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What Extras Should I Buy When Buying a Laptop?
HarleyPig asks: "I'm using my tax return to buy a laptop. I don't want to know which laptop to get (that's a religious discussion I'd like to avoid). What peripherals do you find yourself wishing you'd bought, or have ended up buying? I know I'll need a mouse, extra cabling, extra batteries and some kind of case to hold and carry around the laptop. What else should I consider putting in my list of stuff to buy with a laptop?"
802.11b card (if not built in), so you can use it whilst in the bathroom.
"Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
i hate touch pads :)
:)
Get wireless B/G card. B is common, and G is fast and will be more common in the future.
On a side note, I just got the widescreen 15.4 inch kind, and I really like it. Good for watching DVD's
Toshiba makes a nice laptop
Definitely one of the best purchases I have made. It lifts the laptop to a height that is better ergonomically and helps keep it cool (by allowing air to flow underneath). Here it is, and you can find it in most stores now...
I dunno who it is
but it prolly is fhqwhgads.
-backup AC adapter
-backup HD with an image of your OS
(until recently this, and a CD with your data on it, was a pretty good backup but these days if you run windows you need to pretty much have a paid copy of AV software for each installation you have)
You ought to keep a space AC adapter, I think. I can remember having at least two of them fail, and it isn't too much fun trying to expand a few hours of battery life into several days of usage while waiting for a replacement to arrive.
Ubi dubium, ibi libertas.
I'd get an extra AC adapter - not as a spare, but so that you can have one live at your desk and one live in your notebook case. It makes it a lot quicker to just grab the computer and go.
Also, for the love of everything sacred, get a security cable!!!!!!
When we retired our old Toshiba, I wound up buying a used Dell Latitude LS. what I love about it is what's not built in - CD, floppy, some of the usual ports like the serial port.
The result is a laptop that really small, really light and really easy to toss into a briefcase and carry along.
When I look at some of the current laptops they seem so big and heavy that I doubt I would want to lug them around.
So think in terms of some of the models that lets you leave the less used stuff like CD drives at home and just carry the essentials.
Although Powerbooks... mmmmmm.
Three Squirrels
Make sure to get:
Purchase an extra battery. Batteries will only last for so long. They are also expensive to replace if your manufacturer no longer makes laptops that use that battery. I've also seen some laptops that will not work if the battery is bad.
Pay extra for the extended warranty. Since laptops are proprietary, the only place you can go to for replacement parts is from the manufacturer that made it. And the parts for laptops are not cheap. I recent tried to fix a laptop that had a broken screen (someone obviously sat on it). The only problem was the warranty had just expired. The cost of the replacement screen was over $900. Whether the manufacturer even offers an extended warranty is an indication of the quality of the laptop. I wouldn't purchase one from anyone that would only offers a 1 year warranty. For this reason, I will also pay extra for name brand laptops. Yes, you can get a no name one for next to nothing, but who are you going to turn to for repair parts when the company is no longer around.
Go not unto/. for advice, for you will be told both yea and nay (but have nothing to do with the question)
Depending on your situation, I suggest buying an inexpensive daypack and installing some foam rubber in it. It's much more comfortable not to look like a target for theft, I've found. A bubble pack envelope large enough for the laptop may be enough cushioning if you put some foam rubber at the bottom of the daypack.
On the other hand, if you always travel by limousine, I suggest you bring along a supermodel to distract thieves from the laptop.
I recomend a hardcase briefcase, like this cheap Vanguard case I bought at Rite Aid. They come in all sort of styles, the aluminum has suited me fine. Even though the case is crummy looking after six months of travel, the laptop looks great. Softcases are a no-no. Also, as much harddrive space as you can afford. I used the firewire drives and find that lugging them around all over the country is kinda tedious. I end up not using them even though I've packed them away in my luggage. Just too lazy I guess. :)
Todd.
iSight
iLife
iPod,
Airport
AppleCare plan.
But, I won't suggest a laptop...
Get a 256M or larger USB thumbdrive. Since this is a laptop, odds are you will be mobile. (go figure) I find I use a 512M thumbdrive all the time for moving files between machines, or sharing stuff. I keep a pack of handy programs on there as well - putty, cygwin, jdk's, javadocs, and a few others if I end up calling a desktop machine home for a while.
+++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
I got a Toshiba 5200 for my birthday last july and it's the first laptop I've had which has been my primary work tool as a programmer. I take it to work, plug it in and take it home at the end of the day (for extra security, since equipment has a habit of "going missing" at work).
The first thing i did was use a second power cable (with the figure 8 connector) to keep at work (tethered to the physical desktop for easy reaching). That way all I have to do is plug my battery pack into the cable and I can keep my power cable in the bag and only unravel when it's needed.
That brings me to the bag. As I have a large 15.1" laptop screen (for the time), it took me literally a dozen bag tests to find one that even fit the bloody thing. I went for an STM Alley bag bag. But there are a lots of good ones out there. A good bag with good compartments can save your day and make carrying the laptop more than a burden!
In the front pouch of my bag, I have:
- a crossover cable (has proven its worth many a time)
- a kensington key-based security cable (have used it once.)
- A/V out cable (came with the laptop. also comes in handy for presentations and shows)
- a usb memory key ( 128MB USB 2.0). invaluable for when a network's not available. High speed helps as well.
Oddly enough, I don't have a mouse in my bag. I'm one of those people who like using the touchpad.I recently got a mini-pci wireless card for my laptop. It's very useful on the road, but not so much if you don't have a wireless network to plug into. I still prefer wired if available, because of latency and performance issues.
I'm considering getting a second battery. But it's not an urgent requirement as Toshiba is usually pretty good with spare parts availability. Getting access to available parts is an entirely different manner. it'll be more relevant further down the track.
I'm quite happy with my setup. There's nothing I miss or terribly need. But it all depends on what you want to do with it. How often do you plug stuff into/ out of your laptop?
click-clack, front and back. I'm not moving this car otherwise.
I'll bet he's jacking something in there if he has a computer in there..
..........FULL STOP.
Be wireless. I have a bluetooth mouse, but I also need a bluetooth keyboard for when I'm not on the road. I haven't found a laptop yet that a has a keyboard that keeps me happy. The mouse, however, is small enough to be taken almost everywhere.
In my opinion... don't buy many peripherals. The problem with buying lots of peripherals is that your ~2kg laptop suddenly needs a bag the size of a small suitcase weighing in at 10kg or more to carry around all the junk you "need".
Take the mouse, for example. You've already decided to get one. Why? The trackpad really is not that bad. The mouse needs a flat surface to work on, which ties you to a desk. I've found I can work the trackpad fairly well, after just a few days practise.
Cables? Why? If you're going to be in a place where you need a cable, there's likely to be one there already. Take for example people who carry a serial cable around so they can "plug-in" to a Cisco router while onsite. Have you ever seen a comms room without a serial cable? I haven't. So why carry the cable? Same for Ethernet. If you simply *must* have a backup cable, put it in the boot of your car.
Extra batteries are only useful if you keep them charged. In my experience, nobody is that organised. They'll have two batteries and one of them is always flat. So when their live battery goes flat... well... they're in the same boat as the rest of us with only one battery.
I managed to avoid getting a computer bag for the laptop. A leather briefcase costs the same and looks heaps more professional. Modern cases have fairly soft interiors and it's not like I will be throwing this thing around, anyway.
One thing I would buy as an additional extra is a second power pack. It's useful to have your home setup permanently "wired" with the second supply in the bag.
And a USB key. Damn, those things are so useful!
Unlike your desktop, you can't easily take apart a laptop, troubleshoot what's going wrong, and fix it yourself. Fixing anything is going to cost you some serious cash unless you get a warranty to match. If you buy from Dell, consider getting the CompleteCare accidental damage warranty. It might be expensive, but if you plan to travel with your laptop a lot, disaster is one slip of the arm away.
Also, an extra battery would be nice. Your mileage may vary, but I found that buying a spare primary battery for my laptop during the sale was much cheaper than buying one after the fact. It also might be harder to get a replacement battery when the laptop is several years old, and this is when the battery that came with the computer might start wearing out.
Well, here's what's in the cavern I call a backpack:
A Mini-Mouse
I don't know about the rest of you, but for me a button pointer or trackpad just can't beat the feel of a mouse. MacAlly makes a niftly little mouse called the iOptiJr, which is just the smaller version of the iSweetNet. Nice and small, thus very precise; two buttons, wheel button, and programmable, and it's Mac/PC compatible. But... you'll have to get used to it being so small. I think other mice are big and bulky by comparison now, but that's because I got used to this one. You may need to install drivers, depending on your machine. You can get a wireless version, but then you have to worry about batteries. Optical is WAY better than your basic mechanical ball... unless you're using it on the surface of your laptop, or another shiny/sparkly surface. Think ahead.
A Mini USB Hub
Here's a slick one by IOGear. This has proved useful occasionally, but I haven't used it in over six months. Buy at your discretion. Mine (Not the IOGear one; a different brand) came with a cable that was split into two USB plugs; one to provide basic functionality, and one to provide added power, so you could use more power-hungry devices (like external USB floppy drives, scanners, etc.) without needing to plug the hub into the wall. But... this can drain the power of your laptop if you aren't careful.
A Wireless Network Card
If your machine doesn't ship with one (or with functionality on the motherboard), buy yourself an 802.11g PCMCIA card. They're backwards compatible with 802.11b, and network access (copying files, etc.) is up to five times faster. However, this won't matter for internet access unless your sitting behind a T3. If you aren't planning on networking large files EVER, than spend half as much on 802.11b. Definitely get one though, because most internet cafes and hotspots are swithcing to wireless-only access, if they haven't already.
A Portable Flatbed Scanner
Obviously, this'll only matter if you need one. But I've found Canon's LIDE series (I've got the LIDE 30)to be a nice addition to my bag. Good quality, fast, small (same footprint as my 17-inch powerbook, and only 1.5 inches think!), and it's powered by the USB cable!
A Webcam
there are about a billion and a half of these out there. Think about what you're actually going to use it for, if anything. Don't spend extra because it's detachable and can take still photos. You're better off buying a digital camera. I've never needed one, but you might.
A Bluetooth Adapter PCMCIA Card or USB dongle.
This may be a non-issue for you, but if you have or think you might get any bluetooth devices (such as a wireless mouse or Bluetooth-enable PDA), this could well be worth the money. Again, it may already be on your motherboard.
Cables! (Oh, and a cable bag.)
Okay, one USB cable, normal-sized, and one of the mini-plugged ones, for digital cameras and other devices. Although... I've never needed to use this. (I try to stay as modular as possible, and use things that work with more standardized cables, etc.) A firewire 6-pin to 6-pin (for large devices such as drives), and a 6-pin to 4-pin, for smaller devices such as DV-camcorders. Other cables (such as a USB light, A/V and monitor cables, etc.) are up to you.
A Digital Camera
Obviously, not a necessity for a laptop user, but usually pretty handy if you don't have one. Buy one that uses Compact Flash (cheapest memory, MB/dollar), and AA batteries. Buy rechargables, highest capacity you can find... usually around 1800-2200 mA. Oh, and you can get a great 30-minute charger by Energizer for about $40 at Best Bu
Here's another tout for the usb memory key:
I'm a student and I write a lot of papers.
I am afforded SO much extra peace of mind by quickly backing up my papers onto my usb key, just in case of some sort of accident or failure.
I also recommend as much wireless as possible; I am very used to my desktop, however when I started using my laptop with wireless net access, no power cable, bluetooth (built in) mice and keyboard, I couldn't believe what a relaxing experience it was to use the computer. I am sensitive to clutter and I never even knew it.
I have a dvd burner in my laptop which at first seemed like it might be overkill, but I actually use it very often for data backup, and I do tend to make dvds often for projects or simply get data to friends. Sometimes it's just a slideshow with music, in a format mom and dad or aunt and uncle can easily experience.
Another thing about my laptop - I should have done this a LONG time ago. I don't even bother with my desktop much, anymore. I love working anywhere, anytime, and taking my environment with me.
A wise choice you make!
Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.
Or rather, don't buy one for when you wear out your current one. Buy a second if you think you'll want to use it. I have an iBook G4, and it gives me 4 hours easy. I don't need one.
The reason you don't want to buy a replacement battery before you need it is because Lithium Ion batteries start losing their charge capacity when they're made. After five years they've lost 25% of their max charge, even if they've never been used. Add to that, it'll be cheaper to pick up the extra battery later.
However, if you're buying a big fatass dell or something, you'll need the extra battery.
I got 802.11g and bluetooth with my laptop. The power consumption on the iBook is laughably small. I wasn't sure I'd use bluetooth, but it's very nice to have the option. I'm considering getting a GPS gadget with bluetooth, at the very least.
I'm as mimsy as the next borogove but your mome raths are completely outgrabe.
Don't forget the UPS. You wouldn't want the power to go out in your house and lose all your work, would you?
(Oh, sorry, this is Slashdot. I meant, "...and loose all you're work...".)
- Ethernet cable
- TV- and Audio- breakout cables, for watching anime at friends' houses
- Digital Camera adapter: I have a USB card-reader, as it's faster and easier than my digicam's serial interface, but the sync cable would be ok too.
- Kensington lock
In addition, here's what I'd kinda like to have but don't:Hope this helps!
A USB memory key is also quite incredibly useful if you move moderate amounts of data between computers, like spread sheets and word documents.
--I am Sun Tzu of the Borg. Resistance is feudal.
If you ever travel with a companion, having a 3 dollar headphone splitter can allow two people to watch a DVD on your laptop at the same time. Of course, you'll probably also want an extra battery. I've never made it through an entire DVD without running out of battery power...
Some airlines have power cables under the seats, but they use a special airplane power adaptor, which can range from 30 to 99 USD.
I second the iPod as External HD idea.
I've used a London Fog case for over 2 years now. It's expandable, has an internal padded laptop sleeve, provides quick access to the laptop in airports, and is made of high quality leather. I swapped the strap for a Victorinox strap which is bouncier and softer... good for extra load.
I use a docking station at work (although a port replicator would work just as well), plugged into 21" montitor, keyboard, and mouse. I keep an extra power brick in the laptop case, like many others here have mentioned.
The facts have a liberal bias. --The Daily Show
Laptop cases are thief magnets.
Regular backpacks, with a little padding if you are paranoid, are much better for conveying your multi-kilobuck investments.
no thanks
If your a car person get a power inverter, 100 watts or up should do it. sux to run outa batteries on the road, and you can use it as a car mp3 player.
-and occasionaly a giant moose.
I carry my laptop to work every day and have for 2+ years. It's an iBook, but the advice works for any brand.
1) Good carrying case. I use a Marware Sportfolio II, but get whatever works for you. Just get something with good padding and a shoulder strap. I chose the one I did because it's very light weight to go with my sub-5 lb laptop.
2) A retractable Ethernet cable and a retractable phone cord. When you're in a hotel or on the road or whatever, you'll love these, and they won't get tangled in your bag like a regular cable.
3) VGA adapter cable and AV adapter cable to get your video output onto TVs, projectors, and other places you need to show presentations, do code reviews, etc.
4) A Kensington Flylight is invaluable when you're on an airplane or somewhere dark and need to use your computer.
I hope these suggestions are helpful.
- Vincit qui patitur.
1.) Extra power cables (or 2 extras) - one for work, one for home and one to take with you
2.) Extra batteries - My Dell precision has a place for a second battery - I have 3 and I can travel on a 8 hour plane trip and still have enough juice for playing 3D games or watching movies for the whole trip!
3.) 802.11x card if it's not internal already
4.) USB 2.0 card if it's not internal already
5.) USB infrared mouse - I hate the touchpad. You cna't play games with a touchpad!!!
6.) A keyboard light (think geek has a cheap USB one) if you don't want to turn on the room light and keep everyone up - also good if people are watching TV in a dark room and you need to type.
7.) Good, but cheap foldable headphones. You want something that you can pack with you on a trip, so you can watch movies or play games on the plane - I bought a pair of sony headphones for like $10 and it's REALLY worth it! I hate earbuds, so I got normal headphones that are foldable.
What NOT to buy:
* Don't get the APC "Power case" with th universal adapter. I plugged it into a car charger and it TOTALLY FRIED my old computer's ability to recharge batteries. Bad, Bad, Bad, !!! After I used up all of my batteries (copying all my work off the machine) I had a worthless hunk of plastic and silicon - and APC didn't do a thing about it.
Another really good thing to have is a copule of regular pencils (unsharpened) which I use to raise the laptop up (has no flip out feet) which I use to imporve the air circulation under the laptop.
HEAT is the #1 ENEMY of laptops, keep it COOL!
Go for the longest most feature filled warrenty you can get. In one laptop I had to replace a CDRW/DVD drive and 3 months out of warrenty they wanted $650 for the spare!
Hardcase, find yourself a nice case or backpack for it, but don't be afraid to add some masonite on the side where the display is.
Try it before you buy it! Be sure that you like the keyboard layout.
Get that external mouse, and maybe a keyboard. If you hunch over that laptop instead of getting a good ergonomic setup you will have lots of back/neck strain. So Make a workspace for it. If the workspace really is your lap and you're in a recliner or something get a lapdesk with a cushion on one side and a board on the other. Don't set it on your lap or you'll either get no ventillation for the laptop or a space heater for your privates! While built in wireless is great, be sure you can disable it easily when you need to. There's nothing like a portable having a wide open backdoor.
"Can there be a Klein bottle that is an efficient and effective beer pitcher?"
I would highly recommend using an ordinary AA flashlight with a Jakstrap or similar headband. Its versitle, cheap, and damn handy. Its good for doing work in the dark on anything, whether you have your computer with you or not. I used one way back in high school to study on the bus (in the winter, school starts before dawn and no light on the bus) and when working on my car or doing plumbing under the sink. As a bonus, you will definitely look uber-geeky!
You can get a jakstrap here for $5. And you probably already have a flashlight. If not, you can try this LED headlamp from energizer for $7.50 instead. And if that's too rich for your blood, here's something similar for a whole $2
or
Downside to the airline powercord is that the only major airline to deploy the jacks throughout coach seating is USAir, and they went bankrupt (what's to happen is anyone's guess). The electrofuel's been losing some charge, but it's still rather sweet, giving me far more than I would ever need (even when I fly to europe).
Zip-Linq cables. They go by many different brand names (Boxwave Minisync is another) but are extendable cables. You can get ones that do USB A-B, A-mini, and extender (good for thumbdrives). The minisync is for PDAs.
If you have a PDA, then some sort of USB charger is very handy