Laptops

Buying a laptop is one of the most complicated purchases one can make. And one of our readers, Matthew, needs your help in choosing the right gaming laptop for him. I really want to get a new gaming laptop. I need a laptop because I spend a lot of time in and out of the hospital. Or I put it in different rooms. Portability is nice, but it doesn’t have to be crazy light, I like the Surface Book 2 but it seems like the specs aren’t worth the money, so I’ve been eyeing an MSI GS65. Advertisement So, Buy Committee (that’s you), scroll down to the comments to share your experiences with your gaming laptops. Help Matthew decide which model he should buy. There hasn’t been a better time to shop for a gaming laptop than right now. In case you haven’t been paying attention, these portable gaming rigs are experiencing a sort of r Advertisement I, for one, am a big fan of Alienware and Razer laptops. I think they have some of the coolest … [Read more...] about Buy Committee: Which Gaming Laptop Should I Buy?

One of the most frustrating issues you can encounter with a device, usually your computer, is when it starts doing something it never did before. Typically, this is something you didn’t want it to do: It takes 15 more seconds to boot, it’s emitting some strange noise, or it is unable to launch the application you’ve been using for the last three months. Weird things like that. To add to the pile, Lifehacker reader Melissa emailed us this perplexing problem: I’ve had my laptop for about 5 years. It’s an ASUS, running Windows 10, antivirus ESET, use Chrome as primary browser. I have always had the settings set to sleep (or hibernate? It’s interchangeable to me) when I step away. I don’t use the laptop in public, so there are no privacy settings needed other than my passcode. I go to work, it sleeps. I come home and hit the spacebar or power button, it picks up browsing the internet right where I left off. In the last month or 2, this … [Read more...] about Why Does My Laptop Shut Down Instead of Going to Sleep?

It’s a great time to buy a laptop. Back to school deals are on now, and new models are hitting store shelves. We’ve talked about how to pick the perfect laptop, but if you’re headed to college, or even back to school, and aren’t sure what you’ll need, you have it tougher. Don’t worry, we’ll help you through it. Advertisement Check With Your Campus IT Department for Ideas Choosing a great laptop for school starts with understanding what your college or university recommends new students have. Check with your campus IT department. They probably have a published set of recommended minimum specs for laptops and desktops, along with some software they think you should have. Also, check with the department you plan to study in. For example, if you’re planning to be a computer science major, you’ll probably have different recommendations than someone studying graphic design. Keep in mind that department suggestions are a baseline, … [Read more...] about How to Choose the Perfect Back-to-School Laptop

Many of us are more security savvy than ever when it comes to our phones and laptops, but there’s one threat you might not be protecting against—the people inside your own home. Whether you’re worried about nosey housemates, clumsy kids, or horrible siblings, these are the steps to take to make sure your stuff stays private. Lock it up Advertisement We’re assuming your smartphone and laptop are protected by some kind of password, PIN pattern, fingerprint scan, or face scan—and if not, get something in place immediately. It’s all that’s preventing anyone who passes by from getting into all your apps and files. The options you need are easily found: Under Security & location in Android’s settings, under Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode) in the settings for iOS, under Accounts and Sign-in options in Windows settings, and under Security & Privacy in System Preferences on macOS. You might also want to dial down … [Read more...] about How to Keep Your Family and Friends From Snooping on Your Laptop and Phone

At the beginning of August we told you that the TSA was collaborating with laptop bag manufacturers to create checkpoint-friendly bags you can pass through security checkpoints without removing your laptop. PC World takes a closer look at the TSA's criteria for what makes a checkpoint-friendly bag. For example: No metal snaps, zippers or buckles can be located inside, underneath, or on top of the laptop-only section. (In other words, metal elements must be positioned so they do not overlap the body of the laptop in an X-ray image.) Advertisement The good news is you don't need to buy a new bag if your current bag already satisfies the new criteria. The simplest form of an approved bag is the basic laptop sleeve; unfortunately, if you've got a more popular backpack- or accordian-style laptop bag, you'll need to do some shopping if you want to get to your gate a bit faster. Take a look at the checkpoint friendly laptop bag procedures page for more guidelines. Does it look like … [Read more...] about Ensure Your Laptop Bag is TSA-Checkpoint Friendly