Laptops have become more popular to the average consumer than desktop PCs. This is mainly due to the fact they can be much cheaper than a desktop, and they offer more versatility, due to them being less restricted by space, or the need for a power supply. This being said, laptops do have some drawbacks that need to be considered when using them. The good news is there are a range of solutions to mitigate these challenges. Below are some key pieces of advice for laptop users.
Top 4 Tips on How Improve Your Laptop Capabilities
1. Utilize External Hard Drives
With laptops being smaller and lighter, they often have less internal storage on them. In any case, it is generally not good practice to store all of your files on your PC’s internal storage. Consider purchasing a large external hard drive as an archive for files and folders you do not often use for your work or even in your personal life.
2. Utilize Cloud Storage
For files, folders and other items that you use frequently in your day to day life, consider storing them in the Cloud. Once again, when it comes to laptop storage, real estate is valuable. Reserve your internal hard disc for storage your operating system, and your critical programs and applications. Any other content, such as documents, spreadsheets, pictures and videos, and whatever else should be kept in the Cloud. Not only does this protect them from hardware failures, but it will ensure your laptop runs more quickly. Even if you use Outsourced IT Support Services for your company, having cloud storage is important.
3. USB Hubs
These days, laptops tend not to have much connectivity. Manufacturers seem to favour balancing power and storage with size and weight, and often limit connection ports, or get rid of them altogether – MacBooks are a prime example of this. To get around this, you can purchase a USB hub. These devices connect to your laptop via a range of ports (such as USB, USB-C, and Lightning), and contain several of their own USB ports, which allow you to connect more devices to your laptop.
USB hubs come in small sizes which draw power from your laptop, which are better for users that want portability. They also come in larger sizes, with more ports available, as well as their own power cable, so that they do not drain your laptop’s battery – these are ideal for users that have an office or workstation they like to use.
4. Get a Wireless Keyboard & Mouse
Laptops give you the benefit of portability, making work a lot more flexible. However, they are not very good for your posture. Users often find themselves slouching, and many people develop injuries from bad posture due to them laptops.
Equipping yourself with a wireless keyboard and mouse is a good way to improve your posture whilst working at a laptop. As you will not be relying on the keyboard and mousepad built into your laptop, you can raise your laptop so that it is eye-level. It also means you have more options on where to position your arms whilst typing and navigating with your mouse.
