So it’s holiday time and chances are whatever you’re doing, you’ll be doing it on your favourite laptop, notebook or tablet nearby. After all, they’re made to be portable for a reason! While it’s easy to become complacent when you’re in holiday mode, there are some preventative tips you should always remember when travelling or relaxing with your laptop or portable computer device.
Be careful with food and drink around your laptop
We all like a nice beverage and meal or snack over the holiday season, but it’s the last thing our computer needs. Try to be extra vigilant when handling food or drink around your laptop. Any kind of spill can be detrimental to the functionality of your laptop, no matter how small. Liquid can short the electronics circuit in your device, and a crunchy keyboard is the last thing you want.
Screens can be fragile
When you’re on the move, it’s easy to unintentionally neglect your laptop. Are you in a hurry to close the screen because you don’t want to be the last one in the pool? Make sure you double check that you haven’t left anything on the surface of the laptop that could damage the screen, keyboard or hinges when closing the screen. Also, closing the screen roughly or unevenly also has the potential to damage the hinges and ruin the beautiful form factor of a closed laptop. While travelling make sure there are no heavy hard object (e.g. Ac Adapter) on the top of your laptop.
Care for your cords
A wireless power supply really would be a Christmas miracle! Unfortunately, for now, we’re still mostly reliant on cords to charge our devices and ultimately provide the freedom they afford. In an unfamiliar environment, it may be easy to lose track of where cords and plugs are. Try not to place cords in areas where they’re likely to be trodden on or pulled out. No matter the quality, power cord wires and the like will eventually become split and frayed if continuously mistreated. A good idea is to allocate an area for the charger or cords, away from walking areas or places where they may be in danger of incurring excessive force.
Don’t get caught without a power source
Speaking of power, it’s easy to get caught out without the correct power connector when travelling abroad. It’s a good idea to pick up a power plug adapter for the specific region you’re travelling to before you head off. An even better idea is a universal travel adapter that can be used pretty much anywhere in the world. Keep in mind that you may have connecting flight stopovers in places that you hadn’t necessarily anticipated or planned.
Be careful with your media and accessories
When you’re in a rush, or your mind is elsewhere while on holidays, it’s easy to neglect the simple things like making sure external devices or CDs/DVDs are inserted correctly. An extra second or two of vigilance could save you from an expensive repair bill and the inconvenience associated with a dysfunctional laptop.
Be mindful of the temperature
Extreme temperatures, or changes in temperature, are something that your laptop is definitely not fond of. Often when taking some time off, we may be in exotic locations with such temperature variations. Be sure not to leave your laptop in the sun, in a hot car, or out in the cold. When coming inside from the cold, it’s best to let your laptop adjust to the room temperature before turning it on. Batteries can be quite sensitive to such temperature changes, and condensation can be an issue during such scenarios.
Correct packing, storage and transportation
When packing, be sure not to surround your laptop with heavy or dangerous objects that could potentially cause damage when travelling. Also, try not to pack too tightly around your laptop.
A sturdy, correctly sized laptop bag is vital for a couple of reasons. First and foremost is for protection of your device while on the move. If your case is too large, there is a risk of damage from increased movement within the case itself. Secondly, a practical case or bag will also just generally make it easier to carry around. They’re designed to make our lives easier, so why weight ourselves down when trying to transport them. A good travel case complements the transportability and convenience of a portable device.
Correct ventilation
When using your laptop in a hotel room, for example, be sure not to block the air vents as these allow the components to breathe and remain cool. One of the biggest problems in this respect is using your laptop on a bed or soft surface. This blocks additional ventilation and also traps heat produced by the battery. Overheating can be prevented by always using your laptop on a flat, hard, smooth and clean surface to maximise ventilation and allow the design to function as it was intended.
More often than not, your local computer store will have an air compressor that they use to give laptops a thorough cleaning. This should be done periodically and the holiday season is a good reminder to help keep your laptop breathing free and easy for your time off. An overheating device is the last thing on anyone’s Christmas wish list. Think of it as getting a service for your computer, just as you do with your car. An alternative to an air compressor is to use something like an old toothbrush to clean out the exhaust fan screen.
Backup and tracking
It’s a good idea to backup all of your important data and information, either on an external device that you can leave at home, or on a cloud based system. In the event the worst does happen, you can rest easy that any data you truly need is safe and sound, out of harm’s way and out of the wrong hands. In this respect, it may also be a good idea to fit your laptop with a tracking device in case it is stolen. Many devices nowadays have the ability to track their location, and applications to help in this regard.
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