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Once you have bought your new notebook computer, you will want to take good care of it. After all, you’ve probably just dropped a grand or more, not to mention all the research you put into choosing the right laptop for you.
Caring for your new notebook computer should be regular on ongoing. You need to clean your laptop display regularly with diluted window cleaner and a smooth soft cloth. Otherwise you’ll end up looking at a smudged and dirty screen all day, and who wants that? Spray the cleaner onto the cloth and wipe the screen with it. Do not spray cleaner directly on your screen! If you do this, the cleaner can drip down from the screen into your computer and short something out.
Try not to eat or drink around your notebook computer.
Of course, following that advice ruins all the fun of having a laptop in the first place — I want to be able to check my email while drinking my espresso and munching a biscotto. So, to get rid of the biscotto crumbs, dust, mites, dead spiders, and what-have-you from between your computer’s keys, you can get one of those hand-held vacuum cleaners designed specifically for PCs. Or you can use your regular vacuum cleaner’s brush attachment.
Computer Vacuums
* Metropolitan Vacuum(R) DataVac(R)/1 Pro
* USB OR BATTERY POWERED MINI VACUUM
* Computer Vacuum by totes
If you decide to use one of those canned aerosol cleaners, be careful. Use short quick bursts of air to blast those stubborn crumbs from between your keys. Why? Because when compressed gas decompresses, it absorbs thermal energy. It’s the principle on which air conditioning is based. The gas gets cold. Now, you may not get frostbite from spraying compressed gas at your keyboard, but it will cause water to condense on your keys. That’s not good because water and computers usually don’t mix very well, with the computer often being the loser in the battle.
Now, what do you do if you spill espresso or soda on your notebook computer? Did you take out that three year extended warranty?
As quickly as you can, turn off the laptop, cover the keyboard with a towel or other absorbant material, and turn it over, keyboard down. In a pinch, the towel is optional, but now you know the real reason The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy suggests that you always bring a towel with you, and it’s not to hide from the odd Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.
This procedure prevents spills from entering your notebook computer’s delicate circuitry. Still, it will be a mess to clean up once the liquid completely drains onto the towel. It will be worse if you were drinking something sugary …
Notebook computers get hot, so don’t block any of your computer’s vents. Try to use it on solid surfaces so that the laptop’s feet can raise it a bit and allow air to circulate beneath the unit as well. It’s important not to let your notebook computer’s components overheat. A fried CPU is a sad thing, but can be easily replaced on a desktop computer. On a laptop, however, it’s a different story — if one component burns out, you will usually have to replace your notebook computer. Bummer.
Enjoy your new notebook computer. Its portability and versatility will make computing, on the train, in the coffee shop, at school, in the bookstore, or even in the bathroom, a liberating and fun experience.
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