GeekSugar

Winter-Proof Your Gadgets: 6 Tips You Need to Know

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:21:48 PST

Winter is in full effect, and I don't know about you, but it's getting pretty cold in my neck of the woods. While I do travel with my gadgets quite a bit, I've learned that cold weather is not always tech-friendly. You may not realize it, but freezing temps can be just as dangerous - if not more so - to gadgets than the Summer heat since there are hidden dangers you can't see. Check out these six Winter weather tips that will help ensure your gadgets see the light of Spring this year.

Keep them out of the trunk - Keep your laptops, cell phones, and tablets out of the trunk for extended periods during cold days to prevent damage to screens and to keep your hard drive from freezing.
If you must trunk it, keep it bundled up - If you absolutely must leave your gear in your car in freezing temps, wrap it up in layers - like a jacket or sweater - to keep it warm. You can also find laptop warmers (which are specifically made for laptops) to keep them from getting icy if you live in cold conditions.
Turn them off - Letting your laptop or tablet remain in sleep mode may keep it warmer (since it is still working), but it also increases your chances of damage if you're on the move. Be sure to power down all the way to keep your data safe.
Warm up before booting up - If your machine is on the cold side, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Carry a charger - Cold weather sucks the life out of your batteries, so be sure to carry extra chargers in your car for emergencies.
Watch out for sensitive screens - Cold weather makes a smartphone screen extra sensitive, so be sure to keep it close to your bod if you're out in the snow, or consider a warm accessory - like a smartphone wallet, sock, or sleeve - to keep it cozy.

Ooh La La: Get Excited For the HP Envy 14 Spectre

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:41:00 PST

It's like no other ultrabook you've seen at CES so far: the attractive HP Envy 14 Spectre's top shell is made of black, scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. No kidding. Although the Spectre is on the heavier side of the ultrabook norm at four pounds (which is to be expected, I suppose, with a glass shell), it remains light enough to transport with ease.

The Spectre boasts nine hours of battery life, Beats Audio technology, a full back-lit keyboard, and built-in HP Wireless Audio that allows you to stream uncompressed audio to up to four different devices. One interesting addition is the analog volume slider dial on the side that controls your tunes. It was added in as a "visual design cue," but I'm wondering how sensitive it will be.

The HP Envy 14 is quite the looker, but will set you back $1,400 when it hits the streets on Feb. 8. Check it out for yourself in these pics!

Acer Introduces Two New Timeline Ultrabooks at CES

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:25:40 PST

Acer introduced a new lineup of ultrabooks to the world today, including the 14- and 15-inch Timeline Ultra. This slim and sleek laptop is just 20mm thick with a battery that keeps on chugging for up to eight hours. Instant-On technology helps you boot up in the blink of an eye, while Acer's signature AcerCloud cloud storage keeps your documents, music, and photos within reach on your PCs, laptops, and mobile devices wherever you are. A dedicated graphics card will allow you to game in 3D, and if you're still toting DVDs, the Timeline Ultra even comes with a DVD-Super Multi optical drive.

Other specs include the latest Intel Core i processors, SSD/HDD storage options, Dolby surround sound, HDMI, and USB 3.0 ports. No pricing has been made available just yet, but you can expect both 14- and 15-inch versions in Q2 of this year.

Get a better look at the Timeline Ultra in the gallery.

Extend the Life of Your Computer With These Care Tips

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:31:26 PDT

If your laptop is still in working order, you probably don't need to spring for that brand-new MacBook Air this season before you head back to class. Nonetheless, the start of a new school year (or just Fall in general) is a good time to spruce up your trusty laptop and get it ready for the long nights of studying ahead. Here, a few tips on how to get your machine in tip-top shape before the first bell rings, and how to care for a brand new investment so it serves you well for the next four years.

Clean it Up

Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.

Practice proper shut-down habits

Shutting down all open programs, and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport.

Protect your investment

If you're going to be lugging a laptop around campus, make sure it's protected in a padded case!

See the rest of my tips after the jump.

Keep Your Laptop Out of the Trunk This Summer

GeekSugar — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:21:32 PDT

With Summer in full swing and record-breaking hot temperatures across much of the country, it's important to remember your gadgets, too! Long days and Summer plans may eep you on the go, so it's easy to be tempted to store your laptop in the trunk of your car while you hit happy hour or catch a movie with friends. But, just like excessive heat can cause problems for you, it can spell disaster for your gadgets, too. Keeping a laptop in a hot car (even in the trunk!) can do serious damage. Remember these points before locking your laptop away:

Your battery life will suffer. The batteries in many laptops are not heat-friendly, and repeat exposure can actually affect the battery life. Your battery may lose power sooner, become difficult to charge completely, or even die altogether.
Your hard drive could get damaged. Excessive heat can cause the components of your computer's hard drive to expand, causing damage, even leading to hard drive failure.

For more laptop travel tips, keep reading.

9 Tips to Make Your Computer Last and Run Fast

LearnVest — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Cute bathing suit vs. medical co-pay. Yummy organic blueberries vs. credit card late fees. Beachside mojitos vs. laptop repair.

When it comes to certain expenses, it’s clear which we’d prefer. So, as a public service to help you fund all of your summer cocktails, we recommend taking a look at your Old Faithful–your computer, that is.

It’s your buddy, your confidant, and it brings you all the great info out there (like, ahem, this article). And at a grand or more apiece, it’s worth your while to make sure this expensive electronic goes the distance–if only to keep your summer funds going where they should be.

From dusting your USB ports to coddling that battery, we bring you nine tips to make sure that your machine does your bidding for ages to come:

1. Protect Yourself

If your computer were to get a virus, a diagnostic and fix at a place like Best Buy could cost as much as $200. So, protect yourself in advance. Make sure you have an antivirus and that all of your definitions are up to date. If you don’t pay for an antivirus, get a free one like AVG or Avast.

2. Watch Your Water

We can tell you from firsthand experience that one of the easiest ways to ruin a laptop is to reach for a glass of water on your desk late at night. This may sound basic, but prevent spilling on your expensive electronics by investing in a closed lip water bottle to use near your computer. If you’re on the market for a stylish new bottle that will keep your laptop-and the environment-safe, check out our picks.

Read on for more great tips.

What Do You Do With an Old Laptop?

Leta Shy — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:09:59 PDT

There are many tech treats that were on holiday wish lists recently, and if you now have that fancy new Macbook Air or tablet in your hands, you may now be faced with a dilemma: what to do with your old laptop?

The pace of technology can make it seem like your old machine is obsolete, but sometimes donating it is the perfect solution; non-profits can use a working laptop by either selling it or using it for daily operations. No matter if you're recycling your laptop along with your old phone or donating it, check out a few tips before you say goodbye to it - and let me know what you plan on doing with your new one, if you were so lucky - after the break.

New MacBook Pros Coming Within Weeks?

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:53:11 PST

According to sources, Apple's line of MacBook Pros will be getting a refresh in the coming weeks. New features include a larger glass trackpad, and two hard drives (one SSD dedicated to the OS only), as well as coming in a half pound lighter than previous versions.

Now, the dual hard drives may be a bit confusing at first, but when you think about Apple's push for "instant on" (coming with its latest MacBook Air line, iPads, and iPhones), this dedicated SSD may allow the laptop to boot and wake up from sleep faster than ever before. Also notable: there are said to be five different SKU numbers, which indicate there will be several models to choose from. As you may have guessed, nothing has been confirmed by Apple at this time, but if you're in the market for a new MacBook Pro, you may want to hold off on buying for a few more weeks just in case!

Will 3G Access Come Standard in Future MacBook Airs?

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:30:13 PST

Looks like Apple's MacBook Air may join the ranks of other ultra-portable laptops that come straight outta the box with the ability to access 3G signals from a wireless provider. A new survey has been sent to current MacBook Air owners that gauges interest in 3G connections and asks about data usage and storage. If the MacBook Air does end up getting 3G access, it could compete with Apple's already-popular (and celebrity-endorsed) iPad 3G. Why get a tablet when you can get a full-fledged computer?

There have been lots of rumors floating around about big-time changes coming to Apple's iPhone line (including an iPhone Nano and a totally revamped iPhone 5, to be exact), so the MacBook Air could just be one of many adjustments we see Apple making to its popular products.

5 Tips For Keeping Your Laptop Healthy This Winter

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 04:00:18 PST

Winter is in full effect, and I don't know about you, but it's getting pretty cold in my neck of the woods. While I do travel with my gadgets quite a bit, I've learned that cold weather is not always friendly for my laptop. You may not realize it, but freezing temps can be just as dangerous - if not more so - to a laptop than the Summer heat since there are hidden dangers you can't see. Check out these five Winter weather tips that will help ensure your machine sees the light of Spring this year.

Keep it out of the trunk - Just like your cell phone, you'll want to keep your laptop out of the trunk for extended periods during cold days to prevent damage to the screen, and your hard drive from freezing.
If you must trunk it, keep it bundled up - If you absolutely must leave your laptop in your car in freezing temps, wrap it up in layers - like a jacket or sweater - to keep it warm. You can also find laptop warmers (which are specifically made for laptops) to keep it from getting icy if you live in cold conditions.

See the remaining tips when you read more.