How to Keep Your Laptop Out of Thieves’ Hands
Here are six guidelines to help you avoid seeing your notebook PC disappear!
So there you are, rushing to catch a plane. You've got an important presentation on your laptop, along with sensitive company and personal information. And then, suddenly, it's gone.
Either you've lost it, or it's been stolen.
Airports and hotels are favourite places for thieves. Laptops disappear from both and that's bad enough. But often, irreplaceable data has gone with them. According to Safeware, an insurance agency specialising in insuring high-tech equipment, in the US alone 591,000 laptops vanished in 2001.
None of this has to happen to you. But you have to be extra careful today. With the increased security at airports, losing track of a laptop is easier than ever. Here are six guidelines to help you avoid seeing your notebook PC disappear or, if it does, help you find it or get a quick replacement.
Tips for Getting Through Security Checks
Oddly, some airports have collected stacks of laptops. They're left behind by harried passengers in security areas. Most are reclaimed eventually. But some people never come back for their machines.
Obviously, you've got to allow yourself plenty of time when you fly. When I travel, I carry my laptop in a backpack. There's lots of room in there, and it's inconspicuous. I see fashionable businesspeople carrying laptops in expensive cases. They're asking for trouble. Those cases say, "Laptop! Laptop! Steal me!"
Security people most likely will want to check the laptop. If possible, handle it yourself, rather than having them do it.
Don't be afraid to speak up. You don't need your machine damaged.
Be sure your battery is charged. The security people may well want to turn on the machine. Most important, don't let it out of your sight. This becomes especially difficult if you are selected for a random head-to-toe check.
Once on board your flight, put the computer safely stowed in your bag under the seat in front of you. Try to avoid putting it in the overhead bin. Others will have more access to it there.
Have Sensitive Data? Encrypt It
If you have sensitive information on your computer, consider encrypting it. If you have Windows XP, you already have the tools needed. While the thief has your machine, these extra steps will make it much more difficult to access the laptop's data.
Encryption will protect your business secrets, but it won't retrieve your data. To do that, you've got to back up your information to another computer. If you run your own server, you can easily upload files to it.
You don't have to back up everything on the laptop. Just copy the files you will need to the server. If your laptop should be stolen on your trip, you may be able to borrow a computer at your destination and download your important files. Finding time for backups is a pain, I know. But they can save you.
Make Your MP3 Player do Double-Duty
If you don't have a server, or don't want to back up to it, take a look at MP3 players. Some today have huge hard drives. They are easily hooked to a laptop through the USB or FireWire ports. The data can then be copied to the MP3 player. These things can copy any data, not just MP3s.
Trace a Stolen Laptop's Location
If your laptop does get stolen, wouldn't it be great if the system could do the high-tech equivalent of phoning home? There are programs that will report the location of a stolen laptop. They work when the laptop connects to the internet.
Security experts also say that engraving your name on the computer is helpful. That will make it more difficult to sell on so thieves may look elsewhere.
Set a System Password
Every road warrior should protect their laptop with a start-up password. This way, a system password prompt will appear each time you start your computer before Windows even begins to load. It will prohibit any access to the computer at all.
To create a system password, you'll need to access your computer's setup utility (also known as BIOS settings, which stands for "Basic InputOutput System"). Typically you do this by pressing Delete, Esc or F1 as soon as you turn on the computer. Check the manual though, as some computers are different.
Consider Laptop PC Insurance
If your laptop is expensive (and aren't they all?) you might want to insure it. Some homeowners, renters and business insurance policies don't cover computers, and if they do, there may be many conditions attached.
Today's laptops are ripe targets for thieves. If you follow these basic guidelines along with some good common sense, you won't have to give yours up.
How To Choose Quality Laptop Computer Case.
The following paragraphs summarize the basic knowledge about major factor that you should consider when choosing laptop case. The knowledge comes from direct experience of a person who is completely familiar with all the aspects. Heed the advice to avoid any negative surprises when you have to choose one. If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole story from reliable sources.
It can be said that today everyone has laptop computer, as since it is a type of computer that is very convenient to bring to anywhere and as a result its price is also expensive. In some case, laptop computer can cost two or three times expensive than desktop computers, so you have to make sure that you have a quality case to protect your laptop when you carry it from place to place.
Looking for rugged and durable laptop case is not an easy job. But you may have to use it because it is very important. The environment and atmosphere today are very uncertain, your laptop may be wet in heavy rain, strong sunlight, shaking on bumpy road or any other of difficult environment including sometimes it may have been destroyed by chemical agents and so on.
There is many of ordinary laptop cases available in the market but seem that they are not the one that you want because they might not be able to protect your laptop computer. These laptop computer cases generally made by soft materials and they are designed to protect laptop computer from common accident but they may not designed to protect laptop from severe and unexpected conditions such as bumps or drops. However, please consider main factors below, which suggest about what you have to consider when choosing rugged case for your laptop computers.
Firstly, you may have to see waterproof ability. Waterproof is very important qualification for good laptop computer case. It is the basic thing that all kind of laptop case should have but good quality case should have different level of waterproof ability. The good quality ones should protect your laptop in case of you drop the bag into the water, apart from protects form rain. Secondly you should look at the material that they made from the case must be made by the materials that stand to all kind of force and impact such as crushing forces. Because sometimes, you laptop may have to face this kind of situation such as it could be squeezed in a suitcase when you travel or there might be a person step on it when you dropped the case.
Do not forget to see whether if inside of the case is properly coated neatly, this is because it helps you to protect laptop computer from inside and decrease the force that harm the computer. The materials may have to have chemical resistance in order to protect the case when touched by chemical agents. It is unnecessary to look for the case that resist to all kind of chemicals because you will find no laptop case has such a qualification, but just to make sure that it resists some kind of chemicals.
Explained above is only the basic information about how to choose you laptop case, so looking for more information will help you to understand more about this issue.
How To Choose Laptop Case
If you have even a passing interest in the topic about things to consider when buy laptop case, then you should take a look at the following article. This enlightening article presents some of basic information as well as fundamental element that you can use to decide whether the laptop case is good to buy. I could confirm that the knowledge presented below can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about this topic, it is strongly recommended that you should keep reading. However, according to loads of information about this topic somewhere else on the internet, so you may be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning from the following article.
Laptop computers is now have become part of people every day life, it is expensive and need intensive maintenance and care as you have to carry your laptop and travel with you. Unfortunately, when people are buying laptop cases, they usually ignore important things to be considered. This probably due to most of laptop cases normally accompany with the laptop that they buy and they can get the laptop case for free. However, I strongly recommend that if you have more budgets available, you should buy another one to increase protection for your laptop. This is because normal laptop case could protect your computer, that's for sure! Regular cases are soft and their purpose is to help you carry the laptop while protecting it from common injuries, but not to protect it from hard bumps or drops or any others of this kind. The following details give you the important criteria that you should consider when buying laptop case. They probably not the exact guidelines that can apply to all model of laptop case, but I have gathered from the most common characteristics that good laptop case should have.
Firstly, you should consider waterproof. Water is the most important obstacle that you have to keep your laptop away from it. You have to make sure that the surface of laptop case could let the water away quickly. If possible, you can ask sale staff to test for waterproof but in most case you are not allowed to do so. Second, you should consider resistant to chemical agents. Even though there is not often that your laptop is damaged by chemical agents, unless you are the person working in environment that has chemical on daily basis. However, our laptop case may be accidentally touched with chemical agents so you should look for kind of laptop case that can protect you from them. Especially if you want to buy leather laptop case, it is also good if the leather surface is coated by waterproof and chemical resistant film. Thirdly, you have to consider the laptop case that flexible in terms of interior space. A good laptop case must keep the computer inside it in a fixed position, to not "jump" up and down, protecting it from extra hits. Here are the top three criteria that you have to consider when you buy laptop case. There should be more information about this topic but I have picked up only highlighted ones.
Have You Made the Switch from Desktop to Laptop?
Have You Made the Switch from Desktop to Laptop? What You Need to Know
If you're one of the million who have given up bulky desktop computers altogether for the sleeker, lighter, more versatile laptop, there are a few things you should consider if you haven't already.
First, because they are portable and light, laptops aren't inherently as secure as desktop computers when it comes to theft. And we're not just talking about coffee shops, airports, college campuses, and the passenger seats of cars (which is where most laptops tend to be stolen). Even if you're in the practice of leaving your laptop on your desk when you go home for the evening, your risking theft should someone break into your office suite or if a door is left unlocked. The first thing a thief would do is snatch up all the laptops. They're valuable, they resell easily, and they're easy to remove undetected.
The answer to this problem is simple. Attach a lockable laptop drawer to your desk. We found high-quality models at Versa Tables for under 120. Constructed of steel, these accessories bolt to the under side of almost any desk and allow for a laptop to be retracted under the desktop when not in use, and locked with a key. The back of the drawer has an opening to allow the laptop to be plugged in and charging overnight. While occupying your desk, simply pull the drawer out and use the laptop right thereit creates more space on your desk.
Second, back up your files. Because laptops are mobile, they are at a higher risk of being dropped, kicked when your laptop case is sitting at your feet, or of having something spilled on them. While the manufacturers of laptops are well aware of this, no piece of computerized machinery is indestructible. Back up your files more often either by copying them onto a jump drive or by emailing them to yourself.
Third, be sure to have the necessary accessories at your fingertips. We suggest an extra battery (kept charged), an approved extension cord, and outlet adapters if you plan to travel. An additional USB cable is always good in case you need to plug into a printer and lightweight headphones will allow you to use your laptop anywhere (and still hear live streaming video or DVDs) while maintaining your privacy and without disturbing others.
The last thing you need to know is that ergonomically, laptops aren't as well-designed as your desktop computer probably was. With desktops, most people now use keyboard trays that adjust to the comfortable tilt and height for the user and therefore, minimize the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other conditions caused by repetitive motion. Unfortunately, laptops pretty much just rest on your lap and if put on a desk, do not sit at the correct ergonomic height. Experts predict that with the increased use of laptops, there will be an increase in repetitive motion symptoms and potentially disabling conditions like CTS. A way to combat this is to use a laptop desk when working at home or the office. Laptop desks, often referred to as 'Laptop Carts' because of their mobility, are available on the market. Simply, they are height-adjustable carts designed to hold a laptop and allow the user to sit or stand while using them. They don't provide the same ergonomic efficiency as a keyboard at a traditional desk, but they're better than flopping down on a sofa and sitting the laptop on your lap or having to reach up to type on the laptop keyboard at a regular desk.
Getting The Right Laptop For You
Are you looking to buy a new laptop computer? With so many laptop models available in the market today, with each sporting many different features, choosing what kind of laptop to buy can be confusing. You need to consider carefully just what kind of laptop you should get before you take out your credit card. In this way, you know you will end up with a machine that is just perfect for your needs.
Your needs are what you must take into consideration when you go out to buy a laptop. Many people have different uses for their laptops. Some get laptops that they can work with while traveling. Some just want a machine that will replace their desktops and give them the mobility that their desktops cannot possibly give. Some look at their laptops as extensions of their home entertainment systems or use them for intensive gaming. Before you buy a laptop, you need to determine first the purpose for which you will use it.
People who need to be on the road or in the air a lot business executives, journalists and freelance consultants, to name just a few need a laptop that is easy to carry, does not use up power so much and is small enough to be used conveniently in cramped seats on the train or in an airplane. If you are going to do a lot of traveling, these factors should count a lot when you choose your new laptop. You will be lugging this machine a lot, so it would be great for your body if your laptop is small and ultra-light. And because you would be moving a lot, you should choose a laptop that has a long battery life or is low on power consumption. It would be horrible to find your computer shutting down on you while you are in the middle of something, and you either do not have extra battery packs or far away from a place wherein you can plug in your computer.
The typical laptop computer used by travelers is a machine that weighs no less than four pounds and has a 12-inch screen measured diagonally. The size of the hard disk may be too small and limited for you, so it is important that the laptop you will use for traveling has a built-in DVDCD-RW combination drive. This will adequately address your storage needs. The capacity for wireless networking is also necessary in ultra-light laptops, in case you want to access the Internet while you are on the go.
If size and weight are important factors that travelers should look at when buying a laptop, power and performance come first for the gamer. Laptop computers that are meant to be used by gamers are packed with a large-size hard drive, memory that is 512MB or more, a powerful video card and sound card, a built-in DVDCD-RW, networking capabilities and a widescreen display. Most of the popular computer games today are power-gobblers that can stretch the performance of a computer to its limit; a gaming laptop should be able to meet the resource demands of these power-hungry computer games. Also, laptop computers that can be used for gaming are also great extensions of a persons home theater and entertainment system.
When you choose a laptop for your gaming needs, it does not really matter if the machine is light enough or has a long battery life. You would not be carrying it around a lot and it is highly likely that it will be plugged to a main power source all the time.
A laptop that shall be used at home or in the office is often a toss-up between size and power. Just like a gaming laptop, a laptop that shall be used primarily for business or home computing must have a wide screen around 15 to 17 inches. A wide screen is easy on the eyes, and if this is the kind of computer that you need, you would be looking at it a lot. It does not have to be as powerful as a gaming laptop, but it nonetheless needs to be powerful enough so that digital manipulation and PowerPoint presentations would not be difficult for you to do. Having the basic multimedia capabilities would be welcome as well.
It is likely that the laptop you will be buying for your office or home computing needs is something that will replace your desktop computer. Desktop computers often have features and capabilities that laptops can only have as external peripherals connected through USB. Here is a handy tip you can use when looking for a laptop that is supposed to replace your desktop computer: If the laptop weighs more than three kilograms with all its peripherals plugged in, then you should not be looking for a laptop. What you need is a new desktop.
Choose your laptop wisely according to your own computing needs.
Finding The Right Laptop Bag
Laptop bags come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but nothing says style and sophistication like leather. The luxurious smell and rich feel of leather simply can't be beaten, and the impression it leaves with other people is subtly unrivaled.
More importantly, a leather bag can provide the best protection for a laptop. After all, that wireless Bluetooth connectivity, 80 GB of hard drive space, powerful processor, and 15 inch display cost a bundle, it only makes sense to shell out a few additional pounds to safeguard that technology. The cheap bags that are often included free with the purchase of a laptop purchase are a perfect example of getting what is paid for. Even heavy-duty nylon construction provides limited protection compared to the natural cushioning a high-quality leather bag possesses.
Premier leather laptop bags are going to be well stitched and constructed with the finest materials. There's no reason to worry about the bottom seam spontaneously failing, allowing the computer to slip out. Furthermore, the leather itself acts as an additional layer of padding to protect the notebook from impact, not counting any actual protective padding sewn into the bag. This padding is particularly reinforced at the bottom of the bag, which cushions the laptop against potential harm with each and every time it is placed down on a surface.
Leather is, of course, not without it's drawbacks. The one burden of leather is that some care is required for it to maintain its supple texture and luster. There are a number of ways to take care of leather, including spraying it with water repellent when it is first bought. The leather should also be cleaned regularly, conditioned, and protected with lubricants and oils to prevent it from hardening, drying out, or otherwise becoming damaged by age. This extra chore is inconsequential compared to the joy of owning a premier bag to carry and protect a computer.
Because of the popularity and commonality of laptops in modern society, the price and selection have switched places. While selection has exploded, prices have steadily dropped, suddenly putting laptop ownership into the budgets of unprecedented numbers of people. This trend means that it is now possible walk into nearly any specialty leather store, department store, or even an office superstore and find good quality leather laptop bags that will fit any taste and budget.
Extend The Life Of Your Laptop Battery
If you are the owner of a laptop computer, you know how frustrating it can be when you are working on the laptop and your battery is low. If you are constantly on the go, it is sometimes difficult to find a place to plug in your computer to let it recharge. There are a few things that you can do to help you take care and extend the life of your laptop battery.
General caution should be observed when running the battery of your laptop. A laptop should be plugged in to the AC adaptor whenever possible. This will ensure that your laptop battery is always charged and ready to go when it is needed. Another tip is to not expose your laptop to extreme weather conditions, especially very cold temperatures. A cold battery will run much slower than one that is warm. Also, try not to use your laptop for long periods of time without recharging the battery. This can cause information to be lost if the battery sudden stops working.
When using your battery on your laptop, remember use as little power as you can by adjusting the settings on the laptop. This will make your computer go inactive when not in use for a certain amount of time. Adjusting the power setting is easy if you go into the control panel and set the display time. It is also possible to adjust the brightness of the screen display to help the life of the laptop battery. Remember to turn programs off that you are not using. This will waste battery usage quicker. Also, running movies and videos will quickly drain the battery charge.
When using your laptop battery you will want to make sure you check the battery charge frequently. Charge your laptop as soon as you see the battery getting low. Whenever you can, plug in your computer. It is a good idea to always plug in your computer so that it is ready to go. Also, take care of your battery. It is important to clean the laptop battery and keep it free of dust and debris. Using canned air or a cotton swab on a regular basis can do this. The battery will run longer if it is cleaned frequently.
Another tip is to have an extra battery on hand. These are easily purchased. Have at least one fully charged at all times for a quick battery change. Some laptops can run with two batteries. Most laptops are also compatible with external batteries that can easily be added and changed when necessary. Battery charges that work in the car are also good options for anyone taking their laptops on trips. Also, if you are purchasing a new laptop computer, consider buying a smaller, lightweight version. These are more efficient and are able to run longer on a battery charge than the larger laptop versions. Following these basic tips can help extend the amount of time your computer can run with a battery.