I had the opportunity today to try out a laptop hooked up to a LCD TV with an HDMI cable.  I used the same laptop as the last time (an HP notebook).  This time I connected it to a Sharp Aquos 40″ LCD TV valued at $1899 CDN.

Let me just say Wow.  Even without installing the drivers for the display, it looked wonderful and it is amazing to see all the space available on the desktop.

I only ran into two problems.  First, be sure to set the aspect ratio so that it is not stretching the display in any way.  In the case of the Sharp, I set the aspect ratio to “Pixel for Pixel”.  Secondly, none of the desktop backgrounds from Windows Vista looked exceptionally great on the screen.  This could be due to the fact that the wallpapers were not the correct resolution for the screen.  Also, standing right in front of a screen this big, I would not expect it to look so good anyway’s.

In conclusion: HDMI on a laptop works great provided the TV or monitor supports the resolution and you have the aspect ratio set properly.

I am sitting here blogging.  I have been typing for two hours or so.  And do you know what?  My wrists hurt.

This is a sign I need to take a break.  In fact, I should have taken a break a long time ago.  You should take a break at least every half hour.  If you don’t, you run the risk of getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful, progressive condition related to the compression of a key nerve in the wrist.  It can start simply as pain in the hands progressing to numbness, loss of strength and finally loss of function.  Even though there is surgery available to reverse most cases, take a break every once in awhile - your wrists will thank you.

People tend to get really excited owning their first laptop.  Their is definitely a sense of freedom when you can take your notebook wherever you go.  Here is a list of some places you shouldn’t take your notebook:

1.  The beach

Sure it may seem like a good idea to take your laptop out with you while you catch some rays, but please reconsider.  The sand at the beach is not good for the insides of your notebook and can damage it.

2.  On your motor boat

Ok, sure it may be cool to take your GPS software out on the lake and mark those good fishing spots but water and laptops are not friends.  There is definitely a good chance of the notebook getting wet, and a chance that it could fall in the lake.

3.  The tub

Sure a good soak in the tub is great, but leave the laptop out of it; it has the same problem as the motor boat: water.

4.  Winter camping

I suppose it would be ok to take it with you if winter in your part of the world is warm.  Up here in Canada, the -40 degree Celsius is not so good for the laptop.  Without proper warmth, the screen can freeze and crack.

5.  Outside in your vehicle on a hot day

If it is hot outside and your laptop is going to be in your car, leave it in the trunk.  Why?  If you leave it in the passenger compartment, the heat inside could cause parts of your notebook to melt.

Computers rapid change into laptops is taking place all over the world in offices and homes. A major concern is the life of the laptop battery which matters a lot for the user. Some branded computer firms claim their batteries have a longer life - for example acer laptops. Every laptop has some typical feature which distinguishes it from the other; for example a toshiba laptop is very beautiful in shape and fully loaded with all accessories. The most important thing to do is to understand laptop guideline uses. A user must be well aware of stolen laptop guide for enhanced security of his machine. A problem apparent in third world countries’ computer markets is shortage of used laptop accessories.

Do you make periodic backups?  If you don’t, you are not unlike the hundreds of notebook users that do not backup their information.  Most people assume that since a laptop is more durable than a desktop, the hard drive in the notebook should last longer.

Inevitably, laptops are just as likely to have a hard drive failure as a desktop.  Often these failures can be more costly as a large number of business people use their laptops specifically for work.

In order to protect your data, you can try some of these steps:

1. Purchase an external hard drive.

   By purchasing (don’t just buy it - use it) a portable hard drive, it is easy to make backups.  Usually you just have to plug the hard drive into the USB port on your laptop and you can use the included backup software to backup your vital files.  Price on external hard drives usually start out around the $100 mark and up.

2. Use a USB flash drive

   With USB flash drive prices plummeting, this can be a cost effective option if you do not have a lot of information to backup.  Provided your data takes up less than 8 GB or so (currently the largest size available at a reasonable price) this can be a convenient option.  Not only do USB flash drives fit in your pocked, they can also fit in your safety deposit box for extra security.  Most flash drives also come with some security software to protect your information should the drive get stolen.

3. Make a backup on DVDs or CDs

   One of the cheaper options, you can backup your information on traditional CDs or DVDs.  The catch with this method is that you have to do it, there is not really any automated backup solution that would backup to your optical drive and change disks as needed (as of yet).  One advantage of backing your data to optical disks is that they should last longer than the above discussed options and provided you are not using re-writeable disks, do not run the risk of being erased by accident. 

Remember to backup your information, it shouldn’t be considered a chore, rather you are protecting your pictures, data, and potentially your livelihood by engaging in this important habit.