Laptops For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

by Dan Gookin (Author) "From the time when the first computer was powered on in the early 1940s, users have craved mobility..." (more)
Key Phrases: hardware tour, laptop goes, port replicator, Have My Laptop, Safe Mode, Num Lock (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A great boon for the laptop buyer." (Good Book Guide, January 2007)

“Using plenty of insight laced with humour, Gookin explains the benefits of laptops and shows how to solve problems" (Good Book Guide, May 2007) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Laptops For Dummies, 3rd Edition shows you how to use your laptop to its fullest potential, from how to purchase a laptop and what to do when you first open the box to how to keep your laptop safe and running smoothly.

You will discover how to choose and purchase the right laptop for you, how to set up and maintain your laptop, customize user accounts, adding your laptop to networks, printing, and connecting to the Internet. In this updated and revised edition, find information about synchronizing with the desktop, coordinating email pickup between two machines, remote access to the desktop, networking, power management, storage, and especially laptop security. You’ll find out how to:

• Navigate all your laptop’s components
• Use keyboard shortcuts and a mouse
• Organize and manage files and accounts
• Print files and add your laptop to a network
• Properly equip your laptop carrying case with tools and resources
• Manage the power supply
• Add software tools to synchronize and update files between a laptop, a PDA, and a desktop or office server

In addition to the basics, find lists of ten battery tips and tricks, ten handy laptop accessories, and ten things you should keep in your laptop carrying case in Laptops for Dummies, 3^rd Edition, a convenient and handy guide!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 3 edition (September 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470277599
• ISBN-13: 978-0470277591
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 30 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,268 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Laptop Helper, November 13, 2006

By	Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Laptops For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

These days, many people all have a computer in their home. Nevertheless, which one, a desktop or a laptop or notebook specifically. While buying a desktop is more convient in the price tag, it can be bulky, and leave little space, laptops bring in a bit more convience for all to have in space. Although they are much more expensive to purchase, it can be very, very easy for those to operate a laptop in the convience of their own home or in the office. Thankfully, the dummies people know how to help you guide your way into operating a laptop without the hastle of doing it on your own, in a simple how-to guide.

Laptops For Dummies is a very simple instruction book that teaches you how to simply operate youn laptop whenever you need to. The book gives detailed advice on what simple tidbits you'd need to do, to reboot the computer. For example, you could hold the power button down for 5 seconds and you could easily shut down the computer, without destroying the hard drive. Or, you couls also learn how to improve the sound on your computer, by simply buying a sound card and hook it into the computer for better audio playback. Considering, most laptops have distorted sound, you'll find out how easy it happens to be to improve the quality of your computer. The book give great details on Windows XP computers, and gives you a glimpse on what to do if yo choose to upgrade to Windows next operating system, Vista. The book is very detailed in its description, and easy to afford.

If you own a laptop computer, than this is the most important tool you could use for your computer, especially for those who have Windows XP. I found this book was very helpful to me, and I definitely recommend this for anybody who considers a laptop for their own home. Laptops For Dummies is no dummy at all!

Price: B+

Convience: B

Easy To Understand: B

Overall: B 1/2+

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars useful explanations, August 7, 2005

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Laptops For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

Possibly the most important things Gookin explains are how to keep an eye on your power consumption when using batteries, and how to hook up to the Internet. These are both usually in the real world context of you travelling to some place. That's why you're getting a laptop, right?

The battery situation can be frustrating. He warns not to lose work. Depending on your choice of laptop, power consumption might be an issue. The faster the laptop, the more power it uses. There is a complicated reason to do with CMOS technology used in most of the laptop's microprocessors, where the power consumption is proportional to the clock frequency. But the main thing is to be aware that speed comes at a price.

As far as hooking up to the Internet, Gookin shows that things are reasonably easy nowadays, and getting easier. The latter is because more wireless access points emerge in cities, and more hotels, libraries etc have wired access. Remember to change the default passwords on any networking software you run, before having it go out on a strange network.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He Knows what He is Talking About, January 3, 2007

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Laptops For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

Buying a laptop should be easy. I want a system that is very powerful, weighs almost nothing, has a huge screen but small overall size, and runs forever on its internal battery. Unfortunately such a system is hard to find. Therefore you have to make compromises.

And in reading this book I find that I pretty much agree with the analysis Mr. Gookin makes. And I base that on having had about a dozen of them down through the years.

First, decide what you're going to use it for. I use it for programming, especially web programming so I need a web server, a database and some other web software.

That fits into his second comment, decide what software you're going to use. OK, that's a given. Windows (not Apple or Linux).

Screen size - smaller is better for me because the overall system can then be smaller. I'm just looking at code most of the time and don't need graphics.

Service & Support - as he says, go with a big name company, look carefully at the extended warranty. The extra money was worth it when laptops were $2,000+, I'm not so sure now that they've gotten so cheap.

Battery life used to be important and I carried three batteries around. Now with most aircraft having power available it's not nearly so important - and besides batteries are heavy. I've found power outlets in airports, coffee shops, libraries, on trains and other obscure places. I now only carry only one battery.

Physical security, get one of the tie down devices that connect your laptop to the desk. This is especially a problem at college.

I find I'm talking my own ideas. I didn't mean to start preaching. After all these points and more are included in the book. This fellow knows what he is talking about.