Have Laptop Will Travel

Tips for Taking Care of your Laptop

Originally posted on October 22, 2011 @ 2:45 pm

Just as is the case with anything else, a laptop needs to be maintained in order to function optimally. It’s much easier to take a few preventative measures to keep your laptop in good condition than to have to take it into the shop later on. The following are some tips on caring for your laptop so that it stays and good shape and is ready for use.

clean laptop

Keep Food and Drinks Away from the Laptop

OK, people often eat and drink while using their laptops, so its really not practical to advise anyone to stop this practice. A simple example is the Wifi equipped coffee shop, which is a very common place for people to drink coffee as well as work on their laptops. Obviously these people are probably going to continue drinking coffee and eating pastries or sandwiches while they work. So the advice here is simply to keep food and drinks to a safe distance if it’s possible and convenient. Try not to, for instance, put your cup of coffee right on the laptop by the fingerpad or just next to it. Move it a few more inches off to guard against the possibility of spills. Eat your sandwich over a plate, again, if possible, rather than over the keypad so that crumbs don’t fall on it. These are common sense items, and sometimes it seems like too much can be made of them, but do your best along these lines. [Read more…]

Maingear Announces 3D Laptop

Originally posted on May 20, 2011 @ 7:51 am

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Tired of using a laptop and having to view things in 2D? Then you’ll want to hear about Maingear’s latest announcement: the eX-L 17 3D. While the other numbers may not mean much at first glance, the label 3D is enough to make anyone curious.

As the name implies, the laptop is 3D ready, courtesy of Nvidia. Of course, this means that you will also need Nvidia’s 3D glasses. With everything from movies to games to TV shows going 3D these days, this kind of laptop just might become more common in the near future.

The eX-L 17 3D is not all about being 3D ready, though. It does have more to offer than that capability. Primarily being marketed as a gaming machine – Maingear actually describes it as a “wickedly fast mobile gaming” laptop – the eX-L 17 3D makes use of the latest 32nm second generation Core i7 quad core processors. And there is more – the processor is overclocked at 4.8GHz! (Men: make sure you don’t spend too much time with the laptop on your laps if you want to have children in the future!)

The screen of the eX-L 17 3D is 17.3 inches, huge enough for those who want the ultimate gaming experience. It also has Nvidia’s GeForce GTX485M graphics card – which is responsible for the 3D capabilities. As for power, the processor needs up to 55 watts. The laptop comes with an 8-cell battery and weighs a whopping 8.6 pounds (3.9 kilos).

How much will this big baby set you back? Nothing less than $2,659 for the basic configuration. Maingear allows you to build your own laptop, and depending on your preferences, you can go up to $8,000! Even if you’re not planning to blow that much on a 3D gaming laptop, it’s nice to dream. Here’s Maingear’s page to customize the eX-L 17 3D.

Good Deal: Dell Alienware m11x Gaming Laptop

Originally posted on July 15, 2011 @ 8:21 am

Looking for a nice gaming laptop but don’t want to shell out too much money? Some may say that you are not going to find anything decent under $1000 or even $700, but all you need is a good nose for sniffing out the deals that always crop up somewhere at some point. So here’s something that will make for a great start to your weekend. [Read more…]

T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 4G Laptop Stick

Originally posted on June 10, 2011 @ 9:00 am

TMobile RocketHaving a laptop means mobility, to be sure. However, more and more, having a laptop is not enough. The need to be connected is of paramount importance as well. This is where wireless connectivity comes into the picture. While we could still get lots done on a laptop without the Internet, the convenience of being able to connect while on the go cannot be beaten.

While it is true that more and more, Wi-Fi hotspots are available – especially in developed countries – it is still better not to be dependent on locations that offer Wi-Fi. I guess that is why USB sticks that function as modems are becoming one of the most popular accessories today.

T-Mobile, one of the biggest telecommunications provider in the United States, sees this market and is not hesitating to grab the opportunity. They now have the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 4G Laptop Stick, which is currently the only way to make use of the company’s newly launched HSPA+ 42 network. The number 42 might mean something else to you ((42)), but in this case, 42 stands for 42Mbps. This is an astounding figure for mobile broadband connections, but the sad fact is that it seems T-Mobile is yet unable to deliver fully.

Still, the laptop stick does hold some promise. It is a medium-sized stick measuring in at 1.1 x 3.4 x .5 inches. It weighs a mere 1.1 ounce. For those who are particular about looks, the stick has interchangeable faceplates, and you can choose from black, blue, and purple.

You can get the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 4G Laptop Stick for $99 with a two-year contract. Here are the specs:

  • Cellular technology: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, Other, HSDPA 1.8, HSDPA 3.6, HSPA+ 21, HSPA+ 42
  • Bands: 850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100, 1700
  • Mac Compatible

More info on performance at PCMag.

Optimizing Your Work Capabilities with the Upcoming iPhone 5

Originally posted on September 26, 2011 @ 12:15 am

No matter how used you might be to the whole concept of working on the go, there are always cases where things don’t go according to your original plans. Your laptop may be a trusty tool, but if you only rely on it to get your work done, you may be prevented from accomplishing your tasks every now and then. Which is why you should consider the upcoming iPhone 5 from Apple if you want to truly optimize your ability to get work done on the move.

The device has come a long way since its first version – and many people are predicting that this will be the “golden” iPhone, the sweet spot when Apple finally get everything people want right. For example multitasking was a common complaint before – and certainly a nuisance for those of us who liked using their iPhones for work. There are strong indications that the new device will have some serious multitasking capabilities though, including dedicated finger gestures for switching apps and managing them quickly, which should improve your workflow a lot.

It’s also known that the iPhone 5 will come with extra physical durability – so you won’t have to invest in an extra case to prevent it from scratches and dents if you’re using it outside all the time. That way you’ll be able to get some work done without worrying about protecting your device every time you pull it out. With all this in mind, it can be a good idea to have a look at the Vodafone iPhone plans and pick one that’s going to suit your working needs, so that you can be prepared for the big launch – which shouldn’t be too far off now.