Awesome Gaming Laptop Tips

Traditionally, laptop computers have been used for business and academic applications. But as laptop technology has advanced, video game lovers have been generating demand for high-powered gaming laptops for portable PC gaming. Using a laptop PC for video games is a fantastic way to play your favorite games anytime, anywhere. Especially when gathering with your friends in a multiplayer LAN party.

If you're shopping around for a new laptop with gaming in mind, there are some things that you need to be aware of in order to give yourself the best laptop gaming experience possible. We've put together some ideas for you to help you along!


MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Every PC game comes with a list of minimum system requirements needed to play the game. If your specs don't make the grade, then it's game over before you've even begun!

Video games will also list the recommended system specifications that the developers suggest for the best results for playing their games. It's best to look at some of the newest titles that are out right now and look for a laptop with hardware specs that are just above the games' recommended requirements. Not only will you be ready to play the hot new titles, but you'll also have invested in being prepared for games coming out in the near future.


At the time of this writing, we recommend a laptop that has at least a dual-core CPU of 1.6Ghz, 60GB of available hard drive space, and as much RAM as you can get!


PRICE

Naturally, the price of a laptop weighs heavy into how you shop. If you're looking for a laptop that you know you'll want to use for video games, then you'll have spend a bit more. Realistically, low-priced netbooks and "red tag sale" laptops will only frustrate you if you try to use them for video games.

The only exception being if you have a more casual attitude toward gaming and intend to use your laptop to play PC games that are older than 7 years or Flash games found on the web. Otherwise, expect to pay at least $1500 for a machine capable of playing current popular game titles.


VIDEO PROCESSOR

A computer's GPU (or Graphics Processor Unit) is the keystone of a PC video game's performance. What you definitely don't want is a graphics processor that's integrated with the motherboard. A separate graphics card is best since it takes care of the whole video workload by itself, freeing the laptop's system resources.

ATi and nVidia make the best laptop graphics cards on the market right now with 128MB-256MB of video memory.


SCREEN SIZE

How you view your video games is a crucial part of how you interact with them. Luckily, laptop LCD screens have come a long way in quality over the past couple of years. While smaller displays come with the territory of smaller, more portable laptops, size matters for video games.

For the best view of your PC games, you'll want a laptop screen that's at least 15 inches. We recommend a screen that's closer to 17 inches just so you don't have to squint as much while trying to concentrate on a PC game's finer graphical details. A screen with a natural resolution of 1280x800 pixels is also best for getting the clearest quality of picture.

You may need to consider whether or not you prefer a laptop with a standard or widescreen LCD display. More computer monitors and laptop LCD screens are being produced in widescreen format to keep up with trends in high-definition television.


However, not as many PC games are being developed with widescreen displays in mind. Playing a PC game in fullscreen mode on a widescreen display may cause the game to appear stretched out or fuzzy. We recommend a widescreen display because of its advantages outside of gaming and in expectation that more PC game developers will adopt widescreen display options.

Of course there are details like contrast, viewing angles, etc., but that’s a whole different topic in itself! The best idea is to go to your local retailer’s laptop displays and let your eyes be the judge. Note the specs of whichever ones look the best to you and shop around for laptop models with similar displays.


PERIPHERALS

There's always more gadgets that you can add to your laptop to enhance your gaming experience! Most laptop owners that use a laptop at home prefer to connect a full-sized USB keyboard and mouse, as well as connect their laptop to a docking station or port replicator to expand their audio/video options.

Whether you're at home or on the go, we recommend at least using a USB optical mouse with your laptop for the best possible control of your game.

The #1 killer of computer hardware is heat and laptops are notorious for overheating, due to their compact design. Of course, nothing heats up a system more than a CPU/GPU generating high-quality 3D graphics! For this, you should look into picking up a cooling fan for your laptop. If for no other reason than to keep from cooking your legs from resting your laptop on your lap! Ouch!

Most PC games come with the option to play with a gamepad or joystick, which is great for people who aren't used to playing on a keyboard. Arguably, the gamer's favorite controller design of all-time is Sony's Dual Shock controller for its PlayStation consoles. By using a PlayStation-to-PC USB adapter, you can connect any PSone or PS2 controller to your laptop.

This includes any other controller accessory made for PlayStation, like steering wheels and dance pads. The most popular use is for connecting arcade-style joysticks for playing classic arcade games or competitive fighting games like Street Fighter IV.


For all of our available video game accessories, please browse through our online store. If you have any questions about PC gaming or for more gaming laptop advice, please feel free to send us an email!

Back-To-School Checklist for Laptops

The new school year is upon us! With the fall semester just about to start, it's important to make sure that you or your student are well equipped for handling all their schoolwork.

To make sure you have everything you need to be prepared, we've put together a list of tips to maximize your gear:


NETBOOKS

Netbooks are the hottest new tool for portable computing. They're ideal for students because of their petite, travel-friendly size, economic prices, and easy mobile web access. While they're not as powerful as most desktop or laptop computers, they pack just enough power to dedicate to schoolwork and basic web-based communication.

Whichever model of netbook you plan to buy, you'll need to make sure that you have all the right netbook accessories. Using a slim, external DVD drive is essential for installing all the necessary software that you or your student may need for school projects. Netbooks lack any kind of optical disc drive, so it's good idea if you need to read or backup any data to a CD or DVD. You may also want to pick up a spare netbook AC adapter, to make sure that your netbook can be fully charged no matter where you go.


LAPTOP BATTERIES
& AC ADAPTERS

Notebook PCs need love just as much as netbooks. If you're frequently on the move, keep a spare laptop battery handy to double your mobile computer work time. And just in case of an emergency, pack a spare laptop AC adapter to make sure that you're laptop is powered up and your work time goes on, uninterrupted.


SECURITY CABLES

Keeping your laptop or netbook secure is crucial to keep from falling into the hands of thieves. Most laptops and netbooks come equipped with slots to connect a Kensington notebook security cable lock. These laptop cable locks will keep your notebook or netbook firmly tethered so that they don't sprout wings and fly away. Laptops are expensive enough to replace, but imagine losing any irreplaceable schoolwork that might be stored inside!


BACK-UP!

Hardware failure, viruses, theft... No matter how you lose your data, it could cost you hours, days, or even weeks worth of work! Back up your data routinely; preferably every day. You can use a USB thumb drive (2GB or more) or an external DVD burner for backing up smaller files or projects, or you can use a larger external hard drive for larger tasks. Remember, though, it's only a back-up if you have more than one copy!


WIRELESS CARDS

Public WiFi access is increasing, with free wireless web access becoming available in most restaurants and other local businesses. However, not every laptop comes with wireless hardware built in. If your laptop doesn't have a laptop wireless card, you should definitely get one. With wireless accessibility, your laptop can truly be mobile, connecting to local wireless networks and WiFi hotspots.

Staying connected is becoming more and more critical for school to keep in touch with teachers, fellow students, and other online resources.


DOCKING STATIONS

If you want to get the most out of your laptop, you can use a laptop port replicator or docking station to expand the functionality of the laptop while working at home.

A laptop itself is excellent for mobile computing, but when you return home to your desk, it's nice to be able to view your work on a larger monitor and hear music through full-sized speakers. A port replicator can get your laptop working like a desktop, allowing it to connect to just about any computer accessory.


TRAVEL BAGS

While carrying around your laptop, you want to make sure that it has as much protection as possible. Most people use laptop travel bags (which are great), but they stand out like a beacon through the eyes of thieves. Your best bet is to use a backpack to blend in with the crowd, but make sure it has extra padding to protect your laptop. Many new backpacks are designed with special compartments for storing laptops or netbooks, so picking up one of those is definitely recommended.


GAMING

Naturally you'll want to have some fun with your laptop or netbook. Any computer you own for the purpose of school or business should be considered a tool first and a toy well below that. But there's always that rule of all work and no play...

To provide some extra comfort in your game time, we offer the PlayStation-to-PC USB adapter. This little gadget will let you connect any PSone or PS2 controller or accessory to your PC. It's compatible with any desktop, laptop, or notebook computer with an available USB 2.0 port. It's great for any joystick-enabled PC games or ports of classic games found on download services like Steam.


With all this kit on hand, you should be ready to make the grade! Of course, if you're ever in need of repair or upgrade service for your netbook or notebook PC, Triangle Laptops offers it's fantastic laptop repair service in order to keep your computer up and running! For more information, please visit the Triangle Laptops homepage or call 1-919-620-6886.

Pick Your Power Inverter

On any kind of road trip, a DC-to-AC power inverter is key to supporting any kind of electric creature comfort. Shopping around can feel a little confusing, but it gets easier once you know the right one for your needs.

What most people assume is that more is better. The higher the wattage of the power converter, the better the deal, right? Not necessarily... It isn’t necessary to waste hundreds of dollars on a massive power inverter, when all you need is a simpler, less expensive one.

Let’s first get to know what types of power inverters are out there so we can determine what type of power inverter suits you best.

You’ll see two types of power inverters out there on the market: True-sine wave and modified-sine wave (aka "square wave"). True-sine wave inverters best emulate the type of electricity that you’d receive from a normal electrical outlet. Modified-sine wave inverters are sufficient for most electrical devices and are easier to use. In fact, most modified-sine wave inverters that are under 300w can simply plug into the vehicle's cigarette lighter.

What's important is to decide which of these two types best match the types of devices that you need to power on your trip.

The true-sine wave inverter is usually the top choice; just by it's high compatibility. A true-sine wave inverter is recommended for equipment that may depend on a strong, steady power signal. High voltage cordless tool chargers, printers, and medical and scientific testing equipment almost require the use of true-sine power inverters.

Those that have entertainment equipment installed in their vehicle will also benefit most from a true-sine inverter. Since a modified-sine inverter’s signal can be choppy, this will create distortions in the audio/video quality of TVs and other entertainment devices. This may defeat the purpose of using high-end equipment like HDTVs or Blu-Ray players. Using a true-sine inverter will maintain the clear signal necessary to avoid distortions.

The biggest drawback, of course, is that true-sine wave inverters tend to also be the most expensive. If you have any electrical devices that almost require a true-sine signal, it’s best to only buy one with a power level just above your equipment’s needs. For most other applications, you should do just as well with a less expensive modified-sine wave inverter.

In fact, modified-sine inverters will cover just about any small device you might carry with you on your trip. This includes laptops, phone chargers, fans, coolers, or most other common household devices.

There are two types of modified-sine wave inverters:


Cigarette Lighter

These are best for household devices, like small TVs, computers, DVD players, or small office equipment. Most of these power inverters can connect to a standard 12-volt cigarette lighter socket.

There are some important things to note when using a cigarette lighter power inverter. Most high-wattage power inverters may only be able to work while the vehicle is turned on to avoid any massive drain on the car battery’s charge. The cigarette lighter has a limit of 115-watt output. If you need a power inverter that’s 115 watts or higher, it’s best to connect it directly to the battery.


Direct Battery Connection

Connecting your power inverter directly into the battery may not be as convenient as simply plugging it into the cigarette lighter, but it does allow you to connect a greater amount and more powerful equipment. This type of power inverter connection is recommended for using power tools, large-screen TVs, household appliances, and office equipment.

While the alternator is running, a vehicle's battery can put out 14 volts of DC power output. In order to protect the vehicle’s battery charge, most power inverters will shut down once they reach 10.5 volts. If you need to use your power inverter often without the vehicle’s engine running, you may need an AGM or marine deep cycle battery to keep it going.

Loads reaching 3000 watts or greater may also need special wiring or battery banks.


For most of our customers, a lower-watt power inverter may be all they need to power their gear. In fact, we’ve added to our product line a slim, lightweight XR100-12 100-watt power inverter. This power inverter is great for any kind of travel and comes with adapters to connect with cigarette lighters and airplane outlets.

Google Chrome OS Coming in Fall 2010

In early July, Google announced its development of Google Chrome OS, a new operating system designed for people whose majority of computer time was spent online. Google's decision to jump into the arena of operating systems was inspired by the growing success of the Google Chrome web browser, released earlier this year.

Google Chrome OS is based on the idea of "cloud computing", a style of computing where most software applications are run through a virtual workspace over the web. The key benefit of cloud computing is relieving the user-end computer's burden of processing and storing data. Data is stored on host servers, rather than on local hard drives. Software applications are run remotely on web servers and user's local computer need only handle the interface.

Based on this, Google boasts that Google Chrome OS will be incredibly fast and lightweight—perfect for users who practically live on the web. Google Chrome OS will greatly minimize how much work the PC has to do, thus giving it the system resources to devote toward a faster web experience. Google also intends to keep the Chrome OS design simple—no unnecessary bells & whistles—with the exception of establishing tight security.

Chrome OS is not to be confused with Google's similar project, Android. Google Android is another form of web-centric operating system, though it's being tailored to fit the needs of smaller, mobile devices like netbooks, smart phones, and PDAs. While the two will share many features, Google Chrome OS is best suited for more powerful desktop and laptop PCs.

Much like Linux, Google Chrome OS will be free and open source. This will allow just about anyone the ability to build applications, add-ons, and other variations for the operating system. Users who are savvy with computers can customize their operating system to suit their preferences and freely share new and innovative applications.

Google has already built up a collection of technology heavyweights for support on the project. On board to offer their expertise are Toshiba, HP, Lenovo, Acer, among others. Companies and developers interested in can contact Google through the links on their Chrome OS FAQ page.

Some critics are concerned with Google flooding the market for operating systems, which some say is already crowded. Between Windows, Mac, and Linux (in its many forms), consumers may be overwhelmed with options. With the other competitors having decades of experience in the market, newcomers like Google will have to struggle hard to succeed.

Google remains optimistic, planning to release Google Chrome OS in the fall of 2010.