Ergonomic Health Tips for Laptop Users

More and more people are relying on laptops to get their work done. Laptops allow us to improve our productivity by working on tasks just about anywhere; not just in the office or class. In fact, in 2005 laptop computers outsold desktop PCs for the first time in history. With prices of laptops continuing to drop and netbooks making portable computing even more accessible, more and more people are relying on laptops for their primary computer.

With this trend on the rise, there are some increasing health risks that affect the growing number of users. No, it's not catching a computer virus—it's more about how we position ourselves while we use our laptops. According to the 2007 Labor Force Survey, nearly half a million workers suffer from upper limb disorders. Staying in the wrong position for long periods of time over the course of months or years can do significant nerve and joint damage.

Below are some helpful tips for avoiding some painful ergonomic conditions that may arise from avid laptop use.


Use a Separate Keyboard & Mouse

For your eyes and your posture, it's ideal for your keyboard to be close to you and your screen to be at a distance. Unfortunately, those two devices are firmly connected to each other on a laptop.

So unless you're using our laptop on the go, use an external keyboard and mouse whenever possible. An external keyboard can be moved to whatever position is most comfortable and convenient for you. You can even use an ergonomic keyboard as an alternative. Using an external mouse also gives you more freedom to move about than awkward laptop touchpads or trackballs.

USB keyboards and mice are very affordable and Bluetooth keyboards and mice greatly help with mobility.


Use a Docking Station or Stand

As much as possible, resting your laptop on your lap. The heat that a laptop produces can do internal damage to your legs with long-term direct contact. Instead, set the laptop on a stable surface. Better still, use a docking station or laptop stand. They're specially designed to keep your laptop steady and most expand your laptop's functionality.


Get in Position



While typing, we tend to lean or hunch over to get your face closer to the screen. Your back should be straight with your head centered above your shoulders. The best place to position your keyboard is level with your elbows as your arms are positioned where they're most comfortable.

If necessary, place a pillow or cushion underneath your forearms for additional coziness. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't rely on resting your wrists on a wrist pad. Instead, keep your wrists straight with your arms and rest the ball of your hand on the pad.


Adjust Your Screen

The best viewing distance between you and your screen is between 18-30 inches. A good way to avoid eyestrain is to position your screen perpendicular to your line of sight. It's also helpful to lower the light level in the room, if possible, to reduce glare.

Clean off your LCD screen often, but be gentle since too much pressure can damage the displays pixels. And always use proper cleaning fluids.


Take Frequent Breaks

Of course...take a break; you've earned it! Every 30-60 minutes, take a quick breather from your work. Stretch your arms and legs to help with blood flow and maybe take a quick walk around the office. This may help refresh your mind as well as your body.

To help prevent carpel tunnel syndrome, try this easy exercise with every break:

1. Make gripping motions with your hands. Squeezing a tennis ball is a great help.


2. Extend your arms with your palms facing forward. This will stretch the tendons in your wrist.


3. With arms still extended, make fists while turning your hands downward.


4. Finish it off with a good few swirls of the wrist.

Carry On

How you carry your laptop also as important as how you use it. Try not to overload your laptop's travel bag with additional cargo. This will take extra weight off of your shoulder. To further improve comfort, use a travel bag that has a cushion on the shoulder strap. Switch shoulders periodically to balance out the burden on your shoulder muscles.

Backpacks that are designed for carrying laptops are great for not only distributing the laptop's weight on your back, but also as camouflage for potential thieves. Wheeled luggage carts are even better since they take the weight off your body entirely.


Make it a Habit

It's always best to get in some preventive medicine. If you wait for when you start feeling the pain, then it's too late—the damage is already done. Instead, start getting into these habits early. Your aching co-workers may notice your exercises and ask, "But you don't have any joint problems!" You can then tell them that's right...that's how you know it works!


For more information about laptop docking stations and other useful laptop accessories, please take a look at our online store. You can also contact us with any questions via email or by calling 1-877-456-7869.

Coolest PC Case Mods

Computers are like sports cars for geeks. It's the meter by which we judge each other and establish our geeky status.

It's not always about who has the hottest technical specifications... Many times, it's about personal style! If you can't have the most powerful computer, it's just as good to have the most unique. Hardcore computer geeks with an artistic talent (and a lot of time on their hands) turn their computers into fun projects. Think of it as Pimp My Ride, but for PCs.

The key to an impressive PC case mod is—as the saying goes—thinking outside the box. In order to fit all the necessary hardware into various unorthodox shapes, most PC case modders use laptop parts, due to their compact size. The most common parts used are laptop optical drives and laptop motherboards.

Here are some examples of the craziest PC mods that we've found across the web! Some of the engineers that created them were also kind enough to supply detailed instructions for how to create your own!


Hamster PC


We all like to joke that our computers are powered by a hamster wheel. Will Knier from Raleigh, NC decided to bring that vision to life! He converted the top sections of a full-sized PC tower into an actual home for his hamster. The living compartment of the PC case is split into two rooms, connected by PVC pipe, and are visible by translucent walls.


NES PC


One popular case mod converts an old 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System into a slick retro PC design. The NES's cartridge loading bay is an ideal spot to install the optical drive, often using a laptop CD-ROM drive. The power and reset buttons can easily be used for their PC tower counterparts.


Similar PC case mods have been produced using the bodies of other classic video game consoles, such as the Commodore 64, Super NES, and even the portable-sized Nintendo Game Boy.


Victorian All-in-One PC


This case mod (created by Jake von Slatt) is made with state of the art hardware, but given a classy, antiquated look. It's also been nicknamed the "Steampunk PC", since it harkens to the type of science fiction that places modern technology in old-world eras.

On the inside, the creator of the Steampunk PC mounted the system hardware onto the back of the 19in LCD monitor. The DVD-ROM drive is installed inside the base, hidden on one side. As icing to this nerd-tastic cake, Jake added matching custom-made keyboard and mouse.


Batman Begins Batmobile PC


There are few pop culture icons that rank cooler than Batman. He has the neatest gadgets, hottest car, and can master any puzzle with his sharp detective mind. A veritable geek god.

In homage to the caped crusader, a PC case modder known only as "batfan06" assembled an impressive case mod in the form of the tumbler Batmobile from the recent Batman Begins film. What's especially cool about this case mod is that the case itself is a simple remote-controlled Batmobile toy found at Walmart!

Mr. batfan06 took great care to make all the ports, drives, and vents easily accessible, yet tactically hidden from casual view. LED lights were added to make the Batmobile PC quite the impressive sight in the dark. At first glance, you wouldn't expect it to be a fully-functional desktop PC; it would just look like a really sweet Batmobile model.


Microwave PC


This may be the most clever way to disguise your computer as a common household appliance. The front window of the microwave has been refitted with a flat-panel LCD monitor. By opening the microwave's door, you'll be able to access the system hardware, housed inside the food compartment. The control panel on the side has been revamped with PC controls and switches, while maintaining the style of a traditional microwave oven. Oddly, the optical drive is mounted on the top of the microwave, where discs are fed in vertically, though it doesn't detract much from the overall coolness factor.


For any questions or suggestions about PC hardware, please contact us via email or by calling 1-800-620-6886. We offer a wide variety of replacement laptop parts that you may need for your own custom PC case mod, as well as laptop repair services (in the event of a modding mishap).

Top 5 Web Distractions

When it comes to productivity, the internet is both the greatest tool as well as your worst enemy. We’re all guilty of indulging in a bit of web-based distraction. When a co-worker sends you a link to a funny video in an email, you can’t help but click!

Just for fun and because it’s Friday (TGIF!), here’s a Top 5 list of irresistible web distractions...


5. Bash.org


Bash.org is an online quote database of some of the most ludicrous quotes collected from online chat rooms. It’s filled with witty comebacks, pop culture references, embarrassing typos, and personal anecdotes. We warn you, however, that much of the language found in these quotes are off-color and might not be safe for work, in case your boss comes looking over your shoulder.


4. LOLCATS, et all


The term "lolcats" comes from a popular internet meme (or fad) of taking cute/silly photos of cats and adding funny—often misspelled—captions to them. The first site to showcase these images was icanhascheezburger.com and its popularity quickly spread across the web like wildfire. This inspired a boom of similar blogs where viewers of the site are encouraged to send in their own images of a similar theme.

Failblog.org collects images of hilarious sign typos and design flaws. ThisIsWhyYoureFat.com displays all sorts of confectionary abominations that will stop your heart in one bite. And LameBook.com collects snips of unfortunate messages found on social networks like FaceBook.


3. Newgrounds


Newgrounds hosts a wide variety of Flash-based animations and games. At first glance, this looks like a site designed for the younger crowd, and for the most part, it might be. However, even adults can find themselves trapped in their games section.

Many video game designers who have moved on to design games professionally found their origins in Newgrounds. Perhaps the most famous of which being The Behemoth Company, who went on to develop Alien Homonid for PS2 and Nintendo Gamecube as well as Castle Crashers, which is available for download on Xbox 360 and PS3.


2. YouTube, et all


YouTube is one of the hottest sources for video on demand. In their archives, you’ll find postings of people’s favorite TV show clips, original homemade videos, and all sorts of crazy stunts caught on cell phone cameras. The most common traps are videos with cute/funny animals. Once you see one, your eyes immediately scroll through the list of Related Videos. You’ll also find classic commercials, long-forgotten cartoons, and news clips from around the country.

Since YouTube created fast-growing interest in streaming video, similar sites have emerged. Hulu is one of the top sources for watching official streams of current and classic TV shows and movies. And for the kids, Crunchy Roll hosts a vast assortment of streaming cartoons. These sites aren’t something you want to check out while on the clock, though they are great for those at home that have a PC-to-TV setup.


1. Fark


The world truly is a strange place. Every day, Fark posts hundreds of links to the most astounding news stories from around the world. Each link is submitted by their readers and is given one of Fark’s trademark witty headlines.

Fark depends on more than just user-submitted links to maintain its reader base. To keep the community active, there are several interactive links posted in the feed. Photoshop challenges and photo caption contests take place in the comments of certain links.

While most of the stories found on Fark are humorous, there are plenty that cover serious topics, as well as amazing feats in science and nature. Each news story is fitted with a topic-related tag, which makes the site easier to browse. The site has grown so much in the past few years that it’s had to divide itself into different sections, depending on the type of news you’re looking for. (There are some hidden sections as well, but those are mostly NSFW.)

Top 10 Laptop Battery Tips

Your laptop battery is the lifeblood of your portable computer work. The longer a laptop battery can stay juiced up, the more work we can get done between charges. And when the battery eventually dies, it can be costly to replace. More so if you have an older laptop whose parts are hard to find.

So in order to keep your laptop running strong, you'll need to take good care of your battery. It's easy to neglect the laptop battery; they don't stand out as much as most notebook accessories. As they say, out of sight, out of mind.

To arm you with the knowledge you need to maintain your beloved laptop, we've come up with this list of essential Top 10 tips for extending the life of your laptop's battery!


1. Avoid The "Memory Effect"

Older laptops that use nickel-metal hybrid batteries are tricky in how they are charged. If you frequently use battery power for a short period of time before recharging it, the battery life will gradually shorten.

For example, if you typically use only 15% of the battery's power before recharging it back to full capacity, the batter will "remember" this habit and over time will only make that 15% available. That means 85% of the battery's full capacity will become wasted. For older batteries, it's best to not recharge it until it reaches below 25%. This will improve the battery's chances of "remembering" its actual full capacity.

Laptop owners with newer Lithium-Ion batteries shouldn't worry about this phenomenon. In fact, a full depletion of battery charge is only recommended for every 30 recharges.


2. Power Options

You can easily adjust the power settings in your laptop to optimize your battery power usage. For Windows users, access Power Options in your Control Panel. From there, select the Max Battery power scheme to get the most power from the battery. Adjust the wait time before the laptop's screen or hard drive is shut off.


Mac users can click on System Preferences from the Apple Menu. When running on battery power, select the Power Saver power plan. When your laptop is plugged into an AC adapter, switch the power plan to High-Performance. You can adjust when the screen shuts off from here as well.


3. Keep The Laptop Cool

As is true for any type of hardware, heat is a killer. Never place your laptop on an insulated surface like a pillow or blanket. Avoid using your laptop in areas where the temperature exceeds 80°F. Make a habit of blowing compressed air through your laptop's fans and vents to clear out any dust or hair. And if at all possible, get a cooling pad to rest under your laptop to insure a cooling airflow.


4. Hibernate, Not Stand By

Two key areas to pay attention to while you're managing your laptop's power options are Hibernate and Stand By. Sending your system to Stand By will save some power while the laptop is idle, but many functions remain active.

When your laptop goes into hibernation, it saves the state that your system is in before shutting itself off. When the laptop switches back on, that state is send back into memory so you can pick up where you left off while saving significantly more power in the meantime.


5. Save To The Hard Drive

It may not look like it, but CD- and DVD-ROM drives use a lot of power to keep spinning. If you need to access multiple or large files that are stored on a disc, save the files to the hard drive first. You'll save a lot of power reading the files from the hard drive than keeping the optical drive's motor continuously spinning.


6. Defrag Often


Since we recommend reading your data from the hard drive, you'll need to make sure the hard drive is in optimal shape. The easiest thing to do is to defragment the hard drive every week or two. By defragmenting our hard drive, data that's used most often is kept close together. As a result, the hard drive won't have to work as hard to gather up that data, thus using less power.

As a bonus, you'll notice a vast improvement in load time!


7. Avoid Multitasking

The more tasks that your system has to juggle, the more battery power you'll eat up. If possible, try to only have one or two applications running at a time. Using the Task Manager in Windows, shut down all the background processes that you aren't currently using.

Multitasking applies to hardware as well! Minimize the amount of devices you have connected to the laptop at a time. Each USB device you have connected to the laptop uses battery power to operate. Obviously, it may not be wise to charge the battery in your cell phone or iPod through a USB cable while your laptop itself is running off battery power.


8. Dim Your Screen

Your laptop's monitor screen is like a big, flat light bulb. Turn the brightness setting of your laptop's display as low as you can comfortably see. If you're using your laptop in a dark room, you should be able to turn the brightness levels to their lowest setting while still seeing the display clearly.

As mentioned before, set the display to turn off shortly after you stop working on the laptop. Avoid relying on a screensaver while on battery power, since they tend to keep the screen's backlight on unnecessarily as your laptop sits idle.


9. Disable WiFi

If you're not accessing the internet while you're running on battery power, disable your laptop's wireless internet adapter. Even if you're not actively working online, the wireless adapter will continue to seek and connect with nearby WiFi hotspots.


10. Disconnect The Battery

If you're at home or anywhere that you can connect your laptop to a laptop AC adapter, you may want to remove the battery once it's been fully recharged. This will decrease the risk of overloading the battery. Store the battery in a cool place, since heat can damage the battery even when not in use. A fully-charged battery should be used again within three weeks in order to maintain longevity.

While your battery is disconnected, it's important to keep the connectors clean. Use light amounts of rubbing alcohol on the connectors of the battery and the laptop (just make sure the laptop is turned off first!).


One habit we like to encourage: Always keep a spare! While traveling with your laptop, keep a spare laptop battery packed with you in case your first battery gets used up.

Additionally, we recommend carrying a spare laptop AC adapter wherever you take your laptop so you're never too far from a recharge.

If you're experiencing strange power glitches in your laptop that you can't explain, we can take a look at it for you! Our laptop repair service includes checking your laptop's battery or DC power jack. For any questions, send us an email or call 919-620-6886.

Gmail Outage Affects Millions

If you tried checking your Gmail at some point yesterday afternoon, you may have felt some frustration. The same frustration shared by millions of other Gmail users when Google experienced a service outage for a few hours during routine maintenance.

Google had taken some of its Gmail web servers offline to perform some routine maintenance and upgrades Tuesday morning. While Google performs this kind of maintenance quite often, they had underestimated the amount of traffic that the remaining request routers would be left to handle. The web servers that handle Gmail’s web-based interface where severely overloaded, unable to direct users’ requests to Gmail’s web servers.

Gmail users that send and receive their email via IMAP/POP access experienced no interruption, since that service doesn’t require communication with the same request routers as Gmail’s web-based interface. Those who have Gmail Offline enabled through Google Apps were able to at least connect with their inbox, but sending or receiving email was disabled. All the same, tens of millions of Gmail users were unable to access their email at all.

It wasn’t just personal email accounts that panicked about their crippled services; over 1.75 million businesses are dependent on Gmail as part of the Google Apps platform. Google uses its Google Apps service as a web-based alternative to compete with Microsoft’s various office software. Google insists that web-based "cloud computing" is far more secure than locally installed applications.

Cloud computing is also one of the leading concepts used to promote netbooks. However, outages like the one experienced on Tuesday suggest a critical danger in the dependence of other entities to support virtualized utilities.

As you’d imagine, one industry that’s hurt more by Gmail outages more than any other is the spam industry. Companies out to sell us Viagra, weight-loss pills, and fake lottery winnings couldn’t reach a large percentage of their market.

Google claims that the outage only lasted for about two hours, though many users experienced and outage for several hours on Tuesday, with reports of some outages on Monday as well. Once they’d recognized the problem, they immediately brought as many available request routers as possible online to spread out the massive demand on traffic.

Also hit with a taxing boost in traffic were services like Twitter and Facebook, who also suffered short outages on Tuesday. As Gmail users discovered their email was down, many fled to other sites to tweet their complaints. Other popular social networking sites were used as secondary means of sending messages to their peers.

In the wake of this disaster, Google has promised to learn from this experience so that it doesn’t happen again. Obviously, the first step is to insure that plenty of extra request routers are in place in order to handle potential traffic during maintenance. Additionally, they’ve set up their network so that if all request routers are overloaded, they’ll merely slow down instead of refusing requests altogether.

After much apology, Google assured its users that they’ll be hard at work over the next couple weeks to implement the necessary system improvements so that outages like this one are at most, rare. While most users may be forgiving, but businesses considering Google Apps to handle important tasks may be more hesitant to subscribe.