A COMPLETE GUIDE ON CHOOSING A GPS RECEIVER

Before you buy a GPS receiver, you need to spend enough time kicking all the proverbial tires. You shouldn't rush out and get a receiver based only on an Internet review without trying that very GPS receiver and see how it works. Try to spend some time comparing as many as models and brands to figure out which one works best for your requirements. Because a GPS unit is sold in many sporting goods

EIGHT EASY WAYS TO MAKE YOUR LAPTOP SAFE AND ORGANIZED

You may consider a laptop as a living, breathing organism. Just like an infant, you should clean and reorganize when it gets messy; you may extend its operational life through a properly planned and executed maintenance schedule.If you hit the road often, your laptop may be more exposed to dust and greasy hands. So adjust your maintenance and cleaning schedule to fit your activity. Whatever you

MICROSOFT RELAUNCHES TOOL FOR INSTALLING WINDOWS 7 ON NETBOOKS

Microsoft has launched another tool for installing Windows 7 on netbooks lacking an optical drive. Microsoft sells its operating systems on optical drives. But a large number of netbooks in the market lack an optical drive. So how can netbook users upgrade their computer to Windows 7?Buying a USB DVD drive is definitely a good solution but last month Microsoft launched a better solution in the

HOW TO INSTALL WINDOWS 7 ON A NETBOOK WITHOUT AN OPTICAL DRIVE

In a bid to make netbooks slimmer and lighter PC makers are doing away with the optical drive. While not having an optical drive doesn�t really affect the functionality of a mobile professional, it does become a problem when you have to install some software only available in a CD. For instance, consider this situation: you want to install Windows 7 on your netbook and you don�t have an optical

HACKS: HOW TO UPGRADE ION LE TO FULL ION

Several netbooks sporting NVIDIA�s ION graphics are now available. But most of them feature the Light Edition (LE) of the chip which doesn�t offer full functionality. But now there is a simple solution to the problem, or so it seems. One member at the MyHPMini Forum has hacked the ION LE on his Mini 311 and effectively upgraded it to the full version. All that he did was to add the device ID of

BEFORE BUYING A NETBOOK

Netbooks have nearly identical components. Almost all of them run on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor or a VIA Nano processor with integrated Intel graphics. Netbooks are much cheaper than conventional laptops. But before you buy one you need to be aware of its limitations. Netbooks are much slower than the average 14 inch or 15 inch notebooks. Because of their low-end configurations, they will run

HOW MUCH RAM IS ENOUGH FOR YOUR LAPTOP?

The more memory in a laptop the better. You can usually decide how much memory you need by assessing the requirements of the software you intend to use. Are you an avid gamer? Do you like to watch HD movies? A good amount of RAM is necessary to handle high-end graphics.How much RAM is enough?If your demands are moderate you should find 1GB of RAM satisfactory. You will be able to run most

WHO SHOULD BUY A RUGGED LAPTOP

Rugged laptops are the best choice for people whose work environments are less than ideal. Most rugged laptops are costlier than regular commercial laptops and do not offer the same configurations as a commercial grade laptop, but they allow you to work in a wide variety of environments. Features of rugged laptopsRugged laptops will be able to survive exposure to rain, snow, sand, hail, wind,

HOW TO FIX A NOISY, OVERHEATED LAPTOP

Laptops can get noisy and hot if dust clogs up the fan and air vents around it. You can easily fix this problem with a screw driver and an air compressor. Switch off the laptop and remove the battery. Remove the panel above the fan. You shouldn�t have much difficulty locating this. Blow out the dust with the air compressor. Be sure not to apply a lot of pressure, otherwise, you may damage the fan

HOW TO SPEEDUP YOUR WINDOWS XP NETBOOK

Netbooks don�t have any power to spare. So the key to having a fast netbook is knowing how to use the available processing power efficiently. Most netbooks use the Windows XP Operating System. By using the following technique you will be able to squeeze some extra speed out of it.Here is how.1. Go to the Control Panel2. Double-click on System. A window will open.3. Click the Advanced tab. Then

HOW TO PREVENT DATA LOSS

To prevent data loss, mobile professionals need to regularly backup important data from their devices. The first thing you need to do is to find the best method that suits your needs. Before you backup your data, make sure that it isn�t infected. Run a virus scan to check whether the data is corrupt.Backup Methods AvailableSoftware programsSeveral software programs are available for data backup.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH LAPTOP DISPLAYS

A lot of people are forced to buy new laptops because of broken or damaged displays. In this article we will examine the most common problems with laptop displays. Dead PixelsDead pixels are a common problem with laptop displays. Actually this is the first thing you need to check when you get a new laptop. Power up your laptop and look for tiny white dots in the display. You don�t have to open

HOW TO MANUALLY SET THE LAPTOP INTO HIBERNATE MODE

By setting your laptop in the hibernate mode you will be able conserve battery power and keep your documents safe when you are away from your laptop. In this article we will show how you can manually set the laptop in the hibernate mode.Step 1Click on the Start button; go to Control Panel; double-click Power Options.Step 2Click on Hibernate tab; check the �Enable hibernation� option; click

HOW TO CLEAN A LAPTOP COMPUTER

Your laptop needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. The recommended cleaning procedure for laptops differs from model to model. So read your User�s Manual before you clean your laptop. Cleaning the ExteriorYou can clean the exterior of your laptop with a soft damp cloth. Do not use a scratchy or abrasive cloth for cleaning. Also avoid using harsh cleaning agents. Do not spray the

MOBILE GEAR SECURITY

Mobile workers constantly face threats against their mobile gear and the data contained in them. By taking a few simple steps, you will be able to ensure that your data remains safe while you are traveling.Preventing Unauthorized AccessMobile professionals need to be extremely careful with their passwords and other authentication methods to prevent unauthorized people from accessing the files on

BUYING A USED LAPTOP

Everybody likes to buy a brand new laptop, but sometimes budget constraints make it impossible. Used/refurbished laptops are the ideal solution for users who don�t want to or can�t afford to buy a brand new laptop. Before you buy a used laptop make sure that you will be able to upgrade its components when you want to. New and improved networking options arrive almost everyday. If you can�t

BEST BACK TO SCHOOL NOTEBOOKS

It is that time of the year again - students are getting ready for school. Arm yourself with one of these scholastic notebooks before you get back to school. They are all ideals for students who need a portable machine with enough power inside its chassis. A year or two ago, it was not possible to get a notebook for less than $500. But now you can get a full-size laptop for less than $500. And

THE ADVANTAGES OF USING AN SSD

Solid State drives are getting more and more popular. Many notebook users now use them for storing operating systems and programs. While SSDs are much better than traditional drives they do have two major draw backs � they are pricey and they can�t store as much data as a traditional disk drive. What is a Solid State Drive?A solid state drive is built entirely out of semiconductors. SSDs use the

TABLET PC OR PDA - WHICH GADGET IS BEST FOR YOUR NEEDS?

Mobile professionals need a device that they can carry around without having to compromise on the day to day tasks they need to perform. So what gadget is best for your needs?PDAs are attractive because of their small size and reasonable price. But they do not offer as much functionality as a laptop does. A viable alternative is the tablet PC. Before you choose a device, you need to evaluate the

CHOOSING AN ALL PURPOSE NOTEBOOK

An average laptop user doesn�t need to buy the fastest machine around. In fact what he needs is a machine that offers good value for money. So what are the basic features an all purpose laptop should have?Well, it has to be portable. This is a crucial requirement if you are a frequent traveler. The additional factors you need to take into account are explained below.ProcessorMost modern laptops