Hardware Information

Two Essential Accessories For Notebook Computers


A Good Notebook Bag

Forget those that are bundled with your notebook computer. Get yourself a good notebook bag that is well-padded both on its load-bearing straps, and 100% around the notebook itself.

Aren't all notebook bags built the same? The answer is NO. There are countless bag types and variations. Not all of them have your comfort and protection of the notebook itself in mind. Most of them sacrifice style for substance, which is worse than not having a notebook bag in the first place.

The best way to determine which notebook bag is the one for you is to bring along your notebook while shopping. Put it in the bag and ensure that it doesn't slip and slide around. Generous spaces do not mean better protection! You want it to be snug.

Carry the bag with your notebook in it. Simulate a light jog. Why? Experience tells me that's how you'll most likely travel through the gates of airport hell. If the straps start digging in those shoulders, start looking for alternatives. A good strap should cushion those shocks as the bag bounces off your shoulders while doing your airport jog.

Note also how the notebook bag opens up for main access. Again, if you're a frequent traveler you'll want to have one that's easy to retrieve and store your notebook for security checkpoint purposes. The best are usually top-loading ones secured by either a zipper or a flap. We recommend the flap versions because they usually have an additional layer of cushioning right around the top for the notebook, and secure well but open fast with magnetic snaps/buttons.

The zipper types have none, and your poor notebook will get whacked full-force if the bag topples head-long off an airport luggage cart. Trust me on this bit: I've had enough times my notebook took a tumble that way, and seen many other helpless souls literally spill their notebook's guts across airport gates.

A good alternative to those shoulder-loading bags are the rolling pilot cases. They are typically bigger than any shoulder-bearing bags including backpacks, but offer solid protection with a padded hinge-top opening similar to actual pilot cases. Roller bags are also less taxing physically, and the generous compartments in the bag means less luggage pieces to carry while traveling.

A Heat Dissipating Cooler Or Pad

Heat is the number one notebook computer killer. Today's notebooks are little thermal generators, with internal temperatures that rise up to 150 degrees even with built-in cooling fans.

Those internal fans and heat-dissipating systems work full time more often than you think. That's why they are usually the first components in a notebook to die on you. When that happens, you'd better not fire up that notebook, as it'll fry even before you see the start screen.

So help out your hardest working notebook component and extend its lifespan. Invest in a notebook cooler or a cooling pad. Notebook coolers typically are low-rise, plastic or metal-faced pedestals on which your notebook sits. They are equipped with a fan or two inside, which serves to draw hot air away from under your notebook, and thus promote a cooler operating environment. Usually efficient enough to drop up to 15 degrees the operating temperature, notebook coolers however require power for its fans and would typically draw its power off your notebook's USB ports. This could somewhat decrease your notebook's battery operating time, but so far have proven to be negligible for many users.

Cooling pads normally do not have the fans, and are constructed from some type of heat-dissipating material or designed a way that your notebook would have extra clearance at the bottom to promote natural air circulation. Despite the lack of fans, these cooling pads do a surprisingly good job of cooling your notebook. They are also much easier to carry with your notebook because they are slimmer, lighter, and do not require power to do its job therefore highly recommended.

Lynn Chan helps new owners learn about proper notebook care and use. To learn more, visit http://www.notebook-computer-infocenter.com For a limited time, get the free tutorial "5 Days To A Healthier Notebook Computer" at http://www.notebook-computer-infocenter.com/
5days-to-a-healthier-notebook.html


MORE RESOURCES:

HELP DESK / HARDWARE TECHNICIAN
Seattle Times, United States - 13 hours ago
Large, successful, and growing downtown Seattle law firm seeks a help desk/hardware technician with a high level of customer service, technical expertise, ...


San Francisco Chronicle

Hardware stores: the new Disneyland
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 21 hours ago
Given the choice, my son would much rather spend his afternoon at a hardware store. If you're reading this in 2020: Just say no. This is one of those things ...


Southlake Times

Business: Westlake Ace Hardware opens
Southlake Times, TX - 1 hour ago
Westlake Ace Hardware celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 4701 Colleyville Blvd from May 8-11, with events and in-store promotions, ...


Solace Systems and TIBCO Announce Partnership to Deliver New ...
PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - 3 hours ago
"By meshing their years of experience and superior software with our unique hardware knowledge, TIBCO is ideally positioned to revolutionize how information ...


Connect Hobbyist Hardware to Your Mac
Lifehacker, CA - 2 hours ago
... Brian Jepson isn't content with just connecting external drives, mice, scanners, and printers to his Mac—he wants to control custom hardware. ...


Penfield hardware store to close after 53 years
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY - 8 hours ago
PENFIELD — Duane Lipinski, 61, has cut thousands of keys in his life behind the counter of the hardware store his father and uncle started in 1955 on Empire ...


TechShout!

MGS4 Limited Edition PS3 Hardware Bundle Pre-orders start from May 19
TechShout!, India - 7 hours ago
Sony has announced the MGS4 Limited Edition PS3 Hardware Bundle the which will be available exclusively from Konami. The bundle will come along with a Gun ...


Stamkos leaves Sarnia with lots of hardware
Sarnia Observer,  Canada - 5 hours ago
As expected, Steven Stamkos was the big winner at the Sarnia Sting Awards Night, Friday at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre. ...


Nintendo Dominates April Hardware Sales, Finds Success in Software
Nintendo World Report, CA - 15 hours ago
Nintendo didn't provide exact DS hardware sales, but they did claim that their handheld system had earned them the number two spot as well in hardware sales ...


ULTIMATE EUROVISION PARTY - HARDWARE
Mirror.co.uk, UK - 12 hours ago
To celebrate the release of Ultimate Eurovision Party on CD, We Love Telly has teamed up with Sony BMG to give one lucky reader a huge Sony Bravia high ...

Hardware - Google News

home | site map
© 2006