I always keep my notebook in sight when I travel around or sit in a public place like a library or Internet cafe. Not only because of the fear that someone could grab and steal it but also because someone could install software, invade my privacy or use the notebook for malicious activities.
Protect your data from physical access
Experts are able to gather sensitive data from your computer if they gain physical access to it. This can be achieved by various means like Live CDs, accessing unprotected accounts or administrators that take a look in your profile folders. They can search the files on your hard drives, read documents, look at your Internet cache, the mailboxes which contain all of your mails – even the deleted ones – and histories of downloaded files.
Keep a Daily Diary
It was only a matter of time until someone create a software that would function as a virtual diary. I do know many people that keep a diary and all of them are using the usual notebook to write their daily entries. Another method for the virtual generation would be to use a software like iDaily Diary to keep a diary on your computer. Software diaries have some advantages over notebooks.
Test your notebooks battery
Do you know how long the battery of your notebook lasts in different modes like idle and workload ? You probably know that the manufacturer of the notebook claims that it would last for a certain time but you don’t know if you can believe the figures ? Battery Eater Pro is a freeware utility that tests the battery of a notebook in certain modes and displays accurate information about battery life.
Essential Freeware Utilities for Notebooks
The article essential utilities at laptoplogic.com lists several freeware utilities that should be useful to everyone who owns a notebook (with an intel cpu that is, a guide for amd will follow). All tools mentioned can be desribed as system tools that either show system information, test hardware or tweak it. For example tools to test the notebooks memory (Memtest86) are included as well as dead pixel tester for the lcd screen.
Buying used notebooks
Is it a good idea to look at online marketplaces like ebay to find a (used) notebook ? Is it a good idea to buy a used one or should one go for a new one ? Buying used ones has some advantages over new models: The price will be considerably lower, even if the used one has been purchased just a few months ago. Prices for last generations notebooks drop fast, even more if they have been used already.
Useful Notebook Tools
I decided to finally buy a notebook for work and took a look at software designed specifically for notebooks. I came up with the following list that should be essential for everyone who owns a notebook or wants to buy one.
