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How To Take Care Of Your Laptop Computer

by: Joe Chianese

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!

About the author:
Joe Chianese is a technical writer and frequent contributor to HowToBuyALaptop.com For advice on how to find the right laptop computer for you, visit:

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