Choose a Laptop or Notebook Computer

Recover Laptop Data - Laptop Hard Drive Data Recovery Software & Services

2011-01-05T22:55:00.000-08:00

Recover Data specializes in laptop data recovery. Our specialists have the tools, in-depth knowledge, and experience necessary to recover data from crashed laptops. Whether your laptop has been damaged due to mechanical failures, deleted files and partitions, reformatting, overwriting, software malfunction, viruses, or fire and water damage, we can recover your vital data completely.

The common situations when there is a need of Laptop Data Recovery are as follows:

* Hard drive failure
* Laptop has been dropped
* Accidental File Deletion or Human error(s)
* Accidental re-partitioning
* Physical damage from Fire or Flood
* Overwriting of files
* Software corruption and failure
* Virus attacks and corruption

Our Laptop Data Recovery Services Supports following Laptop Manufacturers:

* Dell,
* Toshiba,
* IBM Think Pad,
* HP Hewlett Packward,
* Sony VAIO,
* Compaq,
* Fujitsu,
* Fuji,
* Samsung and many other manufacturers.

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Indu

Netbooks Vs Notebooks - Things to Know Before Buying

2011-01-05T00:36:00.000-08:00

There is currently some controversy regarding which type of computer is preferable - the notebook, or tablet, and the Netbook. The definition of a notebook computer, according to Wikipedia, is that it is a "type of small laptop" but they also say that "the only conclusion is that there really is no distinction between the devices." Tablet computers, on the other hand, are generally accepted to be ones in which the screen provides the primary functionality -- Apple's iPAD is a perfect example.

Which one you decide to buy must depend on what you will use it for; if you intend to write at any length, use software such as spreadsheets or do any graphical editing then you will probably need a keyboard and either a mouse or a trackpad. While machines like Apple's iPAD are revolutionary they do not have an easy interface with which to type, and their touch screen technology makes selection of on-screen objects a bit trickier than those with a trackpad.

Netbook computers have become exceptionally popular in the last few years with most of the world's largest manufacturers now making them. The early prototypes that featured an open source LINUX operating system have now largely been superseded by machines running Windows in one form or another. This does have a bearing on their price, as a Windows machine needs a licence to run the operating system. Some other considerations to bear in mind before getting out your credit card are:

* Do you need a Keyboard? Because they are small, net books have small keyboards. Some of the later models feature keyboards that are almost full width, but when you are looking at a device that is less than 11 inches long, even that is not huge. In order to get all the keys into a keyboard that size, the keys themselves are small which may cause problems for anyone used to touch typing.
* How will you manage without a Trackpad? Once again the physical limitations mean that most net books do not have a full-size trackpad. While this may not be a problem for many people it can cause issues when attempting to right click, and especially when using the control key and clicking at the same time.
* Will you be carrying it around with you? If the answer to this is "yes" then it's almost certain that a Netbook is a better option than a traditional laptop if only in terms of weight. The downside is that the screen is obviously smaller, but this may not be a problem if all your work is done online.
* Will the machine be used in a dirty environment? One of the benefits that Netbooks have over tablet computers is that they have a lid that can be closed. While this does not give a huge amount of protection, it does give some, so this should be taken into account before buying.

Many of the Netbook's shortcomings can be solved by adding a cordless mouse and a cheap neoprene case; they all have a built in wireless card, and most now sport a web cam built into the lid, so for using Skype and most other Internet based activities they are ideal. Traditional laptops are still a great option if you need to use more traditional software, or you're planning to write something many pages long.

By Dave Millard

Can I Get a Free Notebook

2011-01-05T00:29:00.000-08:00

You may have always wanted a notebook, but maybe you could never buy one because of your financial restraints. If you read this article, you will understand how you can receive a free notebook.

There are a lot of websites on the computer which give free gadgets to their users. If you are looking for a free notebook, you are sure to get one in one of these freebie websites. But to get this, you will have to do something in return. Of course you it is free and you don't have to spend money. But it sure takes some of your time and efforts.

The first question that may come to your mind is why any company would give you a free notebook. This is because if you receive a free notebook, you are bound to tell your friends and relatives about this company and through this word of mouth marketing, the company is bound to do increase its business, thereby making enormous money. This is what is called incentive marketing. If you receive an incentive, you will do marketing for them. Such techniques may require you to do fill up some surveys or sometimes, you may even have to try out a new product in order to receive the free notebook.

However, there are some eligibility criteria that you have to fulfill.
• You have to be a resident of the USA for most such offers.
• You have to be at-least 18 years old.
• You should have an E-Mail account which is valid
• You have to have some time to fill up and complete such offers.
• Sometimes, you may also need some money while completing these offers

You will not need to have any specialized knowledge in order to fill out these surveys or offers; in fact, a little bit of your time is enough. Just by filling out a few surveys and some free trial offers, you can choose from a wide variety of notebooks, which may come absolutely free to you.

When you sign up on one such freebie website, you will first have to give your email address. After that you may have to give fill up the address to which you want your free notebook to be sent. After this, you will come across some 5 to 15 surveys which you may you have to fill. If not, you will find some free trial offers by filling which you qualify to receive the free notebook, which you have always wanted.

You may find lots of such offers which can give you your free notebook; but you need to select the one which doesn't require you to pay anything.

By Steve R Alexander

How to Install a Primary Hard Drive

2010-01-25T01:18:00.000-08:00

In this tutorial we learn how to install a primary hard drive. The primary drive is your main drive, not a secondary drive. Installing a secondary drive is similar but you will have to configure your drive differently. Be sure to have your documentation handy at all times.

Learning how to install computer components like a hard drive is not hard, but proper preparation is the key to making it a smooth experience.

Before beginning you should completely shut down your computer. Also be sure to switch the power supply switch into the off position and pull the AC cord from the wall outlet.

1. Remove the Case and Set Your Drive Jumper

The first order of business is to open your computer case so that you can install the hard drive. The method of doing this varies, but most modern cases use a mini-tower design and have side panels that are screwed onto the chassis.

You will need to find the panel that sits above the motherboard and remove the screws in the back to slide the panel out. If you have an older computer design, you may have to remove all of the screws in the back and then slide the chassis out.

Next you must configure your hard drive. To install hard drive components properly you will need to set your drive jumpers. On the back of your drive you will notice pairs of metal pins pointing to various positions. There will be a jumper over the pins in one of these settings.

Consult your documentation. Basically, if you are installing the first and only drive you will set the jumper to “Cable Select.” (If you were installing more than one drive, you would choose “Master” for the main drive.)

2. Insert the Drive into Case

Once the drive is configured you are ready to insert it into the case. Examine the design of your case to see what your options are here.

Inside your case there is what is known as a drive bay. Some of the new-fangled case designs offer a removable version of this drive bay or cage. If you have that, consider yourself lucky. It’s much easier to know how to install computer components when you don’t have to poke around in the case the whole time.

If you have a removable bay, then remove it now. Align the mounting holes on the drive bay with the mounting holes on your hard drive, and then screw them together. When you are done, insert the drive bay back into the case and screw it back on.

If, however, you don’t have a removable bay, then all is not lost. Just insert the hard drive into the drive bay, align the mounting holes together, and screw it on. It’s not that difficult; it’s just a bit of hand and eye coordination.

3. Attach All Cables

Of course to install hard drive components, or any other components for that matter, you will need to attach cables somewhere. In the case of the hard drive you will need to attach an IDE cable from the motherboard to the motherboard, and then attach the power cable.

First, install the IDE cable to the motherboard. For your added convenience the IDE cable is color-coded for you. It is usually blue at the bottom and also has a red stripe on the side. This cable is to be inserted into the motherboard at the IDE0 (Primary) or IDE1 (Secondary) connector.

As an added check, make sure that the side of the cable with the red stripe lines up with the back of the motherboard labeled “Pin 1.” Once you’re done, connect the other end of this IDE cable to the hard drive. Connect the black controller and be sure that the red stripe is aligned with “Pin 1” on your hard drive.

Finally, plug the four-pin connector from your power supply into the back of your hard drive, and you’re done!

4. Close Up and Power Up

Now it’s time to close up and power up. Restore the case panel you removed earlier or slide the computer chassis back into the computer case.

Screw it back on, flip the power switch to the on position and attach the AC cord. Turn the computer back on.
At this point your system BIOS is going to detect that a new hard drive has been attached.

You may have to configure the BIOS to properly detect the hard drive or at least supply some specific settings. As we always say, consult your documentation and follow their instructions. Much of our tutorials on how to install computer components apply across the board, but you still need to tweak some settings depending on your manufacturer.

Conclusion

Learning to install hard drive units is not hard from a mechanical standpoint. It can be done very easily.

However, it’s more than an installation. The drive unit needs to be properly configured. Jumper settings need to be set properly, and then afterwards the BIOS must detect your new drive. Afterwards, you will then need to format your drive and install your operating system.

As you can see, beyond the basic installation there are a number of additional details. That’s why we encourage you to have patience and follow these tutorials step by step—and as always, read the instructions!

By Gary Hendricks

How to Connect Multiple Computers to One Broadband Internet Connection

2010-01-21T20:24:00.000-08:00

Broadband, or high-speed, Internet connection is what many users currently use in their home. Along with high-speed Internet, many users may also use a router to allow multiple computers to connect to the Internet. This post will describe how a router is used to connect multiple computers. To make it easier to understand, I will use where you live as a comparison to how your computer is connected to the Internet.

What is an IP Address?

IP addresses are a series of numbers in the form: nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn, where nnn is a one to three digit number. An IP address is unique to an individual computer on a network, similar to how your home has a unique address. For an Internet connection, an IP address is supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In some cases, your ISP may provide you with more than one IP address, which allows you to connect multiple computers. As you will see later, however, you can still connect multiple computers with a single IP address.

Connecting a Single Computer

Connecting a single computer to your high-speed Internet is very simple to do. Simply connect a network cable into your modem, and then into the network card in your computer. Your computer will then be assigned an IP address from your ISP. For example, if your ISP assigned you the IP address of 24.24.50.17, then your computer will have that IP address.

When you make a request to a server, such as for a Web page, the Web server knows which IP address made the request. The information is then sent through the Internet and back to your computer. This is similar to when someone sends you mail to your home. The address on the mail allows it to be delivered to your home and not somewhere else.

Connecting Multiple Computers

How can multiple computers connect if only one address is assigned? When you make a request for a Web page, how does it know which computer requested that page? Let's take our home analogy one step further. Let's say instead of living in a house, you live in an apartment. When someone sends you mail, they not only include your address but also an apartment number. This number is internal to your apartment building and every apartment has its own unique number. Similarly, multiple computers can connect to the Internet if they each had there own unique local IP address. This can be handled by a router.

A router is a piece of hardware that connects directly to the modem. Each computer is then connected to the router, instead of the modem. Now instead of your computer having the IP address supplied by your ISP, your router now is assigned that IP address. This is similar to your router acting as the apartment building.

The beauty of a router is that it can assign its own local IP addresses. When you connect a computer to the router it now receives one of the IP addresses assigned by your router, similar to how each apartment has it's own number. Now when you make a request for a Web page, the request is sent using the same ISP address, but this time it is assigned to the router. When the Web page is returned, the router receives the request, and sends it locally to the computer that requested the page.

The router also has its own local address that is similar to the local IP addresses of the computers. So now the router has two addresses assigned to it: an external one provided by your ISP, and a local one provided by it. This allows the router to connect to both the Internet and the local network.

Note: The 192.168.xxx.xxx address are special IP addresses reserved for Local Area Networks (LANs).

Managing a FTP or Web Server on Your Network

Let's take a look at this scenario. You have a router connecting multiple computers to the Internet. But now you want to create a FTP or Web server. No problem. You setup the necessary software on a computer on your network, told someone outside your network the local IP address of your FTP server and they try to connect. They then discover that they can't connect. Why? Its similar to someone mailing something to you by just specifying your apartment number and no address.

The IP address assigned to your computer is local to your network. You can connect to that computer from within your network, but not from the Internet. You will need to use your ISP-assigned IP address (the one assigned to your router) to have someone from the Internet connect to your FTP server. The problem is that your router is assigned that IP and not your computer, and since an IP address must be unique, how can two computers have the same IP? The answer: they can't, but they don't need to.

Routers have the ability to forward information on a port to a specific computer. A port is a numbered channel that data can be sent through on a network. You cannot physically see it as it is a virtual channel used extensively in networking for sending/receiving data. For FTP servers the default port is 21; however another port can be used.

Open your router setup and look for the port forwarding option. Specify the internal IP address of your FTP server and the port number and then save that information. Now when a user tries to access your FTP site, they must use the ISP IP address that is assigned to your router. The router will then notice that the data is being sent on port 21 and then forward it automatically to your FTP server. A Web server can be setup the same way, but its default port is usually 80.

Note: By default a router will dynamically assign IP addresses to the computers connected to it. This means that the first computer to connect to the router will get the first available IP address, and the next will get the second, and so on. If you manage an FTP server, it may be easier to assign a static IP address to the computers to ensure that the FTP server always has the same IP address.

This article described how to connect one or more computers to one Internet connection. It is important to remember the following:

If you have one computer connected directly to the modem, then that computer will be assigned the IP address from your ISP.

When using a router, the the router will be assigned the IP address from your ISP. Any computers connected to the router will be assigned a local address by the router.
A router will have the ISP IP address and a local IP address. This allows it to connect to both the Internet and your network.

When setting up a computer as a FTP, Web, or other server to communicate over the Internet, it is important to use the router's IP address to access your server. You will then need to forward the necessary port to your server.

By Paul Salmon

How to Connect a Laptop to a Desktop Computer

2010-01-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

Need to transfer some files from your laptop to your desktop computer without having to manually download files? You can if your computers are using the same network.

If both your computers are connected to the internet, you can create a local area network by installing router. Your best choice is to go for wireless routers so you can have remote access. Make sure both your computer and your laptop are wireless ready. Most laptops are wireless ready but you have to check your desktop if it has built-in wireless card. If not you should have it installed.

Step 1: Choose a reliable router. It should have security functions and other nifty features. This will also allow you to create a local area network to enable file sharing.

Step 2: Connect your internet adaptor to the internet port at the back of the router. If it lights up, it is picking internet signal. After doing that, you are now ready to install.

Step 3: Place the CD of the router your bought in your CD-rom and run it. Follow the steps provided by the manual. It may need a few information such as IP address, subnet mask and others but these are all in your manual. Once you have configured the settings, you can now set up a network.

Step 4: Click the Network icon on your desktop or go to the control panel and click Network and Sharing center. There is no need to do this if you are using Windows 7 or Windows Vista for both your computers as these operating systems already have the ability to set up local area network on its own. You can click set up new connection or network. It will detect the wireless computers you have at home.

Step 5: Once you have set up already a network, you can now share files. On the computer source, right click the files you want to remotely share and click Properties. Next click the Sharing tab. Click the advanced sharing button and then put a check mark on the "share this folder" button. Afterwards, click OK. You should see your file with a hand underneath it.

Step 6: On the computer you want to access it from, open network and then choose the name of your other computer. You should immediately see the shared files there. Transfer it, copy it, whatever you want to do with it.

By Alan Cassidy

Here's The Safe Way To Use A Wireless Laptop to Reach The Internet

2010-01-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this article, then you probably just got a new laptop with wireless capabilities. Or perhaps you just set up a wireless network in your home or office and want to know how your laptop can connect to it easily.

Here's what you need to know:

For the purposes of this article, I'm going to assume some basic things about your equipment and layout. If your home network looks a bit different, you'll still be able to make things work, but it may not be quite as simple and straightforward.

Hardware

Most home and small office systems will have a cable/DSL modem. Plugged into that will be your wireless access point or router. Your model may have a few wired network ports as well as the wireless antenna. In addition all this, you have all your computers -- some of which may be connected by wires and some of which are wireless.

Network Security

One of the first things you'll want to do is increase the security of your network. There are a number of things you can, and should, do to accomplish this goal.

Make Your Wireless Network "Invisible" As a convenience, wireless access points "announce" their presence to nearby wireless-enabled computers. This is called "identifier broadcasting." It is turned on by default, purely as a convenience. For example, it is nice if you are in a hotel or coffee shop -- it makes it easy for your laptop to find their network and use it quickly. However, when the network is in your home or office, you don't want everyone nearby (e.g., outside or next door) to know you're there. So consult your access point’s user manual for instructions on how to disable identifier broadcasting.

Rename Your Wireless Network. The wireless network access point/router will be configured with a name, or "service set identifier" (SSID). The wireless manufacturer sets this up at the factory; it is a case-sensitive name that uniquely identifies the network. You'll want to change that name because intruders can scan a neighborhood using the default name to find your network. In other words, until you change your SSID, you might be giving an intruder a head-start on hacking into your network from out on the street somewhere. Consult your manual and change that name. Choose a name that won’t be easily guessed by others.

Encrypt Your Network Traffic. Your wireless access point/router should allow you to scramble, or encrypt, data moving between the device and your computers. By encrypting your wireless traffic, you are changing it to a format that can only be read by computers with the correct conversion-key for that format.

Change Your Administrator Password. In order to do the things I mentioned above, you need to log on to your wireless access point/router. At the factory, it was given a default password. These passwords are widely known and can be used to gain unauthorized access to your network. Be sure to change your administrator password.
Use File Sharing with Caution. Sometimes all you want to do with your wireless network is share an internet connection with others. If that is the case, you may not have file sharing turned on. But if your network is set up to help you access files and folders on other computers, you'll need to have "file sharing" turned on. The downside to this is that it makes it easier for outsiders to steal information from you. To stop them, you may want to consider creating a dedicated directory for file sharing, and move or copy files to that directory for sharing. Then you should password-protect that directory and the files in it. Note: Never open an entire hard drive for file sharing!

Keep Your Access Point Software Up to Date. From time to time, the manufacturer of your wireless access point/router will release updates to the software (or patches to repair bugs). Be sure to check the manufacturer’s web site regularly for any updates or patches for your device’s software.

Convenience

Once you've taken care of the security issues, the rest is relatively easy.

After you set the SSID on your access point/router, you may want to add it (and any other wireless networks you use) to your preferred network list if Windows XP Wireless Auto Configuration is enabled. Follow these steps:

In Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.

Right-click the Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties.
On the Wireless Networks tab, click Add.

In the Wireless network properties dialog box, enter the SSID you configured for your wireless access point/router.

Fill in the rest of the fields, including the necessary authentication and encryption information based on the configuration of your wireless access point/router.
Click OK and your home network will be added to the list of preferred networks.
Now, your laptop should automatically see the desired wireless network and connect to it.

By Ara Rubyan

How to Print From a Laptop Or Desktop Without a Printer Cable

2010-01-21T20:19:00.000-08:00

If you have wireless internet connection at home with most of you using laptop computers, you can all have access to just one printer without having to plug a printer cable directly to your laptop. How?

You need to get yourself a router first, particularly a wireless router. This will allow all the computers to connect to the internet anywhere in the house without the need for a restricting LAN cable attached somewhere in your laptop. It will also allow you to connect and communicate to other computers within the network. And it will allow you to access printers and devices within the network. Here is how you are going to set it up:

Step 1: Install the router close to the internet adapter. If you are using wireless internet connection, it is easier to connect. Just unplug the adapter from the back of your computer and plug it to the WAN port of the router found at the back. This is the port separated in color and position from the others. For those using DSL connection or any connection with modem, just remove the Ethernet cable connecting the modem to the back of the computer. You should now connect the modem to the WAN port of the router.

Step 2: Assuming that your laptop is already wireless ready (most of the recent models of laptops are already wireless ready), it will automatically pick up internet signal once you turn on the laptop. Some models need you to flip a switch or press a button to detect wireless connections.

Step 3: Turn on the router and your main computer. Insert the start-up disc that comes with your router. Closely follow the guide. Now you can open a browser and start configuring the settings there. In the address toolbar, key in the IP address of your router. This information is usually found in the manual. Input password and username. It will direct you to a page where you need to change password settings and SSID name to make it more secure. Save the settings and then log out from the page.

Step 4: Your internet is already working. Now you can plug a printer. Use another Ethernet cable and plug one end at the back of the printer and one end at the back of the router.

Step 5: Your computer network should now detect new devices within your network. That computer software should be installed to all your computers including your laptop. After that, go to Control Panel and click "devices and printers" to add it to your local network.

By Alan Cassidy

How To Configure Wireless Internet Access For Your Laptop

2010-01-21T20:18:00.000-08:00

Here's what you need to know (and do) to connect your laptop to a wireless network and get Internet access.

First off, let's talk common sense. Before you access any wireless network, especially one in a public place, you must have anti-virus software installed and up-to-date on your laptop. Your laptop should also be current with all Windows Operating System Updates.

That said, the next thing you need is to have a laptop with wireless networking capabilities. If you’re not sure whether yours does, do the following to check it out:

Click on Start | Connect To | Show all connections, or
Click on Start | Settings | (Control Panel) | Network Connections
Under "LAN or High-Speed Internet" you should see a wireless connection icon. (If not, see below about installing a wireless network card). Assuming you have wireless capabilities, continue on doing the following:
Right-click on the wireless connection icon.
In the pop-up menu, select "View Available Wireless Networks."
In the "Wireless Networking Connection" window, click on the appropriate wireless network.
Check the box that says "Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network."
An icon in the lower right hand corner of your desktop should eventually appear stating that you are connected.
Open your browser and visit any website you want. If authentication is required on the wireless network, you will be redirected automatically to a login page where you'll have to log in using an approved Network User Name/ID and the correct password.

How to Connect to Xbox Live Through a Vista Laptop

2010-01-21T20:17:00.001-08:00

Step 1: Connect your Game System to the Laptop. To do this, use an Ethernet cable that hooks the laptop into the back of the Xbox 360.

Step 2: Connect your laptop to the Internet. Go to Start Menu>>Connect To, then pick the Wireless Network you use to connect your laptop to the internet.

Step 3: Share The Internet Connection with the Console. Go to Start Menu>>Control Panel>>Network and Internet>>Network Sharing Center>>Manage Network Connections. You should now see at least two connection, the two important ones are: Wireless Network Connection, this is your connection to the internet, and Local Area Connection, this is your connection to the Console. At this point we can try a few things, first, simply try to select both of these connections, right click, and select bridge connections. This should bridge the internet connection to the Console. Run a test on your Gaming System to see if it worked. If this didn't work, delete the bridge and we can try one more thing. Right Click Wireless Network Connection>>Properties>>Sharing.

Now you should see two check boxes. Check both of them, and then select settings by the second check box. This should bring up a lot more check boxes under the services tab. Check all of them. Now, try running another test with your Console to see if its connected to Live. If it still is not connected, go back to the manage network connections page. Press Tab>>Advanced>>Advanced Settings. You should now see a bunch of network stuff with green arrows on the right side. On the second box down you should see two sub categories, one will say Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) the second will say Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/Ipv4). Try switching their order with the green arrows. Now it will work if it is ever going to. Also, make sure your firewall and other security settings are off. To adjust them go to Start Menu>>Control Panel>>Security>>Security Center.

Step 4: Get Xbox Live Gold. If you want to play games online against other people, you are going to need Gold. Sign into a profile and press the Big "X" on your controller. Go to the Live Tab and do join Xbox live.

Most Console's come with a month free, if not, you can easily purchase a subscription card at local game stores. Or, simply use your credit card to order a subscription, your choice.

By Kyle Larson

How to Connect a USB Modem Wireless Router Ethernet

2010-01-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

I currently have a USB broadband modem. I purchased a wireless router which has ethernet connections. Currently, the modem is plugged into my computer downstairs which is running Windows 98, therefore, it won't bridge the connections to my computer upstairs(XP). I can't update to XP because a family member wont 'risk' it.

Can I connect the USB broadband modem to my wireless router using a complicated selection of cable adapters ie ethernet to USB (I cant find a USB TO ETHERNET adapter). If this is not possible, if I plug the USB modem into my XP computer, can I bridge the connections to my Win 98 computer using the XP computer as the host?

I think their is Ethernet to USB out their currently but not USB to ethernet. I dont see any reason why you should not be able to hook up your USB modem to your XP computer and use it as a bridge to the 98 computer.

Of course, it would be nicer to have an all-in-one unit, but you can accomplish your goal with this equipment. You cannot use cable adapters to convert the modem's USB into Ethernet. USB needs drivers to operate, and Ethernet connections do not provide those drivers to the device. you could also connect the modem to the XP machine and bridge connections, yes. but you can leave the system the way it is and configure it to run smoothly like this:

If I had the hardwear in front of me, it would be easier to provide specifics... but i can probly give you an idea of what to do. There are only 2 steps here:

1. configure an internet gateway.

2. configure the router.

And the rest is easy.

1. Set up the internet machine to SHARE AN INTERNET CONNECTION (you can use the wizard if you want, or just enable Internet Connection Sharing), which will turn the 98 into an internet gateway. that gateway needs an IP address designated, however. In essence, the 98 machine will be the internet server, so the IP of the 98 machine is the IP of the gateway. Assign an address, for example: 192.168.1.1 to the 98 machine. the "192.168" is important, and the last strings you can stretch on, but for the sake of ease lets keep it small. *TIP* the subnet mask will always be 255.255.255.0. okay that takes care of the host machine.

2. after you have an internet gateway, connect the wireless router, and console (or IP) in to the settings, usually by going into internet explorer and typing 192.168.0.1 into the address bar, and look for a slot for Internet Gateway. Type the address assigned in step 1. thats that for the router. (there may be other settings necessary for your specific network, and if there are, be sure to configure those.)

Lastly a few housekeeping tasks. make sure the workgroup for both machines is identical. I usually use MSHOME as the workgroup. Also make sure that on the XP machine, your IP address is set to "Automatically Obtain IP address", also known as DHCP.

By Victor Epand

Mac Laptop Repair - What to Do When the Apple Turns Sour

2010-01-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

Mac laptops are little different from the usual Windows based notebooks. Here, the operating system is Macintosh, which was the first successful personal computer to use a graphical user interface devoid of a command line. It used a desktop metaphor, depicting real-world objects like documents and a trashcan as icons. The most superior aspect about Mac was that it enjoyed a near-absence of the types of malware and spyware that was most common in Microsoft Windows users. You would instantly like it from the time you start using it. The application is more compatible with Apple hardware, so you find most of the Apple laptops using Mac as OS.

Obviously, the number one reason for Mac being so popular among masses is because there is just no scope of any virus attacking your laptop. The smart, sleek and stylish features makes it look really trendy, besides being extremely user friendly, as you would find the processing speed of running programs really fast. The people who have made this OS wanted to ensure that users face the minimum of problems and issues. But still, people who are using Mac books are facing issues with them. Windows Vista was considered the most robust OS at the time of its launch, but with time, it also developed problems So, you are always vulnerable to issues and problems whenever you are using any technical gadget or any laptop of any make.

If you are facing problems working on your Mac Book, you should ideally take it to the Mac laptop repair center. Get in touch with the expert who is familiar with Macintosh troubleshooting steps and you would have a fair chance of getting your laptop fixed. The most common problems that you can face in your Mac laptop are overheating, slow processing speed and the most dangerous of all - the hard disk crash. In such situations, the Mac laptop repair expert, through their Mac technical know-how, perform fundamental tests like looking for memory space or any physical damage and in case of hard drive crash, they would try to obtain as much saved data from the disk memory as possible. Moreover, if your laptop's configuration bears RAID feature, then the Mac laptop repairing technicians will replace the old with a new hard drive and recover the data from other drives.

Problems mentioned above are some common issue which arises as you use your laptop, but you should also take an effort in resolving simple problems and do not panic on silly issues. Proactive measures, like keeping the checks on updates, can help your laptop work for long. You should also take proper care of the battery and should not leave it connected to the power socket. But in any case, the Mac laptop repair center is your best bet, when encountered with something serious!

By Batista Hayden

Laptop DC Jack Repair

2010-01-21T01:20:00.000-08:00

By far, the most common piece of hardware to fail on any laptop is the DC Jack (the plug that accepts power on the laptop). There are several reasons for the high failure rate but the two most common are poor handling and poor design. I would say over 90% of these DC jacks are soldered right on to the motherboard.

Every day abuse of plugging and unplugging the AC power source wears down the solder connections on the motherboard. Here are the two common symptoms for this damage:

- Laptop will not accept external AC Power. Constantly remains on battery, till the battery dies.
- You have keep moving the cord around till it starts accepting external power.

First thing you need to do is eliminate the cord/power supply as being the source of problems. The power supply is the box right on the AC cord. Some power supplies have an indicator light to show when they are plugged in. If the light is working then it is not the power supply. If your power supply does not have the indicator light get a voltmeter, plug the laptop cord into the wall and using a voltmeter check the end that goes to the laptop. Insert one lead inside the opening and place the second lead on the outside. Make sure your meter is set to read DC Volts. Now if you get a reading, depending on the laptop will be be somewhere between 14 to 19 volts then your power supply is good and the damage is to the DC jack on the laptop motherboard.

Repairing the DC jack on any laptop is a major repair. If you do not feel comfortable doing it please contact a person who is qualified for the job. This repair will require dismantling the whole notebook, and removing the motherboard. Please read the following article on what steps should be taken to ensure proper care when disassembling a notebook: Notebook Repair.

Once you have complete access to the DC Jack you will see the pins that get soldered to the motherboard. To the naked eye it might look like nothing is wrong with them, but a slight break in the solder will cause these problems. You will need a soldering iron with a very fine tip. The fine tip is to avoid damage to adjacent components. Apply the solder to each pin making sure the solder gets evenly spread. The solder should have a dull look to it when you are done.

Once you have soldered all the pins, reassemble the notebook and test it out. To avoid this damage in the future take extra care when inserting and removing the external power cable. Hope this helps!

By John Vizaniaris

Tips and Tricks For Mac Laptop Repair

2010-01-21T01:17:00.000-08:00

Mac laptops are an attractive choice for people who want stylish designs with attractive features. This apple manufactured laptops works on Macintosh operating system. Several users look up to this brand of laptops for purchase. They also suffer from functionality errors. Certain mishandling or operational issues lead to problem in Mac Laptop. Hence, you need to approach a Mac Laptop Repair expert to mend the device.

You can also do the task yourself by following the given below tips:

Firstly, identify the operational issue with the laptop and find the cure for it. Go through mackintosh booklet or Mac lap top repair websites. You can find several laptop repair tips on the Internet. The step by step procedure works effectively for the repair task. You can also take help of a technical expert to identify the laptop repair issue.
You can always use the isolation method to identify the problem with your laptop. This Mac laptop repair method involves removal of one device at a time so that you can note the operation of laptop after detaching the device. If the laptop starts working, then the detached device is responsible for the improper functioning.
If you are doing the task yourself, then turn off the laptop before isolating the devices. As soon as, the error is detected, search for tips to repair the respective laptop part. The online Mac laptop repair websites are highly helpful during the task. Follow the instructions strictly and repair the effected laptop part.
This do-it-yourself task can be cumbersome for some of you. If you are unsure of your technical abilities, then don't do the job yourself. Take the laptop to a Mac laptop repair expert. He would charge few bucks and repair the laptop immediately. It is better to handover the laptop in safe hands, than to damage it completely and buy a new one.

By Batista Hayden

Laptop Troubleshooting - A Guide to Quick Repair

2010-01-21T01:14:00.000-08:00

Laptop troubleshooting is an important operational function which every laptop owner and user should know as it will facilitate in the proper running of the laptop. Let us take an example, suppose your laptop is not working, you will start checking its battery and other things but fault could be different. This is where laptop troubleshooting comes into use. You yourself can solve and repair several technical snags of your laptop which will save you from laptop technicians. A dead LCD trouble may be due to the failure of video adapter, main-board, a burnt out backlight or bad inverter. Such troubles can be easily solved with the help of laptop troubleshooting manual.

There is no point is replacing a LCD if it has a minor technical problem, it is replaced when blocks of dead and burnt out pixels or physical crack in the glass appears. You might be thinking that laptop troubleshooting differs from company to company but it is not like that, fundamentals are same. If you know laptop troubleshooting, you can address technical problem of any of the laptop like HP Compaq, Toshiba Satellite, or IBM ThinkPad. Although, these laptops are equipped with AMD, an Intel CPU or a PowerPC but they all experience more or less identical technical snags because of affinity in design and structure.

Identification of the snag is the first point in laptop troubleshooting. Suppose, if there is a snag related to power then rectify this by restoring proper power supply. Check LED, power plug and battery in this regard. If you find that all these things are working properly then check the power switch and main-board supply. This is how you can solve your problem related to power supply. If you think that your laptop battery get exhausted soon then through control panel allow the power saving modes. If you want to clean your laptop from dust, then its better to use good quality solder sucker.

If there is a problem of video failure, then your first step should be checking the power supply. If you had heard the sound of your laptop at a point of time but now there is no such sound then this could be indication of it's a power failure from the main-board instead of video failure. If there is any internal disorder of the physical connectors like the detachment of network or modem port then soldering should be done with the help of a quality solder. If you want to check mother board or internal video adapter then connect an external monitor with a regular VGA; if there is no light in the external monitor then you should check the above faults.

Even if your external monitor is working properly then also there could be problem in the video subsystem. If you notice - dead spots or columns or complete row augments gradually on the screen, then it shows that the assembly of LCD in your laptop is poor. If you find that screen glow fluctuates then most probably it is a failure of backlight or inverter. These were some of the highlights of laptop troubleshooting (one may frequently witness such snags) but you will find it useful in number of other ways.

By Bibhash Sharma

Slow Laptop Fix - How to Make Your Laptop Obviously Faster Again

2010-01-21T01:06:00.000-08:00

To be honest, it might not be so hard to fix a slow laptop as you thought. If your laptop were running deathly slow, you must be flung into a dilemma that whether should you take it to PC technicians or not. As we know, the expenses of fixing laptop is quite high and normally the money you are going to pay for computer experts can probably buy a totally new laptop. Well, here comes the question that how to fix slow performance laptop to make it faster again by yourself. Some laptop maintenance knowledge you should understand before you try to repair it manually. Here we go!

Why is your laptop running so slow?

#1 Virus, trojan, adware, spyware attack and crash your laptop system. The CPU usage will be 90%-100%. You should be able to find at least one or two processes causing the CPU to go 100%.

#2 Suspicious plug-ins on Internet Explorer slow down your surfing Internet speed. That is why your Internet Explorer browser keeps freezing when you visit some web-page.

#3 Too many pictures, programs, audio/video media files have been stuffed into the windows system disk. This absolutely will slow your laptop performance down. You can not play games, watch movies, or even open folders smoothly.

#4 Registry errors. What would happen if your laptop get registry errors?

* The laptop system needs a long time to respond your every order.

* You always get blue screen of death on the laptop.

* The slow laptop keeps freezing and crashing.

* Runtime errors, Internet Explorer errors and some outlandish system errors frequently appear on your laptop.

How to fix your slow laptop quickly?

#1 Some virus would disguise as one of the processes running in the system to attack, control and steal datas. If you do not have any protection software now, please buy one. Symantec programs, McAfee, Kaspersky any one of them would be okay.

#2 In my opinion, Firefox is quite better than Internet Explorer. Any suspicious plug-ins from website trying to implant to your laptop is disallowed with Firefox. Of course, it does not matter if you insist on using IE browser and you need to disable the suspicious plug-ins in order to improve the speed of surfing Internet and also fix some Internet errors.

#3 Just remove or transfer the files out of the laptop system disk. You had better put nothing but only system files in it. Don't, remember don't install so many files programs in it. That is the first principle of fixing slow laptop.

#4 Get a free registry scan for your laptop. With the effective registry cleaners, you would be able to find how many registry errors there are on the PC easily. Lots of PC users do not believe that registry repair tools could really help them speed their computers or laptops up. Even some of them regard PC repair tools as ridiculous programs. Well, that is not the truth. You should know how important registry is in a computer. Any registry errors would probably affect your laptop performance. Frankly speaking, more than 68% of slow laptop, computer problems are related to registry errors that include invalid registry entries, missing registry, empty registry keys and malicious registry. Therefore, cleaning registry errors is an effective method that should not be ignored to have your slow laptop fixed.

By Alex GG Paul

Repair Dell E153Fpc

2007-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

How To Repair Dell E153Fpc LCD Monitor With Shutdown Problem

Repairing the DELL E153Fpc LCD Monitor with the complaint of display shutdown after few seconds (power LED still on) was not difficult. Normally when this type of problem happens, we would first suspect the inverter board, then the filter capacitors and lastly the main board. A defective in one of the lamps and a faulty TL1451AC PWM IC or inverter ic may caused the display to shutdown as well. If the lamp is defective, it will send a feedback to pin 3 or 14 of TL1451AC IC and caused it to stop producing output signal thus the display just shut off once you switch it on. The power board is using a SG6841D pwm ic and a FQPF7N80 power fet . If this power section blow, it is quite easy to troubleshoot because it has fewer components. You can also use other part numbers to substitute the power fet.

As usual, after opening up the cover, I would first check for any burnt components, loose connector, cracked board, dry joints and etc before doing the voltage test. As for the lamps, I would check it last because lamps were seldom spoilt. Upon scanning for any bad components before starting the voltage test, I found a filter capacitor that had turned into darker color. Using the ESR meter revealed the ESR ohm has shoot up to 12 ohms. This filter capacitor located at C922 with the value of 1000 micro farad 16 volt. If you don’t have the ESR meter you can always use the digital capacitance meter. The value that I got from measuring the bad capacitor was 57 microfarad. If you don’t have ESR meter, make sure you get one-it’s fast and accurate.

Now, the question is why a filter capacitor can cause the display to shutdown? If you carefully see the picture, I’ve drawn the yellow path to show you how the voltage is flowing. By the way, the voltage at the bad filter capacitor line is 12 volt. The voltage passed through a SMD transistor in the start circuit and flow straight to pin 9 (VCC) of TL1451AC IC. In order to let the 12 volt to flow through the transistor and reach the vcc pin of the ic, first, a ‘on’ signal must be sent from the main board to trigger the transistor. If no signal send to the transistors (off signal), both transistors can’t be turned on and no voltage will follow through the ic. Thus if the main board or any of the start circuit components spoilt, there will be power but no display because the TL1451AC would not send signal to the Royer type L, C resonant and boost circuit, so no high voltage produced by the high voltage transformer and this will lead to no display.

In the above case, the LCD Monitor display shutdown was due to the ripple because of the bad filter capacitor. The ripple caused the TL1451AC IC to be unstable and eventually shutdown the output signal. Replacing only the filter capacitor solved the DELL E153Fpc LCD Monitor shutdown problem.
Conclusion, don’t always presumed that LCD Monitor is very tough or difficult to repair. From the above article, you could see that the caused of the shutdown problem was only a bad capacitor. If you fully understood how LCD Monitor works, then chances for you to successfully repair the monitor is very high but again it depends on the availability of spare parts. If you ever come across any LCD Monitor sent to you for repair for the first time, go ahead and start troubleshoot it. Who knows one day LCD Monitor repair could become one of the major source of income to you and your business.

By Jestine Yong

LCD Monitor Repair

2007-10-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Today’s article talks about repairing the CMV 19” LCD Monitor problems model CM-922D. The complain was no power as what the customer told me. This LCD Monitor power supply was not built into the circuit thus it need an external power adapter to power it up. The input to the LCD Monitor is 19V with 3.1 Amp from the adapter. Since the complain was no power, we have to test it out to check if the power adapter is at fault or the LCD Monitor.

The ac supply was plugged in to the power adapter and I could see the power LED was lighted up. Checking the output voltage of the power adapter I got about 19 volts which is good. Even though the LED has lit and correct output voltage, this doesn’t mean that the power adapter can maintain when there is a load (the LCD Monitor) connected to it. I once came across a Compaq 17” LCD Monitor that have a precise output voltage from the power adapter but when connected to the Monitor, the display appeared for a fraction of a second before shutting down. Usually in this case, your experienced would tell you that it could be the inverter circuit are faulty or the lamps have problem. You would be surprised that the actual cause of the LCD Monitor shutdown was due to the power adapter. It can’t sustain the output voltage when there is a load on it.

This kind of fault was normally due to a bad filter capacitors located at the output of the secondary circuit. If you have ESR meter, you can actually locate the defective electrolytic capacitors fast. If you don’t have the meter, just direct replace the caps. As mentioned in my previous repair articles, to confirm if the power adapter is truly working or not you need a light bulb to act as a load. Make sure the power LED light doesn’t blink whenever the light bulb is connected. Even if it blinks one time, this proves that the regulation is not good and need to be check entirely. In the above china made LCD Monitor, the power adapter work perfectly fine!

Since I have already confirmed that the power adapter is good, my focus now was on the LCD boards. Removing this LCD Monitor cover was very easy and you can easily access to the board when the metal casing was removed. The first thing that I checked was the SMD fuse located in the main board. If the fuse opens then there would be no supply to the ADC/SCALAR and the CPU IC thus the power LED would not light! Checking this SMD fuse was rather simple as the method of checking it is the same like a normal fuse. Use either an analog or a digital meter set to ohms range or continuity check. You can check the fuse while it is still in circuit. Yes, the fuse was found to be open circuit.

Now there is one question that needs to be answered by us. What makes the fuse to go open circuit? Well from what we have known about electronic repair, there are three possibilities as why a fuse opens circuit. First, the fuse can become open circuit due to its lifespan. Some fuses can last for many years while some only couple of years. In other words, the life span of a fuse depends on the qualities of the materials used. Secondly, the external factor such as a surge causing the fuse to open circuit in order to protect the main board. Thirdly, the main board itself have problem (such as a shorted IC’s and other electronic components) that caused the fuse to open circuit.

If the LCD Monitor problems falls in the first and the second categories then replacing only the fuse will definitely solve the problem. However, for this LCD Monitor, replacing only the fuse didn’t work at all and the fuse open circuit again. You have only two choices to solve this kind of problem. First you can use an external regulated power supply as explained in my previous repair articles and connect the negative output of the power supply to ground and the positive to the fuse (the line that leads to other circuitry) in order to detect the short circuit. Slowly vary the output voltage and monitor the current drawn. Once the current drawn about a amp or two, now place your finger to any electronic components in the main board. If you found any components that get very hot then that is the cause of the short circuit.

In this article, I’m going to do it differently to detect the short circuit. Are you ready? Now instead of replacing the fuse with the exact rating which is 3 amperes, I replaced it with a 5 amperes fuse. The purpose for me to put the 5 amp fuse instead of the 3 amp fuse was because “if the fuse doesn’t blow then the component that have short circuit would blow”. Do you get the idea? Three things can happen when you use this way to force out the culprit. First the power adapter may shut down due to heavy current draw from the main board. Second, the short circuit electronic components (either be a IC, diode, capacitors, transistor and etc) will get hot and you can quickly locate it easily by touching them. Remember don’t on it for too long otherwise if the shorted components get too hot it will go open circuit and now you will have a hard time to locate the fault. Third, you may hear a pop sound and spark from the shorted component. Trace from where the spark came from and you can easily identify the location and sometimes to the actual component that generate the spark.

For the above LCD Monitor, I actually saw a small spark at the top part of the main board once the power input jack was connected. It prompted me to the exact location and when I check the SMD ceramic capacitor (that generated the spark underneath it) with analog meter set to X 10 K ohm range; it actually developed a slight short circuit. Replacing only the fuse and the SMD ceramic capacitor solved the no power problem in this 19” LCD Monitor. This Monitor uses the inverter IC (OZ960G), A1084-25CM (2.5 volts voltage regulator), AMC1117-3.3 (3.3 volts voltage regulator), ADC IC (MST8136B) and CPU IC (MYSON MTV312MV64).

Conclusion-There are always options as to which methods that you want to use to detect the short circuit. If you prefer the latter one, then I suggest you to take some photo shots first before anything really burnt out beyond description. With the photos, at least it will give you some hints of what the components might be or even the part numbers. Well, there’s always an interesting way to solve electronic problems and this is one of the reason that I like electronic repair so much because you can always act as a detective to find out the culprit-real satisfaction! Oh! By the way, you can use the above method to any other electronic equipment and it is not limited only to LCD Monitor problems repair. Have a great hunt my friend!2

By Jestine Yong

Troubleshoot Dead Pc

2007-10-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Is your Computer starting to act differently that sometimes it refuses to turn on? Or your Computer looks completely dead.? If you are experiencing this kind of Computer problems, all you need is just some troubleshooting techniques to try and free all your worries and headache.

Just follow the steps below to hopefully bring your Computer back to life
The first thing you should do is check the power supply just to be sure that there is power available for your computer. Make sure the power switch is turned on and then try to plug a lamp in the wall socket to see if it works. If it does, you know there is power available. Once you know there is power, check to make sure the power cord is properly connected to the wall outlet and the computer power socket.

Note: Before you continue on to the next step, make sure your computer is completely shut down and be sure to disconnect it from the power cord as well. Also, keep in mind that all of your PC's components are sensitive to static electric charges, so it's important to ground yourself by touching the frame of your computer's case before starting any of the troubleshooting processes. This will get your body used to the computer case and eliminate any chance of static shock.

The next thing you can troubleshoot is if all of the cards within your computer are fully pushed in to their slots. Open your computer's system unit and push down on all the chips, the video card, the sound card, the modem or LAN cards, the memory cards and the CPU units to make sure everything is seated properly.

Now, check your computer again to see if you have been able to fix the problem. If not, keep troubleshooting! Next, check the power between the power supply you use and the motherboard on the back of your computer. If you need to, pull out and reinsert all of the cards. You can also try placing them in different slots until you find a perfect fit for all of them.

If you have not been able to resolve the issue, the next thing you can do is take out all non-essential parts from your computer, leaving only the basic ones in. The basic parts are the motherboard, the power supply, the display card, the controller and the hard drive. You can pull out everything else (mainly the other cards) by removing the screws from your unit, as shown in the screenshot below.

Now, replace each part that you took out one at a time until the problem reoccurs. When you replace a part and the computer stops working, you know that particular part is the reason for your computer problems. If this is the case, that part can just be replaced and your computer should then operate normally.

If you still see some issues, remove all of the remaining cards, including the display card and floppy controller. Then turn on the power just to see if the power supply is still running. If it does run, one of the cards you just removed is faulty. You will then need to get that one replaced.

These are just some simple techniques you can try to get your computer up and running again. Please use extreme caution when removing certain parts of your computer. If you are not completely sure on how to do it, get some help or take your computer to a repair shop so a professional can look at it. You don't want to risk creating other problems for your computer by doing an incorrect job.

Computer Repair Service Shop are charging so high nowadays. Some are charging 50 to 60 dollars per hour. So it's really a must to learn some Basic Computer Troubleshooting Techniques.

By Robert Desacada

Refurbished Laptops Vs

2007-10-12T01:49:00.000-07:00

If you have been searching the web for very long looking for a laptop you have seen these three phrases. Do they have different meanings? 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.

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 techncian 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.

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 technologyUsed Laptops-a little older, basic Windows OS, slower processor speeds, less memoryCheap Laptops-older, mainly for schoolwork or operating a few applications, lower memory

By M Johnson

How To Do Your Laptop

2007-10-09T02:28:00.000-07:00

Upgrading the memory in your computer or laptop is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of improving your computer's performance. Still many computer owners shy away from any memory upgrade for a number of reasons: lack of knowledge, warranty issues, fear of ruining their computers, compatibility concerns, or just an innate feeling that the inside of their computer is just some alien territory they must never venture.

Like a lot of things in life, a computer memory upgrade seems more complicated than it actually is. Most of the apprehension comes from a lack of knowledge. Let's face it, the average computer user may only have a vague idea about RAM, Motherboards, Graphics Cards and the like.They know their computer works when they turn it on and that's all that really matters to them. However, what most people don't realize is that with a little investment of time and a few dollars, they can make their computer work better and faster. It's an investment that will quickly pay for itself; not only will you save time when doing your daily computer chores, but the overall enjoyment of your computer or laptop will greatly increase.

First Step: Know Your RAMRAM or random access memory

This is what the computer uses to run applications and data on your computer. You need it to run your computer's OS operating system, your need it for handling graphics, files, web-browsing, e-mail and multi-tasking. RAM is vital to the operation of your computer. As a general rule, the higher the amount of RAM you have, the faster your computer will work or run.

To complicate things somewhat, there are many types of RAM. The type of RAM in your computer or laptop may depend on the year it was made.From mid-2004 a lot of the computers have DDR2 (double data rate, second generation) SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM). Before that time many computers had DDR (double data rate, first generation) SDRAM. Most older systems use SDR (single data rate) SDRAM, fast page mode (FPM), or extended data out (EDO).To complicate things even further, most of the types of RAM comes in different speeds!

DDR2 SDRAM is a new standard that can boost conventional SDRAM memory up to speeds well over 200MHz and beyond. For example, the new IBM ThinkPad T43, thanks to the Sonoma Chipset or platform has 533MHz DDR 2 SDRAM.

This is much better than standard SDRAM which tops out around 150-166MHz and DDR SDRAM which starts at 200MHz and goes up to around 400MHz.Keep in mind, DRAM means Dynamic Random Access Memory and SDRAM means Synchronous Dynamic RAM.And to really confuse you, having a faster RAM speed does not (by itself) make your computer go faster, you must upgrade or increase the AMOUNT of RAM in your computer system to increase performance. Also keep in mind your computer was made to accept a specific memory speed and there's no benefit from going beyond that limit.

It's usually recommended that you get the fastest speeds for your system, this will permit for better compatibility and make it easier for future upgrades.

Second Step: Know Your Machine

Without a doubt, compatibility is the most important factor in buying a memory upgrade for your laptop or computer. It's essential that any upgrade be compatible with your computer or machine, i.e. otherwise it just won't work.

Therefore, you have to know the amount and kind of RAM you have in your computer or laptop. The best way to find this is to check your owner's manual. It should tell you the type of RAM your system is using, it should also tell you the maximum amount of RAM your system can take.Obviously, an easy way to make sure you don't exceed the maximum memory on your computer, just subtract your current memory from the allowed limit listed in your system specifications. For instance, if your computer takes a maximum of 512MB of RAM and you have 256MB installed, then you can upgrade to an additional 256MB of RAM (512MB - 256MB = 256MB).

You should also be aware that DDR is not backward/forward-compatible, which means that if you're upgrading a computer that doesn't have DDR technology, it won't take a DDR upgrade.

Likewise, DDR2 is not backward-compatible, which means if your system doesn't have DDR2 technology, it won't accept a DDR2 upgrade.So check your system very carefully and see what kind of RAM it has and the maximum amount of RAM it will take. You must also check to see if your computer's warranty will be null and void if you install the RAM yourself! Some manufacturers actually seal your computer case and you must have an authorized technician to install your RAM.

Third Step: How Much RAM Do You Need?

It's generally agreed that you need at least 256MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X. You will only need 128MB for other operating systems in Windows or Mac. Most general office work and heavy multi-tasking may need 512MB of RAM. Gamers or Professional Graphic workers usually need the most RAM - up to 2GB or more of RAM.Please note, installing a faster speed RAM (as noted earlier) will not increase the speed of your computer or laptop. The only way to increase the speed of your computer is to increase the AMOUNT of RAM you have in your system. Going from 256MB of RAM to 512MB of RAM will speed up your computer. Going to 2GB of RAM will make it go even faster. Benchmark testing has shown that you can get from 28% up to 43% increase in performance, depending on the amount of RAM

increase.However, there's always a spoiler, other parts of your computer must be able to handle this increase. Your computer will only go as fast as your slowest link. In other words, you may have to upgrade other elements in your computer to receive the benefits of a memory upgrade. Make sure you check this factor first before your make your memory upgrade. Otherwise, you may just be wasting your time and money.

Another consideration is the Memory of your Video or Graphics Card in your system. The amount of VRAM is the major factor in your display's resolution and color depth. A faster and more powerful upgrade in your Graphics Card will give you increased performance especially for handling graphics and videos, as in 3D Gaming.

Fourth Step; Ordering Your RAM

There are over 110,000 different memory upgrades you can choose from!There are many places to order your RAM, from your local computer store to online sites. Keep in mind when ordering your RAM. Many desktop systems or computers use what's called "non-parity" memory which means it does not need ECC (error correction code) or "parity" modules.

Registered, buffered, and unbuffered are other terms that will come up -- they refer to how a certain memory module processes signals. Usually, most PC systems take unbuffered RAM and rely on the motherboard controller to help process memory. Registered RAM is used mostly in servers.

Fifth Step: Installing Your New Memory or RAM

If you order your RAM online, you will receive your RAM module in an anti-static bag, along with detailed instructions on how to install your RAM. On modern system boards, RAM is installed on SIMM or DIMM modules (SODIMM in notebooks).

One of the most important things to do when installing RAM or working with your Computer is to 'Ground Yourself' to make sure you don't 'Shock' your computer with static electricity. You can take some simple precautions to prevent this from happening. If you have wrist straps designed to prevent shocks, you need to wear them.If you don't have wrist straps, here's a simple way to ground yourself:

You should turn off your computer, monitor, plus all accessories (speakers, printer, scanner). Unplug your computer and any accessories. Then quickly touch an unpainted part of your computer case and keep your feet planted in one position while installing your RAM. If you walk around, repeat the process above before you touch any internal parts of your laptop or computer.

Open up the back of your computer or laptop. Depending on your model, you may need a screwdriver. If you have a laptop or notebook, the memory slots are sometimes located under the keyboards. Most times, it's in the back of your laptop; check your manual for the location of your laptop's memory.Depending on your upgrade, you may have to replace your RAM module with the New one, in other cases, you will be adding any extra module or two. Follow the specific directions that come with your RAM upgrade; installing the RAM is only a matter of a Push and a snap! Your RAM upgrade will snap into their memory slots without too much difficulty.

Before you close the case, turn your computer or laptop on to see if your new RAM is installed. You will see it on the startup screens or you can easily check it by going into 'My Computer' under properties, if you're using Windows.

Basically, this is how to do your own computer or laptop memory upgrade. There may be other elements or aspects you might want to check out before installing your new RAM but follow the guidelines above and the detailed instructions that come with your RAM module or modules and you should be OK.

By Titus Hoskins

What Is Memory Card Speed

2007-10-05T03:35:00.000-07:00

Memory Card Speed

Memory card speed is the card's performance with regard to how quickly data can be transferred to or from it. The card speed is often stated in 'Times' ratings i.e. 12X, 40X etc (just as the speed of recordable CD's and DVD's is measured), and sometimes more specifically in megabytes per second (Mb/s). By today's measure, sub 20X represents a standard speed, 20X to 40X is mid-high speed and over 40X is high speed. The chart below shows the relationship between the two figures.
8X = 1.2 Mb/sec
12X = 1.8 Mb/sec
20X = 3.0 Mb/sec
25X = 3.8 Mb/sec
30X = 4.5 Mb/sec
40X = 6.0 Mb/sec
60X = 9.0 Mb/sec
66X = 10.0 Mb/sec
80X = 12.0 Mb/sec
90X = 15.0 Mb/sec
133X = 20.0 Mb/sec

Why do we need different or higher speeds cards?
This is mainly due to the advancement of our digital devices, especially digital cameras, camcorders and music devices. As manufacturers develop higher and higher spec devices (i.e. higher resolution cameras and more intense multi-media functions), they are creating increasingly larger amounts information to store pictures, movies, music and so on. This in turn takes longer to record onto the memory card. For example if you have ever used a high megapixel camera with a standard speed card you may have noticed the time lag between pressing the shutter button and being able to take the next picture. This lag or delay, in most cases is caused by a slow write speed, similarly copying your photos to your PC could take time too and is caused by a slow read speed.

So who really needs high-speed memory cards?
Professional photographers and enthusiasts using professional grade cameras such as digital SLR's should use high-speed memory cards of at least 40X speed. If you own a camera with a megapixel rate above three million pixels, you will certainly benefit from a card with a higher speed rating. If you're like most of us using a compact camer under 3 million pixels, you'll get great performance from standard cards with 12X or more.

Those using digital camcorders and devices recording MP3 music or video will also benefit from higher speed cards. It used to be the case where very few people would actually benefit from very high-speed cards, typically only professionals who used expensive, specialized products benefited, but it's fast becoming a requirement on many of the latest PDA's, Cameras, phones and other mobile devices to make use of the extra speed made available by high speed cards.

People using high speed memory cards with equipment that has been on the market a while may not notice any difference in performance, but this has more to do with the limitations of the device than the flash card itself. This is because not only does your memory card have a maximum speed rating, but your camera or mobile phone will also have its own speed rating. When these products are combined, they'll work at the "slowest common denominator" e.g. if you use a 12X flash card in a camera with a designed for a maximum of 8X speed, you'll be transferring data at the slower 8X speed.

You should always check the capacity of your device before splashing out on mega fast cards, but determining the speed compatibility of your device can be tricky. Most manuals just don't tell you what speed of flash card you should use, now that would be far too easy, but they do tell you to buy their brand, which isn't much help! So a general rule of thumb, if your camera is less than three megapixels the speed rating of the flash card doesn't matter much. Most modern cameras have the ability to support far higher speeds than the cards available to purchase today, therefore, if speed is of importance, go for a faster card. Most mobile phones, PDA's and Satellite Navigators are fine with standard speed cards although some newer models will benefit from higher speed cards but not generally over 60X speed.

By Iggy Quazi

Repair Power Sockets

2007-09-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

Power Jacks/DC sockets

Ever moved the laptop and forgot you had it plugged in to the mains? Had it on your lap an the dogs tripped on the cable stretched across the room? Or the kids been tugging on it to get a go of the latest game?

Every time the power cable is pulled against the socket on the laptop it stresses the solder joins that connect the socket to the mainboard inside, if these break at any time, even a fine crack will case problems your laptop will stop charging and eventually switch off when the battery power runs down. Usually if your lucky and the break isn't too bad you can move the plug into a certain position and hey presto the power is back on (I'll come back to this later). Other times no amount of wiggling around of the plug will help and you'll have to get it repaired. Worse still the centre pin of the socket breaks and the whole socket needs replacing. If any of the above happen to you, forget phoning the manufacturer to have it repaired under warranty, they won't cover it, they class it as misuse, and they'll probably quote you for a new motherboard, in a lot of cases costing nearly as much as the laptop itself. Still there's always accidental damage cover on your home insurance. You've got some haven't you? Worst comes to the worst just search for "power socket repairs" on your favourite search engine, there are plenty of independent laptop repair companies that will glady resolder a new socket for a lot less.

Going back to the slightly loose socket that when you wiggle the plug you can make it work scenario, let's take a moment to have a look at what's happening here. The fact that it works when the socket is in a specific position tells us that the break in the solder connection is now connected, and when in another position it's disconnected, so what happens when we move it around, well each time we make the connection by wiggling, we cause a spark to arc across the break, which in turn causes heat to build up and a certain amount of burning to occur. Eventually what will happen is that the arcing will cause a hole to be burnt in the systemboard where the solder join is and one day it just won't turn on anymore and the likelyhood is that it will then need the systemboard replacing. The moral here is get it looked at and put right sooner rather than later.

By Christopher Banwell

Drink on Your Laptop

2007-09-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

What to Do (and NOT Do) if You Spill a Drink on Your Laptop

Spilling a drink on your laptop can be a very serious problem. But, depending on what you do, and how fast you react, you can potentially save a lot by minimizing the damage a spill can have on your laptop.

What to do in the event of a spill:
Turn off your laptop. If you have your laptop powered on when the spill happens, shut it down as fast as possible. Usually holding the power button down for 10 seconds will be your fastest option to turning off your laptop

Remove the battery. After your laptop has been shut down, remove the battery pack. This will keep your laptop from accidentally being powered back up and removes any way that power can still be going to the motherboard (example hibernation or standby mode)

Leave it opened and turned upside down to dry out. Let gravity be your friend and try to keep the liquid from drying on your components.

Get it repaired and cleaned quickly. Depending on what was spilled on your laptop, the liquid may be corrosive, like cola and can still be doing damage to your laptop. The best defense is sending your laptop in for repair as soon as you can. The quicker you get you laptop into the hands of a professional, the better chance you have of minimizing the damage.

What NOT to do:
Do not turn your laptop back on. A lot of people will make at least one attempt to see if their laptop still works after the spill. This is the worst thing you can do. I can not stress how important it is to keep your laptop turned off, with no power available to it, until it is fixed.

As you can see, your reaction to a spill can minimize the damage that spill can do to your laptop. I have seen laptop repairs from spills range from simple cleaning and diagnostics, to replacing motherboards, and it is easy to tell when the owner handled the spill correctly and when they didn’t.

By Justin Anderson

Online Laptop Repair Guides

2007-09-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Laptops have become a part and parcel of our lives. In keeping with the increasing number of laptops, problems with laptops have also increased multifold. Many people deal with occasional problems with their laptops and repairs have become quite a common necessity now. While the major problems have to be dealt with by authorized service centers, there are minor problems that can be handled on one's own using online laptop repair guides available aplenty on the Internet.

The Internet, as a community, was started and populated first by people who used computers extensively. A lot of the people on the Internet have gone through problems and issues with their computers and laptops that they have not found answers for. Once they did find the answer, they have taken the care to put the answers online on various Web sites and forums on the Internet. These are extremely vital sources to find information one needs to repair one's laptop.

Another thing is the constitution of the laptop. Because of the economy of the space involved, they are made quite compact, and the laptops have areas earmarked for various things. For instance, every laptop has a battery that can be easily detached without touching the rest of the laptop or opening a screw. Also the RAM of a laptop is usually inserted in a place that is easily accessible so that it can be changed and upgraded when necessary.

However, while going in for online laptop repair guides, one must remember that not all problems can be solved with little effort and not everyone can repair a laptop on their own. A laptop, after all, is a complex machine with a lot of interconnected parts. While repairing a laptop, first of all one needs to do a proper diagnosis of the problem. If this is not done, faulty repairs can cause irreparable damage.
Only one who has considerable and practical experience with laptops and their configuration should consult Internet sites for repair guides.

Since most laptops are different from others, laptop manufacturers provide repair guides on the internet that one can refer to in case of a problem with the laptop. One can also find individuals posting such repair guides. One search with major search engines will throw open a plethora of options regarding online laptop repair guides and you can easily save that extra repairing cost.

By Seth Miller

Laptop DC Jack Repair

2007-09-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

By far, the most common piece of hardware to fail on any laptop is the DC Jack (the plug that accepts power on the laptop). There are several reasons for the high failure rate but the two most common are poor handling and poor design. I would say over 90% of these DC jacks are soldered right on to the motherboard.

Every day abuse of plugging and unplugging the AC power source wears down the solder connections on the motherboard.

Here are the two common symptoms for this damage:
- Laptop will not accept external AC Power. Constantly remains on battery, till the battery dies. - You have keep moving the cord around till it starts accepting external power.

First thing you need to do is eliminate the cord/power supply as being the source of problems. The power supply is the box right on the AC cord. Some power supplies have an indicator light to show when they are plugged in. If the light is working then it is not the power supply. If your power supply does not have the indicator light get a voltmeter, plug the laptop cord into the wall and using a voltmeter check the end that goes to the laptop. Insert one lead inside the opening and place the second lead on the outside. Make sure your meter is set to read DC Volts. Now if you get a reading, depending on the laptop will be be somewhere between 14 to 19 volts then your power supply is good and the damage is to the DC jack on the laptop motherboard.

Repairing the DC jack on any laptop is a major repair. If you do not feel comfortable doing it please contact a person who is qualified for the job. This repair will require dismantling the whole notebook, and removing the motherboard. Please read the following article on what steps should be taken to ensure proper care when disassembling a notebook: Notebook Repair.

Once you have complete access to the DC Jack you will see the pins that get soldered to the motherboard. To the naked eye it might look like nothing is wrong with them, but a slight break in the solder will cause these problems. You will need a soldering iron with a very fine tip. The fine tip is to avoid damage to adjacent components. Apply the solder to each pin making sure the solder gets evenly spread. The solder should have a dull look to it when you are done.

Once you have soldered all the pins, reassemble the notebook and test it out. To avoid this damage in the future take extra care when inserting and removing the external power cable. Hope this helps!

By John Vizaniaris

Laptop Hardware Repair

2007-09-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

A laptop is essential for students and working individuals. Because of its portability, users can write important papers, connect to the Internet via wireless modems, and can even watch movies anytime and anywhere. But without proper care, this machine can break down, and especially, there can be problems with the LCD monitor.

Here are some tips that can help you in troubleshooting your laptop's LCD monitor.
Is there something wrong with your screen? If this is so, then there is a possibility that the LCD (liquid crystal display) backlight of your laptop is broken. The LCD backlight is the source of light that gives you a clearer visual of your screen.

Symptoms of LCD damage include:

- Dim laptop LCD
- Flickering screen

- Faint images on your LCD

- No video image

- Faded laptop LCD

A laptop backlight is composed of four parts and these are:

- Laptop inverter

- LCD lamp

- Inverter cable

- Toggle switch

Damage to any of these parts may result to the symptoms stated above. Unfortunately, there is no other way to be sure if one of these parts are damaged without using a tester. Some of the main causes of damage to these parts include age and excessive use of your laptop. Parts such as the LCD lamp usually last for two years minimum.

Aside from the blacklight, it is possible that your LCD screen itself is damaged. This problem can be very serious because the LCD is the most fragile and expensive part of your laptop.

Symptoms of LCD damage include:

- Decolorization of your screen

- Appearance of stripes or lines on your screen

LCD damage is usually caused by hard impacts to your laptop. Remember, the LCD is a very sensitive and fragile piece of equipment. Even the slightest amount of pressure on your LCD can cause it to break.

The only way to repair the backlight and the LCD monitor is to replace them. Replacing the LCD monitor alone can cost you around $250 and that is apart from the $120 service fee that most laptop repair companies charge.

By Seth Miller

Laptop Repair and Upgrade

2007-09-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

Laptop repair isnt always easy, but sometimes it can be. If the laptop isnt under warranty and you dont feel comfortable replacing some of these parts yourself, youll have to find a professional to do it. If you only want to upgrade then you cant send it back to the manufacturer and you'll have to find a tech to do it. You can bring it to a well known retailer like Best Buy and have their Geek Squad work on it since they're pretty well trained and always do a good job on repairs, or you can find a professional someplace else to do it for you.

Easy to replace parts:
Wireless adapter- if your wireless stops working for some reason, you can just go out and get a USB wireless adapter or a PCMCIA wireless adapter to put in the card slot.

RAM/Memory-

Memory is pretty easy to install and fairly inexpensive. In many cases, you can drastically improve the performance of your laptop just by adding some more memory. Most places that sell laptops can install it for you, or if you feel comfortable installing it yourself you can put it in. There's an enclosure on the bottom that you unscrew in order to install the memory.

Hard Drive:

A hard drive can be a little more tricky to upgrade. If your hard drive gets corrupted, youll probably lose most of your data unless a professional can recover it. Then you'd just have to toss it out and buy a new one and have it installed. The #1 reason for hard drive corruption is abuse, so be careful with your laptop if you wanna keep your hard drive safe. If you just want to uprgrade to have more space, first youd need to back up your data and then take the old drive out and put the new one in. A hard drive upgrade is similar to a RAM upgrade. There is an enclosure usually on the bottom that contains the hard drive. In Gateway laptops it's usually in the front for easy access.

Not so easy to replace parts:
For these repairs you'll definitely have to take it to a professional, or sometimes it'll actually be more worth it and less hassle just to junk it and buy a new one

CPU:

If you want to upgrade the CPU in your laptop, you're going to have a hard time because usually the motherboard has to be changed as well. You'd be better off just buying a new laptop. On the other hand, if your processor goes bad for some strange reason and you want to install the same one or even a higher speed version of the same processor, it is doable. Youll probably have to ship it out or find a professional to do this.

Motherboard: Upgrading or replacing the motherboard can be a hassle as well, and costly. Again, you'd probably be better off just buying a new laptop unless you have a good warranty and you're willing to go through the hassle of shipping it out.

Keyboard Keys:

When a key pops off the keyboard, it usually cant be put back on, so if your laptop is under warranty youll need to send it out for repair. Otherwise you can take it to a tech and have them order the keys you need.

Graphics card:

Since laptops dont have as much room as a desktop computer, the graphics card is usually integrated onto the motherboard. If you really think it's worth it to spend the money and replace the guts of your laptop, go right ahead. Otherwise I'd say buy a new laptop with a very good graphics card so you'll never feel the need to upgrade.

Various other upgrades and add-ons can be done through USB or the PCMCIA card slot. For example, if you get more involved with things like sound and video, there are certain expansion cards you can buy depending on what you're trying to accomplish. They're usually plug and play and very easy to install.

By Michael LaRocco

Laptop Motherboard Repair

2007-09-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

A laptop is a simple and compact computer. Yet, its compactness is the reason for its intricacies and complications. For instance, while most normal PCs have a mother board that has different ports for different other components of the computer to be attached, a laptop on the other hand, has a mother board that has a lot of things that are built into it, instead of sections where other parts can be attached. An example here can be given of a sound card, which often comes as a separate part for older PCs and has to be attached to the motherboard of a computer. However, the sound and video display card is integrated with the mother board in case of the laptop.

It is for these reasons that the motherboard is perhaps the most important part of a laptop after the processor. It is also not easy to repair a laptop motherboard because of its immense intricacies. While repairing a motherboard one has to be extremely careful and cautious.

Whenever a problem is arises with a motherboard, one should not take the risk of repairing it themselves since if it is not done properly it can lead to irreparable damage to the entire laptop. It is usually safe to approach a dealer of a laptop for the repair of its motherboard. They have technicians who have an expertise in dealing with laptop motherboard problems and can make the right diagnosis and carry out repairs.

There are many self employed people who repair laptops and are often a much cheaper option. One can approach them to repair their motherboard, but a few things should be kept in mind. The most important is to know their experience in repairing laptop motherboards. Let them not convince and fool you by saying that they have repaired many PC motherboards since laptops and PCs are a different thing all together.

Secondly one needs to ask them whether they have previously repaired laptops of the make that you have. If they have done so, they would be aware of the intricacies of the work and can be a safe bet for laptop motherboard repairs.

Laptop motherboard repair needs expertise and experience and it is best left to the experts.

By Seth Miller

Laptop Battery Repair

2007-09-20T22:19:00.001-07:00

The greatest strength of a laptop is its portability and the fact that it can be used without needing any external power connections for hours at a time. This makes a laptop battery one of the most important parts in a laptop. It is very important, hence to take care of a laptop battery. Like every other part of the laptop, the battery also undergoes wear and tear and might need repairs.

It must be remembered that most laptop batteries cannot be repaired if damaged. This is because of their complex construction. And even if it were to be repaired, one would need specific and expensive instruments to do so. It is for this reason that often it is suggested that if a battery is damaged, one should buy a new laptop battery, rather than repairing a damaged one. This is often a better and a cheaper idea.

At times when we see the need for a laptop battery repair, it turns out that all it requires is a bit of calibration. This is done in most battery or laptop repair shops locally. However, there are cases when the battery is actually damaged. It then needs thorough repair, or should simply be replaced, as mentioned above.

One needs to remember that it is not a good idea to use a laptop battery that has begun to leak. Do not even think of repairing such a battery as it could be dangerous. Such laptop batteries can usually not be repaired and even if they are, the repairs are expensive and the battery may not be safe to reuse.

However, there are different types of batteries that are available on the market, and quite a few of them even lend themselves to repair in case of damage. One first needs to know the type of battery one has before one goes in for a laptop battery repair. One can then check it out in some local stores. Often the internet is a good source for finding out information regarding the same and also to know whether the laptop battery can really be repaired in the first place.

By Seth Miller

Guide to Laptop Repair

2007-09-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

Dropping your laptop or accidentally spilling coffee over it can cause serious damage. If this happens, you have to get it repaired quickly to avoid more serious damage. But where do you get it fixed? How much will it cost you? What will happen to all the data in your laptop? Let this article guide you in what to do with your damaged laptop.

Where do I bring it for repair?
If you do not trust just anyone in handling your precious laptop, then you can always send it back to the manufacturer. These companies have a service department that will cater to all your laptop repair needs. Unless your warranty from the manufacturers is still valid, these repair services can cost you around $500 dollars for a broken motherboards and $400 for a cracked screen. It may be expensive, but at least you will be assured of quality service. If you do not have that kind of money for repairs, then you can turn to the Internet to look for a laptop repair company that charges cheaper rates. Be sure to check their rates carefully to ensure that they will not be charging you with any hidden fees.

How long will it take?
The amount of time required to fix the laptop depends on the type of laptop, as well as the nature of the problem. If you are using a laptop manufactured by a famous company, then the parts of these models will be easy to get. But if you are using a less-known laptop, then you may need to wait a bit to give the repair company time to look for a replacement part. In general, laptop repairs take a week.

What will happen to all the data in my laptop?
If the damage of your laptop is disc-related, then there is a possibility that all your data may be lost. But not to worry because there are programs that can retrieve the data from your laptop and store it in a backup. If the damage to your laptop is simply a hardware issue, such as a faulty screen, then there is no need to worry about losing your data.

By Seth Miller

Wi-Fi Technology

2007-09-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi, also, WiFi, Wi-fi or wifi, is a brand originally licensed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe the underlying technology of wireless local area networks (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 specifications.

Wi-Fi was developed to be used for mobile computing devices, such as laptops, in LANs, but is now increasingly used for more applications, including Internet and VoIP phone access, gaming, and basic connectivity of consumer electronics such as televisions and DVD players, or digital cameras. There are even more standards in development that will allow Wi-Fi to be used by cars in highways in support of an Intelligent Transportation System to increase safety, gather statistics, and enable mobile commerce IEEE 802.11p.

A person with a Wi-Fi device, such as a computer, telephone, or personal digital assistant (PDA) can connect to the Internet when in proximity of an access point. The region covered by one or several access points is called a hotspot. Hotspots can range from a single room to many square miles of overlapping hotspots. Wi-Fi can also be used to create a Wireless mesh network. Both architectures are used in Wireless community network, municipal wireless networks like Wireless Philadelphia, and metro-scale networks like M-Taipei.

Wi-Fi also allows connectivity in peer-to-peer mode, which enables devices to connect directly with each other. This connectivity mode is useful in consumer electronics and gaming applications.
When the technology was first commercialized there were many problems because consumers could not be sure that products from different vendors would work together. The Wi-Fi Alliance began as a community to solve this issue so as to address the needs of the end user and allow the technology to mature. The Alliance created another brand "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED" to denote products are interoperable with other products displaying the "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED" brand.

Wi-Fi: How it works
A typical Wi-Fi setup contains one or more Access Points (APs) and one or more clients An AP broadcasts its SSID (Service Set Identifier, "Network name") via packets that are called beacons, which are broadcast every 100 ms. The beacons are transmitted at 1 Mbit/s, and are of relatively short duration and therefore do not have a significant influence on performance. Since 1 Mbit/s is the lowest rate of Wi-Fi it assures that the client who receives the beacon can communicate at least 1 Mbit/s. Based on the settings (e.g. the SSID), the client may decide whether to connect to an AP. Also the firmware running on the client Wi-Fi card is of influence. Say two APs of the same SSID are in range of the client, the firmware may decide based on signal strength to which of the two APs it will connect. The Wi-Fi standard leaves connection criteria and roaming totally open to the client. This is a strength of Wi-Fi, but also means that one wireless adapter may perform substantially better than the other. Since Wi-Fi transmits in the air, it has the same properties as a non-switched ethernet network. Even collisions can therefore appear like in non-switched ethernet LAN's.

Channels
Except for 802.11a, which operates at 5 GHz, Wi-Fi uses the spectrum near 2.4 GHz, which is standardized and unlicensed by international agreement, although the exact frequency allocations vary slightly in different parts of the world, as does maximum permitted power. However, channel numbers are standardized by frequency throughout the world, so authorized frequencies can be identified by channel numbers.

The frequencies for 802.11 b/g span 2.400 GHz to 2.487 GHz. Each channel is 22 MHz wide and 5 MHz spacers between the channels are required.

The maximum number of available channels for wi-fi enabled devices are 13 for europe, 11 for North America and 14 for Japan

Src Wikipedia

BlueTooth Technology

2007-09-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

Bluetooth is the name given to a new technology standard using short-range radio links, intended to replace the cable(s) connecting portable and fixed electronic devices. The standard defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to communicate with each other.

Its important features of Bluetooth are robustness, low complexity, low power and low cost. Bluetooth is considered a wireless PAN technology that offers fast and reliable transmission for both voice and data. Bluetooth offers wireless access to LANs, PSTN, the mobile phone network and the Internet for home or office and other hand held devices.

A complete Bluetooth system will require these elements:
An RF portion for collecting and sending data or information:
A module with a baseband microprocessor for processing function

Memory module
An interface to the electronic device (such as a mobile phone, camera, or PC)
The lower-layer Bluetooth protocols are normally embedded in the baseband module, and the host processor must support the upper-layer protocols (like file transfer). In other words, the RF/baseband solution provides the means to communicate with the host, but need to implement a connection interface, as well as any upper-layer protocols, to use applications supported by the final product.

The higher/upper layers of the Bluetooth technology called as the Bluetooth profiles and these are nothing but a set of protocols. These protocols are optimized for particular applications. In the case of file transfer between two devices, it requires interoperability among devices. Each of the linked devices needs to have similar applications ensures interoperability across a spectrum of devices.

The Bluetooth stack:

It has the following components:

RF portion for reception and transmission
Baseband portion with micro controller
Link control unit
Link manager to support lower-layer protocols
Interface to the host device
Host processor to support upper-layer protocols
L2CAP to support upper-layer protocols

The radio frequency (RF) portion provides the digital signal-processing (DSP) component of the system, and the baseband micro controller processes these signals. The link controller handles all the baseband functions and supports the link manager. It sends and receives data, identifies the sending device, performs authentication, and determines the type of frame to use for sending a transmissions. The link controller also directs how devices listen for transmissions from other devices and can move devices into sleep state in order to save power.

The link manager, located on top of the link controller, controls setup, authentication, link configuration, and other low-level protocols. Together, the baseband and the link manager establish connections for the network.

The host controller interface (HCI) communicates the lower-layer protocols to the host device(Like mobile phone, hand held PC etc). The host contains a processor.

L2CAP: it supports the upper-layer protocols and communicates with the lower layers. The Higher/upper-layer protocols consist of service-specific applications that must be integrated into the host application as explained above. RFCOMM protocol, which allows for the emulation of serial ports over the L2CAP, which is also an important part of Bluetooth.

The Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) gives the required services and the properties and characteristic of the service that a particular Bluetooth device is made for.
The ACL Link: Bluetooth uses five logical channels to support transferring of information between devices:

Core Protocols in Bluetooth:

Baseband:
The Baseband and Link Control layer enables the physical RF link between Bluetooth forming a piconet It provides two different kind of physical links with their corresponding baseband packets, Synchronous Connection-Oriented and Asynchronous Connectionless which can be transmitted in a multiplexing manner on the same RF link.Asynchronous Connectionless (ACL) packets are used for the transmission of data only while Synchronous Connection-Oriented can contain either audio or a combination of audio and information.

Link Manager Protocol:
The link manager protocol is responsible for link set-up between Bluetooth devices. This includes setting up of security functions like authentication and encryption by generating, exchanging and checking of link and encryption keys and the control, negotiation of baseband packet sizes and duty cycles of the Bluetooth radio device, and the receiving device on the other end.

Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol:
The Bluetooth logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) adapts upper layer protocols over the baseband. It can be thought to work in parallel with LMP in difference that L2CAP provides services to the upper layer when the payload data is never sent at LMP messages.

Service Discovery Protocol:
Using SDP, device information, services and the characteristics of the services can be queried and after that, a connection between two or more Bluetooth devices can be established.

Telephony and Cable Replacement Protocol:
Telephony Control protocol: Binary (TCS Binary or TCS BIN), a bit oriented protocol, defines the call control signaling for the establishment of speech and data calls between Bluetooth devices.
RFCOMM: It is a serial line emulation protocol and is based on ETSI 07.10 ( European Telecommunications Standardization Institute ) specification. This protocol emulates RS-232 control and data signals over Bluetooth baseband, providing both transport capabilities for upper level services that use serial line as transport mechanism.

Adopted Protocols:

PPP
PPP is the IETF Point-to-Point Protocol (Internet Engineering Task Force, IETF Directory List of RFCs) and PPP-Networking is the means of taking IP packets to/from the PPP layer and placing them onto the LAN.

TCP/UDP/IP
TCP/IP/PPP is used for the all Internet Bridge usage scenarios in Bluetooth 1.0 and for OBEX in future versions. UDP/IP/PPP is also available as transport for WAP.

OBEX Protocol
IrOBEX (Short name is OBEX) is a session protocol developed by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) to exchange data in a simple and automatic way.

Advantages:
Using peer-to-peer connectivity, Bluetooth technology simplifies personal area wireless connections, enabling all digital devices to communicate automatically. Bluetooth technology also provides fast, secure voice and data transmissions. The range for connectivity is less than 10 meters, and line of sight is not required. The Bluetooth radio unit can functions even in noisy radio environments, ensuring audible voice transmissions in severe conditions. It can protect data by using error-correction methods and provides a high transmission rate. It is possible encryption and authentication for privacy in the transmitted data.

In Bluetooth ad hoc networking enables personal devices to automatically exchange information and synchronize with each other.

By Jith Crs

LCD

2007-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

What is LCD

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a thin, flat display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector. It is prized by engineers because it uses very small amounts of electric power, and is therefore suitable for use in battery-powered electronic devices.

Each pixel consists of a layer of liquid crystal molecules suspended between two transparent electrodes, and two polarizing filters, the axes of polarity of which are perpendicular to each other. Without the liquid crystals between them, light passing through one would be blocked by the other.

How It Works
Before applying an electrical charge, the liquid crystal molecules are in a relaxed state. Charges on the molecules cause these molecules to align themselves with microscopic grooves on the electrodes. The grooves on the two electrodes are perpendicular, so the molecules arrange themselves in a helical structure, or twist (the "crystal"). Light passing through one filter is rotated as it passes through the liquid crystal, allowing it to pass through the second polarized filter. Half of the light is absorbed by the first polarizing filter, but otherwise the entire assembly is transparent.

When an electrical charge is applied to the electrodes, the molecules of the liquid crystal are pulled parallel to the electric field, thus reducing the rotation of the entering light. If the liquid crystals are completely untwisted, light passing through them will be polarized perpendicular to the second filter, and thus be completely blocked The pixel will appear unlit. By controlling the twist of the liquid crystals in each pixel, light can be allowed to pass through in varying amounts, correspondingly illuminating the pixel.

It is normal to align the polarizing filters so that pixels are transparent when relaxed and become opaque in the presence of an electric field, however the opposite is sometimes done for special effect.

The electric field necessary to align the liquid crystal molecules rapidly is also enough to pull them out of position, damaging the display. This is solved by using an alternating current to rapidly pull the molecules in alternate directions.

To save cost in the electronics, LCDs are often multiplexed. In a multiplexed display, electrodes on one side of the display are grouped and wired together (say, in columns), and each group gets its own voltage source. On the other side, the electrodes are also grouped (say, in rows), with each group getting a voltage sink. The groups are designed so each pixel has a unique, unshared combination of source and sink. The electronics, or the software driving the electronics then turns on sinks in sequence, and drives sources for the pixels of each sink.

Important factors to consider when evaluating an LCD monitor include resolution, viewable size, response time (sync rate), matrix type (passive or active), viewing angle, color support, brightness and contrast ratio, aspect ratio, and input ports (e.g. DVI or VGA).

Src Wikipedia

Used Laptops

2007-09-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

What Are Used Laptops?

Used laptops are those that have been used by a consumer for any length of time and then resold. Even if computers are only one day old, stores cannot sell them as new laptops, they become used laptops.

What Are Refurbished Laptops?
A refurbished laptop is a computer that has been used anywhere from 1 to 90 days, and then returned to the store or manufacturer who then resells it, or repairs and replaces any needed parts in order to sell it. Some of these refurbished computers may be just as good as new computers, but you can get them at a much lower price.

What To Look For When Buying Used Laptop

1. Condition
The first thing that you should look at is the used computer’s condition. It has been recommended to stay away from laptops that are over 3 years old. The system will be outdated and may not be able to run some of the software and programs that are currently available. You may even want to stick to laptops that are less than 18 months old. Refurbished laptops do not have some of these concerns because they are newer and have been repaired and tuned up.

2. Features
The features offered on used laptops are the next important factor you should take under consideration If you need speed, you need to keep in mind that used laptops run slower than desktops with the same processing systems. Do not buy used laptops with less than 128 MB of memory; it may not be able to run many of the applications and programs that are standard in today’s computers. You can get used laptops that are powered by anywhere from 20 GB to 80 GB depending on your processing and computing needs. The screen size, definition, and resolution are other important issues in laptops. Make sure that the laptop you are looking at has the capabilities to do what you need it to do media and entertainment-wise.

3. Portability
Portability of laptops is also an important issue. Laptops are getting thinner and lighter every day. Does the laptop you are looking at weigh a lot? Make sure you add in the weight of the case and any other accessories you will be carrying.

When buying used laptops from a private seller or an acquaintance, be careful. Have the used laptops checked out thoroughly by a neutral party or professional. Every good bargain shopper knows that you can find deals by shopping for pre-owned items. Laptop computers are no exception. Educate yourself on your wants and needs and you will get what you want.

By Margarette Tustle

Refurbished Laptops

2007-09-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

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 labeled refurbished. It is then distributed through the economy sometimes at over the half off the new price.

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 growing up about 50%? Surely you have, unless you live on the moon! Refurbished notebooks have become totally expectable in our society because people are seeing extra savings buying something a little used
Refurbished Laptops sales are growing at an alarming rate. Companies and business owners are having trouble keeping them stocked. Why? The answer is easy. They save people money and lots of it!

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.

By M Johnson

Laptop Memory

2007-09-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

The more laptop memory you have in a laptop the better, but there are other issues involving memory in laptops. Laptops are usually more limited in the amount of memory a system can handle. If in the future, you plan to upgrade your laptop RAM, gaining access to the memory can also be a problem.

Do You Have Enough Laptop RAM?
When determining if a system has enough memory or not, look at the minimum and recommended requirements for the software you intend to run. Most software today will list what are the minimum requirements of a system to run that software. It should also list what specifications it recommends to run the software. With applications becoming more memory hungry, I think the minimum amount of RAM these days for any system would be 256MB. Better still if you have 512MB, and for the best performance 1GB or higher.

What Are The Restrictions?
Most laptop computers usually only have two slots available for memory modules, which means you are limited to the amount of memory available. What this means is you are restricted to 1GB or 2GB’s of RAM, based on 512MB or 1GB memory modules

Some Tips
If you are about to buy a new laptop, find out what is the maximum amount of laptop memory your new system will take. Go to the laptop manufacturer’s website and the information should be listed there. This is important for the future, because doubling the amount of RAM in your system at a later date can give you quite a performance boost.

Can I Install It Myself?
Most laptops today have a small door on the bottom of the unit which gives you access to the memory slots, although some memory can be located beneath the keyboard of some laptops. Don’t be discouraged if your memory is located below the keyboard, as the process of taking out the keyboard and installing more memory is not that difficult. If you have a system that is relatively new, check to see that any upgrades you do yourself, does not void your warranty.

By Elizabeth Lord

Business Laptop

2007-09-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

Should I buy a laptop or a desktop PC?

Before we discuss what to look for in a business laptop, you should figure out whether you need a laptop at all. Desktop PCs typically cost hundreds of dollars less than laptops and if you're able to do all of your business comfortably from one location, you need not shell out extra cash for a portable form factor.

What advantages does a laptop offer?
A portable computer provides access to your files and applications wherever you are -- every corner of the world becomes an extension of your office. Riding the train or sitting in an airport, you can be just as productive as if you were sitting in your desk chair.

Your laptop can handle much more than just email, spreadsheets, and word processing. Here are a few of the roles a laptop can fill:

Presentation maker: Display your PowerPoint deck anywhere, anytime.

DVD player: Whether you're waiting in the terminal or on the plane itself, watching a movie makes flying much more entertaining.

Gaming machine: The most powerful business laptops are primed for gaming on the go.
Jukebox: Invest in Internet radio, a CD drive and a big hard drive for MP3s You'll never be without your music collection.

What are the disadvantages to using a laptop?
On top of the premium price tag, there are a few other drawbacks to buying a laptop rather than a desktop PC. For one, laptops are not as easy or inexpensive to upgrade as their desktop brethren. While it's relatively simple to add a bigger hard drive or a DVD burner to a desktop, on a laptop the operation can be more expensive, more complicated, or both. Here are a few other limitations to note:

You'll be working on a smaller keyboard, looking at a smaller screen and probably sitting in a less-than-ergonomic position.

You'll have to become conscious of battery life, an issue the desktop PC user doesn't have to worry about.

You'll need a separate network hub and a backup solution. Laptops aren't optimised for those functions.

Are there hidden, recurring, or long-term costs of owning a laptop?
Because a laptop is likely to log many more miles than a desktop PC, it's inherently more vulnerable to wear and tear. You'll be susceptible to ailments such as worn-out hinges, broken keys, busted screens, and mangled optical drives. In the past, nearly all business laptops came with a standard three-year warranty on parts and labour. These days, some models include only a one-year warranty with the option to purchase an upgrade. Read your warranty information carefully before you make a purchase. Also, a decent laptop bag will help reduce laptop deterioration.

By Justin Jaffe

Gaming Laptop

2007-09-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

The gaming laptop is coming of age! It is steadily increasing in popularity as performance quality goes up. Gamers now regularly consider laptops or notebooks when searching for that perfect gaming machine.

With each new generation of notebooks we are seeing some novel breakthroughs: dual core notebooks, PCI Express, Sonoma chipset, increased storage, increased RAM, faster CPUs, better battery life and better wireless connections including a Cellular Modem. All welcome news for gamers and notebook lovers alike.

Generally, gamers are a very demanding group, they know their computers and they know what they want in their computers. Most gamers like to order their gaming laptop with their own specs and configurations. In that light, if you closely examine the main points gamers consider when configuring or building their Dream Machine -- you will have a good blueprint for the best gaming machine.
Since notebook technology changes every two years or so, it's probably wise to purchase a laptop that can be easily upgraded as new products come on line. So consider the upgradable factor in any notebook that you plan to buy..

Now, lets look at some of these key gaming factors:

GRAPHICS
You must have the best/latest/fastest Graphics on the market. DUH!
Serious gamers are concerned with graphics, obsessed would probably be a better word. And rightly so! Graphics or the quality of the graphic chipset in your notebook computer will be your first area of consideration and it will greatly determine the gaming performance of your PC.

Go with the latest Graphic Chipset and also check to see if you can upgrade your Graphics Card on the particular machine you're thinking about buying. Many machines allow this.

Here are some Graphic Chipsets that are highly rated: ATi Mobility Radeon 9700, ATI's Mobility FireGL V3200 or Intel's Graphics Media Accelerator 900.

ATi Mobility Radeon 9700 is a high quality Graphics Card or visual processing unit (VPU) present in many next generation notebooks. It will give you higher performance at a lower power level, saving battery power.

It makes your notebook computer capable of many functions: 3D games, wide-screen HDTV, dynamic presentations, mobile video editing studio and graphic processor.

Many notebooks now come with integrated graphics, where components interact and are sometimes shared, especially memory. If you want a notebook computer for 3D games -- check the amount of video RAM -- this is memory that's dedicated to graphic or video applications.

Other common graphic chipsets are: STMicro, NVIDIA, 3D Labs, Matrox, Trident S3 and SIS.

RAM
Get the largest amount of RAM possible. DUDE!
RAM or random-access memory will determine how much graphics your notebook computer will be able to handle. It's best to get the largest amount possible on your machine or what you can afford.
It's generally agreed that you need at least 256MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X. You will only need 128MB for other operating systems in Windows or Mac.

RAM or the amount of RAM on your notebook computer is extremely important if you want to handle heavy graphic files or want to play games on your notebook. The more RAM you have, the more applications you will be able to handle. Some notebook now come with up to 2GB of DDR2 533MHz RAM!

DDR2 SDRAM - is a new standard that can boost conventional SDRAM memory up to speeds well over 200MHz and beyond. For example, the IBM ThinkPad T43, thanks to the Sonoma Chipset or platform has 533MHz DDR 2 SDRAM.

This is much better than standard SDRAM which tops out around 150- 166MHz and DDR SDRAM which starts at 200MHz and goes up to around 400MHz.

Video RAM or VRAM is special memory that's used by video adapters on your notebook. This is RAM that is dedicated to handling the visuals and graphics on your notebook computer. This is helpful if you want to play a lot of the latest 3D video games on your notebook.

It is somewhat different from ordinary RAM because it can be accessed by two different devices at once -- enabling screen updates while the video processor processes new data VRAM provides better graphics but is more expensive than ordinary RAM.

SPEED
You need the fastest computer money can buy. Period!
In order to get the maximum performance from your ultimate gaming computer you must have the fastest speed you can get or afford. Your ultimate PC must be able to process and handle the latest 3D video games with ease. There is nothing as annoying as your PC freezing up in the middle of some major gaming action!

Therefore, your Processor's speed is very important.
CPU or Central Processing Unit, you probably know it as the processor! It's the heart or rather the brain of your notebook or computer. It does all your computer's data processing and applications. Since it does most of the work, it's usually the most expensive part of your notebook computer.
Go with SATA!

SATA is a type of hard drive and stands for Serial Advanced Technology Architecture. It was developed by a whole group of companies including Seagate, Intel, Maxtor, Dell and others. SATA transmit data in a serially (in a single stream) as opposed to PATA or Parallel ATA which is commonly referred to as an IDE hard drive.

Serial ATA hard drives uses less power and are ideal for notebook computers, they are also more advanced than PATA hard drives which uses multipe streams of data -- go figure! But Serial Technology carries data in a single stream and unlike PATA is not limited to a particular clock speed, Serial transfers data packets almost 30 times faster than parallel.

If top performance in your notebook is one of your goals, go with a SATA hard drive.
The speed of microprocessors is measured in MHz.

MHz is short for megahertz. One MHz equals one million cycles per second. The speed of processors, usually known as clock speed, is measured in megahertz (MHz) or these days in gigahertz (GHz).
The higher the clock speed, the faster the computer will process applications and data. It determines how powerful your notebook computer will be. Processor speeds for notebooks or laptops are steadily increasing, not quite the same as a desktop but the gap is narrowing quickly. Speeds of 3.4GHz or more.

Don't forget to ask or check the hard drive speed! A 7,200rpm hard drive is faster than a 4,200rpm or 5,400rpm and usually gives better performance.

DISPLAY
You need the sharpest, brightest display screen or all the above points are moot!
Display quality is also extremely important to your gaming experience. Make sure the resolution and display quality of your notebook computer can handle the graphics for 3D Gaming.

What to keep in mind...
SVGA Resolution. Put simply, computer images are made up of dots, the more dots you have -- the better the image. SVGA Resolution is made up of 800 x 600 dots.

Many notebook computer have XGA (1024 by 768 dots) or SXGA (1280 x 1024 dots), these resolutions will give a higher quality image. WXGA stands for widescreen XGA.
TFT Active Matrix Display. TFT stands for thin-film transistors and many high-end notebook computers use (TFT) active matrix liquid crystal displays.

If display quality is your main reason for buying a notebook, it's best to give it the 'old eye test' and check out the image quality first-hand and decide for yourself. Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, and others are known for their high quality monitors -- this quality is also present in their notebook display screens.

So when buying your perfect Gaming Notebook Remember This:
Graphics + Ram + Speed + Display = Perfect Gaming Notebook
Consider all of the above factors before you buy or config your perfect gaming machine. Chances are high that you will get a top-notch quality Gaming Notebook that will give you hours and hours of pure gaming bliss!

By Titus Hoskins

Laptop Security

2007-09-18T20:50:00.001-07:00

Laptop Security Devices
As an administrator, and ultimately the person responsible for the information and laptop security within your organization, “Stolen Laptop” is the last two words you want to hear. Unfortunately, statically this is going to happen and if you have not put into place a laptop security policy you will wish that you had.

Laptop Security Cables
Laptop Security Cables are the number one purchased laptop security devices. People often do not have a clear understanding of what level of security, laptop cables provide. A laptop security cable will not work if it is not used. A laptop security policy that requires that they be used is necessary to achieve the protection the home office is looking to achieve. The small plastic security slot where they attach offers minimal protection and additionally the cables really aren’t that difficult to cut. So, why are they the number one solution? They provide a visual theft deterrent. We have found that visual laptop computer security solutions are very effective and when it comes down to it economically they are most effective.

Security Plate
Security plates provide an effective visual deterrent solution as well and are the second most commonly used laptop security theft deterrent The Plate is probably the least expensive solution and takes us one step toward laptop recovery as well. If your laptop has a Security Plate, placed visibly on the top of the laptop, you gain big strides in the possibility of getting your laptop computer and the information on your laptop back. If you put both or either of these two products into your laptop security policy you will have followed in the steps of some of the largest corporations and government agencies in this country.

Laptop Security Softwares
With laptop theft deterrent solutions in place we want to look at recovery and data protection commonly provided by using some form of laptop security software. There are many softwares which You can get for the purpose of laptop security related to your data.

Ultimately when it comes to laptop security there really aren’t that many effective solutions. Putting a security policy together that addresses deterring the laptop theft helps to protect your property and your information. By utilizing a few additional laptop security software tools you help insure greater protection of your company’s data.

By Tom Goll

Laptop Cases

2007-09-18T20:49:00.002-07:00

There are various laptop cases which cater to the numerous models of available laptops. Although many laptops come with a case, they are not up to the mark, being either too small or too bulky for use. Laptop cases are most required by those who travel a lot and tend to carry around their laptop, and of course for those who want to maintain the look and the safety of the pc.

Types of Laptop Cases
There are a variety of laptop cases available on the market; one just has to buy according to one’s needs.

There are aluminum laptop cases,

Leather laptop cases

Feminine women’s laptop cases.

How to Choose
When choosing the right laptop case, one first has to determine the size of the laptop it’s going to carry. The important thing is for the laptop to fit easily and snugly into the laptop case, so choose wisely Not only are there different-sized laptop cases, the styles and price also vary accordingly. There are basic neoprene-sleeved laptop cases and also the actual hard-shell laptop case. Laptop cases with neoprene sleeves are okay if the main purpose of the laptop case is just to cover the laptop.

Those who travel a lot should opt for an actual hard-shell laptop case or a durable soft case with an extra pocket, handles and sufficient padding on the inside of the laptop for the safety of the laptop. A laptop is a delicate machine and has a high risk of getting damaged when transported. Those who travel a lot and have other products to carry along like binders, books or a scanner should invest in a laptop backpack with either shoulder straps or wheels attached to it. Another point to keep in mind when buying a laptop case is to buy a brand-name product, as these products have a longer life and are under guarantee against any production faults.

By Thomas Morva

Laptop Batteries

2007-09-18T20:49:00.001-07:00

If you are among the increasing number of mobile executives who are switching from PCs to laptops, it is inevitable that you will soon face a situation where you will need to educate yourself about laptop batteries. And then, at some point, buy them.

Here are some basic guidelines:

Brief Background of Laptop Batteries:
The earliest type of battery used the chemicals Nickel Cadmium (NiCd, NiCad), and was very quick to charge and was also able to handle high loads. However, these chemicals are highly toxic. The next generation of batteries, the Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh, NiMH) batteries, now use Nickel and other rare earth metals as its electrodes and Potassium Hydroxide as the electrolyte. These are more environmentally friendly than Nickel Metal Hydride, but suffer from the memory effect, and have a short lifespan. A newer type of battery is the Lithium Ion (LiIon, Li-Ion) powered battery. In spite of being smaller and lighter than NiCd and NiMH batteries, it provides the same capacity. Also, these batteries do not suffer from "memory effect" and have low levels of self-discharging.

The Lithium Polymer Ion Battery:
This is the latest type of battery chemistry. Though this behaves in the same way as Lithium Ion, there are some important differences. The Lithium Polymer Ion Battery uses a thin plastic-like film as the electrolyte, resulting in considerably reduced weight, and a greater power to weight ratio than most of the other types. They are used in Universal Laptop Batteries. So this is the type to look for, when you need a new battery for your laptop.

What are Universal Laptop Batteries?:
Most of the top manufacturers like Sony, Compaq, fujitsu, Toshiba, Panasonic, Dell, IBM, Lenovo Apple, HP, are providing the Lithium Ion battery technology. The Universal Laptop Batteries, however, use the more advanced Lithium Polymer Ion chemical A universal battery is just a larger version of the standard laptop battery, and can power virtually any laptop.

The universal batteries are rechargeable - the AC Adapter and power lead are provided by the manufacturer. Also, the manufacturer supplies a number of tips that fit the power supply connector on the laptop. These tips enable the smart electronics embedded in the battery to supply electricity at the correct voltage.

Another plus point in favor of universal laptop batteries is that the continuous usage time is up to 10 hours at a stretch. (Of course, there are variations according to manufacturer and model of the universal laptop battery.)

When do I need a new battery?:
You do not necessarily need a new battery only after the current one is completely used up. Some laptop manufacturers offer laptops with expansion slots that will accept a variety of peripherals, including a second battery. This second battery can double your battery life. But, if you are planning to get a lot of work done on that long flight, then it may be time for you to purchase a new laptop battery.

Remember:
When buying batteries, ensure that the supplier and the manufacturer are reputable. Be sure that the Supplier/Manufacturer offer full guarantee and warranty. Check the chemistry and dimensions of the universal laptop battery before purchase. And provide the supplier with all the information about your laptop such as the make, the model, the part number, the Voltage and Current ratings (provided in the manual or underside of the laptop) in order that the supplier can assist you with the most suitable battery.

By Samantha Spiegla

Hard Disk Failure and Data Recovery

2007-08-30T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hard Disk: An Introduction

Hard disk is a non-volatile data storage device that stores electronic data on a magnetic surface layered onto hard disk platters. Word Hard is use to differentiate it from a soft, or floppy disk. Hard disks hold more data and can store from 10 to more than 100 gigabytes, whereas most floppies have a maximum storage capacity of 1.4 megabytes and in addition are faster too. Normally term hard disk is much familiar with computers only but it is widely used as network attached storage for large volume storage. Furthermore, appliance of hard disk drives spread out to video recorders, audio players, digital organizers, digital cameras, and even in latest cellular telephones.

Heart of hard disk consists of four basic components:

The Platters:
Platters are the actual disks inside the drive that store the magnetized data. Conventional platters are made of a light aluminum alloy and coated with magnetize-able material but latest technology uses glass or ceramic platters as they are thinner and also heat resisting. Most drives have at least two platters and the larger the storage capacity of the drive, the more platters there are.

The Spindle Motor:
Hard disk drive consists of a spindle on which the platters spin at a constant RPM. Moving along and between the platters on a common arm are read-write heads. The platters in a drive are divided by disk spacers and are clamped to a revolving spindle that turns all the platters in a uniform motion. The spindle motor is built right into the spindle and rotates the platters at a constant set rate ranging from 3,600 to 7,200 RPM.

The Read/Write Heads:
Read/write heads read and write data to the platters, and each head is fixed to a single actuator shaft so that all the heads move in harmony. Typically, only one of the heads is active at a time either reading or writing data. When not in use, the heads are inactive, but when in motion the spinning of the platters generate air pressure that lifts the heads off the platters. The space between the platter and the head is so minute that even one dust particle or a fingerprint could disable the spin. When the platters cease spinning the heads come to rest, at a preset position on the heads, called the landing zone.

The Head Actuator:
All the heads are attached to a single head actuator arm, which moves the heads around the platters. The Actuator arm moves the heads on an arc across the platters as they spin, allowing each hed to access almost the entire surface of the platter. Contemporary hard drives use a voice coil actuator, which controls the movement of a coil toward or away from a permanent magnet based on the amount of current flowing through it.

Fundamental structures of all hard disk are same, and are composed of the same physical features, but their performance depends on the quality of their inner components.

Hard Disk Failure:
Hard Disk Failure occurs when a hard disk drive malfunctions and the accumulate data cannot be accessed. It may happen in the course of normal operation due to an internal or external factor. Disk failure varies and the most common is "Head Crash" where the internal read and write head of a device touches a platter or magnetic storage surface often grinding away the magnetic surface. Head hover just micrometers from the platters plane which makes such collision a common one. This sort of crash usually invites severe data loss and unprofessional data recovery attempts results further damage to the remaining data. Hard drive also includes other controller electronics i.e., semiconductors, valves or electronic circuits, and major components such as Platters, Spindle Motor and Head Actuator. Failure of any these devices may cause a hard disk failure.

Factors causes disk failure are numerous, yet most common are power surges, voltage fluctuations, electronic malfunction, physical shock, wear and tear, corrosion, exposure to high magnetic waves, sharp impact, high temperature exposure etc.

The phenomena of hard disk failure is raising higher and higher; as to increase the read and write speed, today we have latest hard disk rotating amazingly faster and this immense revolving speed generates massive centrifugal force, a single adverse cause in the course of normal operation can cause severe hard disk failure.

Hard Disk Data Recovery:
Hard disk data recovery is the process of recovering the trapped data from the damage hard disk device, when it can not be accessed in normal circumstance. Several Techniques are used to retrieving data from damaged hard disk and techniques vary accordingly. It can be done by moving disk drive to a working CPU, or may have to open the disk drive and replace parts such as read/write heads, arms and chips and sometime the platters have to be removed and placed into another drive. Physical damage can not be repaired by the general users, as it requires clean and dust free lab environment, in addition proper hardware and technical expertise; where under microscopic examination with proper tool and techniques, the damage drive is put on to observation for data salvaging.

By Bharat Bista

Common Problems Why Hard Disks Crash

2007-08-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons why your hard disk may crashed:

(1) It may be caused by mechanical or physical problem such as the spindle motor system failure. This failure is usually caused by over-heating. The activity light flashing that you see on your CPU (central processing unit) indicates that its head moves to different tracks. If this movement fails, it can no longer read or write data. Remember, a hard disk is a hardware component, not a software. It is a magnetic device use to store data, it reads and writes data as it spins.

(2) Failure of logical system (the logical partitioned drives assigned as C, D, E, F, G) may be caused by and not limited to corrupt system files, corrupt firmware, registry components and virus infection. Spywares, adwares & all other malicious files may also cause your hard disk to crash.

HINTS:

(1) If you see the activity light flashing but the computer does not boot, the case may be, your files is still intact on the hard drive but becomes inaccessible -- this may be because of logical system failure. Try booting through a floppy disk or use the start-up disk that came with the system.

(2) If you don’t see any activity light flashing on the CPU and that the system can not start up (ofcourse after checking all power cables are “on”) then it is likely of mechanical problem. And notice that if the system BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) can no longer recognize the hard drive, then it is the physical/mechanical system that failed.

The good news is, sually, in today’s technology on hard disks, if this problem occurs it normally will alarm you and warn you before it will totally fails, so you could get that chance to immediately back up your files. And there are also many data recovery tools available in the market today. But at times, it is cheaper to replace the hard drive than to fix it (unfortunately).

TIPS & TRICKS TO AVOID THIS DISASTER TO HAPPEN:

1. Keep your hard drive healthy by performing defragmentation at least once a week (others prefers once every two weeks)

2. Run your anti-virus program everyday! Run spyware/adware removal tool at least once every week (there are many available free to download). Keep updates with all these tools and programs too! Turn on your firewall & pop-up blocker, it protects you from intruders!

3. Remove all unknown emails, clear your bulk and spam emails immediately.

4. Delete all internet temporary files (including all offline files)

5. Install all necessary updates on your computer

6. Be very careful in downloading files from different sites (firmware usually fails because of this)

7. The last but not the list – take “backing-up” your hard drive on a removable disk or tape as a serious task for you to do at least everyday or once a week especially if you are using it for business purposes!

Laptop Hard Drive Recovery

2007-08-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Our society now has become fast paced and individuals feel the need to cope up thus the popularity of laptops. These machines allow individuals to carry out their daily tasks even when they are not at home or in the office. Most companies nowadays allow their employees to telecommute or bring their work at home. However, because laptops are mobile, the danger of data loss is higher compared to the desktop pc.

To avoid paying a lot of money and saving yourself from trouble of losing all your important data, backing up your files once a week is recommended. Back up your files using CD-RW or DVD-RW or you can backup your files online.

But if the worse has happened and you have already lost your files because you accidentally dropped your laptop, because of hard drive failure, accidental deletion, virus attacks and corruption, or physical damage from fire or other disasters, I suggest you seek professional help immediately.

Data Recovery Service
Contacting a data recovery service as soon as possible is the most logical thing to do. Trying to recover the data yourself may do more harm than good. Data recovery services are fast, reliable, and safe. You may research your neighborhood for data recovery service companies that specialize in laptop data recovery.

If you can’t find a laptop data recovery company in your local area, you can always search the internet. There are a lot of great companies that offer data retrieval services for laptops and they allow shipping of your laptop to their laboratories and once they have retrieved your data, your laptop and files will be sent back to you.

Data Recovery Process
Generally, data recovery proess for a desktop hard drive is rather the same compared to laptops. The only difference is quite obvious; a laptop’s hard drive is typically smaller and a bit more difficult to handle. Engineers would have to be more careful because one wrong move may bring all those important data down the drain.

Once you have contacted a data recovery service that would retrieve your files, their engineers or technicians will assist you and ask you a series of questions regarding the problem. You will then have to send your laptop to their laboratories or if you choose to have an on-site service, meaning they will be the ones who will come to your home or office, you could do so but usually for an additional fee. They will then evaluate your laptop’s case and suggest what kind of data recovery you will need.

Cost
Data recovery service for laptops usually won’t cost you anything if the data recovery attempt is not successful. Evaluation of your laptop is also usually free and if they are confident that they can retrieve your data, they will give you a quote on how much you are going to pay.

During urgent situations, these laptop data recovery companies can also do an emergency data retrieval for your laptop. This process usually lasts between 24 to 48 hours.

Data recovery for your laptop can be really expensive. Companies charge depending on how severely damaged your laptop is or how long it will take them to retrieve your files.

However, the amount that you are going to pay them is worthwhile if the data stored in your laptop are important especially if these data are work related.

Laptop Hard Drives

2007-08-18T03:49:00.000-07:00

Now a days managing files and folders on PCs seems to be a critical task for network administrators and data storage managers due to huge capacity hard disks and millions of files and folders.
1. Understand the disk space allocation and wastage.
2. Understand how to manage your disk space.

Topics covered
1. What is File Allocation Table (FAT) ?
2. Disk Efficiency and FAT.
3. What is Wasted Space. ?
4. Solution.

What is File Allocation Table
The FAT is a roadmap, or index, that points to the location where all the information in files is stored on a floppy disk or hard drive. The FAT is extremely important because the system uses it to store and retrieve files containing information.

When you save a file in Windows, it is stored in multiple pieces (in clusters made up of multiple sectors) on the disk. Windows also saves the roadmap, or index, that points to these clusters in two copies of the FAT (File Allocation Table). The FAT contains the directions to all the pieces of your files, so that applications can find them again later

Disk Efficiency and FAT.
Every file on your system is stored in clusters in your hard drive, the maximum of one file can be stored in a particular cluster, so this results in wastage if the file is under the cluster size. The current FAT version (FAT16) organises files in 32K clusters in drives over 1.2gig, while FAT32 will use a minimum cluster size of 4K. This means that a 3K file wastes only 1K of disk space on FAT32, while it wastes 29K of space on a standard FAT system. This wastage can result in over 50% of a 2gig drive being wasted. See the table below.

What's a cluster and why does cluster size matter?
The whole problem of wasted space arises from the fact that DOS allocates file space in "clusters". Clusters are sequentially numbered on the disk, starting at 0, and cluster numbers are used both in the FAT (file allocation table) and in the individual directory entry for each file.

Allocation by clusters means some space on the disk will be wasted. Regardless of the actual length of a file as reported by the DIR command, the file will actually occupy a whole number of clusters on the disk. So a 1-byte file will actually use a whole cluster, a file that's 1 cluster plus 1 byte long will use 2 clusters, and so on.

Is this serious? It can be, depending on the pattern of file sizes on your disk. For instance, if you have an 2GB disk with 5,000 files on it, about 100 MB of your disk is being wasted. And the figures can be much worse, depending on the pattern of your usage. One user reported copying 450 MB of files to a 1.6 GB disk and having them take up 600 MB! As your disk approaches being full, you may wish you could squeeze some extra space out of it instead of buying a new disk

How does cluster size depends on hard-disk size?
As mentioned above in the table the cluster size for various partition sizes so that you can make intelligent choices about how to partition your hard disk.

From the above table we see that even 2.1 GB drive is over the 1023 kilo-byte limit for 16 KB clusters and therefore its cluster size (unpartitioned) is 32 KB. With a 32 KB cluster, even a 1-byte file will use 32 KB of disk space. A file whose length is 32,769 to 65,536 bytes will likewise use two clusters (64 KB), and so on for higher file sizes.

Even so, you may be inclined to think this is no big deal. But think about it: if you have a 2.1 GB drive with 5,000 files, you're probably wasting about 160 MB.

How are cluster sizes determined?
Clusters are always some power of 2 times 512 bytes, but just which power of 2 depends on the disk size. Why should this be so? I mentioned above that clusters are numbered sequentially. The problem is that the directory structure and the FAT have room for only 16 bits for a cluster number. Since the largest unsigned number that will fit into a 16-bit field is 2^16-1 = 65535, the disk can hold at most 2^16 = 65536 clusters. This gives the formula

disk sizecluster size = ---------, rounded up to a power of 265536
In general the wasted space per file will be half a cluster.

-----
What is Wasted Space?
Whenever a file is created, space will be allocated to the file in the form of clusters. A cluster can be of 8 KB , 16 KB or 32 KB depending upon your hard disk partition size. Following is the chart for cluster size.

FAT FAT32Partition Size Cluster Size Partition Size Cluster Size128 - 256 MB4 KB1 - 8 GB4 KB
257 - 512 MB8 KB8 - 16 GB8 KB
513 - 1024 MB16 KB16 - 32 GB16 KB
1025 - 2048 MB32 KB>32 GB32 KB

So the formula for wasted space is Wasted Space = Allocated Space - Actual File Size.
We will take an example of file which is of 900 bytes in size and your partition type is - FAT and its size is 1024 MB. So the allocated space for your file will be 16384 bytes or 16 KB whether you store 900 bytes or 1 byte in the file. So the wasted space in this case will be
Wasted Space = 16384 - 900 = 15484 bytes.

So the conclusion is : Lesser the file size, more the wasted space.

Solution
So to analyze how our disk space is being wasted we need a smart program which will show us the space hogging files and their locations.

The Mouse, Touchpad and other pointing devices

2007-08-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

In the early days of laptops, trackballs were an option. However, if you’ve ever owned a trackball for your desktop system, you know they require continued maintenance. Specifically, all the contact with your hand – no matter how clean that hand – eventually gunk up the innards of the trackball, thus requiring you to partly disassemble the trackball for a serious debunking.

Since disassembly of any part of their laptop is an undesirable proposition for most users, the industry eventually drifted away from trackballs.

Today, you have two choices in built-in pointing devices
1. The touchpad
2. The pointing stick.
The touchpad was originally pioneered in Apple laptops, but quickly caught on throughout the industry. The touchpad is exactly what is seems to be from its name: a pad that you touch. It’s rectangular in shape and its dimensions approximate the proportions of your laptop display. You simply rest your finger on the touchpad and drag it from one point to another to move te mouse on the display. Depending on how you configure your touchpad, you can also optionally tap on it to perform a left-click.

Effective use of a touchpad does take a little practice. However, with no moving parts, there’s little chance of any mechanical malfunction. Also, studies show that a touchpad is very desirable from an ergonomic standpoint.

The name pointing stick isn’t nearly as descriptive as touchpad. That may explain why many people have taken to calling these pointing devices eraser nubs. That’s exactly what they look like: the eraser on the end of a pencil, sticking up slightly from the middle of your keyboard.

To move your mouse pointer, you simply nudge the eraser nub in the appropriate direction. This, of course, takes some getting used to. Too hard a nudge can send your mouse pointer sailing across the screen. However, once you are familiar with its use, precision movements become easy and routine

Laptop Cases

2007-08-17T02:52:00.000-07:00

Laptops can be carried using a laptop backpack, using a laptop messenger bag or even using a laptop case. One thing is certain though, using a laptop case to carry your laptop or as storage is a very elegant. Unlike backpacks and messenger bags, laptop cases are very classy and very formal. You can bring them to functions and other formal business gatherings.

Using a laptop case to carry your laptop is a very wise choice because aside from them being classy and formal, they are also stylish and are very cool. Cases for laptops may be made of leather; they may be made of nylon and can be even of suede. These laptop computer cases also come in different colors and sizes to accommodate your laptop color and laptop size. There are even some laptop computer cases that come along with a stroller or a wheel for easier navigation. Laptop computer cases as with laptop bags also have added cushioning to protect your unit and they also have compartments to accommodate your laptop accessories and gadgets. What’s more is that when you are using a laptop case, you can also stuff your paperwork together with your laptop without worrying about creases and such things when you use other carrying bags for your laptop.

Here are some tips when buying laptop cases:

·Be sure to buy one that is well suited for the laptop you own. Size of the laptop and size of the of the laptop case should be compatible

·You should also buy one that is durable and nice to look at

·Also be aware that laptop notebook cases come in many different brands, colors and variety. Always choose the one that is well suited to your lifestyle, meets your standards and is not outdated.

·You should also remember that the first and foremost usage of a laptop case is to protect your laptop from the harshness of the world around it. Your laptop case should be able to amply protect your laptop against bumps and jostles, against hot or wet weather conditions, from theft etc.

·The weight of the laptop case should also be taken a look at. They should not weigh very heavy as it may only add inconvenience instead of protection.

Laptop DVD Burners

2007-08-17T02:50:00.000-07:00

Laptop DVD Burner Drives are very useful, they allow you to play Compact Discs, MP3, DVDs and other multimedia files. Without these optical drives, you will only be limited to what is in your computer. But with them, you can now have the opportunity to view other files aside from the ones stored in your laptop or the files you have downloaded from the internet. With the optical CD/DVD drives, you can even turn your laptop into an entertainment system where you watch movies from a DVD or CD. But did you know that aside from that optical DVD and CD.

These DVD Burner Drives further enhances your laptop’s functionality. Now you cannot just view the contents of DVDs but you can also write your own DVD content. The applications for this new innovation are just endless. DVD burners can act as a tool for you to store more files outside of your hard drive. You can now write your e-books, your MP3 files, your movies, your presentation and a lot more so that it will not crowd your hard drive. Aside from that, you can also use the DVD writer to make copies of your files; it can be used s an added back-up if in case your hard drive crashes and all your important files may the chance to be erased. It can also be used as a tool for many other things such as writing DVD copies of the movies you have downloaded on the internet, you can also use it to burn or write installers of your favorite games. Ideal gift ideas for your kids or siblings.
DVDs are more advanced than compact discs mainly because of the storage capacity. Before Information were stored in Floppy disks, then onto Compact Discs or CD’s and then to DVDs. A DVD is capable of handling more data. Before an entire movie could not fit into a single compact disc but with a DVD all of the contents of one movie could very well fit into it. Indeed DVD has become a great advancement in data storage and more so with its integration with laptops. But this has been more enhanced with the rise of Laptop DVD Burner Drives.

GPS laptops

2007-08-17T02:49:00.001-07:00

GPS
Certainly this is a new technology in laptops to revolutionalize the role and the usefulness of laptops in our lives. First, let us define GPS and why is it incorporated in our laptops. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a satellite navigation system. There is even a sole device known as GPS and as new and new technologies are arising, GPS has been integrated into our everyday gadgets. It is already in cellphones to locate the owner of the cellphone or even to know the exact coordinates of a particular location. GPS are also built into cars so that they are easily traced and as an added protection against car theft. The laptop industry is not to be left behind too with the rise of GPS laptop computers.

GPS Laptps
Some GPS laptop computers are laptops with a built in Global Positioning System in them and some of them use GPS receivers to come up with a live or real time feed. A laptop could turn into a GPS laptop by inserting a GPS system or a GPS receiver into the USB port of the laptop. After that your real time mobile positioning system is good to go. Other GPS laptopcomputers are dubbed as such because of the LXGPS software installed in them. Unlike the previous one where you still have to connect something a separate GPS system to the USB port of your laptop, when you already have GPS installed, Global positioning is so easy and very accessible.

GPS Laptops Uses
GPS laptops are useful for planning trips, especially for locating hot spots such as restaurants, hotels and other tourist attractions, The GPS would also be useful for knowing your exact location especially if you are on a foreign territory, it could also become handy in situations where you are lost because you can use them to plot your exact coordinates, A GPS notebook could also become handy when on cross country skiing trips, they are also useful for field scientist and researchers to get information such as mapping coral reefs, monitor traffic and other tasks that are better performed with the aid of a positioning system.

USB Cables

2007-08-17T02:47:00.000-07:00

What are USB cables
USB cables are data cables used to connect a computer or laptop to an outside source of data such as digital cameras, video recorders, mobile phones and mp3 devices. These cables are compatible with the standard USB ports present in computers and laptops.

How to use
One end of a USB cable connects with the USB port present in the computer while the other end connects to an external device such as a digital camera. The cable enables direct data transfers from devices that are not a part of the computer. This saves precious time and effort and provides error free data transfers.

Today there is a USB cable available for every electronic device that requires data transfers. In most cases, companies manufacturing electronic devices like digital cameras sell these cables. A customer will need different cables for each device, as a cable for a camera may not be compatible with an mp3 device. A common eature among all types of USB cables is the presence of two power conductors and two signal conductors. The USB port in the computer provides automatic power and external power supply is needed only in some types of computers.

More and more people are opting for digital cameras and other electronic gadgets. This has increased the demand for USB cables. Earlier, USB ports were non-existent in computers, but now they have become standard equipment.

An USB cables is an important tool used to transfer electronic data. However, technology is changing very fast and customers are shifting to wireless technology. Innovations like Bluetooth and Infrared technology enable wireless data transfer. Modern day mobile phones use this technology for data transfer. These advanced methods may soon become a standard part of every electronic device, phasing out the USB cables.

Laptop Speakers

2007-08-17T02:45:00.000-07:00

Laptop speakers, there are many kinds of laptop computer speakers available on the market today. And these speakers vary from brand to brand of laptops. Speakers may be built in speakers; they may also be those speakers that are clipped at the sides of the laptop.

built in laptop computer speakers
Let’s talk first about the built in laptop computer speakers. Some of them are ok and delivers great sound but some of them may not what you are looking for. They may not work properly and deliver a not too great sound. These built-in speakers for your laptop are small gadgets that are capable of amplifying sound. But you as a consumer cannot be sure of the real quality and real brand of the laptop speaker inside your laptop. One of the best ways to make sure that the built-in speaker for your laptop is working properly and is what you are looking for, you can first ask the sales agent where you plan to buy your laptop for a test if the speakers are working properly and are capable of delivering quality sound.

Laptop Outside Speakers
On the other hand, those outside speakers or the onesclipped at the sides of the laptops are easier to test, and you can even just purchase a trusted name in speakers and you can be assured of the quality right away, plus, they are more capable of delivering high quality sound because of their size. They are much bigger as compared with the built-in speakers.

The quality of sound that your speaker produces is essential in almost every application that you will run in your laptop. Laptop speakers are very useful especially when viewing movies. Your laptop speaker should be able to deliver a nice quality sound for you to enjoy your viewing experience more. Sound quality is also important in presentations. Presentations are mostly delivered to quite a number of audiences and your laptop must be able to cater to the demand of a high quality sound for them to be able to accurately grasp what you are lecturing about. Speakers are also essential when gaming. A good quality laptop should have a speaker that can keep up with the audio demands of a game. Any computer game played on your laptop cannot be fully appreciated if the sound delivered is not of high quality. Therefore, it is important that you choose the quality of speakers for your laptop well, may they be built-in speakers of separate outside speakers.

Laptop AC Power Adapters

2007-08-17T02:40:00.000-07:00

An AC Power Adapter is an electronic device which produces a specific direct current from the mains with an Alternating Current (AC). Although actually a power supply it is popularly known as an AC Power Adapter or AC Adapter. Laptops along with most other portable devices use Direct Current (DC), this also applies to rechargeable batteries which power laptops. Direct Current has a constant flow of electric charge in one direction and flows from low to high potential. Connecting a laptop to AC is unsuitable and dangerous due to the varying magnitude and direction of the current, which can cause an internal component to fail and even result in fire.

The AC Adapter carries out the following steps to produce the correct current and voltage to power your laptop or charge your laptop battery:

• Converts the mains voltage to a lower voltage level
• Converts the AC voltage to a DC voltage by a process called rectification
• Smooths out any voltage ripple
• Converts the voltage to the required voltage to power the laptop

The other well-known name for an AC Power Adapter is battery charger or laptop battery charger. This is an important device providing you with laptop mobility and frees you of restriction from using the power cord. Check the link at the end of this article to find the correct AC Power Adapter for your laptop.

Car and Airplane Power Adapters
This is a particular design of a power adapter which accepts DC input and output DCvoltage required to power a laptop. Instead of a standard plug for a wall socket, these have a specific cable that plugs in the cigarette lighter. The 12V DC supplied through the cigarette lighter socket is converted to provide a different DC voltage. This power adapter can also be used in other vehicles with similar sockets i.e. Vans, trucks and even boats. Air or airplane adapters work in the same way.

Universal Laptop Power Adapters
Complying with most mains power supplies worldwide, a universal power adapter or power supply is able to accept an input voltage ranging from 100 - 240 V with a frequency range of 50 - 60Hz. A truly universal product. However, the term universal also applies to the array of laptops it can supply power to. Laptops are built to various specifications and the power consumption varies accordingly. Physical attributes also differ between laptops and are not limited to the power socket.

Manufacturers of universal laptop power adapters supply various connecting tips allowing the adapter to be connected to various laptops. These connecting tips help the power adapter detect the correct voltage to supply the laptop.

Universal power adapters are also available for cars and airplanes. Supplied with different types of plugs to fit a car cigarette lighter socket or the in-seat adapter on most airplanes, such power adapters truly allow the user to be mobile over great distances. The 2-Power Universal Car Air Power Adapter can power 98% of laptop computers.

Touchpad

2007-08-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

A touchpad is an input device commonly used in laptop computers. They are used to move the cursor, using motions of the user's finger. They are a substitute for a computer mouse. Touchpads vary in size but are rarely made larger than 50 cm² (8 in²). They can also be found in PDAs.
Touchpads commonly operate by sensing the capacitance of a finger, or the capacitance between sensors. Capacitive sensors are laid out along the horizontal and vertical axis of the touchpad. The location of the finger is determined from the pattern of capacitance from these sensors. This is why they will not sense the tip of a pencil or other similar implement. Gloved fingers may be problematic (such as in a cleanroom environment) but can sometimes work. Moist or sweaty fingers can be problematic for those touchpads that rely on measuring the capacitance between the sensors.

Touchpads are relative motion devices. That is, there is no isomorphism from the screen to the touchpad. Instead, relative motion of the user's fingers causes relative motion of the cursor. The buttons below or above the pad serve as standard mouse buttons. Depending on the model of touchpad and drivers behind it, you may also click by tapping your finger on the touchpad, and drag with a tap folloing by a continuous pointing motion (a click-and-a-half).

Some touchpads also have "hotspots": locations on the touchpad that indicate user intentions other than pointing. For example, on certain touchpads, moving your finger along the right edge of the touch pad will control the scrollbar and scroll the window that has the focus vertically. Moving the finger on the bottom of the touchpad often scrolls in horizontal direction.

Some touchpads can emulate multiple mouse buttons by either tapping in a special corner of the pad, or by tapping with two or more fingers.

Touchpads are primarily used in portable laptop computers, because the usual mouse device requires a flat table adjacent to the keyboard not always available away from the office. But touchpads have some advantages over the mouse, particularly that the pad's position is fixed relative to the keyboard, and very short finger movements are required to move the cursor across the display screen. Some computer users prefer them for such reasons, and desktop keyboards with built-in touchpads are available from specialist manufacturers.

Top 10 Essential Laptop Accessories

2007-08-14T03:38:00.000-07:00

Having the right laptop accessories available can make life much easier while traveling. It means you don't have to rely on outside sources for gear and you stay productive. Security gear is the most important laptop accessory you can get and you should be sure to have one if not two security cables available to use at all times. What laptop accessories do you have and which are you still needing?

1) Notebook Security Cables
Using a notebook security cable just may be one of the easiest methods of protecting your notebook against theft. Notebook security cables can be and should be used in any location where you may have to leave your laptop such as your hotel room or co-worker's office. Never leave a laptop, even when secured, in an unlocked room.

2) Laptop Lights
If you've ever tried to work on your laptop in dim or no light circumstances you will understand the importance of having a laptop light. Most run off the USB port and don't consume a great deal of power which makes them an even more valuable accessory for any mobile worker to have.

3) Wireless Laptop Mice
When you want a truly compact mouse when traveling, a wireless laptop mouse is a great accessory. Always keep spare batteries on hand and remember that shiny or reflective surfaces can interfere with optical mice.

4) Wired Laptop Mice
Mobile professionals looking for a mouse suited to small environments will find that these mice fit the bill. Compact, easy to pack and most of all, these mice don't require a lot of space to use.

5) Headset Microphones
Headset microphones allow you the ability to control your output. You can adjust the microphone for optimum usage while having the mic in a comfortable position. If you are tight ondesk space, this could be your solution. Many headset microphones also have speakers combined with them.

6) Earbud Headphones
Earbud or in the ear microphones can make life easier for telecommuters. They are small and compact. They are able to filter out background noises while still providing good quality sound. There is no headset to worry about adjusting or getting in the way.

7) Laptop Power Adapters
universal laptop power adapter enables you to charge your laptop battery and keep working whether you are in the air or on the road. Make sure that the laptop power adapter you have chosen will have the right tip for your laptop. Try to get a laptop power adapter that will work with a variety of laptop models.

8) Laptop Speakers
While the internal speakers on your laptop may be great for listening to music, using external speakers is important when doing presentations. This way the entire room can hear the presentation. External laptop speakers are also handy when you are participating in a web conference and it's important to hear every participant clearly.

9) Presentation Devices
Nothing can be worse when trying to show a presentation is the fact that you are seen more than the slideshow. Avoid the limelight and stay out of the way by using a remote control presentation device.

10) Mobile Printers
One of the frustrations that working on the road can be trying to find a printer when you absolutely need one. Rather than worrying about finding a printer or setting up new printer profiles and installing printer drivers on the run - consider purchasing your own mobile printer.

Laptop Ports

2007-08-14T03:35:00.000-07:00

Laptops, they are like mini, portable and convenient versions of your computer and they also work like your computer. There is an equivalent for the monitor of desktop computers which is the screen, an equivalent for the mouse which is the touchpad and many others. In addition, laptops also have ports known as laptop ports just like your desktop computers for easier connectivity to the outside world or in other words, for easier connectivity to other peripherals.

The ports in your laptop may be USB Ports (Universal Serial Bus) or they may be serial ports or other ports for connectivity. You may use these ports to extend the function of your laptop or to enable them to perform certain tasks such as printing. Modern printers connect to USB ports of computing devices to establish connection. These ports may they be serial or USB ports serve as good input or output devices for your computer. Through these ports, you may be able to send data to modems, printers, GPS systems, wireless connections, and others.

Port Replicators

There are also things called por replicators aside from the standard ports mentioned earlier. A port replicator is a device that contains the common ports in a PC such as serial ports and parallel ports that are not commonly found in a laptop. These ports were more visible in desktop computers. Port replicators have these serial and parallel ports to be able to connect with other peripherals such as a printer which does not have a USB port but instead has a parallel port. Using a port replicator you can then connect the printer onto your laptop via the port replicator connection.

Laptop ports are very useful for a laptop. They are your laptop’s gateway to performing better and giving you more features and advantages for your laptop. In case you might be wondering where these laptop computer ports can be found, they are mostly located at the back of your laptop, not at the back of screen but at the back where your network adapters slots can be found. In some laptop computer versions, these ports can be found on the sides of the laptop.

Laptop Accessories

2007-08-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

So what are laptops accessories? They are things that enhance the look and feel and the functionalities of your laptop.

Examples of laptop accessories are:

Laptop lock with trap - these are laptop locks that would prevent an unauthorized user from accessing your laptop. This would especially go well for laptops with limited security features
Wireless LAN adapter –this could add a function to your laptops especially on the wireless network connectivity.

Wireless Car Adapter – especially useful for people who always use their laptops while on the road or are always on their cars

Fan – they are great for any kind of laptop as it would provide a cooling mechanism for your laptops especially when you use your laptops for long hours.

Optical Burner – some laptops have optical drives that are only capable of reading but luckily with an optical burner, you may not just view your CDs and DVDs but you can also write data on DVDs and CDs as well.

Laptop Batteries – they are considered as an accessory because your laptop already has a built in battery but when you purchase another as a spare battery; it is considered as an added accessory.

Laptop carrying case/bags – any laptop would be better protected and better carried when it is inside a laptop bag or case

USB/FireWire Cables – cables that are compatible with the USB and FireWire ports in your laptop

Bluetooth Adapter – Ideal for Bluetooth connections

Snake light - the most ideal lighting for your laptop as you can bend it to suit whatever angle you want to turn your laptop monitor

USB Wireless Mouse - not all laptop owners are comfortable using the touchpad in their laptops and are also not comfortable with the idea of lugging a mouse with cable along. A Wireless mouse could be a solution to that

GPS receiver – a tool so that your laptop can have real time Global Positioning locations

Flash Hard Drive – extra storage for your data

There are still many more Laptop Accessories available on the market today and mentioning all of them would surely take a while. One thing is certain though, these accessories can really enhance the performance as well as the appearance of your laptop.

Guide to Buying Hard Drives

2007-08-13T03:28:00.000-07:00

Apart from being one of the most essential parts of your computer, hard drive storage is constantly updating, in terms of both capacity of disk space and in physical size. When it comes time to upgrade your disk storage, there are a number of factors for you to take into account. Once you've made basic decisions about size, connectivity, speed and data transfer rate, and whether you want an internal drive or external.

Hard Drives

How A Hard Drive Works
Your hard drive has a number of magnetized platters connected to a spindle. The spindle spins the platters at a very fast speed while a series of read/write heads scan over them both looking for and writing information. This information is transferred via a cable system, or through a wireless connection to a hard disk controller, which in most systems is built into the motherboard, or in some systems installed as an add-in card. The information that comes from your hard drive through its controller is then made available to the components of your computer. The effectiveness of your hard drive (its performance) depends on how much of its capacity remains unused, how well organised the data is (known as fragmentation) and its data transfer rate, which in turn is dependent on its connection type and the drive's spin rate.

Internal Hard Drives
Most computers from, the most basic home models up to the most powerful servers, have an internally installed hard drive. Technology today ensures that they are all generally fast, reliable, and offer dependable storage ability. Most modern computers have installation slots and cabling to enable you to install additional hard drive. This allows you to increase your storage capacity without giving up your existing hard drive.

External Hard Drives
These drives are essentially the same drives as ones installed inside computers, but cased inside a protective, portable case. This is a good solution for people who work remotely and need to transport large amounts of data. If an external hard drive is your choice, make sure your computer is compatible with the interface that the hard drive uses. An add-in card, such as a FireWire card can help to increase your computer's capabilities.

Laptop Hard Drives
There have been many advances in miniaturization of hardware components for laptop computing, and hard drive technology is not left out of this loop. Laptop hard drives function in exactly the same way as internal hard drives on other computers, only they are designed to provide maximum storage and efficiency in the smallest possible package. For added flexibility, some laptop computers come with removable hard drives that can be easily installed and removed. However, before you buy a hard drive for your portable computer, check that the hard drive's specifications will meet the standards of your computer, as many laptop hard drives are proprietary, and are not compatible with other brands and models.

Size
Your hard drive stores your operating system, its programs (games and applications), your working data, and your digital music and movies. Most new computer purchases have a minimum of 80 GB of hard disk space; many have considerably more. Hard drive space is one of those things, once you have it, you'll find ways to fill it soon enough. There is no real rule of thumb, but consider the cost per gigabyte of storage as a way to guide your purchase. If you work with large files, such as music, video and graphics, it pays to have a big storage space for your work. It may pay you to have two hard drives, one that houses all your programs and applications, and another for storing your work and projects.

You may want to compare the price of say a 160GB drive against two separate 80 GB drives. If one drive fails all is not lost. Today's hard drives however, are fairly robust pieces of equipment and providing they are not abuse, will serve you well for a long period of time.

up to 32 GB Hard Drives
32-64 GB Hard Drives
64-100 GB Hard Drives
100 GB and more Hard Drives

Interface
One key distinguishing factor between hard drives is the way in which they connect to your computer. There are a number of basic types of connection schemes used with hard drives. Each connection type has a range of differences in performance.

IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS)
This is by the most common connection methods. Because the hard drive controller is on the drive itself rather than on the motherboard, it helps to keep costs down. There different IDE standards available. Mostly, you will want to purchase the fastest possible standard that your computer can support. Most computers will support a standard that is faster than what the computer currently supports, so you can buy a faster drive, and update your computer at a later time. The different IDE standards, in order from most basic to fastest, are:

ATA (Basic). Supports up to two hard drives and features a 16-bit interface, handling transfer speeds up to 8.3 MB per second.

ATA-2 or EIDE (Enhanced IDE). Supports transfer speeds up to 13.3 MB per second.

ATA-3. A minor upgrade to ATA-2 and offers transfer speeds up to 16.6 MB per second.

Ultra-ATA (Ultra-DMA, ATA-33 or DMA-33). Dramatic speed improvements, with transfer rates up to 33 MB per second.

ATA-66. A version of ATA that doubles transfer rates up to 66 MB per second.

ATA-100. An upgrade to the ATA standard supporting transfer rates up to 100 MB per second.

ATA-133. Found mostly in AMD-based systems (not supported by Intel), with transfer rates up to 133 MB per second.

IDE / EIDE Hard Drives

Serial ATA Hard Drives

Ultra DMA 100 Hard Drives

SCSI (SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERFACE)
This is the hard drive interface standard used by many high-end PCs, networks and servers, and Apple Macintosh computers, except for the earliest Macs and the newer iMacs. While some systems support SCSI controllers on their motherboards, most feature a SCSI controller add-in card. SCSI drives are usually faster and more reliable, and the SCSI interface supports the connection of many more drives than IDE. While SCSI drives come in may different standards, many of them are not compatible with one another. So it's important be know that your computer supports the drive you plan to install.

The different SCSI connections are:

SCSI-1. A basic connection using a 25-pin connector, supporting transfer rates up to 4 MB per second.

SCSI-2. Uses a 50-pin connector and supports multiple devices with a transfer rate of 4MB per second.

Wide SCSI. These drives have a wider cable and a 68-pin connection that supports 16-bit data transfers.

Fast SCSI. Uses an 8-bit bus but transfers data at 10 MB Per second.

Fast Wide SCSI. Doubles both the bus (16-bit) and the data transfer rate (20 MB per second).
Ultra SCSI or Ultra Wide SCSI. Uses an 8-bit bus and transfers data at 20 MB per second.
SCSI-3. Features a 16-bit bus and transfers data at 40 MB per second.

Ultra2 SCSI. Uses an 8-bit bus and transfer data at a rate of 40 MB per second.

Wide Ultra2 SCSI. Uses a 16-bit bus and supports data transfer rates of 80 MB per second.

SCSI Hard Drives

Ultra320 SCSI Hard Drives

FIREWIRE (IEEE 1394)

The FireWire standard is becoming popular in portable hard drives because it can be connected and removed without having to reboot the computer. It supports data transfer rates of 50 MB per second, which means it is ideal for video, audio and multimedia applications. FireWire requires a dedicated add-in card and the hard drives in use require an external power source, but the interface can support up to 63 devices simultaneously.

FireWire Hard Drives
USB 1.1 (UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS)
Pretty much all computers today include USB ports on their motherboards. (On older model, you can install an add-in card.) USB controllers can be used to connect external hard drives, and can support as many as 127 devices simultaneously either through USB port hubs or linked in a daisy chain fashion. USB controllers do delivery power to devices connected to them, but many hard drives still use an external power source. USB is limited by its data transfer speed, the maximum rate being about at 1.5 MB per second.

USB Hard Drives
USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED USB)
A more recently introduced and far better connection standard that offers backward compatibility and data transfer rates of up to 60 MB per second. USB 1.1 system can use a USB 2.0 device; it will need a USB 2.0 controller card to achieve the higher transfer rates.

USB 2.0 Hard Drives
FIBRE CHANNEL
Fibre Cabling is mainly used for high-bandwidth network servers and workstations, providing very fast data transfer rates (up to 106MB per second), and connection at long cabled distances, although it is expensive and you need to install a special interface card.

Spin rate
Data transfer rate is crucial to how well your computer performs for you. Apart from the connection types above, the performance of your hard drive depends on its spin rate, measured in RPM. Higher RPM generally means faster data transfer rate. The lowest spin speed that is acceptable in computing today is 5400 RPM. The common standard at present is 7200 RPM. But higher speeds are available in SCSI drives, and it is one area of computer system technology that is constantly being developed.

3600 RPM Hard Drives
4200 RPM Hard Drives
5400 RPM Hard Drives
7200 RPM Hard Drives
10000 RPM Hard Drives
15000 RPM Hard Drives

A larger capacity hard drive will not necessarily make your system function any faster unless you are low on available disk space with your existing drive. But a drive with Ultra ATA/100 or ATA/133 and a 7200 RPM spin rate will pretty much guarantee an improved hard drive performance.

Other considerations
CACHE
Cache (pronounces 'cash') is additional temporary memory that acts as a buffer between the system and the drive. Frequently accessed data is stored in the cache for quick access. Cache sizes vary from 512 KB up to 16 MB on some SCSI drives. The larger cache you have on your drive, the faster your drive will transfer data. If you are working with large files, such as video, images and audio files, it pays to have the largest cache you can get (8MB or more).

SEEK TIME
The data on your disk is stored in tracks and sectors and when you instruct your hard drive controller to retrieve some data, it goes looking. The seek time is a measure of how long it takes the hard drive to find a specific track on a disk. Seek times can vary slightly from disk to disk and a drive with a faster seek time will always perform better.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TRANSFER RATES
These two rates tell how fast a drive actually reads the data and passes it along to the system. Internal Transfer Rate refers to the time it takes for a drives heads to read data from the platter and pass it to the drive's cache. The External Transfer Rate (sometimes called the Transfer Rate or the Burst Transfer Rate) is a measure of the time it takes to send the data from the cache all the way to the computer's memory. Naturally faster transfer rates provide better performance.

S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology)
This is a nice built-in feature in some hard drives that can help alert you to a potential hardware problem. Your computer's BIOS must support this in order for the SMART function it to work, however the drive itself will still work in a system without it.

10 Tips to Finding the Best Laptop

2007-08-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

Taking the time to review laptops is time well spent especially when wanting to have the best working laptop for all your specific needs.

When reviewing consider these things;

1. Screen - What are you looking for in the Screen., is it resolution, size, definition.

2. Portability - Are you carrying it around a campus or is it mainly home and hotel?

3. Speed - Laptops are generally 20-30% slower that Stationary Computer with the same features. If speed is a necessity be sure to check out details such as; CPUs, motherboards, hard drives, and video systems. These all contribute to the speed loss.

4. Upgradability - Likely there will not be a lot that You can upgrade on your laptop so it is good to know what you need for the long run. Upgrades can be pricey and some almost not worth getting when You could just get a whole new laptop…so get a good one to start.

5. Memory – This is So Important! Most lower-priced laptops are sold with 128 MB of system memory (RAM). That is not enough for running applications efficiently under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. If you use your laptop for occasional typing and web surfing you could get along with 128 MB of RAM but you are likely to be much happier with 256 MB. As well Power users would benefit from a notebook with at least 512 MB or more.

6. Batteries - Lithium batteries are superior to others.

7. Hard Drives - 20 GB is a minimum. Of course as they say, larger is better.

8. Hardware - (DVD/MPEG-2) - All DVD drives rely on MPEG graphics compression to display video. The present standard is called MPEG-2.

9. MPEG-2 compression can be provided by software which is slow or by hardware which is fast. Needless to say, hardware MPEG-2 is more desirable, and will provide a smoother playback. Hardware MPEG-2 is a video chip function in laptops.

10. Expense - Laptop computers can cost almost twice as much as similarly equipped desktops. You can actually purchase two comparably equipped desktops for the price of one laptop. So if you have to have a computer in two separate places, you would be better off with two desktops. As well if they were reasonably close together you could connect them together in a wired or wireless local area network (LAN). Buying a laptop is great if you are on the go. The more you need in it the more you’ll pay but it will be worth it!

How to Buy a Cheap Laptop Computer

2007-08-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

When planning to buy a cheap laptop computer, you need to consider factors that go well beyond performance and memory. You need to consider many factors like size, weight, screen dimensions, battery life, keyboard quality, built-in memory, and also certain other options like wireless connectivity.

Let us now consider some key features you need to consider when buying your laptop.

•Processor:
Choosing the right processor is a very important task because the processor determines how quickly a laptop can run applications and perform on-screen tasks. Don’t settle for anything less than 1.4 GHz. This is enough for everyday work-word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail etc. Pentium M processors are good for this purpose. These processors are fast and allow for long battery life.

•System memory:
The more memory your laptop has, the more applications you can run at once and the better your laptop will perform. Do not settle for anything less than 128 MB. However note that upgrading memory in laptops is not as easy as in the case of desktop computers.

•Screen size:
The size of a laptop’s LCD screen is quoted as a diagonal measurement. The larger the screen, the higher the maximum resolution and the more information you can view at once. For cheap laptops, choosing a 12.1 inches screen is a good option.

•Battery:
Thanks to the Pentium M processors. Laptops now have very good battery life when compared to the old ones. Battery life in the units equipped with these chips range roughly from 3 to 7 hours. Choosing a lithium ion rechargeable battery is a good option.

•Hard drive:
The larger the hard drive, the more data you can keep on your laptop. For a cheaplaptop, it is better to choose hard drives with 20GB or 40GB capacity depending on the usage.

•Keyboard:
Laptop keyboards are quite different from the keyboards we use with the desktop computers. The keys are quite small and closely packed. Get hands-on with the laptop keyboard before you actually buy it.

•Pointing device:
Opt for a touchpad or pointing stick built into the laptop. This is much more useful than connecting a mouse via a USB port.

•Optical drives:
Many manufacturers offer laptops with re-writable DVD drives. However for a budget laptop, a single CD-RW drive is more than sufficient.

•USB ports:
Two USB ports are enough for a budget laptop. If you need much more ports, you can always use an external USB hub. A hub usually consists of four or more USB ports and connects to one of your laptop’s USB ports.

•Weight:
Your laptop should weigh anywhere between 4 and 10 pounds. If you still want to reduce weight, use can use external floppy and CD drives.

•Communications:
Do not opt for serial ports, PS/2 ports and infrared ports as they are becoming rare. Opt for a built-in Ethernet instead.
You’ll probably spend a lot of time with your new laptop. Therefore research a lot before buying any particular brand. Check for user’s stories, consumer opinions, reviews and more. This will help you to get your dream laptop at a low cost.

Practical Tips For Buying Your New Laptop

2007-08-13T03:19:00.000-07:00

So you want to buy a laptop but don't know where to start. You're not alone. Buying a new laptop can present many challenges, especially if you're unfamiliar with laptops or notebook computers.

Mainly because a whole new generation of notebook technology comes around every two years or less; probably much less when you consider all the new advances made recently. It can even be a little overwhelming even for someone like myself who runs an online Laptop Guide and who has a keen interest in all things laptop.

Regardless of all these fancy new improvements, devices and notebook technology, you must remember you're buying a new laptop for you and you alone.

First, what to ask from yourself
- You must first decide if all this new stuff is important to you?

- Do you really need all this new notebook technology?

- But most of all before you can consider that question you must first figure out WHY you want a laptop?

- Why are you buying a laptop?

- What chores or tasks do you want the laptop to perform?

- If you just want a laptop for simple web browsing and emailing, a laptop made five years ago will do the job nicely and cost you a heck of lot less.

- So what do you need the laptop for?

Do you need a lightweight portable laptop for business trips or meetings? Do you need a student notebook for classes? Or do just want a desktop replacement computer that you can easily move around in your home?

Your answer will greatly determine which type of laptop you should buy.

* RAM
RAM is to computer what location is to real estate. RAM or Random Access Memory is perhaps the most important factor to consider when buying your laptop or any computer.

RAM will greatly determine the speed of your laptop or computer. How fast it will process your tasks and graphics. You must make sure you have enough for your needs. You can now find many laptops pre-loaded with 1 Gig of RAM and capable of upgrading to 4 Gigs or more.

Compared to yesterday's computers that's a lot of RAM. If you're not into gaming, handling large video files/editing, all that RAM is not needed but it will make your laptop run faster. Also, remember if you're into gaming, Video RAM will be important -- you need a top of the line (read expensive) Graphics Card and it will increase the cost of your laptop.

Also it may be wise to buy a laptop with upgradable memory - since new applications, multi windowed browsers, streaming video... of the very near future may place high demand on your laptop's RAM.

* Dual Core Processors
CPU or Computer Processing Unit is the heart of your laptop and in this case you have Two Hearts -- Intel Centrino Duo is the front runner in this area right now. However, AMD is giving Intel some stiff competition in the dual core battle with its Athlon™ 64 X2 dual core processor. Either one would be a wise choice.

* Hard Drive
The amount of space or size of laptop hard drives are steadily increasing, a 100 Gig laptop is now common. If you don't want a lot of storage, buying a smaller size hard drive will save you money.

Many laptop experts choose the SATA hard drive with a high 5400 or 7200 RPM.

* Weight or Size
Perhaps the majorreason you're considerng buying a laptop is its size or weight -- otherwise you're better of saving your money and buying a desktop computer instead. A laptop is portable, you can carry it anywhere... tuck it under your arm and cart it to class or your next business meeting. It is ideal for taking your information and work to wherever you want to go. This portability is the main selling feature of a laptop.

Obviously you must pick the best sized laptop to suit your needs. Laptops are divided into different categories, here's a quick rundown:

Tablet PC (smallest) Size of a paper tablet or notepad, less than 3 pounds.

Ultra Portable (small) <11">13" x >11" More than 1.5 inches, more than 7 pounds and up

Pick the size that suits your purpose and use.

* Price
Laptop prices are steadily falling, it is now possible to get a quality laptop for well under a $1000. Many are selling at the $500 - $600 range. High quality gaming laptops offered by such specialty laptop makers as Alienware, Rock, will still set you back 3 to 4 grand. Ouch!

* Warranties
Don't overlook this factor, if you're buying an expensive laptop, you might want to check out these extended warranties. If you do a lot of traveling, you might need to purchase insurance against thief and loss.

* Dead Pixels
If you can check your laptop for any dead pixels. A dead pixel will give you whitespots (pixels) on your LCD display screen. Most cases you're buying your laptop straight out of the box, booting up and finding you have dead pixels is not a pleasant experience. If you want to check your laptop screen for dead pixels, just do a search for the free 'Dead Pixel Buddy' software program and run it to check your laptop for dead pixels.

Make A List
It might prove helpful to create a list of the minimum requirements or features you want on your desired laptop:

Intel Duo 1 Gig of RAM 100 Gig Hard Drive 15 Inch Screen 4 or 5 Hours Battery Life Burn/Write DVDs...

* Kick The Tires
Like buying anything, it is always a good idea to fully check out your purchase. Sample the laptop's keyboard, does typing feel comfortable? Try the touchpad, is it responsive? Open your favorite programs and check the processing speed of your laptop. Bring along a DVD and sample the sound and graphics. Take note of any problems or irritations that may pop-up, in my case it was a small right shift key but this was so minor I knew I could get used to it and it didn't stop me from buying my desired laptop.

* Research Your Laptop
Use the Internet to research your desired laptop, know exactly what components it has and know what software is already preloaded. Be careful of salespeople who will try to charge you extra for configuring or installing programs on your laptop when these programs may already be preloaded at the factory stage!

If you consider most of the simple points and check out the factors listed above then making your own laptop purchase will not only be quite painless but it may even prove an enjoyable experience. Do a little homework and you will easily find the perfect laptop for you.

Buying Laptop

2007-08-13T03:11:00.000-07:00

With the many different brands and models on the market, buying a laptop or notebook computer may at first seem confusing. But simply breaking down the process into a few key areas and to search for the most suitable features and pricing makes it much easier to access exactly the machine you're looking for.

How important to you is mobility?

Mobility in laptop computers is a combination of size, weight and battery life: how often you carry it around, and if you will be relying mainly on the notebook's battery, or whether you will access an external power source. Laptops can weigh from a little over 1 kg up to 6kg, depending on the model and features included. The screen, storage space and disc drive all affect the weight. Battery life is shortened by bigger screens and multiple disc drives. Manufacturers advertise the weight of the laptop in their specifications, but it is important to consider whether that specification includes batteries and other peripherals such as external drives that you may be lugging around. The most common battery type is Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), which can operate for one to three hours under normal working conditions. But many power saving options available and higher celled batteries can extend the discharge time considerably. Battery life deteriorates over time however, and as your laptop ages; the discharge rate of the battery will diminish. Sometimes it is worthwhile carrying an additional battery.

Application and cost

If mobility is of a lesser concern, then battery life and weight will be less important. You may be more inclined to have a bigger processor, screen size and memory capacity. The type of work you do can affect the screen size and type that is most suitable for you. For a lighter load, and less graphics intensive applications a 12-14in screen instead of 15 or 17in widescreen will be more suitable. If, on the other hand, the graphics capabilities and size of the screen are important then the best screen you can afford will be more of a priority. It may work out cheaper to buy a basic unit and add such things as an external TV card and DVD burner when the need arises. How much you need to spend is closely related to how you use your laptop. If you only want to access your e-mail, browse the Web and do word processing, then you can consider lower budget machines with smaller processors, screens and facilities. A medium-level user, perhaps playing games or working in multimedia applications, will need a powerful processor, graphics controller, storage space, and a bigger screen. The more features your laptop has, the more expensive it will be. Including a DVD-burner instead of DVD-ROM, hard drive capacity of more than 40GB, a 17in widescreen screen and wireless capabilities results in a more expensive machine. If you are not looking for high power and graphics capabilities, then you may find a suitable laptop for around $1500. The latest processor, full blown graphics capability, DVD burner, widescreen and wireless connectivity may cost over $4000.

Other key components

Having determined by what you will do with it, and how mobile you need to be that you are definitely buying a laptop, you now need to get down to the nitty gritty and find the specifications that will meet your needs. So, what to look for? Essentially, you are considering differences between the following components: display, graphics controller, memory (RAM), hard disk, removable storage, networking options, peripheral connectivity, sound and battery.

Display and Graphics

Notebooks now all feature LCD screens (Liquid Crystal Displays) presenting crisp text and reduced eyestrain. These screens display sharper text than standard CRT monitors, but are less capable of displaying well-rendered graphics If you will be using your notebook for graphics work, it may be worthwhile having a CRT monitor to connect to. Screen sizes for notebooks range from 12.1in to 17in (widescreen). A 15in display or 15.4in widescreen alternative is the most common in notebooks today. Widescreen is quickly becoming more common, partly to accommodate playback of DVDs and also because widescreen proportions make it is more durable. On-screen graphics are affected by both the size and type of screen as well as the graphics card. It is reasonably safe to assume that larger displays offer higher on-screen resolution. Screen brightness (measured in nits) is another specification that can vary between makes and models. Brighter screens impact less on eyes and can be more easily read in bright conditions. Some manufacturers have a glossy, reflective coating over the display improving contrast and colours. But, because it increases the reflectivity of the screen, it can show you reflected in the screen. Surface scratches may also show up more readily. Not all LCD screens have the same viewable angle, with some screens not easily viewed from a side angle. Graphics performance in laptops is still inferior to that of desktop machines. All graphic controllers easily render 2-D images and if you don't need more from your graphics, then an integrated graphics controller is ample. However, if you want to play the latest 3-D games at a decent resolution and frame rate or you're a CAD designer, then you'll need a discreet graphics controller with a dedicated DDR video memory.

Memory and Storage

In all computers RAM chips keep the CPU efficiently fed with data or instructions from programs on the hard drive. Notebook computers now commonly use DDR SDRAM (Double Date Rate SDRAM), the default standard, and DDR2 SDRAM which is a next-generation memory type offering considerable performance and power benefits over SDRAM. Either way, when it comes to RAM, more memory is better and you should consider 256MB as the absolute minimum. Upgrading memory can achieve better performance, and quite a number of vendors offer higher RAM configurations as a 'deal sweetener' at the time of purchase.The hard drive provides the long-term storage and is the centre of program control. There are two critical specifications of hard disks. One is disk speed, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Faster disks speeds provide quicker access for loading and saving and 'file swapping'. The other is storage capacity, and drives are now available for notebook computers with 120GB capacity. If you work with large file sizes, then you will probably want at least 40GB of hard drive space. You may also want to consider the type of removable storage such as a DVD writer, removable hard disks and media or 'flash' card systems that will suit your use best.

Networking and connectivity

Laptop computers now include 56Kbps modem (RJ-11) and 10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45) connections as standard features. Some feature an Infrared port and you can use it to connect your mobile phone. Other wireless technology for connecting mobile phones, printers and PDA devices includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing connection at certified public access points and home wireless networking. Most laptops use USB 2.0 or FireWire connection for connecting keyboard, mouse, printers, cameras and other peripherals. Nearly every new notebook will have around three USB 2.0 ports, and one FireWire port and a VGA-out port to connect an external monitor to.Notebook computers have traditionally been able to expand their capability through simple plug-in PC Cards. Recently a new standard has emerged called ExpressCard, a smaller, faster and more portable plug-in card to provide such things as expanded video and sound capacity.

Laptops – To Own Or Not To Own?

2007-08-08T02:53:00.000-07:00

Keep in mind, advances are constantly occurring and the technology here will be outdated soon. Use this guide as a minimum starting point.

The First biggest concern or problem with a laptop has been its portability … portability meaning the battery is needed. You absolutely have to have a computer with Mobile Technology.

Second is where WiFi comes in. Of course you want your laptop to have the modem and cable adaptors, for online hookup, but it would be an absolute crime if you didn’t get WiFi capability. WiFi is nothing more than having a wireless Internet connection, thus no cables or plugs for the laptop.

Third, you want to have as light weight of a laptop as you can without sacrficing keyboard size. This makes it that much easier to carry around and you will find yourself carrying it around more frequently.

Fourth, you want a CD/DVD recorder on board and at least two USB ports. The CD/DVD player allows you to watch movies or backup important information. The USB ports allow you to hook up peripherals such as cameras, printers, etc.

Last, but not least, are the “other things” you need to make your laptop perform as good as its big brother. You want at least 256 RAM (I recommend 512), a 30 GB hard drive (I recommend 60 GB) and a screen and keyboard size that fits you.

Laptop audio and sound systems

2007-08-08T02:52:00.000-07:00

One area of laptop computing that’s often overlooked is the audio. While it goes without saying that you’ll never get concert-hall quality from your laptop’s sound system, those with any interest in sound quality – for example, those who like to listen to MP3s or watch DVDs during their travels – are advised not to overlook this aspect of laptop computing.

The heart of any PC audio system is the sound card. On a laptop, however, audio is generally integrated into the main board. Your best clue to superior audio quality is a laptop that uses the word multimedia in its description. Any laptop specifically designed for multimedia is sure to have above-average audio capabilities.

Also consider the built-in speaker system. Often laptop manufacturers will boast brand-name speakers. Ths is another clue that some thought was put into that laptop’s audio capabilities. Advanced speaker capability is an obvious plus, too.

A great sound system won’t do you much good if it’s difficult to access. Look for the finer details, too. For example, where is the mini headphone jack (discussed later) located? Is it near the front of the laptop where it’s easily accessible, or is it on the back? Likewise, where are the speakers positioned? Some laptops have been known to position their speakers in front of the keyboard. This is okay when you’re sitting back to enjoy some tunes, not so good when you want to work to Kenny Chesney or Metallica and your hands are right on top of the speakers.

Dual Core Laptops - Sorting The Facts From The Fluff

2007-08-08T02:48:00.000-07:00

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 its 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 fingerprin reader hardware can do.

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

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.

Connecting a Laptop to Multiple Networks

2007-08-08T02:45:00.000-07:00

Having a notebook or laptop provides the freedom to be truly mobile. You can work in many places and situations. But this brings an annoyance: if you move your notebook between various different networks, you always have to change network settings.

Recently my employer has issued me a brand new notebook. When I came home at the end of the day, I had to disable DHCP, set up an IP-address and DNS configuration. Next morning I needed to reverse my configuration to work at my office. The real headache began when I went to our customer site...

SWITCHING NETWORK SETTINGS ON THE FLY

There are three ways to switch a notebook between networks with one click.
First is to use a built-in windows feature of saving and loading network settings. This way is for experienced users.
Second is by using Windows XP "alternate configuration" feature.
The third way is to use third-party utilities like Net Profile Switch, IPSwitch etc.

WINDOWS "NETSH" UTILITY

Windos 2000 comes with the "netsh" utility that gives you the possibility to "dump" all network settings into a file which you can later use to restore your complete Network settings.
To Save the current Settings use "netsh -c interface dump >netset1.txt" To Load the Settings again use "netsh -f netset1.txt"

Create a dump file for every Network that you use (e.g.., netset2.txt, etc.) and create a desktop shortcut for every Network.

Pros: - Cons: hard for inexperienced users, does not deal with switching a proxy server in a web-browser, mapping network drives etc.

WINDOWS XP "ALTERNATE CONFIGURATION" FEATURE

Windows XP contains the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties" dialog box, which has a tab "Alternate Configuration" in it. You can specify "alternative" settings, which would be used when the "default" settings are not accessible.

Types of laptops categorized

2007-08-06T02:55:00.000-07:00

Most of us tend to think of laptops in the same way: a fairly small portable computer that can open and close like a suitcase, with all of the capabilities of a desktop. In fact, the term “laptop” is really very generic. There are currently four main styles of these portable PCs, each offering something a bit different, depending upon your specific needs.

Ultralights

Also known as sub-notebooks or ultraportables, this style of laptop weighs up to – but no more than – four pounds, making them ideal for travelers. The upside of an ultralight is that it doesn’t burden those who have to spend a lot of time carrying them with aching muscles, as its larger cousins often do. The downside, however, is that – in order to cut down on the size and weight – this type of laptop is so small that there’s no room for a network card or internal CD drive. In order to reap the benefits of these types of “attachments,” you’d have to bring an external CD drive and port replicator. Another negative in the scenario is that ultralights tend to be on the expensive end of the laptop spectrum.

Notebooks

This is basically just a regular laptop, but is slightly less heavy, weighing in at four to six pounds. While it’s heavier than the smaller ultralight, it also offers more options with less fuss. Offering the flexibility of a combo bay, notebooks are designed with a large opening on the side which allows the user to plug a CD drive, floppy disk or extra battery – allowing you to access the features that you need without the burden of making room for those that aren’t needed.

Standards

Commonly referred to as “regular laptops,” these weigh between six ad eight pounds and offer a full range of benefits. This technological pack-mule is the best buy – dollar for dollar – when you consider the cost/performance ratio. Due to their popularity, combined with their design and usability, it’s not uncommon to find discounts on these from major manufacturers. Other types of laptops, which fall into more specialized categories, tend to be in the higher price ranges. The bottom line is, of the four main types of laptops, the standard is the most economical for the most reasonable amount of money.

Extra Large

Although this type of laptop doesn’t yet have a technical name, it’s best to simply refer to it as “extra large,” since they weigh between eight and ten pounds and have a screen that measures at least 17 inches. In addition, the keyboard is much larger than a standard laptop, making it a more comfortable fit for those who find the keyboard of the standard laptop rather inhibitive. There are a couple of downfalls to owning this type of unit, not the least of which includes its weight. There can be a four pound difference between the weight of a standard and an extra large laptop – and that’s quite a bit, when you think about lugging it around all day. The other negative factor is the cost of this type of laptop. It offers a price tag that’s every bit as hefty as its weight and size.

The purchase of a laptop comes down to personal preference, and there are enough styles in the laptop community to please just about everyone. For those who can’t decide and just want “a laptop,” then it’s probably better to stick to the standard model.

Laptop Care Guide and Spin-off

2007-08-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

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 ina 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.

How To Choose The Best Student Laptop?

2007-08-02T02:32:00.001-07:00

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!

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!

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.

By Titus Hoskins

Brief History of the Notebook Computer

2007-08-01T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Whole Thing Started With Babbage!

However, computers are relatively new. The personal computer with video made it's first appearance in the early 1970's. It wasn't until the 80's and 90's that they became commonplace in our lives.

Charles Babbage's Difference Engine

Charles Babbage is considered by most to be the father of the computer. He invented a device called the Difference Engine in 1822. Babbage, who was an eccentric British mathematician used this device to perform computations or calculations -- and the modern day computer was given it's start! Long trek of time passed ... ....we jump to the early 1950's in the United States.

Here's some more interesting facts you might want to know about computers and notebooks:

Simon Electromechanical Personal Computer One of the first simple computers - the Electromechanical machine which could perform digital computations. It was invented by Edmund Berkeley in 1950.

First Fully Electronic Computer IBM a company that was incorporated in June 15, 1911 - produced the first fully electronic computer in 1952. It was called the IBM 701. This computer could read and write magnetic tape; only nineteen 701's were ever installed.

RCA Bizmac Computer Little known fact about RCA - it was once in the data processing field - competing with IBM. It produced a computer using 25,000 vacuum tubes in 1956. RCA withdrew from manufacturing computers in 1971.

IBM Introduces the Business Computer In 1964 IBM starts producing it's family of Business Mainframe Computers and starts to dominate this market.

The First Mouse The first computer mouse is introduced in 1968 by Douglas Engelbart at the Fall Joint Computer Expo in San Francisco.

The First PC - Is Released To The Public In 1975 - IBM released it's IBM 5100 which was the first PC. Six years later, it's distance cousin - Model 5150 is often referred to as the first PC. The IBM 5100 contained a tape drive for program storage and had only 16K to 64K of memory.

The First Successful Portable Computer One of the first portable computers was developed not by any of the major computer companies we know today but by Adam Osborne Osborne was a publisher of technical books when he introduced the Osborne Portable Computer in 1981. This computer had a small 5-inch CRT which displayed 52 characters of text. Physically, it bares little resemblance to the notebook or laptop computer of today but Osborne's heart was in the right direction -- Osborne wanted a computer that would fit under an airplane seat! The Osborne sold for $1795 and did good business selling 10,000 units a month. However, other larger companies jumped on the bandwagon - Most notably Compaq - and the Osborne computer company went bankrupt in 1983.

Compaq Portable The computer company Compaq, which gets it name from the word 'compact' introduced the first IBM Compatible computer in 1982. You only have to look at the Stats of the Compaq Portable to see how far notebook computers have advanced. Try getting your daily computer tasks done on 4.77 MHz with 128k of RAM and a 320k floppy disk --- viewed on a 9-inch monochrome screen. This Compaq Portable tipped the scales at 28 lbs!

We have come a long way! In comparison - the latest HP Pavilion zd8000 comes with a 3.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, 17 inch monitor -- all weighting in at 12.1 lbs. It's a TV set, PVR, DVD player, stereo, and last but not least a computer!

The First Notebook Sized Computer

The first notebook to hit the market is generally believed to have been the Epson's HX-20. This was the world's first hand held computer and it was introduced in JULY 1982. It had only 16KB of RAM and weighted only 1.6 kg or roughly 3 and half pounds. It proved to be very popular - not only for personal use but also in factories where it could be used on the production line.

Here's other Facts about Computers You may or May not want to know: 1983 Tandy, Epson and NEC all enter the notebook market with the Tandy's model 100 becoming the most popular. Priced at $499. 1984 Dell Computer is founded May 3, 1984 in Austin Texas. 1985 Gateway 2000 is founded in Sioux City, Iowa. 1993 Intel releases the Pentium Processor. 1993 The Internet starts experiencing massive growth. With or without Al Gore's Help!! 1994 Microsoft releases Windows 95, beta code name Chicago. 1997 Bill Gates becomes the world's richest businessman. And on it goes....