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?"

Comments

Obviously

[El]

802.11b card (if not built in), so you can use it whilst in the bathroom.

Re:Obviously

[rmohr02]

You don't have ethernet jacks in your bathroom? I thought everyone did.

External Mouse

[servicepack158]

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

Re:External Mouse

[PiranhaEx]

In addition, G is backwards-compatible with B, so a G card is really the way to go.

Re:External Mouse

[neuromortis]

802.11b and 802.11g. Refers to wireless networking standards. B is much more common, but only runs at 11Mb/s max. G is less common but much faster, at 54Mb/s.

A CoolPad

[jokell82]

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...

My suggestion: AC adapter, security cable

[GORDOOM]

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!!!!!!

Stuff you can leave at home.

[rueger]

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.

My list.

[dstillz]

Make sure to get:

• THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.
• ADEQUATE SURGE PROTECTION FOR BOTH HOME AND THE ROAD.
• Integrated wireless.
• A CoolPad; perhaps 2: a Podium for the home, and a Traveler for the road. No, I don't work for the maker.
• An extra AC adapter, to leave plugged in at home.
• USB2 or FireWire external hard disk that is 1-4x as big as the internal HD, for backup purposes.
• If you can afford it, a port replicator. Less wear and tear on the laptop's ports is important.
• If you can afford it, an extra battery or two; I don't know how much of a road warrior you are.
• A padded sleeve, to go inside your laptop case; protect your investment.
• A decent laptop case, preferably one that doesn't look like a traditional laptop case.

Re:My list.

[AlecC]

A decent laptop case, preferably one that doesn't look like a traditional laptop case

Or a fightbag/backpack with built-in laptop case. I recently went on a trip with a colleague who had one - I had my own pack and a traditional laptop in case. He had it much easier than me - only one thing to carry.

Re:My list.

[slustbader]

Consumer Reports in general recommends against extended warranties, except in two cases: "Two exceptions: If you're buying an expensive treadmill with a standard warranty of less than two years on parts and one on labor, consider an extended warranty for two years. For laptop computers, consider a one- to three-year extension of the standard one-year warranty (buy from the maker; that extends tech support). If you travel with the laptop a lot, consider screen and accidental-damage insurance, too. "

Two Things

[tiny69]

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.

Daypack with foam rubber.

[Futurepower(R)]

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.

iPeripherals

[RoadChris]

iSight
iLife
iPod,
Airport
AppleCare plan.

But, I won't suggest a laptop...

USB Thumbdrive

[(H)elix1]

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.

I can really only tell you what I do.

[Roman_(ajvvs)]

I can't really say what works for you, but I'll give you what works for me.

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 use a mouse at work, but I leave it there (again tethered to the desk...)
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?

Computer in the Bathroom?

[spineboy]

I'll bet he's jacking something in there if he has a computer in there..

In my opinion...

[nathanh]

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?"

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!

A "few" suggestions...

[ezraekman]

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

USB memory key

[chocolatetrumpet]

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!

A UPS

[splattertrousers]

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...".)

Headphone splitter.

[attaboy]

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.