Some Tips To Prevent Laptop Theft

The world keeps growing but criminality is growing as well. Now most of us already get used with criminal stories on the television. Laptop theft, sadly, is one of these usual criminal stories. There are some tips and suggestions to help you prevent these thieves to steal your data and your laptop. I hope after you read this, you will understand how important to keep the data inside your laptop is.

First, keep your laptop in the safest place with you. Maybe you prefer to put your laptop in a place where people can see it because you want they see your new and expensive laptop. But believe me, it's better to keep your laptop in a place where people can't see it. Put your laptop inside your trunk when you drive your car or buy a lockable bag instead of a usual laptop bag.

With these small steps, you can make a big difference. When thieves can't see your laptop or at least they do not notice it, they won't be able to steal your laptop easily. Don't ever forget to put a password in your operation system and encrypt the most important data. By doing this, the thieves can't steal or at least read any valuable data.

If you are afraid that one day you will forget the passwords, you can try to write the passwords on your personal book or your PC. But remember to never bring any of these password reminders in the same time with your laptop. If you want to reduce the risks of becoming a victim to laptop theft, try to do these tips and you'll be fine.

Best Buy PDA - Major PDA Questions Answered

If you have been thinking about buying a PDA, there are probably a million questions you would like answered. As a PDA owner, that really enjoys this gadget, I have compiled the major ones here and would try answering them the best I can.

Why get a PDA?

A PDA is great for carrying around your documents A PDA is a great place to keep all the little (and big) things in your life together. Many say the best part is that it does most of the work for you.

How does a PDA work?

A PDA is furnished with a stylus, which is a special interactive pen, along with a touch screen. The screen actually has several layers, with the top layer consisting of a thin sheet of plastic or glass. A PDA is usually backed up on your PC, so there is always a back-up.

A PDA is a great tool to stay organized. They are very popular with road warriors, corporate professionals, college students, etc.

Organizing applications on a PDA is similar to putting files into folders on your desktop computer and serves the same purpose: It makes locating things easier.

To put applications in folders, or categories, go to your home page, then tap on Menu. Organizations are exploring the potential of new wireless technologies that allow physicians to access patient information from hospital or practice management systems. If your healthcare facility is looking at mobile and wireless devices it would be important to determine if the PDA your purchase can support that capability.

How Much Would A PDA Cost?

PDAs generally range anywhere in price from $100 all the way up to $1,000 with physical size, memory and color being the most influential factors in pricing. Devices based on the Palm OS tend to be at the low to mid range of this spectrum with Pocket PC devices at the middle to higher end (this is primarily due to the extra memory and added functions that come standard on a Pocket PC). Priced at $359.99, it's an affordable solution for anyone who prizes Web accessibility but doesn't want the weight, the bulk, or the expense of a full-blown laptop.

Anything Else I should get for my New PDA?

There is a huge choice of PDA accessories to choose from. Choose from pouches, flip cases, book cases, fully-zippered cases and open face cases, depending on your PDA make and model. Leather cases are durable, rugged and stylish, and are available in a wide variety of colors and designs. Choose carefully as new product options are appearing often.

Where Can I Get Best Prices For PDAs?

There are a wide variety of online stores to purchase PDAs. EBay would probably be your best bet. Look for the best prices at sites like; [http://onlinepdaguide.com/MegaStore].

The Acer TravelMate 5720 - Laptop That is Different

The Acer TravelMate 5720 is a laptop that guarantees and boasts of high performance. This gadget is empowered with an Intel processor, a screen, hard drives and 1024 MB memory support. This notepad works on Windows XP Professional Operating System and has a web cam that is used for chatting and making video calls.

The 15.4" widescreen display of the laptop is an elegant means of viewing pictures and videos. The screen displays graphics and data with a very sharp resolution. The user finds the screen of the laptop very useful for purposes of video shows and picture viewing. Playing games on the laptop is also possible due the availability of the attractive screen. In fact the screen is important and without it doing any work would not be possible with the laptop. The computer has a hard drive of 160 GB and that helps to speed up the processing and opening of any files. Moreover, the large memory support of the device helps to overcome every shortfall and it becomes possible for people to use the notepad for storing files, data, documents, videos and music at a large scale. The audio output sound card allows the user the listen to music using a speaker or a microphone. Thus there is also the option of entertainment while simultaneously working on the Nokia 8800 Carbon.

The device has input systems in the form of a keyboard, a touch pad, and a 4-way scroll button. The output parts of the system are its speaker, microphone, screen, Bluetooth aerial and LAN aerial. The presence of the Bluetooth aerial allows the user to send and receive files wirelessly. The LAN aerial is the means of remaining connected to the internet even when there is no analog adaptor. This gadget has a Li-Ion battery that gives a support of 3.5 hrs of run time. So, one can carry the laptop to office and still use it while on the way in the cab. The dimensions of the gadget are 36 cm x 26.7 cm x 4.3 cm and it weighs only 3 kg.

Common Problems With Laptops & Some Solutions - Liquid Spills, Cooling, Power & LCD Display Screen

Fixing Common Laptop Problems

Liquid Spills on Laptop

I have repaired many Laptops exposed to accidental liquid spills. This is a recoverable condition in most cases. It is most important to respond to the cleaning up process as soon as possible (before corrosion or internal soakage occur)! Liquid intrusion can cause the following types of laptop damage:

Short circuit due to conductive nature of wet liquid (problem may clear as liquid dries) Short circuit due to dried liquid residue Corrosion occurs (particularly volatile with some acidic soft drinks - Coke) Electronic components damaged by above short circuits

Possible Solution: Immediately when a spill occurs, turn off the laptop, invert the laptop and leave the unit upside down (drainage) for at least 20-30 minutes. Then, remove any attached leads, remove the power unit and battery, and allow the unit to air-dry overnight.

To remove any liquid residual: Have someone remove the keyboard assembly and perform additional cleaning. It may help to use cotton buds and distilled water to remove any contamination. Where corrosive side effects may be suspected (with coke), gently rub any suspect areas with a cotton bud dampened with CRC or WD-40. Dry the treated areas so that only a light film of the WD-40 anti-corrosive solution remains. While the keyboard is removed, use a bright light and magnifying lens to inspect areas where the liquid made contact.

Laptop randomly turns off

This is often due to:

AC power adaptor sensing an overload of power drain Overheating processor due to a build of internal dust (clogged fan) AC power adaptor not able to sustain normal power needs (faulty power adaptor) Battery overheating, due to internal battery fault, or charging levels Intermittent short circuit or open connection (check condition of power leads)

On older Laptops, the most common reason is poor cooling. Try going somewhere air-conditioned and see if that helps. Inspect the areas near the internal cooling fan; see if there is a build up of dust fibres. Easy way to check this; with the unit running, feel the flow of air from the cooling outlet(s) - is the airflow very low? If yes, and the unit is at normal operation temperature, this may indicate the internal cooling system is partially clogged.

Troubleshoot Laptop LCD Video Display problems

Here are some tips and tricks for troubleshooting and fixing laptop video problems. Video issues are very common within portable computers and with the following tips you should be able to detect and eliminate basic laptop video problems.

Laptop LCD screen has a faint image or is very dark

Look closely at the laptops LCD screen, and see if you can see a very faint image. If you can then it is possible that the Laptop's LCD lid close switch is stuck in the closed position. In this mode the backlight stays off, even with the LCD lid open. This is to conserve power when the laptop is ON with the LID closed. Check the LCD lid close switch. It is a small plastic pin located close to the back LCD hinges. Try tapping the lid switch a few times to see if you can turn on the screen backlight. If that does not help, then I would suggest to replace the FL inverter board.

Laptop LCD screen is solid white colour or garbled

Connect an external computer monitor to the laptop. If the external monitor display is fine, then you have a problem with the Laptop LCD screen or the LCD cable connection. If the external monitor image is the same as on the Laptop LCD, then it is likely to be a faulty integrated onboard video, this means replacing the motherboard of the Laptop.

A typical Laptop LCD display assembly

This is a simplified explanation of the basic components that are involved on a Laptop LCD video display problem:

LCD Connector: Video data is sent from the motherboard through to the LCD screen. A video cable also feeds voltage to the FL inverter board on the LCD panel FL inverter PCB: This section converts the low voltage DC source to high voltage AC, as required to energise the backlight bulb. If the FL inverter PCB is faulty, the LCD screen will show a very dim image on the Laptop display screen CCFL (backlight bulb): When the backlight bulb is working, you can see the image on the LCD screen. With some Laptops, the backlight bulb is a part of the LCD screen assembly and needs to be replaced with a complete LCD screen assembly. It requires a specialized Laptop repair workshop to replace the backlight bulb Laptop Lid close switch: This switch is a small switch (mechanical or magnetic) that is located close to the rear display hinges. Most laptops will either hibernate or operate in standby mode when the LCD is closed. This is achieved by interfacing with the Laptop's BIOS power management software. In turn this is linked to the Windows operating system



Laptop is slow and continually shows Internet popup's

The Laptop is very likely infected with spyware. Spyware is software that hides on your computer and attempts to collect information about your activity on the internet. Spyware is sometimes transferred to your computer when you download 'unknown' free software or when you link to free music Internet programs (KaZaA, Limewire, BearShare, etc). The best method to remove and further prevent spyware is to use Spybot. Please read my Spyware Software Help Page.

Laptop is frozen, no response to keyboard or mouse, cannot Shutdown

With most Laptops I have seen that this will happen from time to time! The easy method to solve this problem is:

Disconnect the laptop power cord Remove the battery from the laptop Wait a short while (10 seconds) Replace the Laptop battery into the unit Reconnect the Laptop Power cord Turn the Laptop on

The Laptop will start normally and be fully operational. If you were working on a Microsoft Word or Excel document at the time of the problem, then you may find that the data has been auto-recovered for you. In this case, you will be automatically prompted to view the last document you worked on when you open the Microsoft program.

Troubleshoot Laptop Hibernate and Standby problems

Power management options on laptops sometimes to cause problems. Hibernate and Standby modes are power saving modes of operations to battery powered laptops.

Hibernation is a procedure by which the working state (contents) of your work is stored to disk before the computer goes into hibernation or standby. When the Laptop is woken up, you are restored to the exact place you were before. Standby and Hibernation use a low power consumption mode, with enough power to preserve the content of such memory. This means that Laptop computer can wake up without a full restart and loss of work.

Laptop does not wake up from Standby or Hibernation

Here are my tested suggestions:

Give it time - some older Laptops may take up to 30 seconds to wake up - fully Some Laptops have special keys or buttons for 'Wake Up' - read the manual Press and hold the Laptops power button for five seconds or more. Some Laptops are configured to Suspend or Hibernate with a press of the power button. Holding the power button for 5+ seconds will usually reset and reboot the Laptop As a last resort, remove the laptop battery and the power cord, wait 30 seconds, replace the batteries and reconnect the power cord

Now that the Laptop is operational, you should research the underlying problem. Typically, such problems arise from a disagreement either between the power management features of the Laptops BIOS and Windows.

A conflict with the Laptops BIOS power management and Windows power management is the most common cause of such wake-up failure. Try different settings in the BIOS to see if that might solve the problem. Look to see if the Laptops BIOS is configured to suspend the computer, and how it compares with the value configured in Windows. In most cases let Windows control the power management.

How to Jazz Up Your Mobile Web Site

More and more individuals are riding the mobile wave! Mobile web sites are springing up by the minute and it is entirely up to you to make your mobile site stand out. Here are some helpful tips to make your mobile site a cut above the rest.

Play with Color. Some mobile site builders offer its members extensive color palettes wherein users may experiment with various color combinations when it comes to the color scheme of their mobile sites. Let your WAP site's colors reflect your personality!

Are you the outgoing type? Let your inner party animal shine by using strong colors like red, aqua and emerald green. Mix these up with even more outrageous tones like orange, purple and gold! If your tastes lean more towards the classics, choose understated pastel tones to bring out that touch of elegance. The idea here is to build a mobile web site that speaks of YOU!

Create a Visual Experience. Make your mobile web site highly visual by using text-wrapping tools that will enable you to insert photographs and wrap text to these images. Images help attract more visitors because they add flavor to your site.

Into photography? Why not build a mobile portfolio of your best photographs? Add brief descriptions for your photos to make it more interesting and personal. Post scanned versions of your artworks and show off that inner Picasso!

One word: INTERACTIVE. Keep your viewers involved! Open up your mobile web site for comments, reviews, and suggestions. Not only will it help point out areas of improvement in your mobile site, it will also help establish connections with your visitors.

Create a Guestbook and encourage friends and potential dates to leave messages for you. If you are building a mobile website for business purposes, one way of generating new contacts is through the Guestbook. Encourage visitors to leave contact details and requests for you.

Mobile site builders also feature tools that will keep your viewers hooked: POLLS. Create surveys! It could be a survey that will help you figure out the latest consumer trends or it could be one for purely entertainment purposes!

Sample survey question: Which do you prefer? Pirates or Ninjas? Silly questions like that. Point is, keep your viewers engaged!

Work around a theme when it comes to content. The most interesting mobile websites (or regular websites for that matter) are usually the ones that are creative when it comes to content. Work around your interests.

Do you have a passion for fashion? Create a mobile style hive! Upload the latest in style and fashion. Post the latest news about this year's fashion icons. Create polls and predict what the next fashion trend will be!

Are you the next Chris Rock/Will Ferrell/Jim Carrey? Post your jokes and funniest home videos and photos in your mobile web site. Your viewers will definitely get a laugh out of that!

Really into music? Upload songs, recommend playlists, and post all the music trivia you have gathered over the years. Be the mobile web's music guru.

The possibilities are endless!

To help you start, Google the web for mobile site builders. These platform sites offer free membership and usually feature highly interactive tools that enable you to begin creating your own mobile web site effortlessly.

What are you waiting for? Begin creating your mobile web site now!

TV on PC - How Do I Get TV On My Laptop?

I've seen the question "How Do I get TV on My Laptop?" asked a lot lately. There are 2 ways of doing this. The first one implies a TV-tuner, this can be portable (with an USB cable) or a card (you plug in your laptop, or PC). The second one implies a small software that you download, and trough the internet you get live online satellite TV.

The first method on how to get TV on a laptop (or a PC) is, in my opinion, a completely useless and pricey method, but it works. You buy the piece of hardware (usually a couple of hundred dollars), you plug it into your computer, install the software, plug in your cable connection, search the channels and int the end you get to watch the same thing as you do on the television, the only difference is the fact that it's the computer monitor instead of the TV screen.

The second method is most surely the way to go. Let's look at the money first. Well most of the quality live online satellite TV services out there are less then 50$, this is a one time fee, meaning you pay the money once and you get TV on your laptop to watch till your eyes burst. I have forgotten my cable subscription because this thing is cheaper then 1 month worth of cable. I'm now saving more then 1000$ a year.

Another great thing about this method is the fact that you gain thousands of new channels. You will most surely get all your cable TV channels plus thousands more, it's very cool because a lot of these channels are specialized. This means you will get a lot of channels that show just: live sports, TV shows, series, music, news, adult. Along side all these channels you get a ton of radio stations as well. (I'm not much of radio listener but hey, it's there, it's free, who knows?)

Keep in mind that this service is available over the internet, this means there's no need for hardware like a satellite dish or receivers. If you don't need them then you can take your laptop anywhere. I always take my laptop with me when I go on my boring business trips, or when I'm really really bored at work. Live online satellite TV offers great accessibility.

In conclusion if you still don't know witch method on "how to get TV on your laptop" to choose, I would recommend live online satellite TV.

Latest Trend - Small, Durable Laptops for Kids

Lately, the computer industry has decided to shift its focus to a slightly younger demographic. No, it's not those technology-loving college kids, or even those teenagers with infinite knowledge of the Internet. Instead it's middle-school kids - ages six through 12.

The world's largest PC manufacturer, HP, recently announced the release of its new Mini-Note PC laptop - a small, rugged, light and cheap computer designed primarily for children. More likely than not, HP's decision to produce the Mini-Note is a direct result of the success of Asus's Eee computer. Since its initial release last year, Asus's Eee PC has become a top seller. The miniature device with a 7-inch screen (referred to by the company as a "super mobile Internet device" rather than laptop) carved its own niche by taking aim at middle-school children. But, as is the case with any invention that finds unexpected success, the crop of imitators are now beginning to trickle into the marketplace.

Still, HP is certainly the biggest company to jump into the mini-notebook market thus far. And their Mini-Note does offer more features than the Asus Eee. The Mini-Note has a larger (9-inch) screen and a sleek and sturdy anodized aluminum shell. It has a scratch-resistant display and the keys are coated with a protective finish. The HP Mini-Note keyboard is also bigger than the keyboard of the Asus Eee - making it easier for adults to use too. For additional durability, The Mini-Note incorporates HP 3D DriveGuard, which sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock (like being dropped). Other advantages the Mini-Note has over the Asus machine include Wi-Fi capabilities and a USB drive. The Mini-Note is about $100 more than Eee on the lowest end however, with a retail price of $499 (and more advanced models priced at over $1,000).

Along with providing some competition for Asus, the Mini-Note is also an attempt by HP to crack the education market - one of the few markets the computer giant doesn't own. Both Dell and Apple provide more computers to schools then HP, putting the company in a distant third. HP also recently announced the development of the Teacher Experience Exchange, an online resource where teachers can access tutorials for teaching technology in the classroom. Along with the Mini-Note, this initiative is intended to help put the HP name on the minds of educators.

By gearing the Mini-Note specifically to middle-school children, HP hopes to boost their share of the education market and, hopefully, experience the same success as Asus. For now, it'll be interesting to see whether the more stylish Mini-Note is able to take a bite out of the cheaper Eee's sales. Either way, both products will face stiff competition in the coming months as more companies attempt to cash-in on the mini-laptop craze. Intel (who actually beat Asus out of the gate with its Classmate mini-computer) will soon be releasing the next-generation Classmate, which has a 30GB hard drive and, like the Mini-Note, a 9-inch LCD screen. And, rumor has it that Acer will be next in line, releasing its own mini-computer with a lower price than the Eee.

Though not yet available in stores, the HP Mini-Note is available for purchase at the HP Web site.

Comparing MacBook Air with MacBook Pro

So you've seen the latest Apple Keynote and Steve Jobs seemed pretty convincing to you when he presented his latest creation, the MacBook Air. You are stunned by its design, but you are still doubtful because beauty comes at a price (and high one, too) and with reduced functionality. MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? If you're still undecided, you've come to the right place to help you clear your mind.

With a 13.3 inch widescreen LED display, full-size keyboard, and large multi-touch trackpad, the MacBook Air may look at a first glance just like any other laptop. But the stunning beauty of this product mainly lays in its incredible thinness (just 0.74 inches) which make it an extremely lightweight laptop, too.

Does this device have any drawbacks? First of all, as I already mentioned, the retail price is quite high (starting from $1799 for the basic model, which isn't exactly 'cheap'). Moreover, the most noticeable missing feature is the absence of an optical drive that could be used to read/write CDs or DVDs.

How can you use a laptop without an optical drive, you're asking? Good Old Steve reassured all Apple customers that, while this seems like a radical and rather extreme choice, you won't actually feel the absence of it at all. Apple accomplishes (or tries to do so) by making of the MacBook Air a strongly wireless-oriented device, using solutions never seen before. It's true, there is no optical drive, but there are predispositions to 'lurk' from any nearby wireless enabled device and use its own optical drive. Could the 'parasite' strategy really work? Only time will tell, but the folks at Apple seem to be pretty convinced of what they're doing.

The other, minor drawback in using a MacBook Air compared to a more traditional MacBook Pro is its limited horsepower. Through a close partnership with Intel that begun many years ago with the transition of Mac OS X to the Intel platform, the engineers in the most acclaimed microprocessor company in the world developed a chip specifically designed for the MacBook Air that would comply with the strict Apple requirements on the thinness side. The results are pretty astounding and are to be considered a huge progress towards the aim of reducing chip dimensions, but even Intel had to admit the MacBook Air double core engine had to be partially limited in RPMs -- just a 1.6 GHz Duo for the base model and 1.8 GHz for the advanced one, whose price is though still outrageously high ($3098).

Given its characteristics, then, the MacBook Air advanced model is mainly targeted at high-end and business classy consumers, leaving the rest of us with the basic model that still looks too high, at least for now. But since it has launched just recently and given Apple's usual marketing strategy, we should soon expect a substantial price drop on both models -- not as substantial as the infamous iPhone 33% price drop, but still to a point where its cost could be comparable to that of the rest of the MacBook lineup.

Which one is the best for you then, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? The answer may not be obvious, and in most cases both would probably serve you well, with the reliability and stability for which Apple products have become famous over the last few years. However, now you're entering the shop and know you're going to come get out of it with one of those two jewels in your hands. What do you do?

When you will be presented the choice, keep in mind all the factors explained above: if you are looking for a classy product, maybe a little expensive for its characteristics, but with a stunning design and optimal battery life and never seen before wireless capabilities, and at the same time you feel like experimenting and are willing to trust Apple on the fact that, after all, optical drives won't be missed, then you should definitely go for the bold choice and buy a MacBook Air. On the other hand though, if you are more of a traditionalist fellow, don't mind about a little bit more weight (or can't afford a lighter laptop) and love to watch rented DVDs while you're traveling, then you already know that a good old MacBook Pro should be your first choice.

Cheap Laptops - A Dream Machine for You

Whatever your computing needs may be, a laptop has become essential for a working professional. It is no more a luxury item but has become a necessity. Whether you are a college student or a business man or an entrepreneur, these computing machines allow you to stay connected throughout the world.

The functions of these machines comprise of internet access, use of word processing applications and database maintenance, etc. It is also called a notebook because of its compact size. These highly capable and powerful machines have a source of power which is usually a single mains battery. The technology used for display screen is LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The other user-friendly features include a built-in keyboard and a touch pad as input devices. There is also provision for connection of external mouse and keyboard.

So these devices can execute almost any task. They help you in increasing your productivity to a great extent. The user can easily listen to music, play games, watch videos and save his or her essential files. If you are looking for a laptop but do not have a enough money to spend, don't worry. There are cheap laptops available these days at the online shops. These latest devices are thin, sleek and great looking. They are portable and lightweight that give good value for your money.

The consumer can easily find a cheap laptops with all the latest features and technologies. People always wish to have a high quality laptop at an economical price. An informed customer should be careful about his requirements so that the laptop meets his expectations. The top manufacturers like Compaq, HP, Sony, Toshiba, Dell, Apple, Panasonic, etc. are coming up with advanced laptops with the latest configurations. The user needs to go online to know about the features of all these brands. He should also compare a variety of brands and then select the one that suits his needs and requirements. The price of this machine would depend on the brand and its features. If you love computer games, you need to have the features which are necessary for gaming. Some features which need to be considered are speed of the processor, processor type, screen size, wireless connectivity, RAM, hard disk space and battery life.

One can find special discounts and deals with the biggest brands. Going online is the best place to start with. If you want to get the best deal with these devices, you need to compare prices, read reviews and research a lot. Online shops offer lower prices with special discounts and deals. If one needs to find out the best deals, then comparison shopping becomes essential.

Everyone wants to go mobile these days. The demand for devices with mobility is increasing. The demand for laptops is now higher than desktop computers. This is because people have busy lifestyles and they need products which can be carried comfortably. With these machines, people play online games even if they are not at their homes. Other advantages include VoIP and better web cam features. One can also chat with friends while seeing them through web camera.

These handy, convenient and extremely functional devices are really helpful in facilitating your tasks. It would be better if you buy your laptop online. But ensure that you get the best quality and functionalities that suit your needs. These amazing machines are important devices for those who need computers on the move. They need applications like wireless internet connections. The beautifully crafted Acer laptops are high quality devices that deliver great performance and great battery life. Buy an Acer laptop online and get the best bargains. While buying a cheap laptop, the user needs to prioritise his needs. Then he needs to consider his budget. These computing machines can help you to save a substantial amount of money. Find amazing deals which come with excellent offers and gifts.

Cheap Laptops - Price Does Matter

Computers have become an integral part of our lives. The significance of computer systems can be understood by the fact that these are used in each sector nowadays. Millions of people get employment every year in different industries and computers are used everywhere. In fact, the overall mechanism of any organisation is based on the computer networks. With the increasing use of computers in every sector, the manufacturing companies have come up with many products which are available at affordable prices. The laptops are getting huge popularity these days and now they are available in many colours & designs.

Laptops have changed the working styles of the corporate world. One can carry them anywhere since they are portable and small in sizes. The big size desktops are not seen these days. The stylish and stunning portable computers have come into the markets and people love to work on them. A number of other advanced features are also available in these devices that make the users delighted.

The picture and sound quality of the portable computers are superb and the users enjoy watching movies and songs on them. The hard disk memory capacity is one of the most important factors that is considered by a customer before making the purchase decision. The capacity ranges from 80 GB to 160 GB that gives users the liberty to save a large number of data and files in their computers. Some of the other features which are coming in the latest devices are the face detection system, web cam, touch screen, etc. The leading players in the industry are HP, Toshiba, Acer, Lenovo and Compaq.

One can also find cheap laptops which have been recently introduced in the markets. The online shopping websites can be helpful for this purpose. A wide range of such products are provided with many attractive offers and deals. One can avail the high-end devices by participating in different online contests on these websites. The laptops are available with many free gifts like mobile phones, digital cameras, iPods, etc. The retailers provide the customers such gifts under different contests.

Increase Your Laptop's Performance

There are a large number of people who throw away their resources every year by buying brand new computers and discarding off the old ones at negligible prices. This is because that after a duration of 6 or 8 months their system's speed steadily declines and after every fresh installation of either a program or a game the condition worsens and ultimately it starts taking a lot of time even on the easiest of processes. But little do they know that despite the recommendations of their system manufacturers, who will always suggest purchasing a new computer, you can greatly improve the speed of your computer just by upgrading its memory or RAM (Random Access Memory)

Upgrading your RAM will help improve the performance of your system and your computer will be able to handle more games with greater ease. Fortunately, the part that is responsible for your computer's speed can be simply upgraded and also at a very reasonable price. Before upgrading your system memory or RAM you must know what type of RAM the computer utilizes? How it is configured, and how many RAM slots do you have in your motherboard, also if the computer memory is parity or non-parity. All these questions can be answered by studying the manual that came with your computer or by visiting your computer manufacturers' website. But more easily, RAM sites such as ramvalley.com offers online services such as RAM seekers, which will automatically scan your system and suggest the most optimal RAM upgrade for you thus simplifying our work.

People are usually surprised at how much difference a small RAM upgrade can make to their computer's efficiency. Normally a RAM upgrade can extend the usable life of your computer by another 2 to 3 years, at the fraction of the cost of purchasing a new one.

What normally comes to mind when thinking of a memory upgrade is, "How much RAM do I need?"

The answer to that greatly depends on what do you use your computer for, but as a rough estimate 512MB will be more than enough for majority of users, 512MB gives you enough room for Windows XP to run, and enough left over for a couple of internet applications, chat programs, antivirus and malware applications, and an excel spreadsheet or word processor all working simultaneously at acceptable speeds.

As for games, if you play moderate games and also do some photo editing on your computer such as using Photoshop tools, then you should consider getting 1 GB of RAM.

And if you use your system as a powerhouse and use it for editing photos, love editing and uploading videos to YouTube and enjoy extreme level gaming then in that case you should think of purchasing 2 GB of RAM.

You can purchase your system RAM from various sources, made by various manufacturers. Before buying any RAM be sure to find out if the RAM is guaranteed to be compatible with your system or notebook (This is usually taken care of by the online memory analyzer tool explained earlier), ask for a return policy, and always make sure that the RAM device you are buying is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Laptops and Laptop Stands

Are you sitting comfortably?

1. Screen too close

2. Screen not high enough (looking down)

3. Keyboard uncomfortable

4. Pointing device awkward

More and more people due to the cost of laptops coming down are now having problems with the way they work with them. This is due to the way that they are built with the screen, keyboard and pointing device all connected, great for portability but not good for the back, arms and eyes. Most people buy an external mouse which makes it more comfortable to use but not many people buy any other accessories such as an external keyboard or laptop stand. By getting an external keyboard you are then able to move the screen away from you making it easer on the eyes and with a laptop stand you can then bring your screen up to a great working height.

It is a paradox that people don't buy these accessories when they get there laptop, you wouldn't by a television with out a stand and just place it on the floor, would you?

It is amazing that with laptops being so common the work place of today that there is no legislation that is specific to the use of laptops in the working environment there are areas of health and safety regulations which can be applied to the use of VDU screens and also the use of keyboards.

During the next few years we will be getting more and more problems from people using laptops in the wrong posture, and we are just starting to see large companies asking questions about the health and safety aspects of using laptops for any length of time. The answer to these problems is not an expensive one for either large or small companies or individuals for as little as £70.00 including vat you can get a portable laptop stand with keyboard and mouse (wire less).

Considering all the press that there was a few years ago regarding RSI when companies where taken to court and made to pay massive amounts of money to some of their employees, it seem ridicules that this problem has not been highlight more in the press.

We are now find that some very large companies purchasing laptop stand and keyboards for there mobile work force and for the home workers where they can say that they have given there work force all the tools to get them into a comfortable position and keep them within H & S regulations.

So what is needed is for ALL laptop users to be aware and educated in the problems that laptops can give you with long term use especially for young where there back and necks are still developing.

Don't get me wrong the laptop is a fantastic tool used in the correct manor. this means using a laptop stand and separate keyboard which both need to be portable the same as the laptop.

File Sharing Goes Mobile

Advances in communications and technology have brought with it an off-shoot phenomenon that has greatly impacted the way individuals and businesses connect and deal with each other. File Sharing, which usually follows the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) model, has made it possible for people to connect in an instant. It involves an exchange of files between two users: an uploader providing the file and a downloader, who receives the file. The files are usually stored and served by the personal computers of the users.

Whereas before it would take days for individuals from across the globe to share photos, documents, videos and music, file sharing has bridged that gap of time and distance. Its impact is probably most felt in the music and entertainment industry wherein file sharing has made it possible for fans to listen and watch the latest music and movie releases in a span of seconds! As soon as the upload is finished, fans can easily download the file and be instantly updated with the latest events in the music and entertainment industry.

This wave was started by Napster, a file sharing service that paved the way for other P2P file sharing programs which are now used for many of the same reasons and can download music, pictures, and other files. The popularity and repercussions of the first Napster have made it a legendary icon in the computer and entertainment fields.

Napster was only just the beginning. Its pioneering effort in the file sharing phenomenon brought about the rise of more advanced P2P file sharing programs.

Kazaa, for one, is commonly used to exchange mp3 files over the internet. It uses the FastTrack protocol and enables users to exchange other file types as well. Videos, documents, and even software applications were made readily available to downloaders. However, Kazaa also saw its decline as it found itself the target of many copyright-related lawsuits. In addition, it has also become infamous due to the large number of viruses, worms, and Trojans that it has been known to support and help spread.

iMesh is a social network that also operates as a file sharing system. It has its own protocols for file transfer, and it was also the first to introduce the concept of swarming; that is, one user can download a single file from many different sources, effectively breaking the file down and increasing the speed of one's download.

P2P sharing programs like iMesh has brought with it the rise of Limewire, probably the most commonly used P2P application for downloading mp3s and videos. LimeWire is a P2P client for the Java Platform, which uses the Gnutella network to locate files as well as share files. Although a free software, Limewire also offers a PRO version which differs from the Basic Version in a number of respects; the most highlighted being its "Turbo Charged" downloads as it allows downloads to come simultaneously from 10 peers rather than only 8.

Swarming eventually led to the development of BitTorrent, the latest rage in File Sharing. Also P2P in nature, BitTorrent users connect to each other to send and receive portions of the file. What sets BitTorrent apart from its other file sharing counterparts is that there is a central server (a tracker) which coordinates the action of all peers. The tracker only manages connections but it does not have any knowledge of the contents of the files being distributed; therefore, a large number of users can be supported with relatively limited tracker bandwidth. The key philosophy behind BitTorrent is that users upload at the same time they are downloading. In this manner, network bandwidth is utilized as efficiently as possible. BitTorrent is designed to work better as the number of people interested in a certain file increases. BitTorrent is ideal for downloading the latest movies, discographies and software applications.

File Sharing and the Mobile Web

Indeed, file sharing has become quite the phenomenon that it has even carried over to the mobile web. Mobilemo, a mobile web site builder, is among the few mobile web hosting platforms that introduces file sharing features for mobile phones. People from across the globe now find it easier to connect and share photos, music, videos and files with friends, family and business partners. Mobilemo facilitates file sharing by enabling its members to upload their files through the internet and letting their friends download these files through mobile phones at any given time and at any given place. With Mobilemo's file sharing feature, connecting with friends, promoting creative freedom, and keeping up-to-date with the latest trends and happenings have never been this easy!

Although still not as advanced as the file sharing programs made available on the Internet, Mobile File Sharing offers mobile phone users the instant convenience of sharing and downloading their files on-the-go. Businesses get to present their latest line of products to clients and partners without having to log into a PC. Mobile File Sharing also celebrates creative self expression-artists and musicians are given another venue to showcase their latest artworks and musical compositions through mobile phones! Fans get to download their favorite songs, videos and artworks as soon as it is uploaded! Although not yet as highly developed as its Internet file sharing counterpart, the future is definitely looking good for Mobile File Sharing!

Six Ways to Extend Your Laptop's Battery Life

A laptop isn't much good to you if you can't use it without an extension cord. Here are six ways you can make your laptop's battery last longer.

Turn your brightness down. A bright screen can drain your battery. Turn your brightness down as low as you can manage.

Defragment your hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive reorganizes all the files stored there so that they can be used more efficiently. The more efficiently your computer can access and activate files, the less battery power you'll use. Defragment your hard drive once a month to once a week, depending on how heavily you use your machine.

Run one program at a time. The more programs you have running, the more quickly your battery will run down. Run a single program at a time, and avoid running programs such as computer games that take up a lot of memory.

Take care of your battery. Don't leave your laptop battery exposed to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

Use hibernate-not standby. Standby mode still uses power. Hibernate, on the other hand, saves your system settings as they are-and then switches off the power.

Avoid using your disc drive. Your disc drive uses a lot of power. Save the information you're using on disc to your hard drive and use it from there.

Laptops are convenient and portable-but only when you can depend on them to last as long as you need. Take steps to extend your laptop's battery life, and you're less likely to run out of power when you need it.

Performance Speaks Better Than Words

Whether it is for personal or for professional usage, we all dream of our very own laptops. With the help of these portable devices everything seems to be in our control. After Desktop computers, now laptops are rocking the computing world. It has actually thrown the garb of status symbol and has become the need of the contemporary rapidly growing technological world. Laptops are equipped with all the modern technologies and are mobile, fast and accurate.

Like personal computers, laptops are also capable of doing the same stuff and that too at a much faster speed. The components are also quite similar to that of desktop computers and perform the same functions, but are optimized for mobility. The laptops are user-friendly and convenient to carry even to far off places but proper care has to be taken. Today, the market and customers are showing avid interests in the latest laptops in India. This has strengthened the future prospects of these laptops besides assuring them of seizable market dominance.

These latest laptops in India have got positive responses from the traditional as well as the online market. The Acer laptops are products that have become popular among the users. They are now capturing the Indian market in a very fast pace. The most highly evolved species of computers, the laptop computer allows you to operate it without getting stagnant at one place. It has become an essential part of the daily lives of millions of people. From college going students to that of professionals, you can find them in everybody's hands. Even the laptops are getting better equipped with the advancement in the technological endeavours.

The latest Acer laptops available are the Aspire 5571AWXMI and Acer TravelMate series. These gadgets can last for several years if the user takes proper care of them. You can easily buy them at the online shopping stores. What's more, if you want to have full information regarding the latest Acer laptops, then you can go through the reviews and articles on the World Wide Web especially which are specially written for the potential buyers.

Latest Sony Laptops - Backed with Highly Advanced Features

The laptop is portable device that performs all the computer-oriented functions, with ease. With the benefits of advanced technology, these sophisticated gadgets are considered ideal choices by many people: from the executives and professionals to the students or housewives. Almost everyone prefers to buy a laptop than big bulky desktop computers. Among the wide range of the notebook PCs, the Sony Vaio has come up with the latest range.

The latest Sony Vaio laptops are considered as a perfect blend of power, mobility and style. Neatly designed Sony Notebook PCs allow the users to perform varied tasks, almost effortlessly. The processor, massive memory storage and Output & Input devices of the latest models conform to a high-grade. The best part is that without feeling much stress, the users are able to enjoy working on large and impressive LCD screens. The users can watch videos, surf the Internet, or send and receive the messages or mails to their friends.

The elegant models of the Vaio laptops are made in a way that it becomes easy to carry them from one place to another. Many of latest models come with Intel T8100 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo processors that assure high-end performance. The 2GB DDR2 RAM definitely provides a sufficient space for storing huge files and documents. As a matter of fact, the music files are a constant means of entertainment and these files can be stored in the large memory of the notebook computers. According to the performance, the latest Sony laptops are high on performance, as they are based on the Windows XP operating system.

The latest Sony laptops come with a higher run time that allows the users to make the most of all the features for long hours. The overall quality of these notebooks make them very much popular among the users. As a matter of fact, the highly advanced features of these devices have resulted in the increased sales of the same. Some of the bestselling models are AR60, FZ30, SZ70, CR30 and TP2. Apart from these, there are also other higher version of such gadgets from this very well-known brand.

Used Laptop Manuals

Ok you have shopped the internet and have made your purchase you saved hundreds of dollars on your used laptop, but you forgot to ask about the user manual or you're not sure how it all works. You now have a laptop with all kind of new features but you are not sure on how to access them or get the most out of them. Don't threat over it with today's technology you can have answers in minutes.

Many of today's laptop manufacturers publish their user manuals on line and are easily downloaded to your laptop in minutes. So how do you find these manuals well there are several ways you can locate them.

1. You can do a Google search just type in your make and model followed by manual.

2. You can go to the manufacturers' home page and do a search for your models manual.

3. You could even contact the seller that you bought your laptop from and see if the will send you all the information they had on this particular laptop.

You have the user manual but you still can not find what you are looking for well relax you may not have gotten any support when you purchased the used laptop but you do have the internet Right? So get on line a do a search for forums under the make and model of your laptop and you now have access to a whole array of individuals who are normally ready and willing to help you out.

Did you know that many of the leading companies now have a full time staff and their responsible for monitoring these forums and assisting with providing answers to your questions? This is not a well known fact and the way I learned about it was from a friend of mine who is a true computer geek; and that is what he does for a living. I don't want to mention who he is working for as the company tries to keep this quite, how else can they promote there extended support packages if they let every one know they can have the same information for free.

You might ask why they do this. Well the answer is they are trying to keep people happy with their laptops so they do not start telling every one how bad that the X-brand laptops are and taking credibility away from their product line. Keeping their laptop owners satisfied with their laptop is some of the best advertising that money will buy and they know this.

So just remember that you saved hundreds and you may have to do a little research, but with a few minutes work you can have the same information as if you were to have bought a new laptop.

Netgear Wireless Routers Capabilities

With the fast development of wireless technologies, more and more people are migrating from wired networks to wireless setups. They eliminate many problems and issues, such as a difficulty in setting up and a large number of cables lying around. There is only one small cable, from the Internet to the wireless router instead of dozens of meters of cables in the case of wired network setups. If you want to connect two computers in a wireless network, you only need to have capable devices. However, if you need to connect several computers to the Internet you will need a wireless router. There are many router models on the market, but many manufacturers include functions that you will never use. If you need just the basic router capabilities, the Neatgear WGT624 wireless router can represent the perfect choice for you. This router is compatible with the latest standard, 802.11g specifications. Compared to other routers that claim to be compatible with the future wireless standard, the 802.11n specifications, but in fact support it together with one or two network adapter cards, the Netgear WGT624 wireless router is fully compatible with all wireless cards supporting the 802.11g specification.

In independent tests carried out by prestigious web pages, the WGT624 was considered a good performer, reaching its maximum claimed speed and range. Due to its transmitter that boosts a power of 15dBm +/- 2dB, it can send and receive at full 802.11g speeds within a radius of 100 feet. The Netgear WGT624 is fully compatible with the latest WPA security and WEP encryption protocols and it has drivers for major Linux distributions and all Windows versions. Netgear also has promised Mac OS support in the near future, making it a universal wireless router. Netgear includes necessary documentation so you can install and configure it out of the box. The router box also has a demo version of the Trend Micro Home Network Security program, allowing you to secure your wireless network and to use it freely for a trial period. This security program comes on top of the router's NAT and Stateful packet inspecting firewall included by the manufacturer.

If you look inside the Netgear WGT624 wireless router, you will find a Atheros chipset used for its 802.11g capabilities and it incorporates Netgear's XR technology for increased signal strength and maximum speed. Netgear also offers its WGR614 entry-level router. Its smaller brother has the same specifications (it is fully compatible with the 802.11g standard), but users have reported that the unit behaves slower in a network that has both 802.11b and 802.11g wireless network cards. Even if it is the smaller unit in the range, the Netgear WGR614 wireless router contains the same security features as its older brother, making it the perfect solution for small office and home networking.

PCMCIA Wireless Card - Lan Or Bluetooth It's Your Choice

The wireless equipment market is ever developing and growing. Not so long ago only corporations and businesses were using wireless networks. Now there there are thousands of free WI-FI spots across the country in restaurants, hotels, college campuses, bars, parking lots and malls allowing you to access the Internet from anywhere within these areas. Laptops recently produced include wireless capabilities from default so using them within a wireless setup is very easy and accessible. However, older models do not have Wi-Fi capabilities and if you want to use an older laptop within a wireless LAN, you will need to purchase a PCMCIA wireless card. They are add-on cards that you insert in your laptop's expansion slots to add it Wi-Fi support.

There are many such PCMCIA cards on the market. Some offer only the basic wireless capabilities, while others are more complex, offering other features as well, such as Bluetooth support for example. If you have an older laptop model, you should not worry about finding a PCMCIA wireless card for it, as there are both 16 bit and 32 bit models available (if you need a 16 bit PCMCIA wireless card, be sure to look for a Type I card or a 16 bit Type II or III card. Type IV cards are 32 bit only). There are PCI to PCMCIA adapters, allowing you to install and use a PCMCIA card on your standalone computer.

If you have an Asus motherboard and you are looking for a simple, easy to install and use PCMCIA wireless card, the Asus WL-127 model is a good solution. It supports the 802.11b standard and it has an external and removable wireless antenna. You can manually select the speed rate from its three supported speeds: 0.5, 5.5 and 11Mbs. It comes together with drivers for all Microsoft Windows operating systems and it supports WEP 64/128 security features. The Asus WL-127 PCMCIA wireless card has two activity LEDs allowing you to see the card's status (an Air LED that is lit when a data transfer occurs and a Link LED that shows that there is an active link). Asus ships its Asus WL-127 card with the necessary documentation, drivers and the external antenna.

The Asus WL-127 card performed well both in a point to point setup and in a wireless network through an access point. The Asus WL-127 wireless card can be used together with the Asus motherboards supporting the Asus WiFi-b technology. The Asus motherboard has a special connector (called WiFi-b slot), that is a modified PCI slot supporting the Asus WL-127 PCMCIA card. Its speed was up to the 802.11b specifications, in situations when the two wireless cards were close to one another and when they were in separate rooms. Its external antenna covers a larger range, allowing you to cover your entire house perimeter. However, it comes with some drawbacks: the Asus WL-127 card comes with drivers only for Microsoft's operating systems and it is only supported by Asus motherboards.

Linksys Wireless N Router Network Sharing Device

Broadband wired networks have existed for a long time, but it is only recently that wireless networks have begun to reach broadband speeds. However, their greatest advantage is they offer broadband speeds without the use of external wires. Wireless networks are easier to install and configure and they offer the advantage of movement freedom. Wireless technologies have evolved over the years and the latest standard is the 820.11g, offering speeds of up to 54Mbs. The next in line is the 820.11n standard, that will double the maximum transfer rate, but the new specifications are yet to be standardized. Linksys is one of Cisco's most important divisions and it is known as one of the most important network equipment manufacturers. Cisco themselves are world leader in networking software and equipment and this guarantees the quality of Linksys's wireless devices.

Linksys has expanded its line of wireless routers with several more products, adding new facilities and enhancing their speed and range. The WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router is advertised to offer up to 12 times the speed of other 802.11g routers and it is capable of sending and receiving data within a radius up to 4 times larger. However, in real world reviews, the WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router only managed to reach its maximum advertised speed, but lacked performance when it came to range. If you need a very fast and reliable wireless router for small networks, the WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router could be a viable choice. However, if you need a router able to send and receive data over a wider area, you should look at other Linksys routers. The WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router has several new innovative features that enable it to send and receive data with greater speeds compared to other wireless routers. It has multiple antennas (two standard, pen shaped) and a larger, square one. You can put them in any position you want, so you can achieve maximum transfer rates. It has a WAN port, four standard LAN ports. The WRT300n router also has a reset button, allowing you to set it to its default parameters if something goes wrong with the device. Linksys provides a documentation brochure together with its routers and on the delivered CD you will find setup advices, usage instructions and security software products (firewall, router monitoring software and an advanced configuration tool).

The Linksys WRT160N wireless N series router iss an Internet and network sharing device intended for small and medium networks. It is also a 4-port switch to allow you to connect the Linksys WRT160N router to other wired Ethernet equipment. Linksys says that the WRT160n router is compatible with the upcoming 820.11n specifications, but it works perfectly within the 802.11g specifications. The router has 256 bit encryption allowing you to fully secure your wireless setup and it comes with documentation for installation and configuration procedures. In real life tests, the Linksys WRT160N wireless N series router performed well, achieving maximum throughout put if the signal strength was at maximum. If you intend to set up a small wireless network , this router can be a good solution, as it is also cheaper than its older brother, the WRT300N router.

Cheap Laptops - Stay Benefited

The computers have surpassed various electronic gadgets with their high tech features. These gadgets elegantly minimise the manual labour in any work field. Though they have certain flaws, various high tech features are incorporated in the computers which help to increase the productivity of any efficient firm. People these days have become very techno savvy, they depend on high end machines to perform every simple tasks. These technological innovations speak very little of human geniuses but they speak volumes of their laziness. However, this fact can be overruled by the efficiency of these technological innovations. People are never satisfied with these innovations too. They keep on experimenting and upgrading the available resources to enhance their comfort level. The laptops are the latest innovation which are very portable and can be carries anywhere without any hassle. These gadgets have the capability to perform like the desktop computers.

The temptation and the curiosity of people can never be measured. They keep on searching better options. These latest gadgets are available at very cheap rates too. The cheap laptops are the best purchasing options for the techno savvy people. They are particularly enhanced to increase our abilities and enhance our lifestyle. These gizmos have shrewdly and steadily replaced the bulky personal computer. The most important fact which is responsible for the popularity of these laptops is their slim figure and light weight. Moreover, these systems have high tech capabilities and astounding efficiency. These laptops are highly efficient and can enhance the growth of almost all types of businesses. These astounding widgets can efficiently permit you to work faster and at ease. These gadgets are preferred by people from every class and field such as financial consultant, doctor, software engineer and magazines editor etc. These incredible systems can permit the professionals to work beyond their office hours at ease from their cozy and comfortable living room. You can even utilize your leisure time with these notebooks.

These laptops come with an incorporated rechargeable battery which can be comfortably recharged with AC/DC adaptor. These widgets can be operated by the power supply too. The top quality electronic components endowed in these widget help to provide enriched performance. The flat LCD screen would mesmerize the users by displaying the images with great resolution and bright & different colour shades. This flat screen would offer you pleasurable viewing experience. The memory modules such as ROM and RAM may vary among various models.

The cheap laptops can perform various functions such as accessing the internet, using the word processing applications and even database maintenance. Popularly they are called notebooks due to their compact size. The various user friendly features which enhance these devices are the embedded keyboard and also a touch pad. The users can even connect an external mouse and keyboard to facilitate their work process. One can even play his or her favorite games, watch movies and enjoy preferred music tracks while on the move.

To purchase these devices the users should carefully prioritise their requirements so that the purchased item can meet their expectations. They can easily get the cheap laptops with high tech features and extravagant looks from the online stores. We all strive and wish to own these high quality systems at an economical rate. But as affordability actually determines our purchasing decision, it cannot surpass our temptation. Top manufacturers like Sony, HP, Panasonic, Toshiba, Compaq etc are constantly offering latest gadgets at cheap rates to make them accessible to every class of people. The users can comfortably compare the feature of the latest models from all the brands by browsing the online stores. The price may vary among various brands. Purchasing the high end gadgets from the online stores have various benefits. One can even get various lucrative offers and gifts along with their purchased item.

Buying a Laptop Computer

If you are thinking of purchasing a new computer and you are considering purchasing a laptop for the first time, you may be wondering if this is a good choice. It seems that the computer has definitely replaced the dog as man best friend, so it makes sense that you would be taking this choice seriously.

One thing you don't have to worry about is the capabilities of laptop computers. Laptops, also know as notebook computers (or just notebooks), can do all of the same things that you've become accustomed to doing on a computer, only they are smaller and more convenient.

The great thing about laptops is your ability to run them on a battery. You have the ability to use it while it is plugged up, or simply charge your battery, and off you go.

The designs are becoming more and more lightweight, so you will not have to worry about carrying something clunky or heavy around. And if you take a quick notice, you will see that the carrying cases that people are now using for their notebook computers tend to be very stylish as well.

Just like any other type of computer purchase that you make, you will need to decide exactly what it is that you will be doing with your computer. Deciding on your needs, whether they are business, personal, academic, or whatever will help you make the best decision.

Once you know what you want, it is then time to start comparison-shopping. For the most part, you will find quality notebooks, but you want to understand what you are buying.

One option is to go in to one of the larger electronics stores and see what they have to offer. You will be able to ask questions and check out the demo models. You should tell yourself that you will not buy the first time that you go in to the store, because you don't want to succumb to the pressure of a fast talking salesperson, and you want to be happy with your purchase.

Advice On Buying A Laptop Computer

Notebook PC's are growing more and more popular every day. As they keep growing increasingly easier to carry with highly capable systems, notebook sales continue to soar.

If you are considering purchasing a notebook system for yourself, then there are a few things that you should keep in mind when you're deciding which one you want to buy.

Size does matter.

When you are shopping for a laptop, obviously you are going to want to choose one that is portable and something that you are willing to carry. Besides this, the weight of your laptop will also influence the capabilities of your laptop. So, for instance if you get a laptop that is supposed to be one of the desktop replacement notebooks, then you will have a machine that is much more difficult to carry than a light weight super portable laptop that has to limit certain items such as drives.

Remember your memory.

Compared to desktops, notebooks are able to include less memory. You will want to find out what the maximum amount of memory is that the notebooks that you are buying can support. This includes how much memory is already there, how much you are able to install, and whether or not you will be able to install the extra memory yourself or if a technician has to do it.

Nobody wants to be let down.

It is really a good idea to get a system that has at least two hours of battery life during normal conditions. If you need more time than this with your computer unplugged, then you will want to find a notebook that has media bays that can be used as extra battery slots. Or, you can look for one that you can purchase extended life batteries for. Either way, you definitely will be frustrated with a computer that only gives you 30 minutes of computing time after being charged.

With these tips in mind, you should be well on your way to choosing a a notebook that you are pleased with.

Finding The Best Laptop

A few weeks ago, my Acer Travelmate 4200 was broken. Then I tried to search for a new notebook. I went into many stores near my home but most of them didn't give us detailed information about new laptops. I said to myself, "I need more information" so I turned on my computer and opened my internet browser. After Googling several times, finally I got the image about what laptop should I buy. I went to a site which provide us all the information about best laptops. There, I read some good information and I was tempted to buy one. I set up my budget and thanks to God I have $3,000 for my new laptop.

I love to play games although I am a busy person. So I decided to buy a high-tech notebook, probably between new dell laptops and HP laptops. I went back to that laptop site then I chose to buy XPS M1710. I know this notebook is not new anymore, but still worth it for a gamer like me. After I received it, I can't resist the temptation to try all the latest games. I was astonished by its performance. With GeForce Go 7900 GTX, XPS M1710 is definitely the best laptop from my personal experience!

I compared my XPS 1710 to my friend's laptop, HP Compaq 6910p. Obviously my XPS 1710 is better but he explained many things about his notebook. Well, finally I understand. If you are a busy people like my friend, Compaq 6910p is a better choice. But if you want something good, something beautiful, and more importantly, you have enough money, than XPS products (in my case, XPS 1710) would be suitable for you.

Between Compaq 6910p and XPS 1710, there are slight differences. XPS 1710 is still much more expensive, use better graphic card, and of course better hard disk. Compaq 6910 is not as good as XPS 1710 but it's light and you can carry it wherever you want. I'm not a mobile person even though I'm busy but my friend is a very dedicated person to his job. When his boss tells him to go, he'll go as long as his boss pays his wage. If you are like my friend, Compaq 6910p or ultraportable laptops hopefully is what you need.

I have enough money to buy new laptops but if you prefer to save some hundreds of dollars, maybe it'll be wiser to buy used laptops.

It is easy to find which is new and which is used, just go to electronic stores (especially small stores) then you can find many used notebooks there. However, the choices are limited. Personally, I think eBay is the best bet for us to find many used laptops. I still remember in eBay there is one cheap HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment. I think Pavilion HDX Entertainment is a very popular product and you can get it for cheap price if you are clever enough.

Wi-Fi on Holiday?

Have you ever been on holiday and have taken your laptop with you to find out that there is no wireless internet connection available?

Wireless Internet access is an ever growing phenomenon and more and more locations have hot spots available for use.

As an internet enthusiast I am always taking my laptop with me wherever I go, be it to the local pub for lunch or down to a coffee shop whilst out shopping, one thing I find annoying is if the place I am visiting doesn't have access to the internet using wi-fi technology.

One major annoyance to me is when I go on holiday. Time and time again when I visit uk holiday parks I cannot get a connection to the internet, I like to logon to check my emails every other day and maybe browse for local interests in the area I am staying in, instead of fiddly attraction guide leaflets I prefer to research online.

I recently started to plan our UK holiday with the family to Berwick-upon-Tweed near to Northumberland for a weeks break in the summer; imperative to my selection was wi-fi access.

I came across a holiday park and this setting is perfect as the park has its own wi-fi access in the sports bar. This facility is available for a moderate charge but perfect for my day to day checking, meaning I can check my email when I want to rather than trying to find an internet café to do so.

The park's wireless access point is very secure using one of Europe's leading wi-fi networks of public access security.

After researching this holiday park I thought I would check for other UK holiday destinations for future trips and the caravan park company I am looking at has 6 other parks with the access points.

So I can now relax with peace of mind that I won't be missing those important emails again.

Laptops - Innovative Gadget in Computer Technology

Human beings are very sarcastic regarding their wants and comfort options. They are always in search for the better alternatives. Moreover, they tend to acquire the best and quality products to get the right value of their hard earned money. This ardent desire of the people help them to come up with new ideas and accomplish them in reality. The computers have readily overruled the manual tasks and have enhanced the production level of every firm. The laptops are the latest innovations of the technology. These gadgets are very portable and can efficiently perform all the tasks which a desktop computer can perform. These gadgets are multi-functional and can readily facilitate the official works of every category of people. However, they are enhanced with high tech features to ensure steady computing process. However, the various advantages of purchasing laptops are as follows:-

* Portability- The notebooks are usually very light weight and can be carried anywhere and anytime. You can take them along with you when you are going for a vacation trip or even while attending a business meeting. These portable and compact device can help the users to facilitate their official works at ease with their notebooks they can also carry the PowerPoint presentations and other important files and display them in the business meetings without any hitches.

* User friendly- These devices are specially designed with various user friendly features. Moreover, they are very eco friendly too. These stylish and compact gadgets consumes very less energy which is around only 15 watts.

* Size- These gizmos are very stylish and come in compact designs. They are not very bulky in size like the desktop computers and can be easily carried anywhere without any hassle. Moreover, to accommodate these gadgets, very less space is required and they can be fitted anywhere according to the priorities of the users. Basically these gadgets weigh between 2 to 18 pounds.

* Cost- Nowadays, the price of these gadgets has been lowered to make them accessible to every segment of people.

To operate these widgets power supply is required, though a rechargeable battery is also embedded in it. The elegant LCD screen can efficiently display images with bright resolution and distinct clarity. Various companies are developing these high tech widgets to facilitate the user's computing process. Moreover, different brands of cheap laptops are also available these days. Their cost may vary according to efficiency and storage capacity. These gadgets are also enhanced with Active Matrix displays which offer pleasurable viewing experience to the users. Moreover, they also come equipped with USB ports, CD writer, DVD drives and LAN Ethernet cards etc.

Upgrade or Repair Your Own Laptop Yourself

Having computer problems is your display screen fading or maybe your keys on your laptop key board are fading or some of the keys are sticking? So if your used laptop could use a tune up or maybe you just need more space for your files before you think about buying a new laptop or computer review some of these websites and decide if maybe doing an upgrade might save you some time and money.

Upgrade or Repair Your Own Laptop Yourself

Having computer problems is your display screen fading or maybe your keys on your laptop key board are fading or some of the keys are sticking? Would you like to upgrade your used laptops hard drive or maybe you need to add some more memory, but you are not sure just how to address these problems?

Did you know that if you get on the internet and do a search for change out your hard drive you will find many sites offering free help on performing just such a task? Many of these sites will even so you with step by step pictures and descriptions on just what you need to do and how to do it. If you should have a problem many have a way to contact them and they will offer personal advice should you run into any problems too.

I live in a small rural town and the nearest computer shop is over 100 miles away so I have been using these sites for several years now for my used laptop repairs and have saved a nice hand full of change doing my own upgrades. I've also become known as the go to guy with many of my friends and family when they need some assistance with their computers. I've thought about charging for my services several times and then I remember that the information I have been using I get for free from individuals who I know have spent hour's putting this information together and publishing it on the web for anybody to use, so I just do not feel right about charging for my services.

One of my favorite sites for finding the information I need is "Laptop Repair 101.com" I have used this site time and again for many repairs and upgrade to my used laptop and many of my friends computers as well the information that is provided here is well written and very easy to understand even if you do not know much about computer parts they step you through the process step by step and with the graphics they provide it becomes a simple process to do many of these upgrades your self.

So if your used laptop could use a tune up or maybe you just need more space for your file before you think about buying a new laptop or computer review some of these websites and decide if maybe doing an upgrade might save you some time and money. Besides it will give you a good feeling knowing that you just completed an upgrade your self and not only saved some money but now know just that much more about your laptop. Give it a try or at least look at the information out there and then decide if you want to become your own laptop technician.

A Word About Wifi or Wifi Technology

WiFi is the other name for wireless internet or wireless network, this name is mostly used by none technical users who just knows how to access internet wirelessly, they know pretty much nothing beyond that. WiFi is basically short form for wireless fidelity. However many advance users are not well aware of this terminology either, it is ,more known with a name of Wifi. WiFi term is written in many ways which are, Wifi, WiFi, WIFI, Wi-Fi fiwi etc.

Wi-Fi was introduced by Wi-Fi alliance in 1985 it was the time when it was not used as commercially but were just set to certain organizations for testing purposes. Wi-Fi Alliance is pioneer in developing WiFi technology and all the hardware associated with Wifi is mostly certified by Wifi Alliance compliance. Wifi later developed properly and than eventually lunched for public use in USA in 90's, gradually wifi become standards for most of the computer communications in countless organizations around the world

Wifi uses all the networks referring to any type of 802.11 network standards which is set by IEEE. IEEE is short form of Institute of electric and electronic engineering. There are lots of enhancements made in standards of 802.11 and 802.11a, 802.11b and other dual networks. The latest standard of 802.11 family is 802.11y. Other known standards are 802.16, these are the standards for upcoming technology known to be WiMax. There is one more known set of standards for Ethernet it is known to be IEEE 802.3.

Growth of Wifi networks is still on going world wide this huge growth raises security issues. Wifi is the most widely used network world wide and many organizations transfer their sensitive data using Wireless networks. Increased use of Wireless network increases potentially risks of the security of the users or organization. Wireless network carries data of every type, that can be normal data in bits of information or it can encrypted or even highly sensitive. WiFi security mechanism insures the certain level of data integrity and confidentiality just as wired network provides. However if proper security measures are not adopted properly intruders can attack the network and can cause major damage to not only network but privacy of users also.

There was a time when cables were used to network many computers together. Hardware like routers, hubs, switches etc were required for communication between computers, but Wifi brought high tech change in communication of computers by providing wireless connectivity features. It just keeps things very simple without much hassle and networks can be made far more easily. No wires are required. Wireless network keeps environment very neat and clean. There are many other features of Wireless LANs for example high speed connectivity. Wifi provides high speed connectivity and faster communication where cables are not feasible to install for example in remote areas. The list of the Wifi features is long some other major features included Site survey, enterprise grade equipment, Scalable systems, VPN Compatibility, flexible authentication methods, Guest satisfaction, End user mobility and easy access through Hotspots.

WiFi supports two different types of modes; they are known to be infrastructure and the other one is ad hoc. In Ad hoc Wireless connections can be made without central device called router or access point. Most network administrators prefer ad hoc over infrastructure mode. Ad hoc how ever have issues also. Wifi devices connected using Ad hoc mode offers less security against unauthorized users. Ad hoc mode configured devices cannot disable SSID broadcast in contrast to infrastructure mode, this brings hackers into play, and using ad hoc mode it is not very difficult to prevail into the wireless network. There are two major differences between these two modes that is the rate at which they transfer data. Wife network standard 802.11g requires Ad hoc mode of communication to support 11Mbps bandwidth in contrast to it 54Mbps data transfer is supported using infrastructure mode. Hence Ad hoc mode is considered much slower than Infrastructure mode.

Wireless based networks are increasing every where; every organization is installing it if it was not using it before. Some cities have actually provided the entire city a wifi and turn the city into hotspot, big example in front of us is Chicago. Chicago have installed huge transmitter in shape of big size dish of Wifi which broadcast Wireless LAN radio signals through out the city. It provides high speed internet connectivity very cheaply. Laptops, desktop computers, PDAs and other Wireless LAN card installed devices can access the network and get high speed connectivity on move. WiFi users increasing day by day therefore its hardware manufacturers are manufacturing the products on huge scale. These products are easily available in market with reasonable cost. Laptops, PDAs, mother boards of latest desktop computer are mostly come with build in wireless LAN cards. If it is not installed already in your laptop one can buy PCMCI slot wifi card to install for accessing wireless network. Wifi PCI cards are also widely available in market. Now USB wifi are also available for short range but still works good.

Intelligent routers are available in market which works to connect different devices to wireless network. These routers can be configured with or without PC. All is required to plug internet cable in Ethernet or USB port to router's appropriate port. When internet is available to routers it can be configured using its control panel using IP 192.168.1.1. That's where we can enable SSID broadcasting or disable it and perform other functions. PCs can also be attached to routers for more advance management which routers can not performs. PCs are mostly required to be used where network is huge and keeping and maintaining its integrity and stability is very important.

In this modern era every one wants every thing wireless, Wifi belongs to wireless technology family. There are so many other wireless technologies which have evolved around the time and Wifi is now taken for granted and world is now talking about much advanced and enhanced wireless network known to be WiMax. WiMax beats Wifi technology on many bases which includes Speed at which data rate is transferred, range with which connection is made and so much more. Now we have to see in how much time WiMax will take over WiFi, and which technology will eventually take over WiMax. One thing is for sure latest technologies in wireless technology will keep coming and will keep getting over looked by new ones.