Taking Care of Your Notebook Computer

• Please use a carrying case when transporting the notebook. The case will protect the notebook in case it is bumped or dropped accidentally. Also, make sure the case is closed and the notebook secure inside.
• Do not check your laptop at airports. The last company I worked with four laptops were stolen this way, two from the same user.
• Do not operate the notebook while driving. You could be injured in the event of an accident caused by paying too much attention to your notebook and too little attention to the road. If you use your notebook for driving directions, pull to the side of the road, or at a long red light.
• Be aware of cables for AC adapters and telephone or network cables you're moving around notebook to prevent falls, pulling your notebook off of desks (cats and vacuum cleaners are notorious for this), or breakage of the cables.
• Do not twist any cables, especially AC adapters. AC Adapters are the number one replacement component of the notebook.
• Do not leave the notebook lying on the floor, even though you are not clumsy. Pets, kids and others may not know it is there and notebooks are very fragile.
• If you are working with your notebook and it is hot and humid, do not take it immediately outside where it is cold. The screen has a tendency to crack. Turn off the laptop for a while before going outside and put it in your computer case which will allow a slower initiation to the cold outside. The reverse is true as well, going from a real cold to hot environment. Take this one from experience.
• People have a tendency to use the battery for an hour and when they get to the home or office, immediately they plug it in. Except for brand new PCs, doing this will deteriorate the life time of the battery.
  
  
  Batteries, especially Ni-cad type batteries have memory built into it. So, if the battery drained only 25% and then you plug it in, now the life duration of the battery is decreased by 25%. So if for example your battery life was 100 minutes, now it is 75 minutes.
  
  Completely drain the battery. Waiting for the warning that you should plug the notebook into an outlet is good advice. I have a notebook PC that is on its fourth year on the same battery.
• Some of the newer notebooks come with a wireless network. What that means is if you went to a place that offered wireless connectivity to the Internet, like Borders, Starbucks, some airports and hotels, you can connect to the Internet without cables. If you are not going to be traveling, turn the wireless networking off. You will save about 30 60 minutes of battery life each time you use it.
• Take care of the notebook. Buy the screen and keyboard cleaners for PCs and use them. Also, use canned air to blow out dust in the ports and keyboards.
• Buy travel and accident insurance. Many manufacturers offer that in addition to a three year maintenance. It is well worth it, even though some places charge $200 - $500 for the purchase. But, you usually receive the following:
  
  Three year warranty on all parts and labor.
  
  If you accidentally drop the PC and the screen breaks it is covered (The average cost to replace a laptop screen is $1,200 to have someone do it for you. $750 if you do it yourself).
  
  If it is stolen, you get a new one.
  
  There are others, but you have to look at what the manufacturer offers.