New laptop - what accessories should I get?

[ny biker]

Ladies (and gentlemen),

I just bought my first laptop computer. I will use it mostly at home, but home is a 1BR condo and a desktop pc is taking up too much space in my living room, so I got something smaller. I suppose I will take it on the road sometimes, like when I'm staying in a hotel.

So, what accessories are must-haves and nice-to-haves for a laptop? I figure I'll want a carrying case for it. But is there anything else?

Thanks!

[SadieKate]

External hard drive for backing up your files, or storing music and photos AND backing up your files.

[7rider]

A mouse.
Our new laptop has a touchpad and I HATE it.
One of these days I'm going to get a small USB mouse for the thing (especially for when I travel with it).

[channlluv]

You'll want a router for your Internet so you can take that laptop anywhere in your apartment or on your balcony to work. Your cable company/Internet Service Provider can set it up for you for a fee and you rent it from them for $5 a month or so, or you can just buy your own (D-link routers cost about $70) and set it up yourself. It's pretty easy.

I found a great, lightweight case at Office Depot last week for $40. It's that new spongy fabric in deep ocean blue and black, and has a slip for the laptop (mine is a 17"), a slip for files or a notebook, and an outer pocket for pens, pad, and other supplies.

You can get a small mouse to travel with your laptop if you're a mouse user, but you might as well get used to the touchpad. By the way, if it's supersensitive, you can adjust that. Mine used to drive me crazy because I have lazy thumbs and I was constantly laying them on the touchpad inadvertently, clicking places I didn't mean to click.

You might want to get a flash drive, aka thumb drive, to back up your files. I keep three. Get as big as you can afford.

You can get headphones for your laptop, too, for when you're traveling and want to listen to YouTube videos or something and not disturb the people around you.

Have fun with your new mobility!

Roxy

[spazzdog]

a wireless card from your cell phone carrier so you can use it away from home if there's no free wi-fi... and make sure you set WPA encryption on your wireless router at home AND on the laptop so you have secure access.

spazz

[tzvia]

PC or MAC?
I would recommend, if it is a PC, that you look down. The lower right corner, next to the clock, to be more precise. See all those 'craplets' down there? Most laptop vendors put all kinds of trialware, watered down freebies, and various junk they thought was worth crapping onto your PC there. It all takes up memory so taking time to see what each is, and uninstalling the junk, will make your machine faster and more responsive.

You need running in the SYSTRAY:
Antivirus
Firewall
(maybe) Volume control
Wireless connection software
(maybe) spyware control (if AV software doesn't have it and some don't).

With the exception of some utilities (like the Safely-Remove-Hardware icon to undock flashdrives) not much else is needed down there. But look at how much is probably there...

If using the AV software that came with the PC, it is probably trialware and will expire and so will the protection, so be sure you are using full software. And I always recommend a good software firewall (no not Windows Firewall.) The PC ceases to be fun with the first Trojan so I always recommend the one-two punch- AV+Firewall.

[smilingcat]

+1 spazzdog.

I also hate the touch pad so I bought a minature USB mouse for about $7.00, including tax. They are perfectly fine if your hand is small. I also carry two/three USB memory stick. And for the road, I also carry a 10' ethernet cable just in case. And don't forget to carry your charger/adapter.

My laptop is equipped with WiFi but if your's doesn't, its worth getting one.

In a pinch, I have a starbucks card, buy a drink and I have two hours free at starbucks. At Coffee Bean & Tea, its free.

[smilingcat]

PC or MAC?
I would recommend, if it is a PC, that you look down. The lower right corner, next to the clock, to be more precise. See all those 'craplets' down there? Most laptop vendors put all kinds of trialware, watered down freebies, and various junk they thought was worth crapping onto your PC there. It all takes up memory so taking time to see what each is, and uninstalling the junk, will make your machine faster and more responsive.

You need running in the SYSTRAY:
Antivirus
Firewall
(maybe) Volume control
Wireless connection software
(maybe) spyware control (if AV software doesn't have it and some don't).

With the exception of some utilities (like the Safely-Remove-Hardware icon to undock flashdrives) not much else is needed down there. But look at how much is probably there...

If using the AV software that came with the PC, it is probably trialware and will expire and so will the protection, so be sure you are using full software. And I always recommend a good software firewall (no not Windows Firewall.) The PC ceases to be fun with the first Trojan so I always recommend the one-two punch- AV+Firewall.

tis the reason I hate windows. I run Linux. Ubuntu is good, but I run Mandriva. Don't care for redhat.

[badgercat]

I would also recommend an external hard drive for backups. Laptops are easier theft targets not only on the road, but also at home if (heaven forbid) you're ever burglarized. My laptop holds some "priceless" things (photos, papers and projects for school), and some things that would just be really inconvenient to replace (music, software). Keeping a running backup of all of that is at least a little bit of insurance, and easy utilities are available to basically handle it automatically.

I would recommend keeping a set of external computer speakers around too, if you ever plan to use the laptop for listening to music or watching videos etc. Laptop speakers are adequate--but not exactly satisfying--for music and such.

I've been laptop-only for nearly 6 years now and I love it. Knowing what sort of laptop you got might help inspire some more ideas.

Have fun!

[ASammy1]

a wireless card from your cell phone carrier so you can use it away from home if there's no free wi-fi... and make sure you set WPA encryption on your wireless router at home AND on the laptop so you have secure access.

spazz

I second the wireless card! And I love my wireless mouse. I don't have enough USB ports for one with a cord, but I also dont mind the touchpad on my mac. Once you go mac, you never go back. LOL!

[ny biker]

I got this HP laptop:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218094855118

Apparently someone from Geek Squad "optimized" it before I bought it, which I think means they removed some of the free trial software.

So far all I've had time to do is turn it on and make recovery disks. Next I'll get the internet access working. I have Comcast (cable) internet, which comes with McAfee for security, so I'll install that right away.

I already have a Netgear router which I bought a few years ago but never used (couldn't get wireless to work with my desktop so I gave up trying). Hopefully I won't have trouble getting it to work with the new laptop.

I've been looking into external hard drives so I can buy one. They seem to have some problems when you look at the customer reviews. I've looked at reviews for specific drives on Amazon and cnet.com, and there seems to be a sizeable minority of customers whose drive fails within a short period of time. But all of the different brands I've looked at have these bad reviews, so I guess they're all pretty much the same when it comes to reliability. Someone at work recommended that I get a Seagate FreeAgent. I've also heard good things about Clickfree, in terms of their automatic backup software.

Thanks for all your advice!!!

[OakLeaf]

there seems to be a sizeable minority of customers whose drive fails within a short period of time.

That's one reason to have two backup drives, if you're backing up anything super important like your financial records or work stuff. Storage is cheap nowadays. And you can get at least one portable backup drive to take with you when you travel, and leave the other one home.

Happy shopping!

[Owlie]

Another vote for an external hard drive. I finally bit the bullet and bought one on Monday. Perhaps a mouse if you don't like the touchpad.

[MartianDestiny]

there seems to be a sizeable minority of customers whose drive fails within a short period of time.

All external drives fail. It's a matter of when. I too have heard people complain about every brand failing before what they want to consider it's time, and I'm sure a percentage of those were genuinely bad drives, but only a percentage.

Backup drives are about added piece of mind and redundancy. Basically the chances of your backup drive AND your computer failing at the same time are MUCH MUCH slimmer than just your computer failing.

As for drives I have a huge Seagate that plugs into a separate power source which I use to back up the whole computer and also a Western Digital portable drive I use to back up some stuff and carry around as well. The WD is nearing the end of it's life and has been warning me for months now that "it's just a matter of time", but I've had it for 5 years and carted it around too... I've been happy with both.

My advice? Find one from a major brand that's the size you want and ON SALE. Buy it, use it, but know it won't last forever (ie: don't store stuff solely on the drive!)

[OakLeaf]

I'd give the touch pad a chance, though. I LOVE mine. By setting it for tap-to-click and two-finger scrolling, I never have to use the button, which is so stressful to the thumb and wrist joints (and probably the shoulder, too).