|
As the proud owner of a laptop
computer, you'll want to keep your machine in the best
possible condition.
Aside from cleaning your
screen and dusting the keyboard, however, you'll need to
take a few extra steps to maintain your laptop's health:
-- Play it cool
A laptop computer generates
a lot of heat, especially when running the latest
high-powered software. Too much heat and you risk damaging
the internal circuitry.
Always try to keep your
laptop in a well-ventilated, cool environment. And ensure
you don't block the fan grills on the sides, back, or
bottom of the machine at any time.
-- Handle the screen
carefully
Avoid touching or playing
with your LCD screen.
Yes, it might be fun to
watch the waves generated by your finger against the
screen, but LCD displays are fragile devices that must be
cared for.
Take care when cleaning the
screen too, and use only approved cleaning materials.
You won't want to pay the
money for screen repairs or, even worse - a new machine
entirely.
-- Don't drop it
Whatever you do, don't drop
your laptop computer! Keep it safe inside of a carrying
case when moving around or traveling.
Don't leave it on the edge
of a table or on an unstable support of some kind. One ill
fated drop to the floor could spell death for your mobile
office.
Try to make sure the rubber
feet underneath are in good condition and are still
attached. This will prevent the device from sliding around
accidentally.
-- Be careful with those
drinks...
If you need to have a drink
while working or playing, be careful not to spill it.
Your laptop computer could
suffer the consequences from just a few drops of liquid
poured in the right places.
While you probably do eat
and drink around it regardless, you will want to
occasionally wipe down the edges, the keyboard, the
touchpad, and maybe even wipe down the screen to keep any
dirt from accumulating.
-- Just say no to viruses
Security wise, make sure
you obtain an anti-virus program.
Secondly, keep it updated!
Buying an anti-virus one
month and not updating it for the next six really negates
it purpose. Your laptop computer could be exposed to
hundreds and thousands of new viruses every month if you
don't update your virus definitions.
Most anti-virus programs
have automatic update methods, eliminating the need for
you to have to remember to do it manually.
-- Avoid Popups
Pop-ups are particularly
annoying on a laptop computer. Trying to close a bunch of
windows without a regular mouse can be a nuisance.
You'll want a pop-up
blocker, such as the Google Toolbar (located at http://tools.google.com),
to prevent these pop- up ads.
Many intrusive forms of
advertising, and even some viruses, can install software
on your machine by using various forms of pop-ups. It's
best to get yourself a blocker and avoid the situation
entirely.
-- Use a firewall
Always utilize a firewall
on your Internet or network- enabled laptop computer. Even
if you use Windows XP's built- in firewall (or purchase
one from such companies as Norton), your security will
greatly benefit from it.
Blocking out all the
unnecessary ports and closing all the loopholes will
prevent a hacker or virus from freely entering your hard
drive.
So there you go. Combine
all of the above tactics and help your laptop enjoy a
happier and healthier lifestyle!
|
