LAPTOP STANDS

Laptops have quickly become some of the most popular gadgets in the market today. This dramatic increase in sales has spawned hundreds, if not thousands of laptop accessories by nearly as many manufacturers. These accessories range from benign items such as laptop covers and skins to hardware upgrades that can vastly improve your laptop’s performance.

When it comes to laptop, one of the top selling accessories is definitely the laptop stand. Although a laptop stand can be perceived to be a moderately uncomplicated object, such as a podium for your lap for the laptop to reside on. Numerous designs for laptop stands have evolved over time from the very basic to the much more intricate. However, the basic concept of a laptop stand still reveals that the use of a laptop stand is to adjust the laptop in an arrangement that is comfy and relaxed for the person operating on it. Long working hours on laptops can lead to severe unrest and irritation to the body. Hence, the key purpose of the laptop stand is to create enduring utilization of the laptop simpler and comforting for the user’s limbs.



The most interesting piece of accessory for a laptop is the wonderful creation of a laptop stand. It is unique to have a laptop stand instead of the computer being placed on your lap. The new laptop stand has been created in a way to give you the best possible view of the screen and the keys are just within your easy reach so that you feel quite comfortable with this new innovative accessory. You can carry on with your wok on the laptop with a stand for long hours happily. The fundamental architecture of the laptop stand is just like the wedge. This creative stand is placed on your lap on which the laptop is positioned comfortably. The wedge is placed in a specific angle to suit your working process on the laptop. It can be moved to any angle or direction according to your desire of the laptop face. This is done to ease the workings of your fingers and hands and give relief to your shoulders. The main aim is to provide comfort to your arms and the ergonomically designed wedge is offered to take away all the tension in operating a laptop for a long time. The introduction of this type of wedge is appreciated by laptop users because of its simplicity and comfort facility. They can be placed anywhere when they are not used.

A sophisticated model of wedge comes with different attachments for better comfort to the laptop users who travel a lot and have to work in different conditions. The flexible design has more to it, other than the hinges and locking systems. The legs are adjustable to the need of the height that you would be preferred for your work and you can take the laptop stand with you in tours to make the trip worth of it.

A laptop stand doesn't necessarily have to be anything fancy. The simplest type of a laptop stand design is a straight forward lodge. This simple lodge is a crucial piece of accessory. It can be carved out from almost any of the daily materials used like wood or thermocol, but users who work for prolonged hours desire for something that is soft and light weight so that it doesn’t disturb the body after a long hour at work. These stands put the laptop in a more comfortable typing position when being used on your lap, alleviating any strain caused by bad wrist positioning. It is simply made to rest on your lap and can enable the laptop to be mounted on top of it. Now based on the operator’s preference the lodge can position the laptop either upwards or downwards and slant it at a position that is comfortable for the operator. The thought is to place the keyboard in a contented spot so as to revive strain in the upper body of the user (arms and shoulder). These lodges are accepted across the board because of the simplicity in design, and the ability to be accommodated in the house with a lesser space requirement than the complicated types.

For other users who call for a somewhat lithe in devise, multi-configuration laptop stands are obtainable. This design utilizes an assortment of pivots and crux, more like a shoulder bone joint such that the stands can be adjusted and alleviated to any desired position. The stature of the desk can be effortlessly hoisted or bent down as required. Moreover, the stand can be attuned to ensemble with nearly any kind of spacing requirements. These design stands are very well-liked with those who are always on the move and are always travelling for work since the stand can well adjust to any place that they travel too thereby providing flexibility.

If you wish to buy a laptop stand, there is no need to sprint across from store to store as the product is easily available online. Internet has a wide and varied range of laptop stands available. You can feel free to search for the best laptop stand you need from these online stores. You can have a look at the designs and the features at the various websites and pick up a one that suits you best. The price for these laptop stands may vary from $50 for the simplest of designs up to $1500 ones that not only provide comfort in use but have encompasses with other features like laptop accessory holder, drive stands and CD/DVD holding packs. But some of the websites offer good discounts and so it is better to do some bargain before making the final purchase.

ACER UNVEILS ASPIRE 5738DG 3D LAPTOP

Acer has unveiled a laptop supporting 3D vision. The Acer Aspire 5738DG, as it would be called, uses Nvidia’s 3D system hardware and glasses. And the included TriDef 3D screen has good refresh rate to make the 3D experience really smooth.

The 5738DG has a 15.6 inch display with 1366x768 native resolution. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 2.20GHz processor with up to 4GB of RAM. The standard storage option is a 320GB hard disk drive. There is a discrete graphics card in the form of an ATI Radeon HD 4750 with 512MB of dedicated memory. The machine will run on the Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit operating system. Other features include WiFi b/g/n, four USB 2.0 ports, multi-format card reader, webcam, Dolby optimized stereo speakers and a DVD burner.

The machine weighs 6.16lbs with the 6-cell battery. It is now available for purchase at the starting price of $799.99.

LENOVO UNVEILS 11.6 INCH U150 LAPTOP

Lenovo has unveiled its 11.6 inch Ideapad U150 at the CEATEC show in Japan. The device isn’t quite a netbook. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage SU4100 processor with 2GB of RAM and integrated Intel GMA X4500 graphics.

The Ideapad U150 has an attractive design with textures tattooed on its exterior. The laptop is thin and light. It measures just 13.5 mm in thickness and weighs around 1.35 kg.

Performance
Detailed specifications of the device are not yet known, but it is expected to deliver better performance than other similar sized PCs running on Intel Atom processors. And if Lenovo manages to price it right, the U150 could prove a winner.

SONY LANUNCHES ULTRA THIN VAIO X LAPTOP

Sony has unveiled a VAIO X ultrathin laptop with prices starting at $1300. Like other VAIO notebooks this machine too features a carbon fiber frame and a high end solid state drive.

With its Intel Atom processor VAIO X is cheaper than most other VAIO notebooks, but it isn’t necessarily better. The power efficient processor may offer better battery life, but it wouldn't make VAIO X a high performance machine.

The VAIO X has a 11.1 inch display with 1366x768 pixels. It weighs around 1.5 pounds with the standard battery. The notebook is powered by a 2 GHz Intel Atom Z550 processor with Intel GMA 500 graphics. The standard storage option is a solid state drive with a maximum capacity of 128 GB.

Sony said that the standard battery would provide up to 3.5 hours of up time. If you need more life, you can opt for an extended battery which is expected to give up to 14 hours on a charge. Other features include Bluetooth, GPS, and a Verizon Wireless mobile broadband module.

Pricing and Availability
The laptop will be available on October 22, the official launch date of Windows 7 and Sony has started taking preorders. The base model starts at $1299.99. A higher end version with 128GB SSD may cost as much as $1499.99.

A LAPTOP FOR $73

China based PC maker Sungword has released a portable computing device costing just $73. The clamshell-style device is equipped with a 7 inch display featuring 800x480 pixels.

The mini-laptop has a 300MHz VIA VT8500 ARM-based processor with 128MB of RAM. It provides up to 1GB of storage space and runs on the Windows CE Operating System. The machine also sports a QWERTY keyboard and an 1800mAh battery. Other notable features include WiFi.

With such low-end specifications, you can’t expect much in the performance department. In fact, it is safe to assume that the device wouldn’t be half as useful as a smartphone.

The laptop weighs just about 1.5 pounds. It is unlikely to be available outside of China any time soon.

ALIENWARE RELEASES M15X GAMING LAPTOP

Alienware has introduced its M15x 15-inch gaming laptop. The company claims that it is the fastest 15-inch gaming machine out there. The M15x is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with GTX 260M GPU. It supports up to 8GB of RAM.

Specifications
The Alienware m15x comes with the following specifications:

Processor: Up to Intel Core i7 920XM (2.0GHz, 8MB cache)
Display: 15.6-inch LED display with a standard resolution of 1600x900 (1920x1080 optional)
Graphics: 512MB GeForce GT 240M standard, 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M optional
RAM: Up to 8GB DDR3-1333
Storage: Up to 500GB 7200RPM or 256GB Solid State Drive

Ports and features

There are 3 USB 2.0 ports (one of them a USB/eSATA combo port), slot loading optical drive, integrated Ethernet RJ-45, VGA, DisplayPort, 8-in-1 media card reader, ExpressCard Slot, audio in and microphone jack. Optional features include Blu-ray drive. The M15x is not a lightweight machine. It weighs over 9lbs with its 6-cell battery.

Pricing & Availability
The M15x is now available for purchase. Prices start at $1,499. It is available in three colors – Cosmic Black, Lunar Shadow and Nebula Red.

DELL LAUNCHES ITS LATITUDE Z600 THIN AND LIGHT LAPTOP

Dell has finally unveiled its much anticipated 16-inch Latitude Z600 laptop. The ultrathin device is claimed to be the world’s thinnest and lightest laptop with wireless charging capabilities. The Dell Latitude Z600 is aimed at businesses. It comes pre-loaded with Windows Vista SP1.

In looks and build quality the Latitude Z600 is comparable to Apple’s business notebooks, particularly the MacBook Air.

The notebook runs on Intel’s 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo (SU9400/SU9600) CULV processor. Up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM can be installed. The storage option is a 64GB Solid State Drive. The graphics is handled by Intel GMA 4500MHD. The machine weighs just 4.5 pounds with its 16-inch screen.

The Latitude Z600 comes with Dell’s Latitude ON feature, which is essentially an instant on Linux Kernel operating system customized by Dell for instant booting. There is also a dedicated Latitude ON button for booting the system up in seconds. Another cool feature of this notebook is its wireless charging capabilities.
The Latitude Z600 has its share of ports and slots which include eSATA, Ethernet port, display port and USB port. For wireless connectivity there is Wi-Fi with support for Draft N. Other features include a new FaceAware face recognition software. But despite this being a feature-rich notebook, Dell managed to pack only a four-cell battery inside.

Pricing and availability
The new Latitude Z600 is priced at $2000. It is now available for purchase in the US.

ASUS LAUNCHES ITS UL50 MULTIMEDIA LAPTOP

Asus has announced a new multimedia laptop – the UL50. The Asus UL50 is equipped with a 15.6 inch display. It is now available for purchase in the US.

The Asus UL50 sports an Intel SU7300 1.3 GHz ultra low voltage processor with Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics. Up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM can be installed. The maximum storage capacity is 320GB. There is an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor.

The machine runs on Windows Vista. The 15.6 inch display features 1366x768 pixels. Other features include a DVD burner. The best thing about this machine is indeed its rated battery life of 11 hours. Prices start at $799.

NOKIA UNVEILS ITS FIRST LAPTOP

Nokia has unveiled its first netbook, the Booklet 3G. Unlike conventional Nokia devices which run on Symbian or Maemo, this device uses the Windows XP OS.

The Booklet 3G has a 10.1 inch HD display with 1366 x 768 pixels. There is also an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor. It is based on an Intel Atom processor. Nokia claims that it will give up to 12 hours of up time. Some Nokia Ovi services are included with the netbook such as integrated A-GPS system, Maps for Ovi, and VPN integration.

Nokia has encased the laptop in a thick aluminum chassis. The machine weighs just 1kg and measures 2cm in thickness. It is equipped with HSPA mobile broadband, WiFi, Bluetooth, a GPS receiver, 3 USB 2.0 ports, SD card reader, webcam and hot-swappable SIM card support.

Nokia has not yet revealed its release date and pricing. However, a formal announcement is expected at the September 2 Nokia World conference.

ALTEC LANSING XT2 PORTABLE LAPTOP AUDIO SPEAKERS

Altec Lansing has released an update to its popular XT1 laptop speakers. Dubbed XT2, these speakers are sleek and come with innovative looks. They weigh very little and are highly portable.

The XT2 provides good volumes with better audio clarity than the built-in speakers found on most laptops. The speakers also come with a built-in microphone for Voice over IP communication. A very useful feature of this speaker set is that it can be folded and put in the supplied travel case which has enough room for the speakers, cables and an AC adapter which has different plugs for different countries.

The XT2 speakers can be powered by USB. They lack bass, but there is an optional subwoofer.

Pros
Attractive design
Can be set up easily
Portable
Built-in microphone

Cons
Lack bass and range
Need to be tuned for optimal performance
Pricey

DOSPARA RELEASES THEIR 12 INCH LAPTOP

Japanese electronics maker DosPara has released their 12 inch laptop – the Dospara Prime Note Cresion NA. With a non-netbook processor like the Atom 330 and Nvidia’s Ion based chipset, this machine can’t really claim to be a netbook.

Features
The Prime Note Cresion NA is thin and lightweight. It has a relatively powerful processor and a large enough display, making it ideal for general use around the house. Other features include an HDMI port for transferring video to an external monitor, an optical drive, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB Hard disk, 3 USB ports, a card reader and Bluetooth.

The display measures 12.1 inch and has a resolution of 1,366x768. The laptop weighs just under 2kg. Prices start at $600.

COOLER MASTER RELEASES THE WORLD'S SMALLEST 95W LAPTOP ADAPTER

The just launched Cooler Master SNA 95 is the world’s smallest and lightest 95W laptop adapter. Manufacturers have long been working on making laptop adapters smaller and lighter so that they can be carried around easily.

Despite having a small size and weighing very light, the new SNA 95 offers a high output of 95 W. It also comes with useful features like a USB charging port and cable management base system. With its nine different power cords the adapter is compatible with nearly all kinds of laptops.

The SNA 95 has a flat, short and wide body. Besides laptops, it can be used for charging most USB devices including Mobile phones, PDAs, iPods and MP3/MP4 players.
Cooler Master is known for manufacturing power supplies for Desktop PCs. With the release of this adapter the company has forayed into the laptop accessories market.

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 Pixels
Dead 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 any applications. Actually a desktop image or a window with a plain solid color will make it easier to spot white dots. Contact your service department even if you see just one or two white dots.

Loose hinges
If you notice that the hinges that hold the display in place are loose, you need to take the laptop to the authorized service center. Loose hinges can cause the display to slam down on the desk. This may even break the display.

Gap in the casing
There should be no gaps in the casing surrounding your display. If there are gaps it will cause dirt and other particles to get in behind the display. This is not a problem you can repair yourself. So take the laptop to the authorized service center.

Cracked bezel
The bezel (the casing of the laptop that surrounds the display) may develop cracks due to rough treatment of the laptop. This, for instance, can happen if you accidentally drop the laptop. To avoid such situations, carry your laptop in a properly sized and well padded laptop bag. Place the laptop only on firm and even surfaces.

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 laptops

Rugged laptops will be able to survive exposure to rain, snow, sand, hail, wind, extreme temperatures and humidity. They are water proof and come with sealed keyboards and casing that wouldn’t let water or other liquids enter the internal compartments of the laptop. Ports will usually have protective coverings. You can use a rugged laptop in wet and damp conditions without having to worry about losing your data.

Harder casings
Rugged laptops have stronger casings. They will easily survive a fall off your table or other high surfaces. Rugged laptops are also protected against shocks and vibrations.

Electromagnetic emissions
While ordinary laptops can’t work properly in areas where they are exposed to electromagnetic emissions, rugged laptops can easily withstand emissions from radio and power terminals.

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. Replace the panel after you have blown out the dust. Your laptop should generate much less noise and heat now.

When should you try this?
If your laptop is one or two years old and haven’t had a single cleaning, you should definitely consider trying this. Remember that heat and noise is not always caused by clogged up air vents. For instance, this can hardly be the reason if yours is a brand new laptop. In that case the best thing you could do is to take the laptop to the authorized service center.

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 applications. While 4GB of RAM is the best you can get in most laptops, 2GB of RAM will give decent performance at a reduced cost.

Memory Restriction
Laptops are generally restricted in the amount of memory that can be installed. Generally laptops have two memory modules. In most cases 4GB is the maximum RAM that can be installed on these laptops. Some laptops using the DDR3 memory standard can have up to 8GB of RAM, but they are very expensive.
You cannot upgrade the memory in some ultraportable laptops. So it is very important that you make an informed decision before you buy the laptop.

MAINGEAR RELEASES NEW GAMING LAPTOP

Maingear has released a new gaming laptop. The eX-L 15 is probably not the best gaming laptop in the world but it is powerful enough to handle most modern games with elan.

The eX-L 15 is powered by Intel Centrino 2 platform with a high-end Penryn based Intel Core 2 duo Processor. It uses the Nvidia Geforce GTX 260M graphic card which is powerful enough to handle high end graphics games. Up to 8GB of DDR3 memory can be installed on this notebook. HDD capacity is 1TB. In case you don’t like HDD, you can opt for the 160GB SSD. Users who want faster boot and application load times are also given the option of including 2GB/4GB Intel Turbo Mercury 2.

The 15.4 inch LCD screen can be configured with either 1680 x 1050 or 1920 x 1200 screen resolution. There is a DVD burner or an optional Blu-Ray Drive and Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 AGN. Prices starts at $1,899.

TRIGEM RELEASES NEW THIN-AND-LIGHT AVERATEC LAPTOP

TriGem has released a new thin and light laptop – the N3400 Averatec. In size and price, it is a cross between a netbook and a notebook.

The 13.3 inch N3400 is powered by a Pentium Dual Core T3400 CPU. It has better hardware specifications than most netbooks, but still it is’t as powerful as a standard laptop.

Specifications
Processor: Pentium Dual Core T3400
Display: 13.3 inch
HDD: 250GB
Graphics: GMA X4500HD
Memory: up to 3GB RAM
There is an external DVD burner.

At just four pounds the notebook is ultraportable and sports an attractive design. It will be retailed for $799.

MAINGEAR RELEASES ITS EX L18 GAMING LAPTOP

Maingear has announced the release of its eX-L 18 gaming laptop. The notebook has high hardware specifications and is one of the fastest gaming notebooks available today. Maingear said that eX L18 can easily compete with AlienWare 17x.

Design
The notebook is beautifully designed. And to add to the gaming flavor there is a beautiful blue LED chassis. There are plenty of touch sensitive controls too.
The large display measures 18.4 inches and comes with a high resolution (1920 x 1080) making it ideal for high end gaming.

Highest possible configuration
Processor: Core 2 Extreme X9300 2.53 GHz Quad Core Processor, Intel PM45 series motherboard
Memory: up to 8 GB DDR3 Memory
Graphics: single or dual Nvidia Geforce GTX 280M 1GB GPUs in SLI
Storage: 80 GB SSD and 1.5 TB 7200 RPM HDD
Wireless connectivity: Intel WiFi Link 5300 a/b/g/Draft-N and Bluetooth 2.1 option.
Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate

If you are content with a slightly lower specification you can opt for either Intel Core 2 duo P8700 2.53 GHz or Intel Core 2 duo T9600 2.80 GHz processor. While eX L18 has impressive features, it is lacking in some aspects. For instance, it doesn’t support Intel Core i7 processors essential for high-end gaming.

Battery life
The eX L18 comes with a 12 cell battery which should provide enough juice for several hours of mobile gaming. Prices start at $2,999.

LAPTOP BATTERY BASICS: HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BATTERY

If you are a frequent traveler, you will need a laptop with a good battery life. Follow these simple tips to extend the battery life.

Take care of your battery so that it will work properly when you need it the most. Keep the battery clean.

Smaller Is Better
Small laptops consume less power because they have smaller displays. Similarly hard drives running at 4200rpm use less power than a hard drive running at 5400 rpm. So if extended battery life is your concern, consider an ultraportable or thin and light laptop.

Adjust the power settings
Adjust your laptop settings so that it uses as little power as possible. Set adjustments so that the laptop will go inactive after a specified amount of time. You can also reduce the display brightness to lessen the power consumption.

Charge your battery
Whenever you have access to a power outlet, charge the battery. Fully charge the batteries before you go on a trip.

Get Another Battery
You can use two batteries on some laptops. If you can’t check to see if high capacity batteries are available. With some laptops you can also use external batteries.

Drain the Battery
Let the battery be fully discharged the first time you use the laptop with battery power. Don’t recharge the battery when it is half discharged.

Turn It Off
Close programs that you aren’t using. Remove PC cards and turn off Wi-Fi software. And as far as possible avoid watching movies or playing games when you run the laptop on battery power.