LAPTOP BATTERY TIPS

Tip 1:

One for sure way to have spare power during times of need is to purchase a spare battery regardless of your laptops rated battery life. Spare batteries can be a life saver when the need does arise.

When shopping keep an eye out for batteries with more cells for some laptops have this as an option. They give you additional power for your on the go lifestyle.

I know a lot of us sometimes forget or simply don’t have the time to fully charge our primary battery before we jam out the door to face another hectic day, so having a spare will spare you potential agony.

Some people I know are cheap, and others simply don’t want to carry the extra weight, but honestly if you do run out of the juice, and we’re not talking about OJ here, you will be happy you invested a little.

Tip 2:

Before spending your hard earned cash on the latest and greatest laptop, keep in mind bigger isn’t always better. While today’s laptop computer batteries work very well along with the advanced power saving technologies built into today’s laptop computer systems, picking the right balance between screen size and processing power is your best bet. Smaller notebooks plain and simple have lower power requirements. A typical 17-inch laptop for example can use 40 to even 50 percent more juice than a small compact 12-inch laptop. Much of this extra energy demand comes from the screen itself which you will learn about in tip 5.




Tip 3:

Maximize your laptop computer batteries by adjusting the Windows power settings. You can find your power options in the Windows Control Panel. One way to get the most juice from modern day processors with power saving technologies is to force the laptop to run in max battery mode. This can make a big difference in battery life but keep in mind this forces the CPU to run at a lower speed so be sure to change it back to it's original setting when not on the go. If you are browsing the web or performing basic word processing tasks this loss of processing power doesn't impact performance too much.

Here at Laptop-Computer-Comparison.com we also like to set the screen to go off after 5-10 minutes of inactivity, the hard disk around 20 minutes, and additionally we like to put the computer into standby or hibernation around 45 minutes. Adjust each setting to your own usage, for obviously 5 minutes isn’t going to be enough time to read a web page for a lot of people, and a screen that keeps shutting off while reading gets annoying quick. By fine tuning these settings you can dramatically improve a laptop computer batteries life.





Tip 4:

Here’s an easy but important tip, every so often check the remaining battery power via the battery power icon located on the bottom right near the clock. Simply position your mouse cursor over or double click on it for information, but do keep in mind that what is displayed is only an estimate for battery life is impacted by usage. So what you see is not exactly what you will get out of your battery. For example, watching a DVD or playing a 3D game consumes more battery power than typing in a word processing program or browsing the web.

Regardless of laptop usage, best practices like this will help you stay in control of the battery and not the battery in control of you. Feel free to also try one of the many 3rd party battery monitoring software out there such as BatteryMon if you'd like even more control.





Tip 5:

One major factor that reduces a laptop computer batteries runtime is the brightness level of the LCD screen. We always recommend dimming the screen as low as possible but just make sure it’s not causing your eyes to strain. You will see a nice increase in battery life by doing this. This is performed pretty much the same way on most laptops. Simply hold down the function (Fn) key on your laptop’s keyboard and press the key with the brightness up and down icon on it till you reach your desired level.





Tip 6:

Turn off your wireless card or other hardware device if you don’t need it at the moment. Most laptops have a switch somewhere so you can turn your wireless card on and off. If you have a wireless or other card plugged into the PC Card slot it is a good idea to remove it also. By not using a mouse you can also spare a little energy and listening to a music CD or watching a DVD will drain your battery big time.





Tip 7:

One of best tips and best practices for anyone with a laptop is to simply charge it whenever possible so when you do go mobile it is just as ready as you are to go to work. Charge it before leaving your home, when you get home, at a friends house, at work, or anywhere else if the opportunity arises. If you are a busy always on the go person a car inverter is a sweet thing to have. Auto inverters convert your cars 12v DC power into an AC power source that laptops or other devices use.

Purchasing an additional AC adapter or a docking station if your laptop supports one to keep at home makes plugging in the laptop not seem like a chore anymore. I personally keep a second AC adapter plugged in at home so I don’t have to unravel my adapter and reach under my desk to plug it in every time. I noticed after purchasing the second adapter that I often plug my laptop in first thing then when I step in the door even if I don't plan on using it.

LAPTOP BUYING GUIDE

In days of yore the first stop for cheap laptop hunters used to be the high streets and malls, however this strategy is nigh on useless if you haven't already formed an opinion and researched the specs you really need.....Why? Because then you leave yourself open to one of the most dangerous predators in the laptop jungle - the oily sales assistant. These folks often display a remarkable talent for over-selling. Indeed, 3 minutes after sidling up to you and asking innocuously - "Can I help you sir/madam", you could be standing outside the store clutching a smoldering MasterCard, a Josh Groban DVD deal sweetener in your back pocket, and the latest 3-grand multimedia monster stuffed under your arm.

What Kind of Laptop User Are You?

That's fine if cheesy baritone crooners and cutting edge quad-core gaming are on your wish list, but useless if you were just looking to run Excel and play Manic Miner on a ZX Spectrum 48k emulator. That's not to say stores have no part to play in the deal hunting process, but in my humble opinion they're certainly not the first port of call. First visit sites like Laptopical.com - read up on reviews and guides and find out what you really need and what to look out for. Then it's off to do some comparison shopping to find the best laptop deals out there. Just for the sake of generalizing, Laptopical has put together a few guidelines depending on what you plan to do with your laptop.

• Home User
• Student
• Ultraportable
• Business User
• Gamer

Home User

Most home users use their computer for all kinds of tasks - in addition to surfing the web, paying the bills and writing a few emails, the laptop will most likely be used for pure entertainment purposes; ripping CDs to beef up that iTunes library, playing some casual games, or hooking it up to a TV for watching movies might be some of the stuff you'll want to use it for. To simplify: You need a versatile laptop with plenty of hard drive space, a reasonably fast processor and a fair amount of RAM. If you're at all into gaming, a dedicated graphics card from Nvidia or ATI is a must.

Home User Laptop Buying Guide

Student

A tight budget doesn't rule out getting a laptop anymore. A few years ago you had to pay twice as much for a laptop as a similarly equipped desktop PC, but that has all changed. In all fairness, you still get more bang for your buck with a desktop, but it's not half as convenient. A small and cheap netbook like the Asus EEE could be an option, as they're easy to lug around between lectures and whatnot, but keep in mind that they're not suited for anything heavier than basic tasks like web surfing and word processing. Alternatively, you can get a budget mainstream laptop with more horsepower and skimp on the portability.

Student Laptop Buying Guide

Ultraportable

Portability is one of the main reasons to get a laptop, but regardless they come in all shapes and sizes, including huge desktop replacement models. What defines an ultraportable laptop is of course its size and weight; the screen should be no larger than 13.3 inches and the weight no more than four pounds. Thin-and-light laptops are usually not as powerful as larger ones because of the cramped space and limited cooling options. However, if you travel a lot it's easily worth the tradeoff, and even the smallest laptops can handle most work-related tasks you need it for.

Ultraportable Laptop Buying Guide

Business User

If your work only involves basic office tasks, such as editing spreadsheets and keeping up with the company correspondence, it's safe to say you don't need a super fast laptop with the latest gaming graphics card. There are lots of options for small and large businesses - from really cheap, low-end laptops with just the basics, up to powerful workstations with professional grade video cards. When you have assessed what you need, it's also important that the laptops have a solid and durable build quality and that the manufacturer provides the right amount of long-term support.

Business User Laptop Buying Guide

Gamer

The single most important requirement in a gaming laptop is the dedicated graphics card, and if you're really serious about gaming on your laptop it needs to be a powerful one. Because of the heat they generate, you normally only find these in larger, 15 or 17-inch laptops. Laptops dedicated to gaming are very powerful and tend to drain the battery fast and be very pricey, and it's quite a niche market because of it. Nevertheless, if you want to see your LAN party buddies green with envy, this is what you want.

NEW LAPTOP MODEL 2

Toshiba Qosmio G45

A powerful Multimedia notebook with HD-DVD and HD-enabled features.

Satellite M305

Carrying a nice glossy finish, good connectivity, Lableflash Drive, and 14.1 widescreen with TruBright Display, the M305 makes a upper class statement.

Toshiba L350

A 17 inch widescreen laptop that features less than stellar connectivity, and a soon to be phased out operating system...

Alienware m15x Gaming Laptop

The newest mobile computer from Alienware has landed. The Area-51 m15x mixes high-end features found in desktop computer housed in a mobile design. Th...

Acer Ferrari 1000

Acer sponsorship of the Scuderia Ferrari racing team brings the compact Acer Ferrari 1000 Laptop.

Asus G50VT

The 15-inch G50Vt gaming laptop from Asus uses the powerful Nvidia 9800M GS mobile GPU and should have no problem playing the latest games, but how di...

Toshiba Portege R500

This review is in progress, please come back soon toread our extensive review of the Tosiba Portege R500.

Alienware Area-51 m17x

Our Alienware Area-51 m17x Notebook review is under construction. Please come by in a couple of days to read it:)

Asus M70sa

Gathering the 17" widescreen in true high definition, the Asus M70sa has a plethora of connection inputs, and some serious storage space under the hoo...

IdeaPad U110

The Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is well rounded ultraportable laptop that not only looks good but packs enough power to handle every business related project....

Sony Vaio TZ

It's obvious that the Vaio TZ from Sony has been designed from the ground up with 100% mobility in mind. It looks stunning in its carbon fiber casing ...

NEW LAPTOP MODEL

Dell Mini 9

By now Dell has a full range of netbooks in sizes 9", 10", and oddly a 12" model, of which weâre looking at the smallest 9-incher here.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y530

• 
  

Lenovo continues its push into the consumer segment - this time with the IdeaPad Y530, a successor to the Y510 with some interesting updates.

SimpleTech Simpledrive 500GB

The Signature Mini series lineup is both Mac and PC compatible and comes in a variety of capacities and colors with titles like blueberry, bubblegum a...

Lenovo IdeaPad S10

Choosing a netbook that suits you often comes down to aesthetics, and by that measure the Lenovo S10 has a lot of things going for it. It's possibly o...

HP HDX 16t

The HP HDX16t is a multimedia powerhouse with enough peripherals to match its style points.

Dell Studio 15

The Dell Studio 15 is cross between the company's XPS and Inspiron series with a dedicated ATI graphics card and several nice, optional add-ons.

Sony Vaio FW

The Sony VAIO FW-270j is a laptop that looks as good as the HD media it plays.

HP EliteBook 6930p

EliteBook is HP's premium business laptop series, which incorporates laptops with 12, 14, and 15-inch screen sizes. The 6930p is HP's 'Balanced Mobili...

Dell Latitude E6400

One of the most popular series of business laptops - Dell Latitude - received a complete makeover with the introduction of the new E series in 2008.

Acer Aspire One

Of all the netbooks released in the last few months, the Acer Aspire One is probably the most popular. It's fitted with more or less the same componen...

Apple MacBook

The latest 13-inch MacBook isn't really a replacement for the classic white MacBook (which is still available). Instead, it's an entirely new laptop i...

Sony VAIO Z

The VAIO Z series is one of Sony's premium ultraportable series, and is priced accordingly. Like most VAIOs it comes with a little extra, such as a hi...

Lenovo ThinkPad X200

A healthy refresh to the previous generation X61 series, the Thinkpad X200 is the business professionals dream for mobile computing.

Fujitsu U810 Ultraportable Tablet

Laptop + Ultra Mobile PC + Tablet = Fujitsu LifeBook U810. Think this mini-sub-tablet Ultra Mobile PC laptop as the Swiss army knife of ultra portable...

LAPTOP BUSINESS

It is a little hard to determine what was the first portable or laptop computer, the first portable computers did not look like the book-sized and folding laptops that we are familiar with today, however, they were both portable and lapable, and lead to the development of notebook style laptops. I have outlined several potential firsts below and how each qualifies, many of the off-site links provide good photos of the computers that will let you see the progression in design.

As the personal computer became feasible in the early 1970s, the idea of a portable personal computer followed. In particular, a "personal, portable information manipulator" was imagined by Alan Kay at Xerox PARC in 1968 and described in his 1972 paper as the "Dynabook"

The I.B.M. SCAMP project (Special Computer APL Machine Portable), was demonstrated in 1973. This prototype was based on the PALM processor (Put All Logic In Microcode).

The I.B.M. 5100, the first commercially available portable computer, appeared in September 1975, and was based on the SCAMP prototype.

As 8-bit CPU machines became widely accepted, the number of portables increased rapidly. The Osborne 1 used the Zilog Z80, weighed 23.5 pounds (10.7 kg). It had no battery, only a tiny 5" CRT screen and dual 5¼" single-density floppy drives. In the same year the first laptop-sized portable computer, the Epson HX-20, was announced. The Epson had a LCD screen, a rechargeable battery and a calculator-size printer in a 1.6 kg (4 pounds) chassis. Both Tandy/Radio Shack and HP also produced portable computers of varying designs during this period.

The first laptop using the clamshell design, used today by almost all laptops, appeared in 1982. The $8150 GRiD Compass 1100 was used at NASA and by the military among others. The Gavilan SC, released in 1983, was the first notebook marketed using the term "laptop".

From 1983 onwards:

• Several new input techniques were developed and included in laptops: the touchpad (Gavilan SC, 1983), the pointing stick (IBM ThinkPad 700, 1992) and handwriting recognition (Linus Write-Top, 1987).
• some CPUs were designed specifically for low power use (including laptops (Intel i386SL, 1990), and were supported by dynamic power management features (Intel SpeedStep and AMD PowerNow!) in some designs.
• Displays reached VGA resolution by 1988 (Compaq SLT 286) and 256-color screens by 1993 (PowerBook 165c), progressing quickly to millions of colors and high resolutions.
• High-capacity hard drives and optical storage (CD-ROM followed CD-R and CD-RW and eventually by DVD-ROM and the writable varieties) became available in laptops soon after their introduction to the desktops.

Early laptops often had proprietary and incompatible system architectures, operating systems, and bundled applications, making third party hardware and software difficult and sometimes impossible to develop.

HOW TO MANAGMENT OF HOME BUSINESS

Information about what you need to do and know before your attempt to start a home business. Arming yourself with this information will greatly improve your chances for business success.

Laying the Groundwork to Start Your Home Business
starting a business is an everyday dream that not many are fortunate enough to realize in their lifetime. Unfortunately, not everyone is cut out to run their own business. By laying the groundwork you'll avoid wasting your time and pave the way for your future success.

10 Steps Before You Start a Home Business
This step-by-step exercise is intended to get you thinking about what you have to offer and whether your idea will result in a successful home business. Those who complete these steps may decide to go ahead with their idea, choose a different home business or abandon the idea completely.

1. Inability to reach desired sales goals.

If you are not making the kind of sales that you need, your losses multiply as you find it difficult to meet your fixed costs requirements, such as payment for your inventory and overhead..

What to do: While you may not have sold anything before, now is the time to get your chin up and learn those selling techniques. You simply have no choice: don’t sell and you may be forced to close the business.

One strategy you can also use when sales (and profits) are low is to cut prices. This could attract customers, helps cover your costs, and buys time until your business rebounds. A price cut can also boost sales quickly, especially when there is no money for advertising or other promotions.

However, the downside of this strategy is that you may find it difficult to increase your prices back to its original level. Consumers may even peg you into the “cheap” category, thus putting your hard-earned image at risk.

2. Wallet is not big enough.

You gather all the resources you can to start a business ­ you withdrew all your life savings, borrowed money from your parents, even “maxed-out” your credit cards. When you open for business, alas, you find that customers and sales can be pretty elusive. You wait, and wait, and wait, but cash is running out. Without money coming in, you decide to cut your losses and close down the business.

What to do: The first step to addressing the problem is to review how you performed against your business plan. Did you spend beyond your planned expenditures? More often than not, your problem lies in a genuine misguided and unrealistic expectation of finance.

Try to explore other avenues of financing your business, even opening yourself to accept equity financing where you will be required to sell an ownership interest in the business in exchange for capital. Your choices may be to build the business yourself and push it to success, then later sell your interests for a fair profit; or be repeatedly frustrated in attempts at financing a business that cannot achieve its potential because of insufficient capital.

3. Product has no sizzle.

Your success depends on whether you provide products or services with value to your customers. Many small business entrepreneurs fail to effectively communicate to their customers the benefits of their products or services. This is particularly true of many home-based Internet entrepreneurs, who have been misled to believe the myth that “if you build it, they will come.”

What to do: The acceptance of your products will depend on how well you are able to represent your business in the minds of your customers. If you know that you offer good quality products or services with value, the next step should be to get that information across your target market. Generate customer interest in the product through advertising and promotions.

4. Marketing and advertising fails to elicit response

You must develop effective strategies to market your business. But is your marketing plan working, or are they just a waste of time and resources?

Many business owners, in an attempt to save on costs, develop their own marketing campaigns only to fail in their intended purpose of bringing in more business or achieving "top-of-mind-awareness" in the mind of the customer. Their campaigns become ineffective, in the sense that it suffered from unbelievability, an irrelevant message, market saturation, and/or improper niche marketing. They spend time and resources on wrong advertising medium.

What to do: To achieve your marketing and advertising goals, you need to have an effective message, market position, and adequate funding. An advertising message that is "believable and relevant" is the key to promotional success. When you have the right thing to say in your promotion, you will drive sales. And when the right message is also unique, it becomes even more effective.

5. Failure to adapt to changing market conditions

Changing market conditions may include downturn or upswings in the economy, heightened competition, or even common business risks such as Web site business interruption or calamities. It may mean changing neighborhood profiles, where once thriving areas full of walk-in customers are now deserted. When these changes strike, you may find your business ill-prepared to cope and survive.

What to do: Stay abreast of the rapidly changing business environment by reviewing your company’s business strategy. If you determine that your current strategy will not work, overhaul your business focus, if necessary. It is important that you study your customers thoroughly so you can track customer preferences and buying trends. This will help release your company from the economic ups and downs.

DEFINITION OF BUSINESS

Economic system in which goods and services are exchanged for one another or money, on the basis of their perceived worth. Every business requires some form of investment and a sufficient number of customers to whom its output can be sold at profit on a consistent basis.

A business (also called a firm or an enterprise) is a legally recognized organization designed to provide goods and/or services to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, most being privately owned and formed to earn profit that will increase the wealth of its owners and grow the business itself. The owners and operators of a business have as one of their main objectives the receipt or generation of a financial returns in exchange for work and acceptance of risk. Notable exceptions include cooperative businesses and state-owned enterprises. Socialist systems involve either government agencies, public, or worker ownership of most sizable businesses.

The etymology of "business" relates to the state of being busy either as an individual or society as a whole, doing commercially viable and profitable work. The term "business" has at least three usages, depending on the scope — the singular usage (above) to mean a particular company or corporation, the generalized usage to refer to a particular market sector, such as "the music business" and compound forms such as agribusiness, or the broadest meaning to include all activity by the community of suppliers of goods and services. However, the exact definition of business, like much else in the philosophy of business, is a matter of debate.

Business Studies, the study of the management of individuals to maintain collective productivity in order to accomplish particular creative and productive goals (usually to generate profit), is taught as an academic subject in many schools.