Picking Out the Right Laptop

October 13th, 2011

As students graduate from college, they are seemingly ready to take on the world and jump into the real working world. There will be new responsibilities and an entirely new life ahead of them. As friends and family of these graduates, it is our responsibility to assist them in any way possible to help them succeed.

Part of this contribution is the graduation gift. I always love to give big gifts to college graduates because I remember finishing school and thinking to myself “What was that all for?” I would have loved for someone to have capped off my collegiate career with a useful gift that would help set me up to achieve my career goals. My best friend recently graduated from college, and when it was time to choose a graduation gift, the first thing I thought of getting her was a new laptop.

I have purchased many laptops in the past, but with the speed at which technology advances today, I knew I needed some help picking out the right laptop for the new college grad! I brought along one of my son’s, who’s currently enrolled in online University courses, because he’s particularly suited to understanding the types of things a laptop should have in order to be an effective tool.

Here are the three most important tips she gave me:

1. Uses – Be sure to consider what the person is going to be using the computer for. Are they a graphic designer, a writer, or an artist? There are different computers designed to help professionals do their job more efficiently, and one computer might be built more for a graphic designer than for a teacher. With that said, make sure that the computer has the capabilities and design appropriate for the recipient’s line of work.

2. Size – With so many different sizes of laptops on the market, it can be difficult to decide on a particular one. If the graduate is going to be using the laptop for ordinary emails and office work, a normal 13” screen would be sufficient. However, if someone needs the computer for art work, managing multiple programs at a time, a larger screen, such as a 15” or 17” might be better. Again, this is something where you must consider their occupation and what they’ll be using it for.

3. Price – With the recent downturn of the economy, many people are struggling to get by each and every day. Laptops are not cheap, but they can be pretty affordable. You can even get a laptop for around $500-$600, but you could definitely spend over $2,000 as well if you got a top of the line model. Take a look at your finances and how much you are willing to spend, and then make your decision based upon that.

Overall, keep in mind that laptops are not “one size fits all” and there are a lot of different models for a reason. Don’t buy the first laptop you see, shop around and find the right laptop for your graduate.

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What Is A Lap Pad?

September 13th, 2011

If you recently bought a laptop computer, it’s very possible that you have also been browsing laptop accessories as well. One of the more common accessories that you might find in many online laptop accessory shops are lap pads. Lap pads, also called laptop cooling pads or laptop cooling desks, are a must if you care about keeping your laptop in the best shape possible during warm summer months.

Lap Pad when sitting on the couch

Working with a Laptop on the couch

Without a little bit of extra help when it comes to keeping your laptop cool, you can run into several major problems, especially if you regularly use your laptop in bed. A laptop that is regularly used in areas of a lot of fabric or dust are at an elevated risk of overheating. If your laptop overheats frequently, you will probably end up losing important information, having your computer unexpectedly shut down at inopportune moments, and eventually lose your computer to irreparable damage. Therefore, getting a laptop cooling pad is probably the best investment that you can make if you want to keep your laptop in tip top shape.

Lap pads are used to keep your laptop’s temperature a little bit cooler than with traditional laptop desks. With a lap pad, you might have fans installed, or it may be made of a special material that manages to keep computers cooler for a longer period of time. Other times, the design of a lap pad will let heat escape from a laptop quickly.

Lap pads run the gamut from the cheap to the expensive. They can be as cheap as $10, or as expensive as $100. A cheap lap pad simply has enough vents to let the hot air that comes from your laptop escape. They are often lightweight, and are ideal for fans of laptop in bed use. More expensive lap pads might have built in fans which help bring cool air into your laptop’s system while taking out the heat. Some can even be custom built for added functionality, making them even pricier.

If you don’t want to use your laptop in bed in the traditional way, a bed table or a bed tray might make a good substitute for a lap pad. However, many computer experts agree that having a good laptop cooling pad is a better investment, since it’s specifically designed to keep your laptop cool. Lap pads come in a wide variety of styles and colors, so you can find one that will match your home décor without much problem at all.

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Laptop In Bed

September 11th, 2011

Laptops In Bed : Etiquette and Smart Moves

If you are one of the many people who love to use their laptop in bed, then you know that there are a lot of things that you should to do keep yourself comfortable. Did you know that there are also special things you have to take into account when using your laptop in bed when it comes to your laptop’s safety, your social life, and even your married life? It’s true! Make sure to follow these guidelines if you want to keep those special things in life intact.

The first thing that you need to think about when using your laptop in bed is your laptop. Overheating is a terrible side effect of using your laptop on woolly fabric, your bare lap, or in a dusty room. You can minimize damage to your laptop by getting a lap pad, a bed tray, or a bed table. All three of these laptop accessories can become a major part of your furniture, and also can save your computer from overheating or getting too dusty.

As much as you may value your laptop, you probably value your social life more. In order to keep your social life intact, it’s best to keep a certain time limit on your daily laptop use. A nice day or so of using your laptop in bed is great, but too much computer use can actually put a serious dent in your social skills. Sure, hanging out in your room with your friends as you play your favorite MMORPG can be fun, but you also need to keep a healthy dose of outside exploration in your life as well. Otherwise, you might become a shut-in. It’s a good idea to bring your laptop along for social outings, but only for a source of entertainment.

If you use your laptop in bed for work, please stop it. Bringing work into your area of rest has actually been linked to major issues in romantic relationships, as well as your own personal wellbeing. You need to be able to separate work and rest, or else you will become very stressed. Stress hurts you in many ways. Give yourself a break, and keep your relationship in order – use your laptop in bed for gaming, reading, and entertainment only. After all, even using your laptop in bed requires a certain amount of balance, and consideration for keeping everything that you really need intact. This includes your relationships in life, your mental health, and your laptop.

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Laptop Cooling Stands: Your Favorite Necessity

August 26th, 2011
If you heard that there is an inexpensive way to make your laptop last for years longer, run faster, and also avoid sudden shutdown, what would you say? Laptop cooling stands do just that, and more. How do they do all this?
Computers often will grow extremely hot when working for long periods of time. Sometimes, if a computer is in the wrong environment, and has no cooling mechanism, it can overheat. When it overheats, it suddenly shuts down. If a computer overheats too much, chances are that the computer will sustain some permanent damage. There have even been extreme cases, where important parts of a laptop were melted because of the high temperatures that frequently occurred with that laptop. Keeping a laptop cool allows it to work longer, and also avoids overheating.
There are many different kinds of laptop cooling stands, ranging from the inexpensive to the expensive. Inexpensive laptop stands can cost anywhere from $5 to $15, and they work by giving your laptop a little bit of breathing space underneath the computer. Sometimes, using a laptop cooling stand on the inexpensive side is an excellent way to save some money. Other times, a better solution is available for a higher price. Cheaper laptop stands also are often more portable, and fit comfortably in a laptop bag.
Ergonomic and changeable laptop stands exist, which are perfect for very long term use. They are comfortable, and they can be altered to work in just about any position. You don’t have to worry too much about carpal tunnel syndrome when you use a super comfy laptop stand. The desk heights can be easily adjusted perfectly for your own height and typing style. Unlike many cheaper laptop stands, this gives you a “desk at home” feeling that really makes work a breeze.
Considering all the benefits that laptop stands offer, it’s it time that you find one that works for you?

Laptop Cooling Stands: Your Favorite NecessityIf you heard that there is an inexpensive way to make your laptop last for years longer, run faster, and also avoid sudden shutdown, what would you say? Laptop cooling stands do just that, and more. How do they do all this?Computers often will grow extremely hot when working for long periods of time. Sometimes, if a computer is in the wrong environment, and has no cooling mechanism, it can overheat. When it overheats, it suddenly shuts down. If a computer overheats too much, chances are that the computer will sustain some permanent damage. There have even been extreme cases, where important parts of a laptop were melted because of the high temperatures that frequently occurred with that laptop. Keeping a laptop cool allows it to work longer, and also avoids overheating.There are many different kinds of laptop cooling stands, ranging from the inexpensive to the expensive. Inexpensive laptop stands can cost anywhere from $5 to $15, and they work by giving your laptop a little bit of breathing space underneath the computer. Sometimes, using a laptop cooling stand on the inexpensive side is an excellent way to save some money. Other times, a better solution is available for a higher price.

Cheaper laptop stands also are often more portable, and fit comfortably in a laptop bag.Ergonomic and changeable laptop stands exist, which are perfect for very long term use. They are comfortable, and they can be altered to work in just about any position. You don’t have to worry too much about carpal tunnel syndrome when you use a super comfy laptop stand. The desk heights can be easily adjusted perfectly for your own height and typing style. Unlike many cheaper laptop stands, this gives you a “desk at home” feeling that really makes work a breeze.Considering all the benefits that laptop stands offer, it’s it time that you find one that works for you?

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Laptop Overheating – Simple solutions or Laptop Tray

September 6th, 2010

One of the most common complains of laptop users is over heating.
Apparently , there are quite a few laptop brands in the market that get quite hot even with simple day  to day use.
However , in most cases , overheating can be reduced by taking a few simple steps:
Normakl working temperature of a computer is between 35-55 degrees, 35 when idle and 55 when watching a movie of playing a game on your laptop.  It is fairly simple to measure your laptop’s temperature by using a freeware called Speedfan.

Here are the reasons your laptop may be overheating:
1)   Blocked air ways ( by a blanket , rug, pillow or something else )  – Make sure the laptops airways are always free and and allow constant air flow.
2)    Clogged fans , air ways or heat sinks.   – Dust , hair and plain dirt can clog your computers heat systems.  This is the number one reason for laptop overheating and can be solved by carefully opening the laptop and cleaning the system. ( Vaccum cleaner can be used but only at low power and with great care )
3)   Background tasks that hog CPU resources..  – Use your systems task manager to find our if such task exists and eliminate it or uninstall the specific software that loads it.
4)    Graphic engines like linux Compiz of Vista Aero which use a lot of CPU and can be easily disabled without much consequence.
5)    Room temperature – In the summer , in hot places , your laptop can get quite hot as well.  Keeping the room cool will usually help your laptop keep cool.

If all this does not help , you might be needing the help of some external fan or cooling tray.  There are heaps of Laptop trays and cooling fans in the market and most do a fine job at cooling your laptop.
I would suggest to get a cooling fan that doubles as a lap desk for the ultimate laptop experience.
Check out this cooling laptop tray

or see some other lap desks that can passively assist in laptop cooling

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Types of Laptop Cases

May 22nd, 2010

Nowadays, everyone seems to carry a laptop to their schools and workplaces, laptops have become necessary devices for the masses. Laptops are designed for mobile computing, which means we need something to carry it in.  There are different types of laptop cases available in the market these days. Here is a brief overview of the options available in the market.

1. Briefcase bags: the briefcase bags are usually meant for the workplace. These bags come in different colors and are mostly rectangular. The bags usually have a shoulder strap as well as carrying handles on them. The briefcase bags are usually meant for workplaces.

2. Bike messenger bags: the bike messenger bags are aimed towards the young generation, who ride bikes to their schools. The bike messenger laptop bags have a lot of cushion cover to protect the laptop from unexpected bumps. The bike messenger bags usually come with a shoulder strap and another strap that secures the bag to the waist of the wearer. The bike messenger bags are ideal for students.

3. Backpacks: the backpacks are extremely popular among all the laptop users for their sheer versatility. Both office goers and students can use the backpacks. The backpacks are designed to be a snug fit for the notebooks and most of them harnesses to keep the notebook from bumping around.

4. Laptop sleeves: laptop sleeves on the other hand take the minimalist approach, while carrying the notebook. The laptop sleeves are meant to protect the laptop from duct and coffee spills. If you intend to carry the notebook for long distances, you will need to use the laptop sleeve with a backpack.
At the end of the day, it is all about finding the laptop carrying solution that best suits your requirements so choose carefully.

So get your Laptop Accessories today.

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Lapdesks and Ergonomics

May 10th, 2010

Nowadays, laptops come with faster processors and better graphics card , which means they get hotter quickly. If you use your notebook on your lap for extensive periods, you might risk getting burned. If you are a power user, who likes to run CPU intensive tasks on the notebook or just a heavy “Lap User “, then you should get a lapdesk for yourself.

Too much heat generated within the laptop can damage the internal components and reduce performance.

The lapdesks are designed to increase airflow around the laptop and help it cool faster. Anybody, who uses a mobile computing device, will also know that battery life is very important and increase in temperature can reduce battery life.

The lapdesks are manufactured by various companies like Belkin, Logitech, Coolermaster, Lap Gear etc.  The lapdesks come in various shapes and sizes.
Some of the lapdesks also come with fans attached to them; these fans blow cool air under the surface of the notebook and keep the temperature under control. Every laptop has heat-dissipating vents underneath the body. When the user keeps the laptop on his/her lap, the vents are blocked and the heat cannot be dissipated this may lead to serious problems.
No matter what the name suggests, laptops are meant to be kept on solid hard surfaces. So, if you want to work with the notebook on your lap.

The lap desk aims to elevate the laptop so that the heat vents can get the perfect airflow.

The laptop Cool boast of a smooth wave design with 2 high rpm fans in the middle that blow cool air to the laptop.

Any laptop user who wants his notebook to function perfectly for extensive periods should get a lapdesk for himself.

There are lots of companies to choose from, take your notebook with you while shopping for a good lapdesk.

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Lap Desk – Ergonomic Laptop Desk or Pillow

April 29th, 2010

What is a Lap Desk? Why do I need one? I will try to answer these questions in this article.

A Lap Desk is indeed as it sounds, a desk for your lap. The Lap Desk is mainly used for working with your laptop on your lap but can also be used for writing, reading, drawing and many other activities that require a flat surface to work on.
The concept exists for years way before the age of the laptop computer, in the past , it was mainly used for disabled individuals to be able to read , write and eat using a table on their lap.

In today’s age where mobility is the key, laptops exists in almost every home, since notebook prices are decreasing every day, it is almost cheaper to buy a laptop computer rather than the old fashioned desktop.
Laptops were given their names because they were originally designed to work with on ones lap. The fact is most of today’s laptop are rather heavy, tend to overheat and might be spreading radiation to some extent.

This is where the Lapdesk comes in.
The Lapdesk has numerous advantages:
1)Raising the Laptop computer and therefore releasing strain from the neck and back.
2)Isolating the Lap from the heat generated from the Laptop.
3)Leaning the laptop at an angle easier for viewing and typing.
4)Cushioning the bottom surface to make using your laptop more comfortable.
5)Allowing the use of an external mouse while using your computer on your lap.

There are quite a bit of Lap Desk types, some are firm and some soft, some wider than others and some compact enough that they can fit right into your laptop back.

So how would one choose?

The answer is very simple, it can be said that the bigger the Lapdesk will be , the more comfortable it will be to work on. But you must remember that when buying a large Lap Desk you will lose the mobile advantage of carrying it around with you.
If you intend to use your laptop mostly on the road, you might be better off choosing a more compact Lap Desk.

Most Lapdesks range from 30$ to 120$, they can easily be bought online and shipped all over the world.

Enjoy your Laptop and beware, the Lap Desk can make you addicted to working at home.

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