Synopses & Reviews
Get a move on! Learn to roam free with this guide to choosing and using a laptopLaptops come with everything you need to get going — everything, that is, except a guide to buying and using one. This book covers portable computers from laptop to lap-bottom, with useful advice on picking one, setting it up, managing power and peripherals, going online, and hitting the road.
Which one fits your lap? — learn what to look for, what to ignore, and how to find the laptop you'll love
Get acquainted — tour your laptop and locate its buttons, disk slots, security features, and keyboard peculiarities
Windows, laptop model — test-drive Windows® on your laptop and know where to find programs, files, and network access
Feel the power — discover how to monitor your laptop's power and prolong battery life
You've got connections — introduce your laptop to a network and connect to the Internet wherever you find it
Make friends with your OS — find out how to use the latest features in Windows 7 and other laptop-friendly operating systems and keep your laptop happy
Bells and whistles, anyone? — add a portable printer, PC Card, or USB gizmo to make your laptop more versatile
Prepare for takeoff — protect your laptop and your data when you travel
Open the book and find:
Translations of laptop buzzwords
Regular maintenance and troubleshooting tips
Steps for safely unpacking your laptop
Advice on maximizing power, memory, and hard drive space
Tips for strong passwords you can actually remember
What the differences are between netbooks and laptops
How to make phone calls and video-chat from your laptop
Descriptions of ten cool laptop accessories
Learn to:
Make the most of the latest laptop features and capabilities
Synchronize your laptop with your desktop and cellphone
Set up security for mobility and social networking
Beef up your laptop's memory and hard drive capacity
Synopsis
The latest edition of the bestselling guide to getting started with a laptopNo one knows computers like veteran author Dan Gookin. With this new edition of his bestseller, he shares his wealth of knowledge and once again finesses even the most complex of topics and presents it in such a way that makes it simple, entertaining, and easy to understand.
You'll explore the latest hardware and technology updates and delve into the most updated information on Windows 7. You'll review the many issues that are unique to laptops, including synchronizing with the desktop, coordinating e-mail between two machines, working on the road, and more.
- Beloved and popular author Dan Gookin returns with a new edition that makes understanding laptops simpler than you ever thought possible
- Shares the latest information concerning laptops: new technology, current processors available, and steps to update memory and hard drive capabilities
- Includes coverage of connectivity between a laptop and desktop, interfaces between laptops, add-ons, networking procedures, and more
- Reviews the perks of newer laptops, including larger displays, longer battery power, and speeds equal to desktops to name a few
- Examines the benefits of mobility for students, employees, and anyone who needs to work on the go
This fun and friendly guide will get you up and running with your laptop in no time!
About the Author
Dan Gookin wrote the very first For Dummies book in 1991. With more than 11 million copies in print, his books have been translated into 32 languages. Dan is the bestselling author of PCs For Dummies and Word For Dummies. He offers tips and fun at www.wambooli.com.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: The Laptop Shall Set You Free.
Chapter 1: The Portable Computing Quest.
Chapter 2: A Laptop of Your Own.
Part II: Introducing Your Laptop.
Chapter 3: The Out-of-the-Box Experience.
Chapter 4: To Turn On a Laptop.
Chapter 5: To Turn Off a Laptop.
Chapter 6: Around Your Laptop in 16 Pages.
Chapter 7: Your Laptop and Windows.
Chapter 8: The Tablet PC.
Part III: You and Your Laptop.
Chapter 9: Using Your Laptop.
Chapter 10: Portable Power.
Chapter 11: The Laptop, the Printer, and the Fax.
Part IV: Laptop Communications.
Chapter 12: Expanding Your Laptop’s Universe.
Chapter 13: Basic Networking.
Chapter 14: The Wireless Life.
Chapter 15: Hello, Internet.
Chapter 16: That Modem Thing.
Chapter 17: Keep Mr. Laptop Safe.
Part V: The Laptop Goes Elsewhere.
Chapter 18: Portable Web Browsing and E-Mail Tips.
Chapter 19: Between the Desktop and the Laptop.
Chapter 20: The Places You’ll Go.
Chapter 21: A More Secure Laptop.
Part VI: Troubleshooting and Maintenance.
Chapter 22: O Laptop, Entertain Me.
Chapter 23: Working Outside the Office.
Chapter 24: Laptop Troubleshooting.
Chapter 25: Laptop Maintenance and Upgrading.
Part VII: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 26: Ten Battery Tips and Tricks.
Chapter 27: Ten Handy Laptop Accessories.
Chapter 28: Ten Things to Throw in Your Laptop Case.
Index.