[How To] Take care of your Notebook - Part 1

Introduction

Being part of the PC industry for over 10 years has allowed
us to gather valuable experience of what all goes into owning a notebook.
Taking proper care of your equipment will make it last longer, fail less likely
and improve the overall ownership experience.

We composed a list of things to avoid so that damage in the
future does not occur. A lot of these things are sometimes nothing more than
bad habits that at first glance don't appear that harmful. However, stretched
over a period of several months or years can really impact the condition of
your notebook.

This guide is not meant to be a solution for any existing
problems your notebook may have. If the notebook has already experiencing
issues, then this guide is not for you. The idea behind the guide is that you
prepare yourself and learn to take care of the notebook properly before the
issues actually occur. If anything is already damaged or broken on your
notebook, it would require actual repairs to get back into working condition.

Without further ado, let's start the list with the most
obvious, most common types of problems. This guide will be a 2 part series as
the list is quite extensive:

Cleaning

Cleaning is a relatively vague term to most notebook owners
and the types of cleaning will vary depending on whom you ask. Some folks never
clean their equipment, some give them a wipe down every so often. Others will
sometimes use special products for various sections of the notebook while the
most extreme will often tear down the entire notebook for cleaning. Regardless
of which end of the spectrum you fall in, cleaning your notebook is first most
important step on maintain the life of the product. Besides affecting cosmetic
appearance, dirty notebooks can often impede on performance and heat
dissipation, as well as overall usability.

For example, clogged notebook vents and heatsinks can
prevent hot air from escaping, thus making the notebook fans work harder and
fail sooner. Overheating would also cause the notebook to slow down and reduce
the speed of the processor or graphics card to keep the heat low. This in
return will hinder the performance of the notebook and everything will run
slow. Overheating will cause premature failure of fans, as well as internal
parts such as processor and video card.

Dust issues don't just stop there. When enough dust settles
from under the keyboard, it will eventually start to cause stickiness of the
keys and problems typing. Depending on the environment, humidity can also speed
up the processes by allowing dust to “stick” together and form a coating layer,
which is difficult to remove.

Now while the vents can easily be cleaned with compressed
air, keyboards can be a lot more difficult to clean. If you do it frequently,
clean paint brush can be used to brush off dirt as well get under the keys and
around them. This works provided the keyboard hasn't been neglected. If your
keyboard has spills or any other kind of tacky build-up, then the brush will
likely not work. To prevent this kind of build-up in the first place, learn to
avoid using your notebook when you're eating, snacking or having any kind of
drinks. Sticky or dirty hands will simply speed up this process and make it
worse.

Dust on the screen also causes problems if left on.
Sometimes layers can form that aren't easy to wipe off. If you have to scrub at
your notebook screen to get it cleaned, it means you've let the dirt and dust
sit way too long. Now you have to press harder with wipes or paper towels to
get it off, which isn't good for the screen as you can create scratches, and
you also risk breaking the screen if you use too much pressure.

Bottom line is, if you get something like a spill or food on
your computer, clean it up right away. If you let it set even for just few
hours, it will be difficult to get off later. Get yourself a cheap paint brush
and use it for the keyboard and vents on occasion. It will prevent build-up and
keep your notebook looking new.

As far as screen cleaning, there a hundreds of products out
there. Frankly, misting warm water from a spray bottle on a soft paper towel or
a microfiber is all you need, however if your screen is in really bad shape,
you can try stronger glass cleaners. Strong chemicals aren't recommended as
they can affect the quality of the screen, cause blotchiness and discoloration.
Attend to it frequently, and you'll just need warm water to get rid of smudges
or dust build up.

Storage

It's important to pay attention what you do with your
notebook when you're not using it. Do you simply leave it be on the desk until
the next time you use it? Do you frequently travel and use a laptop bag? Do you
like to walk around the house with the notebook and use it in your bed even?
Most notebooks are built sturdy enough to carry around, however there a few
tips we can recommend when storing your notebook while you're not using it

Tip #1 – Keep stuff
off of it

We've seen it too many times to count. Books and other heavy
things are placed on top of the notebook to save space. Try to avoid doing
this, as heavy items on top of the notebook can cause permanent damage to the
LCD screen. Sometimes they just cause the screen to flex. Sometimes they cause
it to sit on the keyboard, leaving key indentations all over your screen. Other
times, you'll simply have a break in your screen and it will need replacement.

If you have small children, make sure they do not step on or
press on the LCD when the notebook is closed. This will also damage the screen
permanently.

Tip #2 – Get a
dedicated desk

If your notebook is mostly used as a desktop, consider
getting a desk for it. This way you can always leave it on the desk, without
having to worry about where to put it or accidentally storing items on top of
it. Having its own area can help avoid spills and damages, accidental
mishandling and give you plenty of room to work, rather than try to fight with
it on your lap.

Tip #3 – Get a bag

If you travel a lot or you bring your notebook to
school/work every day, invest in a laptop bag. Most of them are neatly
organized, provide plenty of padding for your notebook and are easy to carry.
Some are large enough to accommodate other items such as AC adapters, folders
and notebooks, writing utensils, cables, etc.

Tip #4 – Unplug ports
when not being used

If you have anything plugged into your notebook such as the
charger, mouse, USB Flash drive or any other cables, unplug them if you're not
using them. If the notebook doesn't move, this isn't a big deal. However if you
frequently move your notebook with things plugged in, there's a chance that you
may damage the port. Often times, the port will be tweaked or bent because you
move the notebook while plugged in. Simply unplug the items, move your
notebook, and re-plug them. You will extend the life of your charger and you'll
prevent damage to your ports. Damage to ports can be excessive to repair as
they usually entail motherboard replacements, which are costly.

Tip #5 – Don't fold
the charger

Avoid making sharp bends on the charger cable. Letting the
charger dangle by its own weight can be damaging to the charging port and the
cable. Make sure the charger is on the ground or supported by something so that
it's not pulling on the connection. When you store your charger, avoid wrapping
the cord around it or making sharp bends, as the cord will eventually weaken
and break, and you'll need a replacement as it will stop charging your
notebook.

Tip #6 – Avoid tossing
the notebook, even on soft surfaces

This is just a big no-no. Any kind of drops, or throws will
usually result in broken parts. Treat your notebook gently, avoid bumping it
into things and definitely do not drop or throw your notebook. Don't toss your
notebook on the bed or bellows just because they're soft, it can still get
damaged.

Tip #7 – Avoid getting
the notebook wet

While this one is pretty obvious, there are few extra things
to keep an eye out for. For example, do not use the notebook in the bathroom
after a shower as the steam can cause water build-up in the notebook. Don't
allow the notebook to get rained on if you're using it outdoors. Also, avoid
using your notebook in high humidity. In dusty environments, high humidity can
cause dirt to stick all over and inside your notebook, clogging up vents and
causing all sorts of problems. Try to use it only in dry environments.

End of Part 1

This concludes our first part of tips and tricks on how to
properly take care of your notebook. Check out part 2 in our How-To guides
section soon!