How to Find Other Computers on a Network

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">After you've connected your</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptopto a</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">network</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">and the</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">softwareconnections are made, the next thing to do is browse to find out which other computers are connected to the network. You can view not only which computers share the same network, but also which</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">resources</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">those other computers offer</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">up</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">for your pleasure: They can share folders ondisk</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">drives,</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">printers, and evenmodems. The only way to find out what's available is to look.</span><br> </h1><ul class="level-one" style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> Seeing computers displayed in the workgroup window is a sure sign of success that the network is up, connected, and ready for action.</p></li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> When you don't see any computers in the workgroup window, you have a problem. Either the network cable isn't connected, or it's bad. The network interface is bad. Or, the computers don't share the same workgroup name.</p> </li></ul><h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:19px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Seeing workgroup computers in Windows Vista</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Choosing the Network item from the Windows Vista Start menu displays a list of networking devices available to your computer, such as what's shown below. Each icon represents another computer elsewhere on the network, specifically in your network's workgroup.</p> <div class="imageBlock" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;width:535px"><img alt="Computers sharing the same local network in Windows Vista." height="364" src="http://media.wiley.com/Lux/60/79160.image0.jpg" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto !important;" width="535"><div class="imageCaption" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px"> Computers sharing the same local network in Windows Vista.</div></div><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">To see which resources each computer offers, click to open its icon. If that computer is sharing a folder from one of its disk drives or a printer, you see the appropriate icon listed in the window.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:19px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">My Networking Places in Windows XP</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> To view other computers on the network in Windows XP, open the My Network Places icon, either on the desktop or from the Start menu.</p><div class="imageBlock" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;width:415px"> <img alt="Computers in a workgroup, as seen by Windows XP." height="400" src="http://media.wiley.com/Lux/61/79161.image1.jpg" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto !important;" width="415"><div class="imageCaption" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px"> Computers in a workgroup, as seen by Windows XP.</div></div><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The above figure shows a cozy, two-computer network that was created by simply attaching anEthernet cable between a desktop computer and a laptop. (<i>Directly</i>means no hub or switch.) Both computers show up as icons, labeled with their computer names. The Workgroup name, Cat, appears on the Address bar and atop the window.</p>

How to Find Other Computers on a Network

After you've connected your   laptopto a   network   and the   softwareconnections are made, the next thing to do is browse to find out ...

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How to Find Other Computers on a Network

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">After you've connected your</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptopto a</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">network</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">and the</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">softwareconnections are made, the next thing to do is browse to find out which other computers are connected to the network. You can view not only which computers share the same network, but also which</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">resources</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">those other computers offer</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">up</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">for your pleasure: They can share folders ondisk</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">drives,</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">printers, and evenmodems. The only way to find out what's available is to look.</span><br> </h1><ul class="level-one" style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> Seeing computers displayed in the workgroup window is a sure sign of success that the network is up, connected, and ready for action.</p></li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> When you don't see any computers in the workgroup window, you have a problem. Either the network cable isn't connected, or it's bad. The network interface is bad. Or, the computers don't share the same workgroup name.</p> </li></ul><h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:19px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Seeing workgroup computers in Windows Vista</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Choosing the Network item from the Windows Vista Start menu displays a list of networking devices available to your computer, such as what's shown below. Each icon represents another computer elsewhere on the network, specifically in your network's workgroup.</p> <div class="imageBlock" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;width:535px"><img alt="Computers sharing the same local network in Windows Vista." height="364" src="http://media.wiley.com/Lux/60/79160.image0.jpg" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto !important;" width="535"><div class="imageCaption" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px"> Computers sharing the same local network in Windows Vista.</div></div><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">To see which resources each computer offers, click to open its icon. If that computer is sharing a folder from one of its disk drives or a printer, you see the appropriate icon listed in the window.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:19px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">My Networking Places in Windows XP</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> To view other computers on the network in Windows XP, open the My Network Places icon, either on the desktop or from the Start menu.</p><div class="imageBlock" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;width:415px"> <img alt="Computers in a workgroup, as seen by Windows XP." height="400" src="http://media.wiley.com/Lux/61/79161.image1.jpg" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto !important;" width="415"><div class="imageCaption" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px"> Computers in a workgroup, as seen by Windows XP.</div></div><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The above figure shows a cozy, two-computer network that was created by simply attaching anEthernet cable between a desktop computer and a laptop. (<i>Directly</i>means no hub or switch.) Both computers show up as icons, labeled with their computer names. The Workgroup name, Cat, appears on the Address bar and atop the window.</p>

How to Find Other Computers on a Network

After you've connected your   laptopto a   network   and the   softwareconnections are made, the next thing to do is browse to find out ...

Read more »

My Digital Life

<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#0000FF; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:140%;font-size:12px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a href="http://www.mydigitallife.info" style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" title="(http://www.mydigitallife.info)">My Digital Life</a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FeedForMyDigitalLife/~3/TlYWZKiICsA/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="1" style="font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;font-size:18px;">Free $5 Amazon Appstore Credit for Android Apps and Games</a> </p> <p style="font-size:12px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:140%;font-size:12px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 26 Dec 2013 10:01 AM PST</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:140%;font-size:12px;color:#000000;">Wanting to get some apps or games for your Android devices? To celebrate the holiday, Amazon is giving away $5 Amazon Appstore credit for free, which is good for any […]<img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FeedForMyDigitalLife/~4/TlYWZKiICsA?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" width="1"/></div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://www.mydigitallife.info">My Digital Life</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=n_oYy5B_6Ppjs49gO9HyxomjiiA">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div>

My Digital Life

My Digital Life Free $5 Amazon Appstore Credit for Android Apps and Games Posted: 26 Dec 2013 10:01...

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My Digital Life

<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#0000FF; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:140%;font-size:12px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a href="http://www.mydigitallife.info" style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" title="(http://www.mydigitallife.info)">My Digital Life</a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FeedForMyDigitalLife/~3/TlYWZKiICsA/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="1" style="font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;font-size:18px;">Free $5 Amazon Appstore Credit for Android Apps and Games</a> </p> <p style="font-size:12px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:140%;font-size:12px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 26 Dec 2013 10:01 AM PST</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:140%;font-size:12px;color:#000000;">Wanting to get some apps or games for your Android devices? To celebrate the holiday, Amazon is giving away $5 Amazon Appstore credit for free, which is good for any […]<img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FeedForMyDigitalLife/~4/TlYWZKiICsA?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" width="1"/></div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://www.mydigitallife.info">My Digital Life</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=n_oYy5B_6Ppjs49gO9HyxomjiiA">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div>

My Digital Life

My Digital Life Free $5 Amazon Appstore Credit for Android Apps and Games Posted: 26 Dec 2013 10:01...

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Buying a Replacement Battery for Your Laptop

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">When you buy a replacement battery for your</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptop, you need to consider several factors, including price, warranty, compatibility, and capacity.</span><br> </h1><ul class="level-one" style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> <b>Compare price range and warranty details. </b>Prices for laptop batteries usually range from $50 to $150. Start with your laptop manufacturer's Web site or telephone sales department. Get a price for a replacement, and make sure you find all the warranty details.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Check the Internet for third-party battery suppliers. </b>You may find the identical name-brand battery for less. And you may also be offered Brand X replacements at a significantly lower price; some of the third-party batteries even promise to hold a larger charge. However, pay close attention to the warranty; what happens in the one-in-a-million-or-so situation where a battery overheats or otherwise damages your laptop?</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Meet the specifications.</b> You can't squeeze a 3-inch battery made for a Dell laptop into the 2-inch slot on a Toshiba. It's physically impossible, and even if you <i>could</i> squeeze it in, the electrical connectors probably wouldn't line up.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Match the voltage.</b> If your original battery was rated at 14.8 volts, that's the ticket for the replacement model. Don't go over or under the specified power.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Consider going high capacity.</b>Within the manufacturer's specifications, you may be able to replace your original battery with one with a higher watt-hour or amp hour rating. This allows you to work longer.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Get fresh.</b> You've no good reason to buy a used battery (or an unused model that has been collecting dust on a shelf somewhere). Check the date of manufacture; anything older than about 18 months should be suspect.</p> </li></ul>

Buying a Replacement Battery for Your Laptop

When you buy a replacement battery for your   laptop, you need to consider several factors, including price, warranty, compatibility, and ca...

Read more »

Buying a Replacement Battery for Your Laptop

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">When you buy a replacement battery for your</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptop, you need to consider several factors, including price, warranty, compatibility, and capacity.</span><br> </h1><ul class="level-one" style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> <b>Compare price range and warranty details. </b>Prices for laptop batteries usually range from $50 to $150. Start with your laptop manufacturer's Web site or telephone sales department. Get a price for a replacement, and make sure you find all the warranty details.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Check the Internet for third-party battery suppliers. </b>You may find the identical name-brand battery for less. And you may also be offered Brand X replacements at a significantly lower price; some of the third-party batteries even promise to hold a larger charge. However, pay close attention to the warranty; what happens in the one-in-a-million-or-so situation where a battery overheats or otherwise damages your laptop?</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Meet the specifications.</b> You can't squeeze a 3-inch battery made for a Dell laptop into the 2-inch slot on a Toshiba. It's physically impossible, and even if you <i>could</i> squeeze it in, the electrical connectors probably wouldn't line up.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Match the voltage.</b> If your original battery was rated at 14.8 volts, that's the ticket for the replacement model. Don't go over or under the specified power.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Consider going high capacity.</b>Within the manufacturer's specifications, you may be able to replace your original battery with one with a higher watt-hour or amp hour rating. This allows you to work longer.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Get fresh.</b> You've no good reason to buy a used battery (or an unused model that has been collecting dust on a shelf somewhere). Check the date of manufacture; anything older than about 18 months should be suspect.</p> </li></ul>

Buying a Replacement Battery for Your Laptop

When you buy a replacement battery for your   laptop, you need to consider several factors, including price, warranty, compatibility, and ca...

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Before You Buy: How Much Laptop Hardware Do You Need?

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">The three basic items you want to mull over when you're shopping for a</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptop</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">computer and trying to match its</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">hardware</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">to the</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">softwareyou need are</span><br> </h1><ul class="level-one" style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> <b>The <i>microprocessor</i></b> is the laptop's main chip. It's not "the brain"; your computer's software is the brain. It tells the microprocessor what to do. You want to ensure that you get a microprocessor that's plenty fast enough to deal with theapplications you need<i>tomorrow.</i> It's worth the extra money to invest in a fast microprocessor now, which extends the useful life of your laptop by ensuring that you can run tomorrow's software before tomorrow comes. Find a laptop with the fastest microprocessor you can afford, and then buy the next-most-expensive microprocessor. You'll be thankful later.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Memory, or RAM,</b> is where the action happens in a computer, where the work gets done. The more RAM your computer has, the happier it appears to be and the more your software will enjoy the computer. Pack your laptop with as much RAM as you can afford now. For example, if you can afford 1024MB of RAM, get it. If you can afford 2048MB of RAM, get it.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>The <i>hard drive</i></b> is the electronic closet where the laptop stores your stuff. The hard drive must have room for the computer's operating system, all the software you get and later install, all the data files and junk you collect, plus room to grow (lotsa room). Again, the software you plan on using should tell you how much hard drive space it requires on the software box.</p> </li></ul>

Before You Buy: How Much Laptop Hardware Do You Need?

The three basic items you want to mull over when you're shopping for a   laptop   computer and trying to match its   hardware   to the  ...

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Before You Buy: How Much Laptop Hardware Do You Need?

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">The three basic items you want to mull over when you're shopping for a</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptop</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">computer and trying to match its</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">hardware</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">to the</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">softwareyou need are</span><br> </h1><ul class="level-one" style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> <b>The <i>microprocessor</i></b> is the laptop's main chip. It's not "the brain"; your computer's software is the brain. It tells the microprocessor what to do. You want to ensure that you get a microprocessor that's plenty fast enough to deal with theapplications you need<i>tomorrow.</i> It's worth the extra money to invest in a fast microprocessor now, which extends the useful life of your laptop by ensuring that you can run tomorrow's software before tomorrow comes. Find a laptop with the fastest microprocessor you can afford, and then buy the next-most-expensive microprocessor. You'll be thankful later.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>Memory, or RAM,</b> is where the action happens in a computer, where the work gets done. The more RAM your computer has, the happier it appears to be and the more your software will enjoy the computer. Pack your laptop with as much RAM as you can afford now. For example, if you can afford 1024MB of RAM, get it. If you can afford 2048MB of RAM, get it.</p> </li><li><p class="first-para" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:24px"><b>The <i>hard drive</i></b> is the electronic closet where the laptop stores your stuff. The hard drive must have room for the computer's operating system, all the software you get and later install, all the data files and junk you collect, plus room to grow (lotsa room). Again, the software you plan on using should tell you how much hard drive space it requires on the software box.</p> </li></ul>

Before You Buy: How Much Laptop Hardware Do You Need?

The three basic items you want to mull over when you're shopping for a   laptop   computer and trying to match its   hardware   to the  ...

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Before You Buy: Choosing Software for Your Laptop

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">After you know what you want to do with your new</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">laptop</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">computer, you have to find the</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">software</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">that will let you do it. This in turn will tell you what</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">hardware</span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px"> </span><span style="font-size:18px;line-height:24px">you need.</span><br> </h1><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">If you plan on getting a laptop as an extension of your desktopcomputer, you'll most likely be running the same software on the laptop as on your desktop. In that case, your laptop's hardware requirements are identical to the desktop system. Bingo! You're done.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">If your laptop adventure is new, what you probably need is a basic laptop setup. You want to browse the Internet, plus you want a basic Office suite of applications. That's pretty much what a typical laptop user needs.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">You might also be running specific software on your laptop. If so, find out what kind of hardware that software requires. For example, if the software needs 256MB of RAM, you have to be sure that your laptop comes with at least that much RAM. If the software needs special graphics power, make a note of it. Ditto for hard drive storage, aCD-ROM, microprocessor power, and other hardware requirements.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Hardware requirements for all software packages are listed right on the side of the software box. Sometimes it's brief, and sometimes it's detailed, but it's the information you need to help you configure your new computer.</p> <p class="Warning" style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">You have to refer to the software license agreement to see whether you're allowed to install a singleprogram on both your desktop and laptop computers. Most of the time, this is considered okay by the developer because it's assumed that you won't be using both computers at one time. But some software developers, specifically Microsoft, don't allow multiple installations from the same set of software.</p>

Before You Buy: Choosing Software for Your Laptop

After you know what you want to do with your new   laptop   computer, you have to find the   software   that will let you do it. This in tur...

Read more »