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.
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.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Try not to leave your laptop on the porch in 100 degree weather or in an unheated garage in sub zero temperatures. Though the laptop may be able to withstand these shifts, most electronics works best in moderate temperatures and could be damaged by overly extreme temperature conditions. Also, if you are taking the laptop from one temperature extreme to another, such as from the 100 degree day indoors to room temperature, give the laptop time to acclimate to the new temperature before turning it on.
Wipe of Keys and Screen
You’ll want to periodically wipe off the keys and the screen, which will get dusty and greasy fairly quickly. The keys may get greasy even faster by your using the laptop with greasy fingers, so try to wash your hands before using the laptop if possible, especially if you’ve been eating something like French fries or you’ve been working on the car.
Don’t Leave Laptop in the Car
Here’s another one that is not written in stone, but is a good thing to make a habit of. Leaving the laptop in the car has a number of hazards such as high temperatures and theft. If you must leave the laptop in your car, try not to leave it in plain sight through the windshield or windows, especially either in high crime areas or on hot summer days. Putting it in the trunk, in a box, or even wrapped up in a blanket can be good preventative measures if you do need to leave the laptop in your vehicle.
Power Cord Care and Safety
Yanking the power cord, rolling over it with chair wheels, stepping on it a lot, and handling it roughly are all not advisable. Treat the cord gently both because you don’t want to damage it and because being electrical it could be dangerous and give you a shock.
Observe these simple suggestions as much as possible and reasonable, and you’ll be safeguarding your laptop for future use.
Guest post by:
Matt Waltts is a financial adviser, have worked for various finance staffing agencies around the world. Loves everything related to accounting, specially the principals. You can find him doing accounting work at office and when free doing research work.