• Surfing the internet
• Checking emails
• Instant messenger
• Writing papers
• Printing Papers
• Making spreadsheets
• Slide Presentations
• Playing Solitaire
• Downloading MP3's
• Listening to MP3's
• Burning to CD's
• Watching DVD's
• Digital camera photo
• Children's games
• Keeping bank figures
• Small business use
• The lists goes on...

The fact is, most current software for your computer is not designed to need the high performance of a brand new laptop. Computer manufactures are moving so fast, that software makers simply do not keep up. Most current software will run on a computer 4 times slower than the fastest laptops made.Most current software will run flawlessly on a computer 4 times slower than the fastest laptops made. What does that mean for you? It means that it's not necessary to spend $1500 or more on a top of the line laptop. Depending on your needs from your laptop, you may be able to buy a laptop for as low as $250.

A $250 laptop will perform all the necessary tasks for most people. However, if you are looking for a laptop that will burn CD's and watch DVD movies, expect to spend $400 - $750.Dell says I can buy a brand new laptop for $699, why should I buy a used one?This is a very smart, and very much overlooked, marketing trick. Let me start by saying that I think Dell is the best computer manufacture on the market, and I endorse their products myself. However, try this yourself on any given day with any manufacture : Today I went to do www.dell.com and browsed new inspiron laptops (The Dell line designed for home users). On the home page was an ad for a laptop "from" $699.

This is after a $100 rebate, so make that price $799. I click the ad and attempt to purchase the item. I am offered to "Customize" or choose "Recommended Solutions". Customizing sounds great. I'm the customer, and I should get what I want.

After choosing "Customize", without selecting any upgrades at all, suddenly the price of the laptop is $1371. I don't like that, so I chose all of the lowest possible choices for all available features to achieve the lowest price. The lowest available configuration made the price $907. I don't want to give up, so I go back and choose "Recommended Solutions" because these configurations are pre-manufactured in quantity, and are therefore cheaper. Four options were offered at these prices: $949, $1249, $999, and $1319.

Each one of these options was offered a $150 rebate (keep in mind this is a mail-in rebate so it doesn't lower your price at checkout) so respectively, if I were to purchase, then wait for my rebate, I could get a laptop for $799, $1099, $849, or $1169. Not one option was available to purchase this laptop at the advertised priced price of $699, even after a mail-in rebate! You will find the same scenario anywhere you go, no matter what manufacture.No option was available to purchase a laptop for $699, even after a mail-in rebate!They have to get you to buy from them somehow. All of the computer manufactures have been using this marketing technique (as described above) for years. Imagine if everyone knew about this and the money they could save on buying a refurbished laptop, without having to sacrifice any of their goals and needs from the computer. These manufactures would not be the same companies that they are today.There are more reasons to consider a refurbished laptop.Another aspect of buying a refurbished computer that should be considered is this: Most refurbished laptops available are not the "low end" home user based laptops.

Examples of home user laptops are: Compaq Presario, Dell Inspiron, eMachines, Hewlett Packard Pavilion, Sony Vaio, and Toshiba Satellite. Refurbished laptops are almost always business model laptops that are off-lease from major corporations. Business laptops have parts available even long after warranty expires. Business laptops provide a better solution because they are the laptops provided by a company that are proven to work well. Examples of business laptops are: Compaq Armada, Dell Latitude, Hewlett Packard Compaq Mobile/Business Workstation, and Toshiba Tecra.

Home user laptops, believe it or not, are usually testing grounds for new engineering of laptop equipment. Home user laptops are typically given shorter warranty, and are designed to last until that warranty expires. After the laptop's warranty has expired, the newer "experimental" home user model available uses different parts. Since the older models are no longer under warranty, and they use "out of date" parts, the manufacture no longer stocks the parts. Therefore, when your home user laptop has an out of warranty problem (which it will), the parts that are available to fix your laptop are very expensive, if they are available at all.

This leaves the home user with the attitude to "throw away and buy new", which is exactly what the manufacture wants you to do.Since business laptops use technology that is proven to work, their parts seldom change from model to model. Due to this fact as well as the fact that business laptops are leased to corporations, huge stock piles of parts are kept at the manufacture for extended warranties as well as out of warranty purchases. For example, you can still call Dell today to order parts for an out of warranty laptop that was manufactured in 1997 or 1998 for the same cost as laptops manufactured in 2002.Business laptops are more expensive than home laptops (as much as $3000), buy used and save a ton.Business laptops, due to their stability, are far more expensive than home user laptops. Using the Dell example, the cheapest Dell business laptop (Latitude), currently available is $2000. Many of the refurbished laptops being sold today for $250-$800 originally sold for $3000 or more.

This means you can buy refurbished and save as much as 80% over buying new.Purchase a refurbished laptop that will suit your needs and last for years, at a great savings.What all of this means is that if you purchase a refurbished laptop, you can expect the following:

• Able to complete all tasks necessary to an everyday user
• Half the cost of a brand new home user laptop
• Up to 80% less than a brand new business laptop
• Proven technology that will last for years
• Parts always available if your laptop has a problem
• Take control in your life, and put extra money in your pocket for other things that are important to you!

After all, a reputable dealer will offer guarantees of quality.For best results go for a reconditioned model ? that way you know that the quality has been verified. It may be a little more expensive, but well worth the investment..

Even people who use their laptops for personal use are not pleased if they lose any important data. Carrying around a laptop all day can cause stress on the machine and increase the chances of data loss.There are many companies that can help you with the laptop data recovery process. After you contact a company, first you will likely go through an evaluation process to evaluate the extent of damage done.A lot of companies will offer a free evaluation and a quote if they feel they can successfully perform recovery operations. It may be a good idea to shop around for services to make sure you are getting the best deal. Each company may offer a different price.

Some companies even have fixed pricing.If you are panicking over a blank laptop screen or a hard drive crash, you will be happy to learn that a high percentage of the requests data recovery companies get are successful completed. However you still need to be prepared that some of the data may never be recovered. The only way to find out is get proactive and contact representatives from data recovery firms. Several data recovery companies have specialized departments for performing data recovery operations on laptops. You can get a lot of your data recovered and receive it in a readable format, even from badly damaged storage devices.Laptop systems are more fragile and therefore highly susceptible to damage to their hard drives.There are many companies online that can offer you internet-based laptop data recovery.

This allows you to ship of your laptop to company headquarters and have it shipped back to you after the data has been recovered.Some problems you may experience with your laptop is a dead screen, hard drive crash, etc. There are different types of laptop data recovery operations you can perform. Laptop data recovery can allow you to recover files after such events and after technical malfunctions. You may also be able to recover MS Word, Excel or Power Point files that you may have accidentally deleted.Laptops can receive a lot of abuse and their hard drives can get damaged. You may need laptop data recovery support if:

• You dropped your notebook and it no longer turns on.
• An unsolicited e-mail has downloaded a Trojan or virus on your laptop.
• The laptop's hard drive crashes.
• You accidentally deleted some important company files and you want them retrieved in a hurry before your boss finds out.

Often companies can perform emergency operations to recover lost data and get you on your way in only 24-48 hours. However be prepared to pay up for these services. The services will be worthwhile depending on how important the lost data is to you or your business.If you are involved in the management of a company, you may want to keep the contact information of a reliable data recovery specialist near your desk. You never know when you may need one..

Shopping for cheap cruises and discount cruises is the way to go whether you're planning for Alaska cruises, carribbean cruises or cruises that take you around the world..

Maximize your office performance with a high quality refurbished laptop.It can be a scary thing buying something that has been used already and we understand this. Reconditioned electronics have been brought up the their original specifications by the original manufacturer, so you can be sure they have been tested for quality. It is much like buying a used car that has been driven for a short period of time, but you don't have to pay the original sticker price, you let someone else pay that and you get the same great quality for a much lower price.OCD http://www.onlinecrazydeals.com also offers a two year extended warranty on our remaufactured notebooks to ease your mind about buying from us. Our mission is simple-We only work with the best to give you the best!.

Today it's all different. All of that can now be done from your home computer.If your schedule permits, wait until the last minute before purchasing an airlines tickets for cheap flights.Another method to use when searching for an airlines tickets for cheap flights is to wait to purchase your ticket until the last minute. Now granted, this method will not work for everyone; but if your schedule is flexible and you have some control over when you travel, why not let the clock run up until the last minute before purchasing your tickets. Many times airlines will be willing to let those seats go for a discount price.How you travel and when you travel is now in the hands of the traveling public. Take some time and learn all the ways that you can find an airlines tickets for cheap flights to make the money you spend on travel go that much further..

You can search out the Cheapest, most Discounted airfare originating from anywhere and going to anywhere...literally in the world.You choose your destination, you choose your schedule, you choose which ticket price suits YOU best and when you're finished, you complete the transaction, right from the comfort of your own home. Cheap tickets and discount airfare, it can't get any easier than that!The best Cheap Tickets and Discount Airfares resource you'll find. When shopping online for cheap tickets and discount airfares, be sure to compare prices with flight departure times and schedules. Seasonal variations can affect travel prices and flight schedules. You'll find that searching for and purchasing a plane ticket online is easy and fun..

When it comes to weight and size, one must consider that the bigger a laptop is, the heavier it is. A small enough size should be chosen, but not so small that it's uncomfortable. The smaller the laptop, the more awkward it will be to type on that tiny keyboard.The display, or screen, is directly tied in to the size of the laptop. One should choose the biggest display possible. Also, a decision has to be made between Active, and Passive Matrix.

Active Matrix is more expensive, but is recommended since pictures come out sharper and moving images play out smoother. Passive Matrix is cheaper, but the picture quality is not as good.Next comes the batteries. There are 3 main types: Li, NiMH, NiCad. What those letters stand for is not important. All one needs to know is to always choose Li since they are higher quality, and provide a longer life.

However, they are slightly more expensive. If one is strapped for money, then NiMH is acceptable. They're slightly cheaper, but must be recharged every hour or so. Under no circumstances should NiCad be chosen. They're extremely low quality, and have no staying power.

Next is the hard-drive. Most laptops start with at least 4.3 gigabytes, or GB, of hard drive space. However, more may be gotten if it's perceived to be needed. Next is the CD-DVD Drive. To be honest, a laptop doesn't really need either one.

But at least one should be added since most software comes in CD form nowadays. If a DVD-ROM drive is chosen, then a CD-ROM drive won't be needed since a DVD-ROM drive can read CD-ROMs.Next is the RAM, or Random Access Memory. This is the Short Term Memory of you computer. How much does a laptop need? The simple answer is about 32 megabytes, or MB, of RAM, but 64 is highly recommended. This is due to the fact that laptops are difficult to upgrade.

Because of this, one might as well get more then they'll currently need, and look ahead. Next is the "brain" otherwise known as the CPU, or Central Processing Unit. The CPU contains all the programs run on a computer. At least 233 MHz in processing speed for a laptop is suggested. There are many types of CPU's but just make sure the laptop that is chosen has one.Lastly, but definitely not least, comes the modems and ports.

The modem allows one to access the Internet. This is important if the laptop will be used to surf the Web, and send email. There are two primary types of modems used with laptops. There's the Internal modem, and the PC card-based modem. Internal modems are easier to hook up, and they're becoming more and more common.

PC card-based modems stick out of a computer. Their advantage is that they can be replaced if upgrades to a faster one are needed. Next are the ports. Ports are where the peripherals are applied, such as microphones, cameras, and extra memory. What type of ports do most laptops have? Currently, all laptops feature a serial, a parallel, an infrared, and a universal serial bus (USB) port.

The reason why there're so many different types of ports is because the peripheral equipment corresponds with different types of ports. That's it. Those are the basics that one should consider when purchasing a laptop. Utilizing the above information, more informed decisions can be made to acquire a laptop with suitable features that meet a users needs. About The AuthorEliu Cordova is an avid computer enthusiast, entrepreneur, and author.

His website, http://cheap-laptops-4-you.com can be used as a resource for helping you decide which laptops are right for you. He can be reached at e-mail protected from spam bots..

Thompson Academy in Honolulu are being scrutinized. Both schools have elected to use laptop computers as a major resource in their curriculum. It must be noted that simply having laptop computer access does not change the learning process - the entire curriculum must change and merge technology with academics. Using a laptop is more than replacing paper and pencil with electronics. The entire relationship between the teacher and students must change.

Teachers are no longer merely dispensers of knowledge but become facilitators in a learning process that takes place with additional tools for communication with students. This encourages greater student involvement, long recognized as a key to learning. Professors actively engaged in education via technology see laptops as a way to give real life experiences to otherwise insipid theories. For instance, physics students can witness the breakdown of radioactive materials, math students can apply their knowledge of logic to projects that use spreadsheets, and english majors can evaluate peers' poetry and prose. With laptop availability in the classroom, access to additional information and knowledge is readily available.

So what do students think of the laptop trend? Well most find it invigorating. Rather than dealing with one dimensional lectures, teachers can engage the internet to show relevancy to daily life. Out of date, static texts can be set aside for breaking news stories - and so much more. As schools show the link between laptops and learning effectiveness, the trend for laptop use will certainly grow.For those opposed to the technological revolution taking place in today's classrooms, perhaps the words of Maria Montessori should be heeded.".....If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man's future....."About Laptopicalhttp://www.laptopical.com - a web site offering relevant news commentary on laptops, notebooks and mobile computers..

If you don't know if it's safe to leave your laptop unattended then ask someone.? Don't leave your laptop or any laptop accessories visible in your hotel. ? If you take a bus or shuttle, hold on to your laptop. Don't put it "in back" with the other luggage.It only takes a few seconds for a thief to grab a laptop. These simple steps will help protect your laptop, your data, and your business trip from disaster!Demopoulos Associates is a consulting firm specializing in Information Security, IT Entrepreneurial Issues, and Business Blogging.Demopoulos Associates20 Tall Pines RoadDurham, NH, USA 03824603-231-8782www.demop.comContact: Ted Demopoulos, 603-231-8782.