WE SHOW YOU HOW TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY ON THE GO 1. SAVE BATTERY POWER When you're away from home, you want to make the most of your laptop's battery.Go to Start (then click Run if you're using Windows XP), type powercfg.cpl and press Enter on your keyboard. In the dialogue box that opens, make sure the Portable/Laptop (XP) or Power saver (Windows 7/Vista) option is selected. You should also unplug USB devices you're not using.Eject CDs or DVDs and switch off wi-fi when youdon't need it, as these can also be big battery drainers. 2. ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES When you're using your computer on-the-fly the most important accessory for your laptop or netbook is a carrycase of some kind. Make sure you getone with some padding to absorb shocks. In addition, you may also want to consider investing in a small, portable mouse, as prolonged useof trackpads can often be uncomfortable. A USB memory key can also be a useful ally, particularly if you find yourself moving files between your laptop and work or home computer. You may also wish to add a mobile broadband dongle (see Tip 5) and a pair of lightweight headphones for listening to music in public. Remember to unplug any accessories you're not using, as they can use up battery life (see Tip 1). 3. WINDOWS' MOBILE TOOLS Windows 7 and Vista both have a utility called Windows Mobility Center. To open it, click on Start, type mobility and press Enter on your keyboard. The precise nature of what you will find here can vary. Standard tools, however, include volume settings, battery and sync options as well as the ability to switch wireless networking on and off. 4. TIPS FOR WORKING AT HOME Those who use their laptops regularly at home may wish to invest in a selection of accessories that act as a kind of 'docking station' that you can plug itinto. There's nothing stopping you, for example, from using a full-size monitor when you're at home instead of squinting at the small built-in screen. Most portable computers have a VGA, DVI or HDMI output socket for this. You may also prefer to use a full-size keyboard and mouse with your PC at home and you can, of course, plug it straight into a printer. An external hard disk is essential for further storage and backup, while netbook users may want to consider an external CD/DVD drive. 5. USE MOBILE BROADBAND The same companies that provide mobile phone services - including Orange, Vodafone and O2 - now also offer wireless mobile broadband for your portable PC too. The principle is exactly the same; you can either sign up for pay-as-you-go (best for light use)or monthly subscription packages. You'll need a special dongle and a SIM card - your service provider will offer you these, sometimes at no cost. As with other services of this type you'll need to watch out for hidden charges, coverage issues, data speeds, penalties for going over your monthly allowance and so on. 6. WI-FI HOTSPOTS The other way to get online while you're out and about is to use a wi-fi hotspot. Some ISPs, including BT Total Broadband, offer free hotspot access as part of their home broadband packages. Or, youcan search for a nearby hotspot using a directory like www.myhotspots.co.uk or ask the coffee bar or hotel whether they supply wi-fi coverage and, if so, howmuch it costs and how to log in. Most laptop and netbook computers have wi-fi these days, but if yours doesn't then it's possible to add it via a USB adaptor. Buy one that is compatible with the latest wireless 'n' standard for faster access over a wider area. You should be able to find one for less than ukp20 online. Be aware that public access wi-fi hotspots aren't secure, so you shouldn't perform sensitive tasks such as online banking in these locations. 7. KEEP FILES IN SYNC It can be hard to know which versions of the files are the most up to date if you're working on multiple computers. There are several ways to make sure your important files are synchronised between computers. Windows 7 and Vista, for example, use something called the Sync Center (Click Start > type Sync and press Enter on your keyboard). A simpler way to do it might be to use a USB memory key (see Tip 2) to store and share all your files or a free online storage solution, such as Dropbox (www.dropbox.com), which allows you to store up to 2GB for no cost. 8. TRAVELLING ABROAD The main concern when travelling abroad is power. Some countries use a different voltage system to the UK, so you'll need to check whether the adaptor that came with your computer is compatible with the voltage of the country you're visiting. See http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm for a reasonably exhaustive list. You'll also need an adaptor to physically convert your UK power lead to fit foreign electricity sockets. These can usually be bought at airports, though you'll find them cheaper (less than ukp5) if you buy online beforeyou fly. Finally, we would also warn against using your mobile broadband abroad - you may find that roaming charges are unaffordable. Check whether your accommodation offers wi-fi instead. 9. KEEP YOUR LAPTOP SAFE Make sure you install all the usual anti-malware tools, including a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware programs.You should also password-protect your user account, too (go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts to set this up) and never leave your laptop unattended without logging off. 10. SMARTPHONE ALTERNATIVE Mobile phones are becoming cleverer. These days, handsets such as Apple's iPhone and Android devices are like miniature PCs. You can use them to surf the internet, send and receive emails, type documents and more. And because you're already effectively connected to wireless data via your service provider, you won't need to invest in a separate mobile broadband subscription. Depending on how you currently use your laptop or netbook, you may want to consider switching to a smartphone for your daily tasksand leave your computerat home. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
