By: Zahir Shah
You really have no choice except of a notebook computer if your job or lifestyle needs plenty of travel every year. Your own notebook computer will help you a lot when you are out of your home or office.
Now-a-days, you can get laptops as powerful as desktop PCs. Laptops are available with high-resolution graphics, CD/DVD recording, large hard drives and even with more features.
However, if you're sitting on the fence and portability is not required as much, go on buying desktop computer with considering the following reasons:
Desktops are more expendable than laptops: - Desktop computers are quite plain easier to expand and upgrade (using USB and FireWire ports), especially the processor and your graphic card, though you can hang plenty of peripherals off a modern laptop.
Desktops are cheaper than laptops: - Desktop computer is even cheaper than a notebook, so if you don’t need it why you are paying so much. Jump to the desktop side of the fence which costs less and suitable for you.
Laptops repairing cost is much more than desktops: - For example, if your sound card fails with any reason you can easily replace it with any inexpensive adapter card. However, when your laptop creates such problem of sound hardware, you must pull out your wallet because you will not be able to fix it yourself, and the whole motherboard inside the unit will must be replaced.
Here we also figure out how to buy these once you made the decision?
Processor: - if you intend that you will use your machine for standard office tasks and internet browsing, does not matter it will do any processor. But if you are a heavy gamer or you need much more power the Intel Core 2 Duo chip is the better one then.
Memory: - As much memory your PC has installed, you would be able to run as much application at once. Upgrading memory in a desktop after you buy the PC is a snap, but actually its good to buy the amount of memory you like preinstalled with the machine.
Motherboards: - A new motherboard would deliver you smooth new technologies that you are missing right now. It would be faster, would be has Second-generation SATA connections, high-definition audio and even a Dual-card graphic. You should keep in mind to check either the motherboard you are buying has two or one USB ports in fronts or not, because of to plug in your USB memory drive and digital audio player etc.
Graphics: - Before going for shopping make sure what kind of Card will work suite in your PC. If you are a serious gamer and can pay as much go on dual-graphics-card. There are two types of cards, the one is removable from the board and the other is permanently soldered on the board. However we would recommend a discrete graphics board for gaming and an integrated graphics for other use.
Sound Card: - for office use you should buy an integrated sound card for your PC, but if you want to use the PC in your home then a dedicated sound card would be the better choice.
Hard Drive: - Its totally depends on you, if you plan on large amount of data, such digital images or multimedia files on your pc, Large capacity hard drive, opportunity to save more data. For normal use simply buy 40 or 80 GB that most of business users use these days.
http://computersnext.com
10/30/07
Laptops Pose Damage To Male Sexual Health
By: mjb
Living the 21st lifestyle would not be complete without electronic gadgets that prove just how much technology has changed the way we live. With the growing popularity of computers, it is no surprise that researchers have embarked on a study to determine the potential damage, if there is any, that frequent use of laptops may cause on a man's sexual health and fertility. Recent findings by the State University of New York experts have shown that men who frequently use laptop computers could be unwittingly damaging their fertility.
A laptop computer, or simply laptop or notebook, is a small mobile computer that usually runs on a single main battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself. This very useful office and entertainment tool is now being examined so that the public may be forewarned about the potential hazards of long-term use.
Researchers found that when a man balances the said equipment it on his lap, it increases the temperature of the scrotum which is known to have a negative effect on sperm production, and may cause scrotal hyperthermia. Since the function of the scrotum is to keep the testes at a temperature slightly lower than that of the rest of the human body, increase in scrotal temperature can damage sperm production and development. Scrotal hyperthermia has been identified as a risk factor for male infertility.
According to Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, lead researcher from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, laptops can reach internal operating temperatures of over 70°C --- a temperature that is harmful to live sperm.
“They are frequently positioned close to the scrotum, and as well as being capable of producing direct local heat, they require the user to sit with his thighs close together to balance the machine, which traps the scrotum between the thighs,” he said.
There are 29 healthy males aged between 21 and 35 who volunteered to be a part of the experiment. Temperature changes to the scrotum caused by laptop use and the different seating positions over one hour time periods were recorded and evaluated. The following results were observed: In order to balance a laptop, a man has to sit with his thighs together. With this posture alone, temperature in the scrotum rose by 2.1°C. When the men used a laptop in this position, the average temperatures increased by 2.6°C. on the left side of the scrotum and 2.8°C. on its right side.
Researchers also say that the body needs to maintain a proper testicular temperature for normal sperm production and development, or what is termed as spermatogenesis, in medical terms. Their studies have not determined the exact frequency and time of heat exposure that is capable of producing reversible or irreversible changes in spermatogenesis. But previous studies made suggest that 1°C above the baseline is the possible minimal thermal gradient. Based on their findings, the repetitive use of a laptop near the proximity of the male pelvic area might cause permanent damage and infertility. Teenage boys and young men are advised to limit their use of laptop computers on their laps until further studies provide more information on this type of thermal exposure.
At the British Fertility Society conference, Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said that it is already a common knowledge that increasing the temperature of the testicles can affect sperm production. He added that, “... worrying about having a laptop on your knees for only an hour can increase the temperature of the scrotum so significantly.” He warned that men who use laptops regularly should be very careful. Further work is needed to see if regular laptop use is a risk factor in male fertility and man's sexual health, in general.
Article Source: http://add-articles.com
Living the 21st lifestyle would not be complete without electronic gadgets that prove just how much technology has changed the way we live. With the growing popularity of computers, it is no surprise that researchers have embarked on a study to determine the potential damage, if there is any, that frequent use of laptops may cause on a man's sexual health and fertility. Recent findings by the State University of New York experts have shown that men who frequently use laptop computers could be unwittingly damaging their fertility.
A laptop computer, or simply laptop or notebook, is a small mobile computer that usually runs on a single main battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself. This very useful office and entertainment tool is now being examined so that the public may be forewarned about the potential hazards of long-term use.
Researchers found that when a man balances the said equipment it on his lap, it increases the temperature of the scrotum which is known to have a negative effect on sperm production, and may cause scrotal hyperthermia. Since the function of the scrotum is to keep the testes at a temperature slightly lower than that of the rest of the human body, increase in scrotal temperature can damage sperm production and development. Scrotal hyperthermia has been identified as a risk factor for male infertility.
According to Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, lead researcher from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, laptops can reach internal operating temperatures of over 70°C --- a temperature that is harmful to live sperm.
“They are frequently positioned close to the scrotum, and as well as being capable of producing direct local heat, they require the user to sit with his thighs close together to balance the machine, which traps the scrotum between the thighs,” he said.
There are 29 healthy males aged between 21 and 35 who volunteered to be a part of the experiment. Temperature changes to the scrotum caused by laptop use and the different seating positions over one hour time periods were recorded and evaluated. The following results were observed: In order to balance a laptop, a man has to sit with his thighs together. With this posture alone, temperature in the scrotum rose by 2.1°C. When the men used a laptop in this position, the average temperatures increased by 2.6°C. on the left side of the scrotum and 2.8°C. on its right side.
Researchers also say that the body needs to maintain a proper testicular temperature for normal sperm production and development, or what is termed as spermatogenesis, in medical terms. Their studies have not determined the exact frequency and time of heat exposure that is capable of producing reversible or irreversible changes in spermatogenesis. But previous studies made suggest that 1°C above the baseline is the possible minimal thermal gradient. Based on their findings, the repetitive use of a laptop near the proximity of the male pelvic area might cause permanent damage and infertility. Teenage boys and young men are advised to limit their use of laptop computers on their laps until further studies provide more information on this type of thermal exposure.
At the British Fertility Society conference, Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said that it is already a common knowledge that increasing the temperature of the testicles can affect sperm production. He added that, “... worrying about having a laptop on your knees for only an hour can increase the temperature of the scrotum so significantly.” He warned that men who use laptops regularly should be very careful. Further work is needed to see if regular laptop use is a risk factor in male fertility and man's sexual health, in general.
Article Source: http://add-articles.com
10/29/07
Notebook Battery Life - Tips To Get The Most Out Of Yours
By Michael Paul Jr
Notebook computers. At this point in the 21st century, they have become an indispensable part of many people's everyday lives. From the commuting business executive and the busy college student, we all want to be mobile with our computers. The big drawback of that is the fact that there is not always a plug around when you need one. A notebook computer's battery is its life-blood. Without proper care, your notebook battery could fail much earlier than anticipated. By following a few simple steps, you can expect to get the greatest amount of usage possible out of your notebook battery before a replacement is needed.
1. Upon purchase, charge the battery to full capacity. Whether you have purchased a new computer have purchased a new battery for your laptop, charging it fully as soon as you open the box is the best recommendation. This allows the battery to reach a full capacity before you begin to use it "unplugged". Most batteries come with a partial charge, enough to get you going if you absolutely had to. Giving that battery a full charge when it is brand new will help set the charge capacity for the battery at its highest possible level.
2. Once you reach a full charge, leave the computer plugged in for at least 2 hours. This action lets the battery "rest" at a full charge for a fairly lengthy period of time. At this point, the battery is not drawing power from your wall socket to charge, and it is also not supplying any power to your system. Letting your battery rest for a time after a full charge helps to "lock-in" that full charge capacity.
3. Unplug the computer and drain the battery. It might sound silly, but now that you have gotten that battery to a full charge, you need to drain the power almost completely. Again, this will help determine the charge capacity of the battery. Leave your computer unplugged and use it until you get a warning telling you that the battery is almost completely discharge. Then save whatever you are working on and power the computer down. Plug back into the wall socket for a fresh charge. Then use the computer at your leisure.
http://www.techcastweekly.com
Notebook computers. At this point in the 21st century, they have become an indispensable part of many people's everyday lives. From the commuting business executive and the busy college student, we all want to be mobile with our computers. The big drawback of that is the fact that there is not always a plug around when you need one. A notebook computer's battery is its life-blood. Without proper care, your notebook battery could fail much earlier than anticipated. By following a few simple steps, you can expect to get the greatest amount of usage possible out of your notebook battery before a replacement is needed.
1. Upon purchase, charge the battery to full capacity. Whether you have purchased a new computer have purchased a new battery for your laptop, charging it fully as soon as you open the box is the best recommendation. This allows the battery to reach a full capacity before you begin to use it "unplugged". Most batteries come with a partial charge, enough to get you going if you absolutely had to. Giving that battery a full charge when it is brand new will help set the charge capacity for the battery at its highest possible level.
2. Once you reach a full charge, leave the computer plugged in for at least 2 hours. This action lets the battery "rest" at a full charge for a fairly lengthy period of time. At this point, the battery is not drawing power from your wall socket to charge, and it is also not supplying any power to your system. Letting your battery rest for a time after a full charge helps to "lock-in" that full charge capacity.
3. Unplug the computer and drain the battery. It might sound silly, but now that you have gotten that battery to a full charge, you need to drain the power almost completely. Again, this will help determine the charge capacity of the battery. Leave your computer unplugged and use it until you get a warning telling you that the battery is almost completely discharge. Then save whatever you are working on and power the computer down. Plug back into the wall socket for a fresh charge. Then use the computer at your leisure.
http://www.techcastweekly.com
Choosing the Right Notebook Battery
By Tonny Delarosa
There are millions of notebook batteries out there. So it's no surprise that finding the right notebook battery is a nightmare for the everyday computer users. Unless they are willing to spend long hours of research of course...
This article presents important facts about laptop batteries and the various battery technologies available today. The article will help non-technical people in selecting which notebook battery is the right one for them, whether they are just looking for a cheap battery or high-end components such as li-ion rechargeable batteries.
Don't think all laptop batteries are created equal. There is no such things as a generic or universal laptop battery. They are all different and guess what... it is the best interest of the laptop vendors to keep it that way. No, a Dell laptop battery is not the same as an HP laptop battery, and you cannot use the cheap IBM Lion batteries you just bought to replace the Vaio laptop battery of your girlfriend. The shape, specifications, and size of most laptop batteries differ from one model to another, and I'm not even talking about the well-known exceptions such as the flashy Apple batteries or the heavy duty, water-proof, Panasonic toughbook batteries!
All notebook batteries have, however, a few characteristics that are the same:
- The notebook batteries can be recharged an infinite number of times, especially nowadays because they are generally built of li-ion or Nimh;
- The notebook batteries can be pretty pricey, especially for the higher end models such as the HP, 600e IBM, the Compaq laptop batteries, or the Acer replacement battery;
- The notebook batteries can be pretty delicate electronic components: do not be surprised if your battery suddenly drops voltage or the laptop battery won't charge fully;
- The notebook batterys have to be regularly charged and discharged to maintain their battery life.
Let's discuss about the procedure to use when you want to replace your current laptop battery by a new one. The first step is to turn off your laptop pc and remove the power cable from the back of the machine. Turn the laptop down carefully and remove the battery from its slot. A small switch is usually included and pressing the switch will eject the laptop battery pretty easily on most models.
You should then carefully write down the serial and reference number of the battery. These numbers can be pretty confusing because these are long serial numbers that do not mean a thing to most users: they have strange names such as “HP 1739a”, “Dell w1955.” or “Compaq n1020v”....
Armed with this reference number, the second step for you is to decide on three important factors: (i) your budget (are you looking for a refurbished laptop battery, a new one, or maybe a second-hand laptop battery), (ii) the type of battery life you want, and (iii) the brand. You should buy long-life laptop batteries; it is highly recommended. They are only slightly more expensive. But these models are a good investment because there is nothing more frustrating that running out of battery juice in a place where you cannot user your laptop battery charger such as in many airports.
http://www.batteriesnotebook.com
There are millions of notebook batteries out there. So it's no surprise that finding the right notebook battery is a nightmare for the everyday computer users. Unless they are willing to spend long hours of research of course...
This article presents important facts about laptop batteries and the various battery technologies available today. The article will help non-technical people in selecting which notebook battery is the right one for them, whether they are just looking for a cheap battery or high-end components such as li-ion rechargeable batteries.
Don't think all laptop batteries are created equal. There is no such things as a generic or universal laptop battery. They are all different and guess what... it is the best interest of the laptop vendors to keep it that way. No, a Dell laptop battery is not the same as an HP laptop battery, and you cannot use the cheap IBM Lion batteries you just bought to replace the Vaio laptop battery of your girlfriend. The shape, specifications, and size of most laptop batteries differ from one model to another, and I'm not even talking about the well-known exceptions such as the flashy Apple batteries or the heavy duty, water-proof, Panasonic toughbook batteries!
All notebook batteries have, however, a few characteristics that are the same:
- The notebook batteries can be recharged an infinite number of times, especially nowadays because they are generally built of li-ion or Nimh;
- The notebook batteries can be pretty pricey, especially for the higher end models such as the HP, 600e IBM, the Compaq laptop batteries, or the Acer replacement battery;
- The notebook batteries can be pretty delicate electronic components: do not be surprised if your battery suddenly drops voltage or the laptop battery won't charge fully;
- The notebook batterys have to be regularly charged and discharged to maintain their battery life.
Let's discuss about the procedure to use when you want to replace your current laptop battery by a new one. The first step is to turn off your laptop pc and remove the power cable from the back of the machine. Turn the laptop down carefully and remove the battery from its slot. A small switch is usually included and pressing the switch will eject the laptop battery pretty easily on most models.
You should then carefully write down the serial and reference number of the battery. These numbers can be pretty confusing because these are long serial numbers that do not mean a thing to most users: they have strange names such as “HP 1739a”, “Dell w1955.” or “Compaq n1020v”....
Armed with this reference number, the second step for you is to decide on three important factors: (i) your budget (are you looking for a refurbished laptop battery, a new one, or maybe a second-hand laptop battery), (ii) the type of battery life you want, and (iii) the brand. You should buy long-life laptop batteries; it is highly recommended. They are only slightly more expensive. But these models are a good investment because there is nothing more frustrating that running out of battery juice in a place where you cannot user your laptop battery charger such as in many airports.
http://www.batteriesnotebook.com
10/28/07
Notebook As A Tool Of Time Management
By: Roberto Sedycias
Notebooks have emerged as a bare essential for the business executives who carry their work along with themselves. Notebooks which are also known as laptops can facilitate the work process thereby saving substantial and valuable time. In short, it is used as tool of time management.
Owning a notebook is a dream of many, but since it is very expensive nobody buys it unless it is indispensable to them. However, some people having shoe-string budget look for a good notebook. They are the ones who need detailed and comprehensive information on notebooks and laptops before they settle for one.
Basically, buying a notebook or laptop largely depends upon the personal choice, specific requirement and social status of a person. Besides, different manufacturers are introducing notebooks of different look with a wide-range of features. However, some notebooks are launched in the market to cater to a particular segment of buyers keeping in mind of their specific needs. Accordingly, these laptops differ in flavor, class and quality.
Let`s take a look at the various types of notebooks that are available in the market today. Keeping various factors in consideration the notebooks can be broadly divided into four major categories, such as:
Budget laptops - Typically, these laptops cost around US$ 1000 to $ 1200.
Mid-range laptops - Notebooks of this category can be found with a price-tag of about US$1200 to $1600.
Ultra-portable laptops - These light-weight laptops ranges from US$1600 to $2200.
Laptops for the people with a class apart. With all the standard and advanced features in these notebooks, they cost above US$2200.
Performance test of laptops:
Notebooks can be tested on the basis of certain benchmarks such as Multimedia content creation 2003 and Business Winston 2002. These tests determine the performance ability of different notebooks with regard to regular productivity applications and multimedia content application.
Similarly, 3D Mark05 and 3D Mark06 are used as standards to measure the gaming and graphic potential of different notebooks.
Likewise, PC Mark05 is taken as a yardstick to test various components of notebooks such as hard-disk general usage, multithreading, web-page rendering, file decryption and 3D pixel shader.
Moreover, the battery back-up and wireless connectivity can be tested using Battery Mark02 and QCheck as the benchmark.
Finally, Vista Compatibility Check can be undertaken to test if the notebooks have Vista-readiness. Under this test, the performance of the laptops is assessed on the basis of Vista drivers and Vista upgradeability.
Features:
When it comes to features, the list seems endless. Some expensive notebooks have the most advanced features such as built-in webcams, fingerprint readers, TPM and so on. So far as the features go, they can be divided into five different categories, such as:
Physical - Screen size and weight of the notebook
Connectivity - Bluetooth version 1/2, infrared, MMC reader, S-Video, DVI port, FireWire. The number and type of USB ports and PCMCIA slots.
Components - Type of optical drives, whether the notebook has a DVD combo, a CD-RW or a multi-recorder DVD-RW. The hard-drive capacity and any additional component such as wireless optical mouse or an MMC adapter.
Software - Software have always been an essential part of the package. These include recovery CDs, driver CDs, OSes, etc.
Protection - All types of protection available in a notebook, be it a finger-print reader, BIOS level HDD protection, touch-pad lock, TPM, or even rescue option available at the time of boot up.
Pricing and Warranty:
All notebooks ranging from $1200 to $4500 offer warranty of 1 year and some laptops have the option of additional extendable warranty.
So, the above discussed comprehensive analysis and performance tests will definitely help those who are planning to buy a laptop.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Notebooks have emerged as a bare essential for the business executives who carry their work along with themselves. Notebooks which are also known as laptops can facilitate the work process thereby saving substantial and valuable time. In short, it is used as tool of time management.
Owning a notebook is a dream of many, but since it is very expensive nobody buys it unless it is indispensable to them. However, some people having shoe-string budget look for a good notebook. They are the ones who need detailed and comprehensive information on notebooks and laptops before they settle for one.
Basically, buying a notebook or laptop largely depends upon the personal choice, specific requirement and social status of a person. Besides, different manufacturers are introducing notebooks of different look with a wide-range of features. However, some notebooks are launched in the market to cater to a particular segment of buyers keeping in mind of their specific needs. Accordingly, these laptops differ in flavor, class and quality.
Let`s take a look at the various types of notebooks that are available in the market today. Keeping various factors in consideration the notebooks can be broadly divided into four major categories, such as:
Budget laptops - Typically, these laptops cost around US$ 1000 to $ 1200.
Mid-range laptops - Notebooks of this category can be found with a price-tag of about US$1200 to $1600.
Ultra-portable laptops - These light-weight laptops ranges from US$1600 to $2200.
Laptops for the people with a class apart. With all the standard and advanced features in these notebooks, they cost above US$2200.
Performance test of laptops:
Notebooks can be tested on the basis of certain benchmarks such as Multimedia content creation 2003 and Business Winston 2002. These tests determine the performance ability of different notebooks with regard to regular productivity applications and multimedia content application.
Similarly, 3D Mark05 and 3D Mark06 are used as standards to measure the gaming and graphic potential of different notebooks.
Likewise, PC Mark05 is taken as a yardstick to test various components of notebooks such as hard-disk general usage, multithreading, web-page rendering, file decryption and 3D pixel shader.
Moreover, the battery back-up and wireless connectivity can be tested using Battery Mark02 and QCheck as the benchmark.
Finally, Vista Compatibility Check can be undertaken to test if the notebooks have Vista-readiness. Under this test, the performance of the laptops is assessed on the basis of Vista drivers and Vista upgradeability.
Features:
When it comes to features, the list seems endless. Some expensive notebooks have the most advanced features such as built-in webcams, fingerprint readers, TPM and so on. So far as the features go, they can be divided into five different categories, such as:
Physical - Screen size and weight of the notebook
Connectivity - Bluetooth version 1/2, infrared, MMC reader, S-Video, DVI port, FireWire. The number and type of USB ports and PCMCIA slots.
Components - Type of optical drives, whether the notebook has a DVD combo, a CD-RW or a multi-recorder DVD-RW. The hard-drive capacity and any additional component such as wireless optical mouse or an MMC adapter.
Software - Software have always been an essential part of the package. These include recovery CDs, driver CDs, OSes, etc.
Protection - All types of protection available in a notebook, be it a finger-print reader, BIOS level HDD protection, touch-pad lock, TPM, or even rescue option available at the time of boot up.
Pricing and Warranty:
All notebooks ranging from $1200 to $4500 offer warranty of 1 year and some laptops have the option of additional extendable warranty.
So, the above discussed comprehensive analysis and performance tests will definitely help those who are planning to buy a laptop.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
10/27/07
Notebook Battery Life
Notebook battery life is an important for the mobile computer user. There’s nothing worse than really needing to access you notebook only to have it switch off due to low battery. There are certain things that can help to prolong battery life.
The first thing to consider would be the conditioning of the battery. More namely your charging habits. The worst thing you can do for your notebook battery is always keep it on the charger or charge it while it’s only half full. This will diminish the life of the battery giving you less hours of operating time. The ideal way to charge your notebook battery would be to use it until it is completely dead and then charge it fully.
The second issue to consider would be your usage habits. Using multimedia such as movies and music will kill your battery a lot quicker. Especially doing operations that are CPU intensive. Playing games will diminish your power supply a lot quicker than say, browsing the internet.
There are also different settings that can help preserve your battery life. Windows has different functions for notebooks. For instance you can set your power usage depending on what you are doing. You can set your notebook to act like a desktop if you are near a power supply to get the full performance out of your system. On the other hand you can also set it to use power as efficiently as possible if you are on the move. These setting change things such as the amount of power the CPU uses, the brightness of the screen and so forth.
In the end it’s up-to the individual user. Some notebooks come with the option of a second battery which can double the power your notebook has at your disposal but this is often costly. Also there are more advanced batteries that can be used but again they will cost you extra.
The first thing to consider would be the conditioning of the battery. More namely your charging habits. The worst thing you can do for your notebook battery is always keep it on the charger or charge it while it’s only half full. This will diminish the life of the battery giving you less hours of operating time. The ideal way to charge your notebook battery would be to use it until it is completely dead and then charge it fully.
The second issue to consider would be your usage habits. Using multimedia such as movies and music will kill your battery a lot quicker. Especially doing operations that are CPU intensive. Playing games will diminish your power supply a lot quicker than say, browsing the internet.
There are also different settings that can help preserve your battery life. Windows has different functions for notebooks. For instance you can set your power usage depending on what you are doing. You can set your notebook to act like a desktop if you are near a power supply to get the full performance out of your system. On the other hand you can also set it to use power as efficiently as possible if you are on the move. These setting change things such as the amount of power the CPU uses, the brightness of the screen and so forth.
In the end it’s up-to the individual user. Some notebooks come with the option of a second battery which can double the power your notebook has at your disposal but this is often costly. Also there are more advanced batteries that can be used but again they will cost you extra.
10/26/07
Used and Refurbished Laptops Buying Criterias
by Christophe Catesson
Since 2005, sales of laptops have displaced those of desktop PCs worldwide. Due a constant drop in price rapid technical improvements and the swift evolution and extension of the WAN technology, notebooks are destined to replace desktops in most areas both professionally and at home.
Notebooks are light computers, which are comfortable to carry, and they have a flat screen and the keyboard is attached to it. Notebooks are operated on battery and they have LCD (liquid crystal display) display. Notebooks are now a days generally used by people engaged in all the fields. The Notebooks have good battery backup, which makes them very handy and convenient. They are not more than 2kg of weight, which makes them very portable. Mostly the notebooks are used by people form all the fields like the students or the businesses men or architectures as well as engineers or teachers etc...
As brand replaces their laptops on average every 6 months and companies frequently upgrade their equipment, buying a used or refurbished laptop can save you a lot of money while still using a quite up to date technology.
Before buying a used or refurbished notebook...
Buying a notebook is not at all an easy job, one has look get detailed information of the available notebooks of good and reputed brands. One must take into consideration the Size, Color (as per his will), Configurations, features etc.
A notebook should be like your valet, flexible, very easy to use, and much portable.
Your notebook should show your personality. You should always keep in mind the reputation of the brand in the market. Brand counts a lot; you can render good service by the manufacturer if your notebook is damaged.
Important handy Tips before buying a notebook...
* Check if the brand is reputed and always buy a good reputed brand. Read about customer service experience for that specific laptop issues
* Check the warranty/guarantee of the notebook (check for the notebooks which still have warranty/guarantee remaining)
* Check whether the battery life is good (search for the notebooks with a very good battery backup)
* Check the price of the new model in the market and compare it with what price your buying, try to get the best bargain
* Check if the notebook is not outdated (if outdated it is difficult to get the spare parts of the notebook)
* Check if the Windows are latest version (Windows Vista/Windows Xp). Earlier versions probably run slow and would not be advisable unless your needs are limited (i.e. web surfing, Word...)
* Check if the configuration of the notebook you are buying is good.
* Check the speed of the processor
* Check for the screen size of the notebook your buying and see to it that it is not exceeding the Normal (normally the screen size should be between 15-17 inches). Less than that generally translate in older laptops and increases the chance of age failure. Once the screen breaks, you are often better of changing the whole laptop
* Check the connectivity of the notebook look to it that it has a good connectivity including wireless
* Check the weight of the notebook see to it that it is light in weight and easy to carry. Where to buy used laptops: * Online auctions. Pro: Often offer the best prices. Cons: Cannot validate the accuracy of the described item. No warranty
* Online marketplaces: Pro: Set prices and quantities - Sometime warranty is available. Cons: Prices can vary a lot, do your homework
Where to buy refurbished laptops: Refurbished laptops can be a great way to buy as they have warranties and are generally sold by manufacturers or companies affiliated with them.
* Manufacturers websites will tell you how to buy directly from them or from their authorized sellers. Pros: Warranty, established companies. Cons: Prices are higher than regular auctions
Buying a used or refurbished notebook can be a great way to save money if you use some of the advices discussed above. One last thing, make sure you have a good bag to protect your laptop from a fatal accident. Your bag should be big enough for a 17 inch screen notebook as it is rapidly becoming the norm, you will probably change your laptop within a few years, the bag you may keep a lot longer.
www.BestLaptopsReviews.com
Since 2005, sales of laptops have displaced those of desktop PCs worldwide. Due a constant drop in price rapid technical improvements and the swift evolution and extension of the WAN technology, notebooks are destined to replace desktops in most areas both professionally and at home.
Notebooks are light computers, which are comfortable to carry, and they have a flat screen and the keyboard is attached to it. Notebooks are operated on battery and they have LCD (liquid crystal display) display. Notebooks are now a days generally used by people engaged in all the fields. The Notebooks have good battery backup, which makes them very handy and convenient. They are not more than 2kg of weight, which makes them very portable. Mostly the notebooks are used by people form all the fields like the students or the businesses men or architectures as well as engineers or teachers etc...
As brand replaces their laptops on average every 6 months and companies frequently upgrade their equipment, buying a used or refurbished laptop can save you a lot of money while still using a quite up to date technology.
Before buying a used or refurbished notebook...
Buying a notebook is not at all an easy job, one has look get detailed information of the available notebooks of good and reputed brands. One must take into consideration the Size, Color (as per his will), Configurations, features etc.
A notebook should be like your valet, flexible, very easy to use, and much portable.
Your notebook should show your personality. You should always keep in mind the reputation of the brand in the market. Brand counts a lot; you can render good service by the manufacturer if your notebook is damaged.
Important handy Tips before buying a notebook...
* Check if the brand is reputed and always buy a good reputed brand. Read about customer service experience for that specific laptop issues
* Check the warranty/guarantee of the notebook (check for the notebooks which still have warranty/guarantee remaining)
* Check whether the battery life is good (search for the notebooks with a very good battery backup)
* Check the price of the new model in the market and compare it with what price your buying, try to get the best bargain
* Check if the notebook is not outdated (if outdated it is difficult to get the spare parts of the notebook)
* Check if the Windows are latest version (Windows Vista/Windows Xp). Earlier versions probably run slow and would not be advisable unless your needs are limited (i.e. web surfing, Word...)
* Check if the configuration of the notebook you are buying is good.
* Check the speed of the processor
* Check for the screen size of the notebook your buying and see to it that it is not exceeding the Normal (normally the screen size should be between 15-17 inches). Less than that generally translate in older laptops and increases the chance of age failure. Once the screen breaks, you are often better of changing the whole laptop
* Check the connectivity of the notebook look to it that it has a good connectivity including wireless
* Check the weight of the notebook see to it that it is light in weight and easy to carry. Where to buy used laptops: * Online auctions. Pro: Often offer the best prices. Cons: Cannot validate the accuracy of the described item. No warranty
* Online marketplaces: Pro: Set prices and quantities - Sometime warranty is available. Cons: Prices can vary a lot, do your homework
Where to buy refurbished laptops: Refurbished laptops can be a great way to buy as they have warranties and are generally sold by manufacturers or companies affiliated with them.
* Manufacturers websites will tell you how to buy directly from them or from their authorized sellers. Pros: Warranty, established companies. Cons: Prices are higher than regular auctions
Buying a used or refurbished notebook can be a great way to save money if you use some of the advices discussed above. One last thing, make sure you have a good bag to protect your laptop from a fatal accident. Your bag should be big enough for a 17 inch screen notebook as it is rapidly becoming the norm, you will probably change your laptop within a few years, the bag you may keep a lot longer.
www.BestLaptopsReviews.com
Increasing Notebook Battery Power
by Roberto Sedycias
Depending upon the model, a notebook battery usually lasts from 1 to 8 hours. However, with efficient battery usage, an hour or two of battery power can significantly be increased. You can save battery power by using the built-in battery saving modes and by following good notebook battery-saving practices.
Built-in battery-saving modes are Stand By and Hibernate. In the Stand By mode, open applications are stored in the RAM, the hard disks power down, the monitor switches off, but the processor goes on running. When you again perform some activity of the mouse or the keyboard, then the hard disk powers up, the monitor switches on, and the data from the RAM is activated, restoring your notebook exactly the way you left it.
The Hibernation mode is used when the notebook is left unattended for a long time. The open applications are stored on the hard disk, which subsequently powers down, the monitor turns off, and the processor turns off going in for hibernation. On soft rebooting like a restart or wake up on LAN, the processor turns on, the laptop wakes up, and the same exact settings are restored. Both these modes should be used to conserve battery power. You can preset your preferences in the settings of your notebook, so that in case you doze off, or leave the device for a coffee or a snack, the notebook automatically goes into any one of these power saving modes.
Following battery-saving practices can also save notebook battery power. You should always adjust the monitor controls to suit the room lighting conditions. Dimming the contrast and brightness saves battery power besides providing relief to your eyes. Auto-save and auto-update features of applications start in the background without your knowledge and these should be disabled. External devices consume a lot of battery power, hence the usage of external mice, monitors, keyboards, optical drives, videocam, digital cameras, or any other device connected to the PC Card slot, VGA/ FireWire/ USB port should be avoided.
Increase the RAM memory, if an extra slot is available, as this puts fewer burdens on the hard disk, which consumes a lot of battery power. Avoid multimedia games while you are running your notebook on battery power. Similarly, avoid music or movies. Copy the CD/DVD on the hard disk and play it from there, instead of the optical drive. Disable WiFi and Bluetooth. Built-in wireless cards should also be disabled. Decrease or set to mute the notebook speaker volume. Turn off all preprogrammed scheduled tasks. All unused open applications should be closed. The general guideline is that when your notebook is on battery power, you should perform only such operations, which are the need of the hour. Rest of the applications can be performed, when your notebook is connected to the mains.
Keeping good care of the battery also prolongs its life. To maximize performance of nickel-metal hydride batteries, they have to be completely drained off before they are recharged. However, lithium-ion batteries do not need cycling/ conditioning, and they do not suffer from memory effects. Hence, they need not be fully drained off before recharging. When the notebook is not in use for an extended period, the battery pack should be removed to avoid battery leakage. Before removing the battery pack, you should charge it fully and then remove it, as all kinds of batteries should always be stored in a fully charged state. Do not store your battery pack along with metal parts, as this will short-circuit your battery.
Utilizing the built-in battery saving options and other means, you can significantly add one to three hours more in the total capacity of your notebook battery. Sometimes, in critical situations, like an important meeting, this extra hour of notebook battery power can help you clinch your desired deal.
http://www.polomercantil.com.br
Depending upon the model, a notebook battery usually lasts from 1 to 8 hours. However, with efficient battery usage, an hour or two of battery power can significantly be increased. You can save battery power by using the built-in battery saving modes and by following good notebook battery-saving practices.
Built-in battery-saving modes are Stand By and Hibernate. In the Stand By mode, open applications are stored in the RAM, the hard disks power down, the monitor switches off, but the processor goes on running. When you again perform some activity of the mouse or the keyboard, then the hard disk powers up, the monitor switches on, and the data from the RAM is activated, restoring your notebook exactly the way you left it.
The Hibernation mode is used when the notebook is left unattended for a long time. The open applications are stored on the hard disk, which subsequently powers down, the monitor turns off, and the processor turns off going in for hibernation. On soft rebooting like a restart or wake up on LAN, the processor turns on, the laptop wakes up, and the same exact settings are restored. Both these modes should be used to conserve battery power. You can preset your preferences in the settings of your notebook, so that in case you doze off, or leave the device for a coffee or a snack, the notebook automatically goes into any one of these power saving modes.
Following battery-saving practices can also save notebook battery power. You should always adjust the monitor controls to suit the room lighting conditions. Dimming the contrast and brightness saves battery power besides providing relief to your eyes. Auto-save and auto-update features of applications start in the background without your knowledge and these should be disabled. External devices consume a lot of battery power, hence the usage of external mice, monitors, keyboards, optical drives, videocam, digital cameras, or any other device connected to the PC Card slot, VGA/ FireWire/ USB port should be avoided.
Increase the RAM memory, if an extra slot is available, as this puts fewer burdens on the hard disk, which consumes a lot of battery power. Avoid multimedia games while you are running your notebook on battery power. Similarly, avoid music or movies. Copy the CD/DVD on the hard disk and play it from there, instead of the optical drive. Disable WiFi and Bluetooth. Built-in wireless cards should also be disabled. Decrease or set to mute the notebook speaker volume. Turn off all preprogrammed scheduled tasks. All unused open applications should be closed. The general guideline is that when your notebook is on battery power, you should perform only such operations, which are the need of the hour. Rest of the applications can be performed, when your notebook is connected to the mains.
Keeping good care of the battery also prolongs its life. To maximize performance of nickel-metal hydride batteries, they have to be completely drained off before they are recharged. However, lithium-ion batteries do not need cycling/ conditioning, and they do not suffer from memory effects. Hence, they need not be fully drained off before recharging. When the notebook is not in use for an extended period, the battery pack should be removed to avoid battery leakage. Before removing the battery pack, you should charge it fully and then remove it, as all kinds of batteries should always be stored in a fully charged state. Do not store your battery pack along with metal parts, as this will short-circuit your battery.
Utilizing the built-in battery saving options and other means, you can significantly add one to three hours more in the total capacity of your notebook battery. Sometimes, in critical situations, like an important meeting, this extra hour of notebook battery power can help you clinch your desired deal.
http://www.polomercantil.com.br
Laptops - Leading with innovation.
by carly
Latest gadgets such as laptops are proving to be useful in different spheres. From busy executives and software professionals to college-going students and busy housewives - people in different areas of work are realizing the benefits of state-of-the-art technology for staying connected on the move. As a natural corollary to this trend, the demand for innovative laptops is on the increase. Leading notebook manufacturers are taking a cue from these trends in customer behavior; they are designing and developing the most sophisticated laptops to satisfy this increasing demand for the same.
The Protege R400 notebook computer can be cited as a case in point. This mobile computing solution brings the knowledge of two leading manufacturers - Toshiba and Microsoft to users. This very high-end laptop is expected to meet the advanced needs of users, very much into mobile computing.The point that can be derived from this example is that the leading industry giants are realizing the huge possibilities that can be explored in this area. Consequently, they are associating with one another to create signature products wherein equal emphasis is given on style and ergonomics. The customers are the ultimate beneficiaries of these efforts. They get to possess and use some of the most sleek looking and sophisticated gadgets, such as laptops and that too at the most industry leading costs.
It can be concluded from this discussion that quite a lot goes into the design and development of the latest gadgets such as mobile phones or laptops. The best brains from different fields are coming together to give an out-of-the-world experience to customers and clients. In all these efforts, the focus is on innovation; the process of innovation is guided by what the customers want. And the end-product is often very much up to customer expectations. Users are in fact, more than happy with the latest laptops and notebooks that are currently available in the market.
http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/
Latest gadgets such as laptops are proving to be useful in different spheres. From busy executives and software professionals to college-going students and busy housewives - people in different areas of work are realizing the benefits of state-of-the-art technology for staying connected on the move. As a natural corollary to this trend, the demand for innovative laptops is on the increase. Leading notebook manufacturers are taking a cue from these trends in customer behavior; they are designing and developing the most sophisticated laptops to satisfy this increasing demand for the same.
The Protege R400 notebook computer can be cited as a case in point. This mobile computing solution brings the knowledge of two leading manufacturers - Toshiba and Microsoft to users. This very high-end laptop is expected to meet the advanced needs of users, very much into mobile computing.The point that can be derived from this example is that the leading industry giants are realizing the huge possibilities that can be explored in this area. Consequently, they are associating with one another to create signature products wherein equal emphasis is given on style and ergonomics. The customers are the ultimate beneficiaries of these efforts. They get to possess and use some of the most sleek looking and sophisticated gadgets, such as laptops and that too at the most industry leading costs.
It can be concluded from this discussion that quite a lot goes into the design and development of the latest gadgets such as mobile phones or laptops. The best brains from different fields are coming together to give an out-of-the-world experience to customers and clients. In all these efforts, the focus is on innovation; the process of innovation is guided by what the customers want. And the end-product is often very much up to customer expectations. Users are in fact, more than happy with the latest laptops and notebooks that are currently available in the market.
http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/
Laptop Battery Memory
by Frank Vanderlugt
When we buy a laptop, it comes to us in a so called "discharged condition." It needs to be charged before usage. To have the maximum capacity, it is advised that the battery is charged at least 2-3 times. The first time you charge the batteries of the laptop, it would indicate that the charge is complete say after 10-15 mins. This, as indicated by several experts is the normal procedure to charge batteries. All you need to do is to remove the batteries and charge them again. You must always remember that the battery should be fully used before it is charged again. If this is not adhered to, then it shortens the life of the battery. The task of discharging the battery is simple. Run the laptop till such time the battery is fully exhausted or till such time you get a message, "Low battery, kindly recharge."
You must however make sure that you use the battery as frequent as possible. Failing to do so, it is wise to store in a dry and cool place. Do not get alarmed to find the battery becoming warm while it is being charged. Remember, a battery which is charge will for sure lose its charge in the long run, if it is not used. Therefore, it is better to charge the battery even after it is stored.
The so called run-time depends on the need for power by the equipment. For example, notebook computers make the use of monitors and the hard drive exhausts the battery, thereby reducing the run time of the battery.
There are several do's and don't which should be adhered to when it comes to battery performance. You should charge or discharge especially for the first three cycles when it is new. You should make sure that the battery and the contact terminals are clean. Be sure that you do not expose the battery to heat and cold. Make sure you use up the battery as the battery may wear of if it is not used for a longer period of time. You can make use of the accessories which come along with the laptop. Recondition the battery after a specific period.
There are however several don't which also should be kept in mind. You must take good care of the battery and not even drop or play around with it. Avoid putting the plug into the wrong socket. Never try and expose the contents of the cell and they may just be harmful. Make sure you do not expose the battery to external problems like water or moisture. Finally throw the used battery away. It cannot be recycled so make sure you know which trash can it needs to be thrown into.
http://www.laptop-memory-now.com/
When we buy a laptop, it comes to us in a so called "discharged condition." It needs to be charged before usage. To have the maximum capacity, it is advised that the battery is charged at least 2-3 times. The first time you charge the batteries of the laptop, it would indicate that the charge is complete say after 10-15 mins. This, as indicated by several experts is the normal procedure to charge batteries. All you need to do is to remove the batteries and charge them again. You must always remember that the battery should be fully used before it is charged again. If this is not adhered to, then it shortens the life of the battery. The task of discharging the battery is simple. Run the laptop till such time the battery is fully exhausted or till such time you get a message, "Low battery, kindly recharge."
You must however make sure that you use the battery as frequent as possible. Failing to do so, it is wise to store in a dry and cool place. Do not get alarmed to find the battery becoming warm while it is being charged. Remember, a battery which is charge will for sure lose its charge in the long run, if it is not used. Therefore, it is better to charge the battery even after it is stored.
The so called run-time depends on the need for power by the equipment. For example, notebook computers make the use of monitors and the hard drive exhausts the battery, thereby reducing the run time of the battery.
There are several do's and don't which should be adhered to when it comes to battery performance. You should charge or discharge especially for the first three cycles when it is new. You should make sure that the battery and the contact terminals are clean. Be sure that you do not expose the battery to heat and cold. Make sure you use up the battery as the battery may wear of if it is not used for a longer period of time. You can make use of the accessories which come along with the laptop. Recondition the battery after a specific period.
There are however several don't which also should be kept in mind. You must take good care of the battery and not even drop or play around with it. Avoid putting the plug into the wrong socket. Never try and expose the contents of the cell and they may just be harmful. Make sure you do not expose the battery to external problems like water or moisture. Finally throw the used battery away. It cannot be recycled so make sure you know which trash can it needs to be thrown into.
http://www.laptop-memory-now.com/
Notebook Purchase Review
by Roberto Sedycias
In the early nineties few people could image the impact that notebook would have in the computer industry. Its unique portability made the notebook a product in a class by itself. Soon, it became a must-have product, to those who were constantly moving from office, home or school. Nowadays, it is one of the best selling computer hardware items of all times.
With a Notebook, you can carry your work around conveniently, without having to worry about the myriads of wires, hardware and space needed to keep a desktop. Also, you can choose whether to work from office or home. A Notebook is really handy in any situation.
Portability and mobility are the great advantages of having a Notebook, or laptop. In your Internet search prior to buying a Notebook, you will be presented with a great variety and quantity of information. This can be quite bewildering, so you have to know what features you need in a Notebook.
Upgradabeality is an important consideration: the Notebook you choose now may be the one best suited to your current needs; but in future, you may find it necessary to upgrade it. You will not want to invest valuable time and money in purchasing a Notebook which you will have to discard or sell off in the near future, because of what you might feel as the inadequacy of your current one. When you consider upgradabeality, you have to think of memory or RAM, and hard disk space.
The CPU, or Processor, is the engine which will drive your Notebook`s performance. So you should choose the fastest CPU that is available, depending on your budget and on what you will be using the Notebook for. Tasks like word processing, emailing and surfing the Net do not require a fast CPU. But using CPU intensive applications, such as processing spreadsheets or playing games will work better with a fast CPU.
The RAM, or memory is another important feature, and the more memory you have, the better. Your Notebook`s performance will be greatly affected if you do not have sufficient memory. The minimum recommended these days is 1 Gigabyte of memory. Some experts recommend a minimum of 2 Gigabytes. The more memory you have, the better the performance and multitasking you can expect from your Notebook.
The speed and capacity of the hard disk of your Notebook are important, for this is where you will install all your software and your data (documents, database, photos etc). Make sure that you have enough room to store all your information which can be readily accessed. 40 Gigabytes of hard disk space is considered the minimum these days. Consider getting a Notebook with 80 Gigabytes of disk space.
Do note that Apple Notebooks are now using Intel processors, which means that if you have a hard disk with sufficient disk space, you can partition your disk drive and install both Apple Mac software and Windows software, and switch between the two.
You also have to consider the screen of your Notebook, for this is what you are going to be staring at, and you have to be happy with its resolution and size. You will want a crisp, bright screen with good viewing, especially for photos. You can go and look at different screens at a local electronics store, and try to figure out which size and resolution you like best. Just be sure that the screen is an Active Matrix one and not Passive Matrix.
The other features you will be looking at to connect to your Notebook are external devices such as a mouse, printer, portable disk drive, scanner etc. Good luck!
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
www.polomercantil.com.br
In the early nineties few people could image the impact that notebook would have in the computer industry. Its unique portability made the notebook a product in a class by itself. Soon, it became a must-have product, to those who were constantly moving from office, home or school. Nowadays, it is one of the best selling computer hardware items of all times.
With a Notebook, you can carry your work around conveniently, without having to worry about the myriads of wires, hardware and space needed to keep a desktop. Also, you can choose whether to work from office or home. A Notebook is really handy in any situation.
Portability and mobility are the great advantages of having a Notebook, or laptop. In your Internet search prior to buying a Notebook, you will be presented with a great variety and quantity of information. This can be quite bewildering, so you have to know what features you need in a Notebook.
Upgradabeality is an important consideration: the Notebook you choose now may be the one best suited to your current needs; but in future, you may find it necessary to upgrade it. You will not want to invest valuable time and money in purchasing a Notebook which you will have to discard or sell off in the near future, because of what you might feel as the inadequacy of your current one. When you consider upgradabeality, you have to think of memory or RAM, and hard disk space.
The CPU, or Processor, is the engine which will drive your Notebook`s performance. So you should choose the fastest CPU that is available, depending on your budget and on what you will be using the Notebook for. Tasks like word processing, emailing and surfing the Net do not require a fast CPU. But using CPU intensive applications, such as processing spreadsheets or playing games will work better with a fast CPU.
The RAM, or memory is another important feature, and the more memory you have, the better. Your Notebook`s performance will be greatly affected if you do not have sufficient memory. The minimum recommended these days is 1 Gigabyte of memory. Some experts recommend a minimum of 2 Gigabytes. The more memory you have, the better the performance and multitasking you can expect from your Notebook.
The speed and capacity of the hard disk of your Notebook are important, for this is where you will install all your software and your data (documents, database, photos etc). Make sure that you have enough room to store all your information which can be readily accessed. 40 Gigabytes of hard disk space is considered the minimum these days. Consider getting a Notebook with 80 Gigabytes of disk space.
Do note that Apple Notebooks are now using Intel processors, which means that if you have a hard disk with sufficient disk space, you can partition your disk drive and install both Apple Mac software and Windows software, and switch between the two.
You also have to consider the screen of your Notebook, for this is what you are going to be staring at, and you have to be happy with its resolution and size. You will want a crisp, bright screen with good viewing, especially for photos. You can go and look at different screens at a local electronics store, and try to figure out which size and resolution you like best. Just be sure that the screen is an Active Matrix one and not Passive Matrix.
The other features you will be looking at to connect to your Notebook are external devices such as a mouse, printer, portable disk drive, scanner etc. Good luck!
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
www.polomercantil.com.br
How to buy a laptop battery?
by mary lv
How to buy a laptop battery? How to buy a laptop battery?
When purchasing a battery for your notebook computer, tde first tding a consumer should look for is tde reputability of tde product at mind. If tde product is made by tde manufacturer of your laptop (i.e. Sony, Compaq, Dell, etc), you can usually be sure it is a quality product. However, many manufactures do not actually manufacturer, instead tdey are tde brander of tde product. For example, if you open up a genuine Sony laptop battery, you may find tdat tde power cells inside are actually made by Toshiba, Panasonic, or a similar big name company. Sony in tdis case has just made tde plastic case of tde battery. tdis goes to show tdat tde brand of tde battery you are buying does not necessarily mean tdat tde quality is superior. Many tdird party brands use tde exact same power cells as original manufacturers. Using a tdird party manufacturer is often a good way to go when buying a battery, as tdere are usually many extra benefits. For instance, most tdird party batteries are much lower in price tdan original manufacturers?batteries. Secondly, tdey usually offer a superior warranty, as tdey realize tdat in order to win tde consumer's confidence; tdey must stand behind tdeir product. A one year warranty is a must. Don? buy any battery witd a warranty less tdan one year. Batteries have been known to die early, and a tdree montd warranty could leave you high and dry.
www.good-battery.com
How to buy a laptop battery? How to buy a laptop battery?
When purchasing a battery for your notebook computer, tde first tding a consumer should look for is tde reputability of tde product at mind. If tde product is made by tde manufacturer of your laptop (i.e. Sony, Compaq, Dell, etc), you can usually be sure it is a quality product. However, many manufactures do not actually manufacturer, instead tdey are tde brander of tde product. For example, if you open up a genuine Sony laptop battery, you may find tdat tde power cells inside are actually made by Toshiba, Panasonic, or a similar big name company. Sony in tdis case has just made tde plastic case of tde battery. tdis goes to show tdat tde brand of tde battery you are buying does not necessarily mean tdat tde quality is superior. Many tdird party brands use tde exact same power cells as original manufacturers. Using a tdird party manufacturer is often a good way to go when buying a battery, as tdere are usually many extra benefits. For instance, most tdird party batteries are much lower in price tdan original manufacturers?batteries. Secondly, tdey usually offer a superior warranty, as tdey realize tdat in order to win tde consumer's confidence; tdey must stand behind tdeir product. A one year warranty is a must. Don? buy any battery witd a warranty less tdan one year. Batteries have been known to die early, and a tdree montd warranty could leave you high and dry.
www.good-battery.com
Solar Power Your Wireless Laptop and Go Green
by Michael Beck
Solar power for remote computing is finally catching on. It is working for everyone from the cross-country cyclist and weekend camper, to regular working stiffs that have to rough it on the job.
Many mobile computer users are going "green" with their lappies on the road. Extreme, or remote computing no longer seems too far fetched. Many professionals enjoy rugged recreational activities, but have to stay wired to the job or business.
Solar power is not just a possibility, but could be a necessity for those that go remote. Solar panels are used to collect solar energy for direct use or storage in batteries to power up later.
Here is how solar, or photovoltaic energy is realized from the "How Stuff Works" website. If you are not an electrical engineer or scientist of some sort, don't be surprised if this does make light bulbs go off in your head. You can always come back and do further research on the Internet.
"The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame). Photovoltaics, as the word implies (photo = light, voltaic = electricity), convert sunlight directly into electricity. Once used almost exclusively in space, photovoltaics are used more and more in less exotic ways. They could even power your house. How do these devices work?
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also all have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally. For example, the current can power a calculator. This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce."
To continue, we will discuss the smaller hand held devices for cell phones and PDAs, all the way to powerful self-contained and fully remote commercial solar systems. Here are several links that describe the use of solar power for mobile computers and other wireless devices from the Do-It-Yourself perspective.
How-To-Green-Your-Electronics http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/how-to-green-your-electronics.php
DIY Solar System for $180 http://blogs.experience.com/Patrick/2007/01/portable-solar-power-for-1_.html
How To - Laptop Solar Power http://rmowe.home.att.net/photovoltaic.html
Hand Held Solar Kits Solar kits are designed to be self-contained. They combine solar cells, rechargeable batteries, and a wide selection of cables. These won't power a portable laptop yet unless it's a miser on energy, but they will keep you connected with a limitless power supply for your cell phones, Smart phones, PDAs, and smaller devices. As long as the sun is shining, or the batteries are charged up, you will have power.
Many purists will argue anything solar is not really "green", either because it will never be energy positive (will never generate more power than it took to manufacture), or because it has a battery, making it environmentally unfriendly by default.
Arguments aside, at issue for rugged and remote users is a reliable power source, and having some sense of being connected. So, solar charging devices can be considered either as "convenience efficient" or "emergency efficient". Don't take this as a challenge to engineer types that will want to get their slide rules out, just a notation that these solar kits are an honest attempt at the "plus" column for reducing the human carbon footprint. Wider adoption and acceptance of new technology usually results in greater efficiencies.
Two promising examples that have had good reviews are the reasonably affordable products from Solar Style Dot Com, and the pricier Solio Dot Com. Do a search on YouTube and you will find many videos of Solio in action. If it did not work, we would know it by now.
Portable Solar Power Docking Stations
The idea of using solar power in remote situations is nothing new. The question for us is how well, and how fast, a solar power station will power up your notebook or laptop. Other considerations are the size, weight, and portability. You will find many products in this category, but few online reviews that confirm that these products will actually perform as advertised. The best source I have found for honest reviews in this regard is TreeHugger.com.
There are very few winners in the category of a portable solar power docking station to efficiently run a laptop computer. One that does get good reviews on the subject is the "PowerDock System".
Do an online search for PowerDock System, and you will find many retailers and dealers at different price points. So be patient and shop around. Your Mobile Desk Dot Com is the best resource for a complete descriptions of the PowerDock product line. These include from the least expensive to the most expensive: PowerDock Lite, PowerDock Basic. PowerDock Executive, and PowerDock Elite.
Power Dock Systems are relatively expensive, and range in price form a few hundred dollars on up to $450.00. The PowerDock is an attractive product design and weighs in form 5 to 13.5 pounds.
Another potential winner is the Notepower Solar Laptop Charger from Sierra Solar Systems. You will see the Notepower Solar Charger pop up along with the PowerDock in a search engine query for these type of solar products. Plug in the SmartAdapter with the extended 10 foot cord included, and start charging or topping off your computer battery as long as sunshine is available.
Once again, this is not a review recommendation, but the Notepower has had favorable comments by TreeHugger.com and other reliable sources, giving no pause to mention it here. The 3 lb. Notepower is not designed with a storage battery, but the 20-30 watts of power will charge and run most laptop computers, according to the specs.
You may not consider the Notepower as a true solar docking station, but it is an attractive portable solar package for a temporary power solution. Originally priced around $250.00.
Commercial and Military Grade Solar Power Systems
Some of the best remote solar power systems are designed to meet military standards. You could even say that anything designed for military use is pretty much guaranteed to perform. These systems will compliment anything in the fully rugged notebook computer category.
Energy Technologies, Inc. in Ohio, USA makes a wide assortment of military standard power equipment for field use. Things like field deployable inverters, converters, UPS, engine-generators, along with solar power stations with the trade name Tactical Solar Products.
The product features for these Tactical Solar Products include various combinations of charge controllers, power storage batteries, AC/DC power adapters, multiple DC outputs, and a large selection of folding solar panels. The specific product line is the Solar Suitcase I, Solar Suitcase II, Solar Suitcase III, Solar Suitcase IV, along with the folding SolarTacticalPanels.
Solar Suitcases I-IV can charge Lead Acid, Li-Ion, NiCad, NiMH & other types of rechargeable batteries. The nearly bullet proof folding solar collection panels are available from a 15 Watt to a hefty 330 Watt output panel set. This is "green power", but you are out of luck if you prefer a color other than the two camouflage patterns available.
You will have to call ETI for costs, as product pricing is not published on the ETI websites.
Computing Solar Power Wrap-up
We have looked at several of the many possibilities for solar power, and going "green" with remote computing. The possibilities are becoming more reliable and starting to make more economic sense. You can try to go solar and Do-It-Yourself, or for the less technically inclined there is a wide range of retail and commercial applications for sale. We have attempted to highlight a few of the proven DIY options, and find some of the readily available products, and systems from various online reviews.
Here are a few solar power resource websites you may want to keep an eye on: Altapower.com, RadioLabs.com, and CTSolar.com. You are sure to find more now and in the future with your online searches. Amazing products are already available and in the marketplace for solar power options. As energy costs and energy conservation continue to gain interest as mainstream issues, we should see rapid development of solar integrated design features. Soon it may be a standard feature and part of everyday portable computers.
Let's hope solar power catches on with everyone, not just those using rugged notebooks and remote computing,
www.ruggednotebooksblog.com
Solar power for remote computing is finally catching on. It is working for everyone from the cross-country cyclist and weekend camper, to regular working stiffs that have to rough it on the job.
Many mobile computer users are going "green" with their lappies on the road. Extreme, or remote computing no longer seems too far fetched. Many professionals enjoy rugged recreational activities, but have to stay wired to the job or business.
Solar power is not just a possibility, but could be a necessity for those that go remote. Solar panels are used to collect solar energy for direct use or storage in batteries to power up later.
Here is how solar, or photovoltaic energy is realized from the "How Stuff Works" website. If you are not an electrical engineer or scientist of some sort, don't be surprised if this does make light bulbs go off in your head. You can always come back and do further research on the Internet.
"The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame). Photovoltaics, as the word implies (photo = light, voltaic = electricity), convert sunlight directly into electricity. Once used almost exclusively in space, photovoltaics are used more and more in less exotic ways. They could even power your house. How do these devices work?
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also all have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally. For example, the current can power a calculator. This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce."
To continue, we will discuss the smaller hand held devices for cell phones and PDAs, all the way to powerful self-contained and fully remote commercial solar systems. Here are several links that describe the use of solar power for mobile computers and other wireless devices from the Do-It-Yourself perspective.
How-To-Green-Your-Electronics http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/how-to-green-your-electronics.php
DIY Solar System for $180 http://blogs.experience.com/Patrick/2007/01/portable-solar-power-for-1_.html
How To - Laptop Solar Power http://rmowe.home.att.net/photovoltaic.html
Hand Held Solar Kits Solar kits are designed to be self-contained. They combine solar cells, rechargeable batteries, and a wide selection of cables. These won't power a portable laptop yet unless it's a miser on energy, but they will keep you connected with a limitless power supply for your cell phones, Smart phones, PDAs, and smaller devices. As long as the sun is shining, or the batteries are charged up, you will have power.
Many purists will argue anything solar is not really "green", either because it will never be energy positive (will never generate more power than it took to manufacture), or because it has a battery, making it environmentally unfriendly by default.
Arguments aside, at issue for rugged and remote users is a reliable power source, and having some sense of being connected. So, solar charging devices can be considered either as "convenience efficient" or "emergency efficient". Don't take this as a challenge to engineer types that will want to get their slide rules out, just a notation that these solar kits are an honest attempt at the "plus" column for reducing the human carbon footprint. Wider adoption and acceptance of new technology usually results in greater efficiencies.
Two promising examples that have had good reviews are the reasonably affordable products from Solar Style Dot Com, and the pricier Solio Dot Com. Do a search on YouTube and you will find many videos of Solio in action. If it did not work, we would know it by now.
Portable Solar Power Docking Stations
The idea of using solar power in remote situations is nothing new. The question for us is how well, and how fast, a solar power station will power up your notebook or laptop. Other considerations are the size, weight, and portability. You will find many products in this category, but few online reviews that confirm that these products will actually perform as advertised. The best source I have found for honest reviews in this regard is TreeHugger.com.
There are very few winners in the category of a portable solar power docking station to efficiently run a laptop computer. One that does get good reviews on the subject is the "PowerDock System".
Do an online search for PowerDock System, and you will find many retailers and dealers at different price points. So be patient and shop around. Your Mobile Desk Dot Com is the best resource for a complete descriptions of the PowerDock product line. These include from the least expensive to the most expensive: PowerDock Lite, PowerDock Basic. PowerDock Executive, and PowerDock Elite.
Power Dock Systems are relatively expensive, and range in price form a few hundred dollars on up to $450.00. The PowerDock is an attractive product design and weighs in form 5 to 13.5 pounds.
Another potential winner is the Notepower Solar Laptop Charger from Sierra Solar Systems. You will see the Notepower Solar Charger pop up along with the PowerDock in a search engine query for these type of solar products. Plug in the SmartAdapter with the extended 10 foot cord included, and start charging or topping off your computer battery as long as sunshine is available.
Once again, this is not a review recommendation, but the Notepower has had favorable comments by TreeHugger.com and other reliable sources, giving no pause to mention it here. The 3 lb. Notepower is not designed with a storage battery, but the 20-30 watts of power will charge and run most laptop computers, according to the specs.
You may not consider the Notepower as a true solar docking station, but it is an attractive portable solar package for a temporary power solution. Originally priced around $250.00.
Commercial and Military Grade Solar Power Systems
Some of the best remote solar power systems are designed to meet military standards. You could even say that anything designed for military use is pretty much guaranteed to perform. These systems will compliment anything in the fully rugged notebook computer category.
Energy Technologies, Inc. in Ohio, USA makes a wide assortment of military standard power equipment for field use. Things like field deployable inverters, converters, UPS, engine-generators, along with solar power stations with the trade name Tactical Solar Products.
The product features for these Tactical Solar Products include various combinations of charge controllers, power storage batteries, AC/DC power adapters, multiple DC outputs, and a large selection of folding solar panels. The specific product line is the Solar Suitcase I, Solar Suitcase II, Solar Suitcase III, Solar Suitcase IV, along with the folding SolarTacticalPanels.
Solar Suitcases I-IV can charge Lead Acid, Li-Ion, NiCad, NiMH & other types of rechargeable batteries. The nearly bullet proof folding solar collection panels are available from a 15 Watt to a hefty 330 Watt output panel set. This is "green power", but you are out of luck if you prefer a color other than the two camouflage patterns available.
You will have to call ETI for costs, as product pricing is not published on the ETI websites.
Computing Solar Power Wrap-up
We have looked at several of the many possibilities for solar power, and going "green" with remote computing. The possibilities are becoming more reliable and starting to make more economic sense. You can try to go solar and Do-It-Yourself, or for the less technically inclined there is a wide range of retail and commercial applications for sale. We have attempted to highlight a few of the proven DIY options, and find some of the readily available products, and systems from various online reviews.
Here are a few solar power resource websites you may want to keep an eye on: Altapower.com, RadioLabs.com, and CTSolar.com. You are sure to find more now and in the future with your online searches. Amazing products are already available and in the marketplace for solar power options. As energy costs and energy conservation continue to gain interest as mainstream issues, we should see rapid development of solar integrated design features. Soon it may be a standard feature and part of everyday portable computers.
Let's hope solar power catches on with everyone, not just those using rugged notebooks and remote computing,
www.ruggednotebooksblog.com
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