Archive for Laptop and Netbook

Choosing between Windows and Linux for your Netbook

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by admin on April 5th 2011 in Laptop and Netbook     tags: , , , , , ,    

If you are having trouble choosing between Windows and Linux for your netbook, here are a few advices to steer you into the right direction:

Choose Windows if you…

  • Have plenty of experience with Windows and don’t have time to learn other operating systems.
  • Plan on using certain Windows programs that can’t run in Linux.
  • Have hardware (scanner, printer, and so on) that doesn’t work in Linux.

Choose Linux if you…

  • Prefer free, open-source environment
  • Already use Linux for at least a few months and feel comfortable with it.
  • Are ready to trade off a couple of quirks for a really secure operating system.
  • Are willing to invest more time in learning a new OS. (If you are an experienced Windows user, you can become a good Linux user in just a week or two.)
Windows Linux

Windows Linux

Each day, Linux is getting closer to become a solid competitor to Windows on desktops and laptops, but it still has a few quirks that can frustrate average Windows users, not to mention the compatibility and hardware support issues.
If you go to retail outlets to look for netbooks, there is a good probability you will find a Linux netbook. But, stores are increasingly stocking only Windows netbooks – a few reports said that netbooks with Linux have a slightly higher return rate; it is likely because the new GUI and compatibility issues frustrate impatient Windows users. If you need a netbook only to go online and do light office works, you should use Linux and spend one or two days learning the new GUI. Ask the retailer to install your devices, for example; USB modem or portable printer, to the netbook, since occasionally installing hardware in Linux requires complicated settings.  If you have a netbook with Intel processor (Atom or Celeron), keep in mind that you are not tied to using the pre-installed OS.
That means you are allowed to dump Windows and replace it with Linux.
You should first find a suitable distro. Check out related online forums, often you’ll find a lot of discussions about a popular distro and it is a good idea to ask for the easiest way to install the distro to your netbook.

  • Download the distribution and burn it to a DVD or CD. (It is also possible to put the distribution image on a USB flash drive or an SD memory card, but having an external optical drive is usually the easiest route.)
  • Back up all important files
  • Boot from the installation disc – it typically involves changing the boot-up sequence in the BIOS menu.
  • After you run the installation disc, follow the installation instructions.
  • Restart the netbook, and Linux will run.

Many distributions have “live” versions; it means you can run Linux from the CD, without reformatting the hard disk and replacing the original Windows OS. It’s a good way to test whether a Linux distro suits your needs or whether it works nicely in your netbook. Some netbook manufacturers provide a copy of the installation package in a separate hard disk partition. It could be easier to reinstall Linux because you don’t need a CD/DVD. But if you format the hard disk and want to reinstall Linux, then you’re out of luck. If a Linux installation disc is not provided with your netbook, contact the seller to see whether it is possible to get one.

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Bluetooth and Netbooks

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by admin on January 1st 2011 in Laptop and Netbook     tags: , , , , , ,    
Bluetooth to Netbook

Bluetooth

Many netbooks tout bluetooth as one of their important features. But what exactly does bluetooth mean to you? Well, here’s the lowdown: In short, bluetooth is a wireless standard for exchanging data over very short distances -up to 32 feet or 10 meters. A bluetooth device transmits a 2.4 GHz radio signal, while other device receives the signal, both will start talking with one another.

Bluetooth is named after a Danish King Harald “bluetooth” blaatand. Of course Harald did not invent the wireless protocol – but he was known for unifying Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Because the bluetooth inventors saw the protocol as a unifying communications standard, they wanted to honor King Harald. Obviously, the symbol on the bluetooth logo is King Harald’s initials in Nordic runes. It is a good way to replace data and peripheral cables. There are bluetooth-compatible mice, headphones, keyboards, printers, GPS receivers, cell phones, and PDAs. None of them need cables. One of the most useful features of bluetooth is calendar and contact synchronization among cell phones, laptops, and PDAs.  If you have a bluetooth-compatible cellphone, it’s possible to connect to the internet through the cellphone without data cable.

Remember that bluetooth transfers your files at a rate of 1 Mbps. Although that’s about six times faster than serial and parallel ports, it is substantially slower than an 802.11 Wi-Fi connection – you shouldn’t use bluetooth for your day-to-day Internet connection.

Even so, the next generation bluetooth Ver. 3.0, will amp up the standard’s data rate to a zoomy 24 Mbps. Other than the speed increase, the bluetooth standard will also offer improved power management capabilities, so new bluetooth devices can run longer on batteries.

If you don’t have built-in bluetooth in your netbook, but you are tired of those data cable, you can get an affordable bluetooth adapter (around $25) that you can plug in to a USB slot – you may need a driver to run your modem, but in most cases, Windows would automatically do it for you.

In Windows, you need to configure bluetooth before using it, just follow the configuration wizard to easily adjust the setting. You should choose the types of services you need, such as file transfer, PIM (Personal Information Manager) synchronization, headset, and so forth.

When the configuration is completed, Windows creates a ‘My bluetooth Places’ icon on the desktop. If you click the icon, a window is opened to control all bluetooth connections (you can also search for nearby devices). Another bluetooth icon is also placed in the taskbar for easy access.

Check the netbook’s user manual for more information on using bluetooth.  If you have a built-in bluetooth in your netbook, you should turn it off to improve battery life. Use a menu command or press a function key (check the user manual) to turn it off and on.

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Using Windows Vista in Netbook

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by admin on November 1st 2010 in Laptop and Netbook     tags: , , , ,    
Windows Vista

Windows Vista

Windows Vista hasn’t been a smashing success Microsoft expected it to be. Since Windows Vista was introduced in 2007, a lot of computer users expressed their satisfaction with Windows XP (especially Service Pack 2) by choosing not to migrate. And with the sales of desktop and laptop (which come pre-installed with Windows Vista) down, Microsoft hasn’t been able to create as big of a dent in the user base as it thought it would.

Vista requires more computing horsepower and memory than previous Windows versions, and it is where Microsoft made a poor assumption.  Up until now, computer components have evolved very predictably – latest computers have faster processors, bigger hard drives, better graphic cards and more memory than earlier generations. Microsoft assumed that the Moore’s Law would continue, and that PCs would eventually and naturally beef up to meet Windows Vista’s demands. Unfortunately, the emergence of netbooks in the end of 2007 flipped this assumption on its head – underpowered, no-frills laptops are selling like hot cakes.  For many consumers, internet access and better portability have taken priority over computer performance. Because basic netbooks have only one gigabyte or less of memory and relatively low-performance processors, Windows Vista isn’t the best OS to use. A few netbook users have attempted installing Vista on their midget notebooks and were disappointed at the performance and speed. That’s why most netbook users still use Windows XP as their favorite operating system. (Cost factor is one of the reasons, as copies of Windows XP have a cheaper licensing fee than Windows Vista.)

Although certain manufacturers do use Vista Home after various system settings, netbooks can be fine-tuned to accommodate Vista.  If you are a hardy soul, bound and determined to run Windows Vista on your netbook, then follow these tips to make your life easier:

  • Upgrade your RAM to at least 2GB. A 512K of RAM may give you plenty of excruciating experiences in Vista, and 1GB is better, but can be slow in a few occasions.
  • Make sure there is enough storage space. Windows Vista is big, and it is not recommended to install it on a low-capacity SSD.
  • Download vLite at http://www[dot]vlite[dot]net, it is a free utility that creates a stripped-down version Windows Vista. You need to have a legal copy of Vista; as it needs a Vista installation disc to extract the “lite-Vista”.
  • You should get an external DVD player to install Vista. It may be possible to install Vista from a USB flash drive or an SD memory card, but the optical drive is always the easiest route.
  • You need new drivers for your netbook hardware. Check the availability of Vista-compatible drivers for all of your hardware before deciding to install Vista.
  • Search popular search engines for your netbook model and Windows Vista (for example, search for “MSI Wind Vista”) to read about other netbooks owners who may have successfully installed Windows Vista.
  • Or, better yet, skip the above steps, sell your old XP netbook, and find a new one with Vista preinstalled.
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Ethernet and Netbook

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by admin on October 3rd 2010 in Laptop and Netbook     tags: , , , , , ,    

Most netbooks have an RJ45 jack placed somewhere on the case. It should look like what you would plug a landline phone into but is a little larger – a phone cord won’t fit in it.

Ethernet

The RJ45 jack is important for wired network access and it connects to a 10/100 Ethernet card in your netbook. Plug a network cable with a  RJ45 connector (commonly called a Category 5 or CAT5 cable) into your netbook’s jack and plug the other end into a switch, router, or wall network port, and you are ready to go. If the switch or router you’re connecting to uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Windows quickly connects to the Internet. It is as simple as plugging in a cable and getting connected in just a matter of seconds. Many networks today use DHCP, but some still use static IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. In this case you’ll need to have a valid IP address from the system administrator and configure your IP settings. Your administrator may provide an instruction on how to do it.

If an Ethernet connection is available, these are a few things you need to consider:

  • An Ethernet connection is a lot faster than a wireless (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth)

connection – except a 4G network at full performance.

  • An Ethernet connection uses less battery power than a wireless connection.
  • An Ethernet connection isn’t vulnerable to radio wave interferences.

A network status icon shows up in the Windows taskbar – it appears like two computer monitors, which will lit up when data is transferred. Move the cursor over the icon to find out whether you have an Ethernet connection. If you do, its speed is displayed.

You don’t have to turn off your netbook’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when you are using an Ethernet connection. Windows is clever enough to handle these connections at once. However, if you are having a few networking glitches though, consider terminating your wireless connections.

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Using 3G in Netbooks

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by admin on August 9th 2010 in Laptop and Netbook     tags: , , , , , ,    

Each time you hear the term 3G (or Third Generation), it refers to a data access standard through cellular networks.

This is how it works:

If you ever use a newer cellular phone, you probably see the small 3G symbol near the signal strength indicator whenever you browse the Web and check e-mail from your phone. It is also possible to use a 3G modem (USB modem) on your netbook when accessing the Net.  Unlike WLAN, where you have to be near a Wi-Fi access point, with a 3G network as long as you are within cellular network’s data coverage, you can access the Internet. Speed is sufficiently fast (especially if you are stationary), but isn’t as reliable as a WLAN connection.  A few netbooks come with integrated 3G modems. If your netbook does not have a 3G modem, you can still get 3G connectivity in several different ways.

  • USB: It looks like a flash drive and plugs into a USB port.
  • ExpressCard: some netbooks have ExpressCard expansion slot – it is a smaller model of a PC Card. A few manufacturers offer netbooks with ExpressCard 3G modems.

You can usually get a 3G modem through the cellular provider. USB modems prices range is between $80 and $180 depending on the model and features. But hold onto your hats as many providers are now offering discounted modems or 3G cellphones when you subscribe to a data plan and perhaps, in the near future carriers will start giving away no-frills, subsidized netbooks for data plan subscription.

Check with your carrier to get more details about its 3G service packages and compatibility with netbooks. Before you choose a 3G service, try to get some user feedbacks about how the service quality is in your area -it could be useful to visit forums such as http://cellphoneforums[dot]net or www[dot]howardforums[dot]com. Although your cellular carrier may claim wide coverage area, some places may have better and faster connectivity than others.

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