If you have been out shopping for a laptop, you may have notice that some of them come with HDMI interfaces.  A HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) port allows you to hook up your laptop to most of the new LCD, plasma, and projection televisions.  The HDMI port replaces the DVI (digital video input) port found on some older gaming laptops.

I had the opportunity to try out a laptop today with a number of different televisions.  The laptop in question was a gaming laptop, worth about $1599 CDN.  It has a GeForce Go 7600 dedicated card (with 256 Mb), 2 GB of ram, and a 17" screen.

The televisions that I hooked this notebook up to were a Samsung 40" LCD TV, a Sanyo 27" LCD TV, and a Philips 63" Plasma TV.

The laptop was hooked up to the television with a six foot HDMI cable and I attempted to get a resolution higher than 1024x768.

Not to give specific reviews of the laptop and televisions used in the test (we are not a review site), I was unable to successfully get the screens to display 1920x1080 (the resolution used for HD TV).  I did have some success, but the limitations of the TVs and control panel for the video card, did not allow me to show the whole screen properly.  Specifically the edges of the screen were all cut off.  There were also some issues with respect to the screen refresh rate.  Bear in mind that I didn't install any drivers for the TVs before testing them out.

Immature drivers for Vista, and rush testing, may have impacted the results.  I will take a look at the HDMI output on laptops at a later date to see if there have been any improvements.

A handy computer like a laptop is easy to use and transport. There are many computer companies which are making their own laptops and asus laptop is very popular and easily available in major markets of the world. More sophisticated hp laptops are a little bit heavy and sensitive to dust. A laptop buying guide can be viewed online so that you have all the information you need before you purchase of one. For student laptop guide websites offer special sections. Like pc computers laptop computers are a favorite now among people around the world for their portability and easy handling.

I am sure some of you have gone out and purchased a mouse for your notebook.  When you were out shopping, you may have noticed that there were regular mice and notebook mice.  Take a look at the following picture:

The mouse on the left is a "regular" size mouse, and the mouse on the right is a notebook mouse.  Now that you can see the visual differences, let us look at the good (pros) and the bad (cons) of using a notebook mouse.

Pros

• Small, easy to carry around
• Convenient.  Some wireless notebook mice also double as a wireless presenter
• Requires less counter space to function

Cons

• Smaller than a regular mouse
• Extended use can cause hand strain and pain
• Easier to lose because of size
• Hard to use if you have large hands

If you do decide to buy a notebook mouse, purchase it from a place where it can be easily returned.  If you do find that it does cause problems, take it back and get a regular sized mouse.

If you are like many entrepreneurs, bookkeepers, accountants and business owners, you keep track of your books on your laptop.  If you have a laptop that has a screen smaller than 17 inches, you will notice something missing compared to a traditional keyboard: the number pad.

A sample of a keyboard laptop on a 15" notebook.

Usually it is easier to use a number pad to do accounting - if you are familiar with a 10-key calculator, it makes life quicker and easier.  So, instead of using the numbers along the top of the keyboard, you can get a USB powered number pad.

An example of a USB number pad.

You can find a USB number pad at any computer store, with prices ranging from about $20 and up.  If you need to lighten your load in your notebook bag, consider purchasing the USB calculator by Canon - it works just as a ten key calculator, with the benefit of being able to plug into your notebook as well.

Many laptop and notebook owners plug their laptops into a surge bar while at home.  This offers the laptop protection from power surges that can damage or ruin the electrical components inside.  However, have you ever brought any kind of surge protection with you when you are out and about?

Probably not.

I realize that surges are usually few and far between (unless you live out in the country) but it is still a risk.  You can think of it to be similar as to looking both ways before you cross the street – you probably will not get hit by a car, but you take the precaution (looking both ways) before crossing to minimize your risk.

An example of what they look like is below:

Think of them as not only protection for your notebook, but also as an insurance policy.  Most travel surge protectors come with a equipment guarantee:  if the surge protector fails to protect what you have plugged into it, your equipment will be covered to a certain dollar value of replacement.

So, protect that investment you have made in your notebook:  buy a travel surge protector and use it wherever you plug in your laptop. 

p.s.  I forgot to mention prices.  You can get them as cheap as about $5.00.  Check your local computer store or any online auction site.

Today, my laptop and I went on the road to do a website consulting job.  When I went to put all the stuff I needed into my laptop bag, there was not enough room.  You should always consider bringing these necessities when you take your laptop on the road:

1. Laptop

I know this might be a no-brainer, but there is nothing more frustrating than packing up everything, going out "with" your laptop and finding it not there.

2. Power Adapter and Batteries

The second most frustrating thing is to forget either your extra batteries (where you cannot plug in) or your power cord (if you do not have extra batteries).  Lets face it:  your laptop is only useful if you have power.  So, definitely don't forget the power cord or extra batteries.

3. Mouse

A mouse is something especially important should you be going somewhere to work for an extended period of time.  Provided you have the space to setup on a table or desk, a mouse provides less hand strain than the pointing device provided on your notebook.  Also, when doing tasks that require some precision such as image editing or CAD drawings, a mouse does a much better job than the pointing device on your notebook.

4. Notebook Cooler Pad

This accessory is especially important should you be working with your notebook all day.  A notebook cooler pad is a base that plugs into your notebook via USB and pulls the heat away from the bottom of the laptop.  This not only helps the laptop dissipate heat, but it also prolongs the life of your laptop.  It is very important if you are working in an environment where the heat is excessive - every bit helps.