Everything About Laptops

On Training & Curriculum

andrea — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:00:38 +0000

The largest factors that associates with the cost is the training of local educators on how to best use these machines in a classroom setting. There is a valid approach on this matter but in most cases, there are institutional restrictions that will not change at once. The degree of training a teacher and integration of these courses in the curriculum must take place so that training will be more competitive. So far, there are overwhelming response in using a laptop in the schools though the mandate is still based on specific printed materials. At the same time, only those who can afford a laptop are focused on getting a solid grade which multiplies downstream educational and occupational opportunities.

Safety Tips on the Use of Laptops

Bryan — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:21:59 +0000

Tips for how to use a laptop safely:

1. Learn how to maintain a relaxed, neutral posture that reduces stress and strain to your muscles by:

- Schedule mini-breaks every 20 to 30 minutes to avoid repetition and static postures.

- Maintain a comfortable viewing distance from your notebook computer’s screen – approximately 18″ to 30″.

- Keep you head and neck in a relaxed, neutral posture; avoid excessive neck flexion or rotation.

- Position the keyboard at a relaxed elbow height and keep you wrists straight while keying.

- Experiment with table and chair height as well as keyboard angle to maintain neutral wrist postures.

- If you have to raise your chair so that your legs are pulled downward, use a footrest to support your feet.

- When seated your hips should be slightly higher than your knees. When your legs are weighted downwards, there is excessive strain on hip, leg, and low back muscles.

- Add an external keyboard and place it on an adjustable keyboard/mouse platform.

- Attach an external mouse instead of using the small constricted touchpad or trackball on your laptop.

- Tilt the computer’s screen so that it is perpendicular to your line of sight, if lighting permits.

- Keep glare off the computer screen by moving the screen, changing the lighting and/or covering the windows.

- If you are sitting in a side chair or couch, use a pillow to support your arms while keying.

- Clean the screen regularly using appropriate cleaning fluid for a laptop’s LCD screen. Take care because pressure or poking may easily damage screen pixels.

- Your hands and wrists should be kept in a straight wrist posture when typing and should not be resting on a palm rest, table or lap while typing.

- Use the wrist rest for support during keying breaks and rest the ball of your hand, not the underside of your wrist, on the wrist pad.

- Do not place your notebook directly on your leg’s lap as the computer’s excessive heat has been proven to cause internal physical harm to people who use it in that manner over time, rather choose to place it on one of the many adjustable laptop computer stands.

2. Carrying your notebook computer ergonomically is another aspect of learning how to use a laptop:

- Remove unneeded baggage from cases holding notebook computers. The less weight the better.
- Carry laptop computers in a case with padded shoulder straps and a handle. Frequently shift shoulders to balance the load on your muscles.
- Use a wheeled notebook luggage cart that easily transports your laptop and laptop accessories (such as laptop printer, laptop cables, paper and other required items).

General Tips on the Use of Laptops

cocoapplestore — Mon, 10 May 2010 06:16:51 +0000

Here are general tips on th use of laptops:

Thermal dissipation – Laptop cooling
Never use your laptop directly on a surface that prevents proper air flow, such as inside the laptop case, on a blanket or pillow. Check and see if your vents are not obstructed. Using a cooling pad can be good for your laptop.

Battery charge – Laptop autonomy
Discharge completely your battery at least once per month.

Security – Laptop tracking
Use the CyberAngel security solution to track your laptop in case it is stolen.

Viruses
It is not enough to have an antivirus program installed. We recommend that you update it at least once per week.

Windows Updates
Make sure that your computer downloads Window Updates periodicaly and frequently. This improves your operating system’s staibility and security.

Carrying
Always use an apropriate carrying bag when travelling, to enhance shock absorption. If you need to ship your laptop through a carrier like USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc…, always use packaging designed specifically for the transport of laptops.

Shocks
Because of they are designed to maximize mobility, laptops are prone to shocks. Turn your laptop OFF before you move your notebook from one place to another to prevent vibrations to the hard drive. If it is stabilized on a stand, make sure it is designed to absorb motion shock/vibrations.

Humidity
Laptops are very sensitive to humidity. Keep it away from liquid exposure as much as you can (water, wine, etc…).

Dust
Laptops are very sensitive to dust. Dont leave it on the floor, but that it is always high on a table, desk, stand, etc… Check vents frequently to see if they are not obstructed.

Source: overam.com

Laptop Mode

andrea — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:58:32 +0000

Laptop mode is the most essential part of the computer that permits to expand the battery life. In setting it up, it is simplified by the introduction of laptop mode tools. Installing these tools will get the laptop mode up and operating. Anyway, the laptop mode tools package will automatically manage the hard drive’s idle time out or break and management the power settings. This instance will not make you worry about manually invoking it. The laptop mode devices install a script in /usr/sbin/laptop mode. The laptop mode tools package is surrounded with a full description of all the available configuration settings in the manual settings.

Maintain Computer Performance – Clean It Up

cocoapplestore — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:37:27 +0000

I remember when I first started up my brand new computer in seconds, it booted, responding immediately at the click of a mouse and each time I pressed the crisp buttons of the keyboard. Now, a year later, I wonder why it takes a very long time to turn it on, open applications and files. Later did I realize that all I needed to do was simple housekeeping to maintain my computer’s performance. Like in my home sweep up dust bunnies, and keep it spic and span by throwing away junk. With my computer, I need to do the same keep it running smoothly by freeing it from cyber-junk.
There are a lot of utilities out on the market that aim to do the upkeep of your computer for you but even with the basic OS installed, they tend to have built-in utilities that can easily clean up your computer, ridding yourself of a lot of unused stuff left lying around within your computer.

How Apple’s iPhone Will Change the Laptop Industry

cocoapplestore — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:09:19 +0000

I wrote in an earlier article that stating Apple’s iPhone will most likely be positioned against laptops as a convergence gadget that gets rid of the need to carry around several devices. Let’s take a look at the laptop market. HP is No. 1 with 20% market share, Dell follows at No. 2 with 15%. At No. 3, breathing down Dell’s neck, is an unexpected Taiwanese company: Acer. They’re followed by Toshiba (TOSBF.PK), Lenovo (LNVGY.PK), Fujitsu-Siemens, SONY, Asus, and at an unglorious No. 9, Apple.

So far, Apple’s strategy has been to sell really expensive notebooks. But with iPhone’s entry, it can change quickly. We get all the Apple surprises for a low price level for laptops but tops a very high price-level for a mobile phone.

The brand marketing of this Phone, which introduces it as laptop substitute is a clever marketing move. “Here, look, we have a phone that can replace your laptop” Never mind that it is a very expensive phone.

Apple’s decision to put the Mac OS on the iPhone is stirring up a wide range of possibilities. In order for competition to catch up with Apple, they need to think about the Operating as well!

by Sramana Mitra from seekingalpha.com

Loving Laptops

cocoapplestore — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:13:15 +0000

LOS ANGELES – Santa’s lap won’t be the only one occupied this holiday season.

Laptop computer sales jumped in 2007, boosting the entire PC business from a weak showing at the end of 2006, according to research by market research firm IDC. Changes in the laptop specifications like shapes, weight, sizes, and prices translates to more people the world over are finding a comfortable spot for portable computers.

Total worldwide shipment of PCs improved 16% over the previous year during the third quarter of 2007. By contrast, PC shipments during the fourth quarter of 2006 had grown only 8% from a year earlier.

That growth was driven strongly by enthusiasm for portables: Worldwide, portable PC shipment growth grew 33.8% in 2007, up from 26.3% growth in the previous year. Growth in the American market was also overshadowed by international markets, where portable PC growth for the year was 39.7%, up from 29.1% in 2006.

In India, the third quarter of 2007 saw growth in laptop sales up more than 99% compared to a year earlier, according to Gartner. Total laptop sales reached about 500,000.

Laptop Maintenance

andrea — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:02:05 +0000

Routine maintenance of the machines or laptops are very easy task. The majority of the maintenance of the laptop can be done in the field. An example of which is when replacing the LEDs so as to process the backlight for the display in the field. Battery substitute is easy and low-cost maintenance. These are common fixes should that anyone could do as long as tools are present. Though some would feel convenient to bring their laptops to stores especially if the items are still subject to warranty. Though at times, a certain amount is paid, in the end, they will not worry too much.

Ultra-light Laptop – Fujitsu LifeBook P8010 Laptop

Bryan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:49:47 +0000

Fujitsu’s LifeBook P8010 looks like a true business laptop – it lacks the fashionability of MacBook Air or the Sony VAIO VGN-TZ295N ultra-portable laptops. At 2.6 pounds, it is one of the lightest laptops in this group. It is quite slow with a 1.2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SL7100 CPU.and has only 1GB of RAM, but it can support up to 4GB of RAM, with a 2GB upgrade. Its battery lasts for just 3.5 hours, an hour short of the average ultra-portable battery time. The laptop is well equipped with ports and slots, but it doesn’t have an HDMI port.

Theft & Resale

andrea — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:03:50 +0000

Theft is a challenge and is more complex than people believe, however, it is not essentially difficult to handle. There are several dimensions to the theft problem, and there is an extensive diversity in the reasons why people steal. According to studies, the best way to stop theft is to make the machine worthless if it’s stolen. So it is better to look for ways to make the machine of no use. Although making the machines on hand to the world at depleted prices would help reduce the laptop’s resale value on the gray market. Also, buyers should keep the laptops hidden if they are aware that the laptops that they are using is a stolen computer.