Tips for Laptop users

Laptop computers are a great convenience because of their portability, but a lot of them fail prematurely due to simple user mistakes. The chief enemies of your laptop computer are heat and accidents.

Heat is a laptop's worst enemy. Do not set a laptop on a soft surface it can sink into such as a bed, couch or reclining chair while you are using it. This will block the vents on the bottom of the computer, causing it to overheat, which will soon make components such as the hard drive, memory or motherboard fail. Hard drives are economical to replace, but the data on them can be irreplaceable. A bad motherboard can easily make a laptop uneconomical to repair. If a table or desk is not available, use a large hardbound book or other solid surface. This can also keep you from burning yourself if you are setting it on your lap. Cooling platforms that raise a system, or even use fans to keep air constantly moving are available at most stores that sell computers and computer accessories. They are a wise investment.

Many people who do not travel with their laptop leave it plugged in all the time. This will shorten the life of the battery. Unplug your laptop when you are not using it or charging the battery. Leaving your laptop plugged in all the time also increases the risk that someone could trip over the cord. Not only could this cause an injury, but it could break the computer’s power socket, or knock it over onto the floor, breaking the case or even the screen. A broken screen may be cost-prohibitive to replace. You also should never stack things on top of a laptop computer. That weight could break the screen.

Your manufacturer’s warranty will not cover accidents, so buying an extended warranty or insurance plan for a laptop that will is a wise buy. Read the terms of any such plan carefully, some plans are better than others. 

Following these guidelines should extend the useful life of your laptop computer, and increase your enjoyment of it.