cold weather tips for your laptop

Regular laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range - normally 50 to 95 degrees F (10 - 35 degrees C). This range refers both to optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using. Protecting your laptop from cold weather is important and you should know how to protect your laptop from cold weather. Protect yourself and your laptop from the damage cold weather can cause.

1. Ruggedized Laptops
If your budget allows, purchase or lease a ruggedized laptop if you will be outside in cold temperatures for extended periods of time. Ruggedized laptops have been designed to work under extreme weather conditions. When you rely on your laptop and can't count on the weather to co-operate - a ruggedized laptop is worth considering. Most ruggedized laptops have been tested according to MIL-STD-810F standards.

2. Careful Storage
Never leave a laptop, even in a well-padded and insulated laptop case in the trunk of vehicle in cold weather. The laptop could freeze and you lose all data contained in it.

3. Let It Warm Up
Once you bring a laptop in from the cold - allow it to warm up to room temperature before booting. The same is true when you go outdoors - allow the laptop to acclimatize to the outside temperature before
booting up.

4. Incorrect Warming Methods
Do not use devices such as mug warmers or pocket warmers to heat or keep a laptop warm. They are not designed for this purpose and can create problems as they will not heat or keep a laptop warm in the right way. They could heat the wrong parts of a laptop or cause it to generate too much heat and melt internal components.

5. Laptop Warmers
There are laptop warmers designed specifically for the purpose of keeping a laptop warm and these are what you should use. Laptop warmers have been tested to ensure they will safely protect your laptop and are a wise investment.

6. Excessive Heat Build-Up
Do not use your laptop while it is still inside a laptop bag. There is no room for air to circulate and you will get heat build-up. You can create your own "box" for your laptop which will allow air to circulate and provide an enclosed area for you to use your laptop. Having the laptop on a raised platform for your laptop within the box will aid in airflow. This laptop box will help keep the laptop warmer as cold air is blocked and the heat generated from the laptop is kept in the box.

7. Protecting Your Display
Don't use heating pads or other external sources of heat to warm up or thaw a laptop display. Allow the display to warm on its own and do not boot up a laptop if you suspect the display is frozen.

8. Stay Out of the Cold
Whenever possible stay out of direct exposure to cold weather conditions by staying in a vehicle, inside a building or other type of shelter. Protecting your laptop from excessive dampness or wet from snow will keep your keyboard from freezing and other problems from developing.

9. Change Power Settings
By changing the power settings from power save mode will help keep the laptop warm as it continues to run. Instead of having the hard drive shut down, keep it spinning. The longer the laptop can be kept left running, the warmer it will stay as it generates its own heat.

10. Don't Get Creative
Last but by no means least - do not create your own devices to keep your laptop warm! This is especially important if you are using a company owned or leased laptop. You will be responsible for any damage caused and will have to have it repaired or replaced at your own expense.

article by: Catherine Roseberry,
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/laptopstabletpcs/tp/coldweathertips.htm

things to know before buying a laptop

As a mobile office worker your unique needs for a laptop computer mean that what you want in a laptop will differ from those looking for personal use laptops. You want a laptop that you can take with you easily. You need to have the ability to connect to the Internet and company networks in a variety of methods and have a laptop capable of undertaking your daily work tasks. Evaluate the tasks you perform and compare them against the laptop features to ensure you get the right laptop.

Lease or Buy a Laptop
When making the decision to buy a laptop for mobile use, it's important to consider the options you have available. You can purchase new, used or refurbished or even lease a laptop. Decide what factors are most important and keep in mind what your budget will allow. If state of the art technology is key, then leasing is your best option. Examine your options before you buy a lapop.
The Case for Leasing
Previously Owned Laptops

Size and Weight
The next important criteria when you buy a laptop is size and weight. The best choices for mobile office workers are thin & light laptops and ultra-portable designs. You'll find these laptops offer the best mobility options and make the most sense when you have to travel with your laptop. Laptops meant to replace desktop systems may be too heavy to carry for long periods of time but can provide features valuable to mobile professionals.
Ultraportable Laptops
Thin & Light Laptops
Desktop Replacment Laptops

Connectivity
As a mobile office worker having the ability to connect to an office network and the Internet are integral to successfully working in a mobile environment. Laptops with multiple connection options are what will suit mobile workers and leave them with the ability to get connected in practically any situation. Consider the different types of situations where you will need remote access and make sure that your laptop will have the networking capabilities included or easily added.
Wi-Fi Connection Tutorial
Create Network Connections in WinXP
Share Internet Access

Batteries
Mobile workers need laptops that have long battery lives and even better are laptops that allow you to add an extra battery. You never know if your mobile work will take you to places where electricity is not an option. Traveling by air, rail or bus are prime examples. It's also worth looking at how long it takes to recharge your laptop batteries.
Extend Laptop Battery Life
PowerPlus 60 Universal Battery
Laptop Battery Basics

Security Features
Mobile office workers must accept that their laptop will be a prime target for theft. Know what security measures you can take and what security options are available with the laptop you choose. Making the decision for a higher-end laptop that includes security options can save you money and grief.
Notebook Security Cables
Personal Firewall Software
Threats to Safety & Security

Specifications
Just as mobile office workers need to consider the above, they must also realize what the minimum and maximum acceptable specifications laptops have. It makes no sense to buy the smallest laptop possible but not have the processor speed or RAM to carry out your job functions. Keyboards and monitors are also important - if they are too small you won't be able to work effectively and may perhaps cause injury or strain.

Upgrades
As with all technology, mobile office technology is constantly changing and improving. If your laptop can't be upgraded it can be become a hindrance rather than an effective tool. Watch for laptops that have onboard components that can't be upgraded and try to avoid those. Remember that networking technology is always improving and changing and you could be left without an efficient means of connecting to your company network or the Internet.

Warranties & Support
As a mobile worker it's key that your laptop be in good working order and if you do need repair work that you have resources for either quick repair or replacement. Purchasing additional warranty coverage and getting 24/7 support are important considerations when looking at laptop manufacturers. It's also important to know if the laptop manufacturer provides local and/or international support.

article by: Catherine Roseberry,
http://mobileoffice.about.com/cs/laptops/bb/byblaptop.htm

What is wireless broadband (or Wi-Fi)?

Wi-Fi, also know as 'wireless broadband', 'wireless networking' or 'wireless fidelity', simply means broadband without the wires.

The advantage of small, portable devices like laptops and PDA's is that they can be used anywhere around the house, but if you want to access the internet on them too you'll need a Wi-Fi transmitter.

Once you've got Wi-Fi, you can access the web anywhere in the house on any computer!

Wi-Fi makes life easy
Wi-Fi has become very popular because once you have a base station, any number of desktop or laptop computers can be connected to your broadband service without the need for any cables or installing extra phone lines.

So if you have a second computer in an upstairs room, or a laptop as well as a desktop, the same broadband service will be available on all your machines at the same time.

You can even use your laptop in the garden!

Wi-Fi essentials
If you already have broadband and want to add Wi-Fi then you will need a wireless transmitter.

This is sometimes known as a Wireless Access Point (WAP).

Wi-Fi means wireless broadband for all your computers
Typically it's is a small box which plugs into your computer and has one or two short antennas.

Each computer in the house will then need a Wi-Fi adapter to receive the signal.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/askbruce/articles/connect/wifi_1.shtml

broadband vs. dialup

As well as being 10 - 100 times faster than dial up, broadband is also a permanent connection.
This means that you don't have to 'dial in' every time you want to use the internet. You just start your computer and open a web browser to start surfing.
Dial up access is fine for receiving e-mail, but it takes such a long time to download things like music, video or photos, most people give up before it arrives.
New contentAs well as web pages loading pretty much instantly, new types of content like video and music become something you can enjoy.
Online movies and TV programmes from all round the world are also available as broadband spells the convergence of the internet and television.
This also means more interactive web pages, which include real presenters, 3D environments and live programmes like concerts or festivals.
Online gamesYou will also be able to play exciting online games that take advantage of your broadband bandwidth.
This might not sound appealing to everyone, but these multi-user games are more like online communities than the PlayStation or X-Box games you might be used to.
Players are represented by 3D models of themselves (called avatars) and can move around an entire 3D world.
Many of these worlds now exist and people are even making a living designing virtual islands and buildings and selling them to other players!
Get creativeBut as well as faster downloads, you can also upload information much more quickly.
This is great for sending photos to relatives, video chats (where you can see each other) and sharing files, but it also lets you create new content like music, movies and artwork by collaborating with other people.
Some music software, for example, allows you to work on unfinished pieces written by other musicians.
That way hundreds of users can share the same piece, adding or rearranging sections online.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/askbruce/articles/connect/difference_1.shtml

MacBook Air Notebook

there has been s much hype about the MacBook Air Notebook, so here's some specs of the famous hardware straight from the manufacturers:

At 0.16 inch at its thinnest point, just 0.76 inch at its thickest point, and a mere 3.0 pounds, the MacBook Air ultraportable notebook is so compact and light that you can take it everywhere. But unlike other ultraportable laptops, it doesn't compromise on features and performance. The MacBook Air includes a bright 13.3-inch widescreen LED display, built-in iSight camera, 2GB of RAM, 80GB hard drive, and a Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 Cache. You'll also enjoy its full-size Backlit Keyboard with keys that automatically illuminate in low-light conditions, and its spacious solid-state trackpad with multi-touch controls that let you zoom, rotate, swipe, and scroll with just a flick or a pinch. Engineered for the wireless world, the MacBook Air also comes with 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and Apple's new Remote Disc technology, which delivers unparalleled wireless versatility by letting you use any Mac or PC's optical drive.

only one thing i have to say: "WOW!, while wiping off the froth on my mouth. =)

the best desktop pc

are you looking to buy a new desktop computer? of course what you need is the best, and by best i mean, the cheapest, fastest and the most compatible with your personality and lifestyle.

for me, that would be the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B.

When it comes to performance, the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B ($999 as of November 6, 2006) is a winner: It managed an impressive WorldBench 5 score of 148. The MicroFlex 66B carries a speedy 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 processor and 2GB of memory--the only system in our roundup to do so. It also came configured with an ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card. This system produced the best graphics performance of any cheap PC on our gaming tests, making it a good choice as a versatile, low-cost gaming system.

The MicroFlex 66B came with a 17-inch ViewSonic VP720b LCD monitor that rendered graphics adequately but produced text lacking in sharpness and rather difficult to read at smaller font sizes. Peripherals include a comfortable wireless keyboard and mouse from Microsoft.

this PC has the best value among the desktop pc's out there. it is affordable yet performs well enough for video and graphic editing tasks!

source:Richard Baguley
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127980-page,1-c,desktoppcs/article.html#