Accessorize your notebook
By CNET staff
13/02/2004
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/digitalliving/tips/0,3800004921,39168239,00.htm
Docking station or port
replicator
IBM's port
replicator works for many different ThinkPad notebooks. |
A docking station contains a mixture of
ports, slots, drive bays, and security features, and it usually attaches to the
notebook from underneath. Docking stations come in a variety of shapes, ranging
from the same size as your notebook, which is often referred to as a media
slice, to much bigger--some stick out five inches past the back of your
notebook. As the name implies, a docking station is where you park your notebook
when you get back to the office, giving you easy access to your network, along
with a bigger monitor, a regular keyboard, additional storage devices, and the
convenience of leaving cables plugged in when you walk away from your desk.
A port replicator, on the other hand, is a smaller, stripped-down
version of a docking station that mainly features--as you might guess--ports,
such as USB or parallel. A port replicator can range from the size of a box of
toothpaste to just shy of docking-station stature. When you're on the road, a
port replicator is a convenient way to increase your connectivity.
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Laptop bag
A solid
notebook carrying case is worth the extra money. |
You're about to drop a couple grand or more on a
laptop, and the last thing you want to do is spend even more money on a carrying
case. So, you save a few bucks by going with the manufacturer's basic case. But
basic bags often lack a padded shoulder strap or internal pockets. You'll be
kicking yourself soon when your 4kg load is cutting a groove into your
shoulder and all of your peripherals come tumbling out of your bag in a tangled
mess. Dig into your wallet for a sturdy, comfortable carrying case, and your
shoulder will thank you. Look for padded shoulder straps, reinforced corners,
and specialized compartments designed to hold the AC adapter, the extra
batteries, and so on.
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Extra battery
The Compaq
Evo N410c features two extra batteries. |
If you do even a modest amount of traveling, we
recommend getting a second battery. They range from S$200 (US$119) to $400 (US$238), and they are
worth the money. Many notebooks allow you to swap them into the main media bay.
Other secondary batteries clip on to the back of the notebook or attach via a
cable. Next time you're trapped on the tarmac, working away on your laptop, and
your primary battery is about to die, you'll thank us for encouraging you to buy
that second cell. If you rarely travel with your notebook, however, and your
laptop is pretty much always plugged in, don't bother with a second
battery.
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External drives
This is an
external drive hooked via a cable to a Sony notebook. |
External drives--storage and media-burning
options that hook up to your notebook via cable--can be a pain to carry around
and hook up, plus they can be pricey. You're generally better off buying a
notebook that has everything you need out of the box. Nevertheless, external
drives are sometimes required. If, for instance, you buy an ultraportable that
lacks a built-in CD-ROM drive, make sure you get an external drive so that you
can load software. Types of external drives include CD-ROM, CD-RW, combo
DVD/CD-RW, DVD-rewritable, floppy, hard drives, Zip drives, and
more.
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Mouse and keyboard
Wireless
keyboard and mouse from IBM. |
Working for hours with just a pointing stick or a
touchpad can take a toll on your hand, wrist, and forearm. To save yourself some
wear and tear, invest in a small travel mouse. These can cost as little as S$20 (US$12),
they usually hook up via a USB cable, and they're are very easy to tote. The
same advice applies to typing for hours on your notebook's keyboard. If you
plant your notebook on your desk when you work, hook up a USB keyboard and
relieve your wrists. If you prefer working without wires, get a wireless mouse
and keyboard.
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