Laptops for Dummies

by Dan Gookin

Book Overview

Are you thinking about buying a laptop, but you're not sure what to look for, how to choose one, or how to use it? Or maybe you already have a laptop and just want to learn more about its features, functions, and capabilities. Dan Gookin, the author of the best-selling Dummies series, shows you the ins and outs of owning and operating your portable PC with Laptops for Dummies, 2nd Edition . This fun-and-easy guide covers all the laptop necessities,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470054328
• ISBN13: 9780470054321
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 353 Pages
• Weight: 1.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Laptops for Dummies review

Found this book to answer a lot of questions I had about my laptop---more than I could find anywhere else. Thanks!

Great introduction to laptops!

* Excellent introduction to laptops * Helps you decide what kind of laptop is best for you * Great section on making the most of your laptop * Teaches you how to optimize the laptop for usage on the road * Nice section on extending your laptop's battery life

big help

great assist - just bought my first lap top and while it was on order, read most of the background chapters on laptops- now that we on are on line-its helpful - are there regualarly scheduled updates to this series ?

He Knows what He is Talking About

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.

Laptop Helper

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+