completely online.

So whether you should buy a cheap laptop or a cheap desktopFree Reprint Articles, ask yourself what are your needs?

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

You Want To Buy a Laptop, Which Choice? Brand or OEM?

2007-04-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

by Didier Pradel

What is the interest of a Original Equipment Manufacturer notebook?

The advantages are numerous. That can allow a local assembler to dissociate his product from a great brand.

Several factors take into consideration :

the price,
performances,
the possibility of powerful configurations and/or attractive specifications, for example by just adding the most powerful of the hard disks, the best of the processors and a powerful graphics card.

Perfect solution?

The advantages which we have just seen also have a counterpart. The retailer of the OEM cannot ensure a service of international or even national guarantee as effective as a great brand. the great failures often require a return to the importer.

The immobilization can thus be long, up to 3 or 4 weeks...

A time which enters in competition with the bad after sale service of certain great brand !

Some retailers give wide guarantees which offer the repairing of the machine within reduced times and include the expenses of sending... The laptop OEM becomes hyper interesting if the retailer is close !

The support is also summary the notebooks are delivered with a CD-ROM of drivers. The updates of a OEM laptop are comparable with those of a home made desktop it will often be necessary to go to directly seek the last versions on the sites of the manufacturers.

Are all the OEM equal?

The answer cannot be given in a radical way. All depends on which produced the machine and on this level, it is not always possible to find the source in an easy way.

Performances?

If quality is variable, the performances are generally good to see very good level.

Brand or OEM ?

You have now all the cards in hands to judge. The safety of guarantee and support, are prerogatives of great brands, but the OEM offer largely lower prices for performances often definitely higher. The fact that great brands buying their machines directly from Compal is a proof so necessary that one can find the same level of quality on both sides. With a OEM, you must seek to update your pilots, but considering the speed at which certain large manufacturers update their site, this is not a big problem...

The greatest fear is the repair service in the event of problem. The sending of the machine is likely to dissolve the savings made with the purchase... OEM notebook is however an alternative of most interesting which will certainly allure more and more '' experts ''.

For more information about laptop visit laptop support and my blog Laptop Help.

Didier Pradel is the webmaster of laptop support and The linux laptop support where you can find many useful informations, and help for your lovely laptop.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Didier_Pradel

Caring For Your Laptop

2007-04-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

By Elizabeth Lord

After spending your hard earned cash on a notebook pc, and relying on it in a variety of ways, some time should be spent looking after your investment to make it work more efficiently, and to prolong its life.

The Screen

Some notebooks come with their own cleaning cloth. If not, ask your local pc store about a spray or what is best for cleaning the display. Do not use household domestic cleaners. As a last resort and if your budget is stretched, just use a damp cloth. Make sure you unplug the power from the machine before you start cleaning.

If you are using a spray, never apply it directly to the screen, as it can run down the screen and into the circuitry. Instead, spray a small amount onto a soft cloth and then very carefully wipe the screen. Do not apply too much pressure. Never use tissues or even a wool based cloth as these can damage the display with scratches and also leave behind residual fibers. The best type of cloth to use is something similar to the cloth you use to clean your sunglasses.

The Battery

If your notebook is going to be left idle for more than two weeks, or it will be continuously plugged into AC power, take the battery out. If your notebook spends most of its time plugged into AC power, it’s a good idea to run the battery down once a week until it is completely flat, and then fully charge it.

The Keyboard

Over time the keyboard on your system will collect dust, food crumbs and all sort of other rubbish. After a while the rubbish works its way between the keys and actuators and makes typing less accurate.

As a way of dislodging some of the build up in your keyboard, turn off your notebook, open up the screen and then turn it upside down. Being very gentle, shake it sideways a couple of times and tap on the underside and around the edges of the case. This should remove some of the larger particles.

If you want to take it one step further, you could try using a can of compressed air to blast away the dust etc. Just be careful you don’t jam objects in place even tighter. To clean up the keys, use a lint free cloth moistened with water. Go very easy on the water as you don’t want the water to seep anywhere.

The Chassis

To give the chassis on your laptop a clean, it is a very good idea to contact the manufacturer first, on their tech support line, for advice on how to clean your particular model. The reason for this is there are so many different types of materials used in the making of cases.

You may use this article in its entirety if the links and resource box stay attached.

For more informative articles and laptop reviews, go to http://www.cheap-laptops-guide.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Lord

Low Cost Laptops - Now a Reality

2007-04-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

by Adam Jaylin

The invention of laptops has given a different connotation to the term ‘notebooks’. Perhaps one of the most useful devices in the world, the status of laptop has changed from a luxury to that of a necessity. Laptops have become part of our daily requirements like mobile phones for the simple reason that they can be carried around without any obvious hassle.

The only advantage that the laptop has over a desktop personal computer (certainly a more powerful and reliable machine) is the laptop computer’s mobility. Business travellers and executives can move around with their laptops that contains precious data and information. A student can work on assignments or study notes even while relaxing in a park! But earlier the price of these sleek and high-tech machines was a big obstacle in actually laying hands on them. Today this equation has changed.

There are various options and outlets to buy cheap laptops, which are very much usable and affordable. Various online laptop and computer retailers have made buying a laptop for incredibly cheap price easier than commenting on England’s performance in Euro 2008 qualifiers! One can either buy decent low cost new laptop computers or if one wants it really cheap then second hand cheap laptops are also available in the outlets online and in the actual brick and mortar stores in the high street.

The internet buyer is getting more and more aware and knows how to find the best deal in the vast world of web. With special deals that offer students lucrative cashback if they purchase a laptops are allowing students to buy laptops with relative ease. Even in case of school, quite a few institutions are giving students laptops to help them do their work. This is good for the future as the younger generation will shape the world of tomorrow and the sooner the get familiar with technology, better is it for the world of tomorrow.

FAQ | Avoiding harm to laptop battery

2007-04-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

by John J. Fried

Question: I have a laptop that I increasingly use in place of my PC.

I have read that using the computer connected to a power outlet while the battery is fully charged can damage the battery and shorten its life. Is that true?

- H.S., Sicklerville
A: That question - or, rather, the answer - is hotly debated.

There are laptop users who swear up and down that they have run laptops for years with no ill effect to the battery while the computers where connected to an AC outlet.

And then there are those who swear just as vehemently that running the laptop that way overheats the battery or subjects it to other indignities and shortens its life to as little as nine months.

To be conservative, do one of two things.

Run the laptop on its battery until you get the warning that you are about to run out of power, then plug it in and work while the battery is recharging.

That should give you several hours of use without risking damage to the battery.

Or just take out the battery while you are working on conventional electricity.

The one disadvantage to this approach is that the tip connecting the power cord to the laptop can easily slip out and shut down the laptop in an instant.

So, if you go this route, back up often while you are working.

Keeping printer as your default

Q: I use two different printers with my computer and move my parallel cable between them.

Even though I have my Epson set as the default printer, when I go to print the computer picks the HP printer and also makes it the default printer in the Control Panel. Why doesn't the Epson stay as the default?

- Steve Darlak, Quakertown
A: Check the File/Print options menu in all the programs with which you print.

One or more may have the HP set as the default printer and may be forcing Windows to accept that designation.

Another possibility is that Windows is confused by the constant plugging and unplugging of your parallel cable at the printer end.

I'm confused by that as well.

There is a better option for alternating which printer you want you use: a switch box, either one you set manually to determine which printer gets the action, or one that senses, according to the setting you choose in File/Print, where data should be sent for printing.

How do intruders get PC's address?

Q: Occasionally I look at the log that lists the attempted intrusions stopped by my computer's firewall.

Many can be traced to Europe and Asia, as well as across the United States. Why do these people try to connect with my computer and how do they get my address? Is there any danger from these attempted intrusions?

- Ken Gruen, Philadelphia
A: Every time you connect to the Internet, your computer is assigned a specific numeric address.

The criminals trying to get access to your computer use software programs that can look up thousands of Internet addresses a minute.

When the program finds an address that is being used by a computer, the program can also probe to determine if that PC is vulnerable.

Vulnerable, among other things, means that the PC runs software that can be manipulated to allow entry into the computer, that the PC is not protected by a good firewall or that it is protected by a firewall that has not been updated.

When the criminal finds such a PC, the door is wide open for him to search your PC for private data, such as your Social Security and bank account numbers; to use your PC as part of a concerted attack on corporate or government computers; or to send spam when you are away from the PC.

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