Two Essential Accessories For Notebook Computers


A Good Notebook Bag

Forget those that are bundled with your notebook computer. Get yourself a good notebook bag that is well-padded both on its load-bearing straps, and 100% around the notebook itself.

Aren't all notebook bags built the same? The answer is NO. There are countless bag types and variations. Not all of them have your comfort and protection of the notebook itself in mind. Most of them sacrifice style for substance, which is worse than not having a notebook bag in the first place.

The best way to determine which notebook bag is the one for you is to bring along your notebook while shopping. Put it in the bag and ensure that it doesn't slip and slide around. Generous spaces do not mean better protection! You want it to be snug.

Carry the bag with your notebook in it. Simulate a light jog. Why? Experience tells me that's how you'll most likely travel through the gates of airport hell. If the straps start digging in those shoulders, start looking for alternatives. A good strap should cushion those shocks as the bag bounces off your shoulders while doing your airport jog.

Note also how the notebook bag opens up for main access. Again, if you're a frequent traveler you'll want to have one that's easy to retrieve and store your notebook for security checkpoint purposes. The best are usually top-loading ones secured by either a zipper or a flap. We recommend the flap versions because they usually have an additional layer of cushioning right around the top for the notebook, and secure well but open fast with magnetic snaps/buttons.

The zipper types have none, and your poor notebook will get whacked full-force if the bag topples head-long off an airport luggage cart. Trust me on this bit: I've had enough times my notebook took a tumble that way, and seen many other helpless souls literally spill their notebook's guts across airport gates.

A good alternative to those shoulder-loading bags are the rolling pilot cases. They are typically bigger than any shoulder-bearing bags including backpacks, but offer solid protection with a padded hinge-top opening similar to actual pilot cases. Roller bags are also less taxing physically, and the generous compartments in the bag means less luggage pieces to carry while traveling.

A Heat Dissipating Cooler Or Pad

Heat is the number one notebook computer killer. Today's notebooks are little thermal generators, with internal temperatures that rise up to 150 degrees even with built-in cooling fans.

Those internal fans and heat-dissipating systems work full time more often than you think. That's why they are usually the first components in a notebook to die on you. When that happens, you'd better not fire up that notebook, as it'll fry even before you see the start screen.

So help out your hardest working notebook component and extend its lifespan. Invest in a notebook cooler or a cooling pad. Notebook coolers typically are low-rise, plastic or metal-faced pedestals on which your notebook sits. They are equipped with a fan or two inside, which serves to draw hot air away from under your notebook, and thus promote a cooler operating environment. Usually efficient enough to drop up to 15 degrees the operating temperature, notebook coolers however require power for its fans and would typically draw its power off your notebook's USB ports. This could somewhat decrease your notebook's battery operating time, but so far have proven to be negligible for many users.

Cooling pads normally do not have the fans, and are constructed from some type of heat-dissipating material or designed a way that your notebook would have extra clearance at the bottom to promote natural air circulation. Despite the lack of fans, these cooling pads do a surprisingly good job of cooling your notebook. They are also much easier to carry with your notebook because they are slimmer, lighter, and do not require power to do its job therefore highly recommended.

Lynn Chan helps new owners learn about proper notebook care and use. To learn more, visit http://www.notebook-computer-infocenter.com For a limited time, get the free tutorial "5 Days To A Healthier Notebook Computer" at http://www.notebook-computer-infocenter.com/
5days-to-a-healthier-notebook.html







Related News



Hardware swapped between station and shuttle - Spaceflight Now

CBC.ca

Hardware swapped between station and shuttle
Spaceflight Now, FL -Nov 18, 2008
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD Running almost an hour ahead of schedule, spacewalkers Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen have moved a depleted nitrogen tank ...
Video: Endeavour to Dock With Station SundayAssociatedPress
Work Starts On Failed Station Joint TodayAviation Week
No Hardware Stores in Orbit13WHAM-TV
Earthtimes (press release) - Space Com
all 2,056 news articles


NASA Receives First Stage Rocket Hardware for Ares IX Test Flight - MarketWatch

NASA Receives First Stage Rocket Hardware for Ares IX Test Flight
MarketWatch -Nov 17, 2008
10 of important hardware for the Ares IX rocket's upcoming test flight. Called the forward skirt, the component is part of the rocket's first stage. ...

Westlake Ace Hardware in, Price Chopper out for Salvation Army ... - Kansas City Star

Westlake Ace Hardware in, Price Chopper out for Salvation Army ...
Kansas City Star, MO -17 hours ago
... Credit: THE STAR Keyword: CHARITY The Salvation Army has picked up a new partner in the red kettle business: the 20 area Westlake Ace Hardware stores. ...

Take the Tom's Hardware Survey! - Tom's Hardware Guide

Take the Tom's Hardware Survey!
Tom's Hardware Guide, CA -55 minutes ago
Take Tom’s Hardware Readers Survey and be automatically entered for a chance to Win one out of five $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificates! ...

3 new Ace Hardware locations in Oakland County - MLive.com

3 new Ace Hardware locations in Oakland County
MLive.com, MI -5 hours ago
by Erica Finley | Oakland Business Review Oakland County has three new Ace Hardware stores, offering almost 40000 square feet of home improvement and ...

PC-Gaming hardware worth $34 billion by 2012 - CNET News

PC-Gaming hardware worth $34 billion by 2012
CNET News, CA -7 hours ago
According to a new report, "the total market value for PC gaming hardware in 2008 was just over $20 billion, and that will grow to over $34 billion by 2012 ...

Perf Go Green Expands Distribution to United Hardware Distributing ... - MarketWatch

Perf Go Green Expands Distribution to United Hardware Distributing ...
MarketWatch -Nov 18, 2008
www.perfgogreen.com), a marketer and distributor of biodegradable plastics, today announced a distribution partnership with United Hardware Distributing ...

Nintendo Developing Wii Community Features, Updates Holiday ... - Shacknews

eFluxMedia

Nintendo Developing Wii Community Features, Updates Holiday ...
Shacknews -Nov 18, 2008
by Blake Ellison Nov 18, 2008 4:29pm CST tags: Nintendo, Hardware Sales Nintendo, whose online presence is subdued compared to those of rivals Sony and ...
Nintendo: Wii Price Cut is Coming...SomedayEscapist Magazine
Is Nintendo's software success really a curse?CNET News
Nintendo, Top Game SellereFluxMedia
Forbes - Gamespy.com
all 30 news articles

PC Gaming Hardware Market on the Rise and Will Continue to Grow ... - X-bit Labs

PC Gaming Hardware Market on the Rise and Will Continue to Grow ...
X-bit Labs, CA -1 hour ago
by Anton Shilov Sales of hardware designed for video gaming on personal computers will continue to grow at a rather rapid pace in the coming years, ...

Nintendo DSi Still Selling Strong in Japan - Softpedia

CTV.ca

Nintendo DSi Still Selling Strong in Japan
Softpedia, Romania -14 hours ago
The PlayStation Portable, which has now been upgraded to the new PSP-3000 standard, with a better screen and better hardware, sold around 43000 units. ...
Japanese Hardware: DSi Still Strong As Xbox 360 Sales DoubleGamasutra
October NPD: Nintendo reigns the hardware salesThe Money Times
Bad economy doesn't derail Blu-Ray, video game salesScripps News
PC World - Sci-Tech Today
all 359 news articles