laptop
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Wall-Mounted, Synergised Laptop
9:00AM Gina Trapani | Reader crshmancombined two of our recent posts into one multi-screen, wall-mounted computer setup. Using the DIY coat hanger laptop stand, crshman hung his laptop on the wall. Then, he uses a single keyboard and mouse to control the lappie as well as a dual-screen desktop computer. Here’s how to use Synergy to control multiple computers. Nice job! Wall Mounted Laptop? Awesome… [The Robert Report] More »
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Check The Ports Before Buying A Used Laptop
10:30PM Kevin Purdy | Looking for a laptop, but don’t want to pay cutting-edge prices? The Sustainablog has a wise and helpful 10-point checklist to run through when sizing up a used laptop, and ensuring its value after it arrives. For example, the author suggests buying only from a refurbishing manufacturer, an eBay seller with 100% positive feedback (to ensure cooperation), or a Craigslist vendor who’s willing to meet in a coffee shop and let you examine the unit on-site. Once that’s arranged, make sure you check everything, including the ports: Check all plugs, sockets, and wireless connections like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Many of these are attached to the motherboard, which is costly to replace. If one USB port is broken and you can live with the other three, then do it. If the headphone jack is broken but you have Bluetooth headphones anyway, then rejoice. There’s a lot of great stuff to be done with an old laptop, but only if it works. What have our thrifty readers found to be best practices when trying to snag a decent laptop at used prices? Share your stories in the comments. Photo by Declan TM. 10-Step Guide to Buying a Used Laptop That Works [Sustainablog] More »
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Run Mac OS X On An Eee PC
10:30PM Kevin Purdy | We’ve shown you how to build your own “Hackintosh”, a computer running Mac’s OS X system with PC parts. Now The Wired How-To Wiki goes even cheaper, detailing a process for installing the Apple OS on the ultra-portable (and pretty cheap) Eee PC. The method explained requires finding a suitably tweaked OS X image, an external DVD drive, and the patience to run through all the system configuration and terminal tweaks. Once you’re up and running, however, the author says it runs decently swift, even with just the stock 1GB of RAM. Hit the link for a complete walkthrough. Run Mac OS X on an Eee PC [Wired How-To Wiki] More »
Top 10 DIY Laptop Stands
3:00AM Gina Trapani | When your hot laptop needs ventilation and your wrists need a break from a flat keyboard, you can drop 50 bucks on a fancy commercial laptop stand—or you can build one of your own. Do-it-yourself laptop users have built several creations from common household materials to keep their notebooks elevated while they work . Made of everything from wine corks to door stops to paper (and paper towel) holders, check out our favourite top 10 do-it-yourself laptop stands for your lap and workspace pleasure. Photo by hunter1_86. More »
Turn an Old Wetsuit into a Laptop Sleeve
6:00AM Gina Trapani | Don’t let that old wetsuit with the broken zipper go into the garage sale pile—turn it into a sturdy laptop sleeve instead. Do-it-yourselfer Alex cut and sewed a good-looking laptop sleeve from a Neoprene surf jacket. The result is good-looking and great protection from the rain. Much more sturdy than a T-shirt or FedEx envelope, too. Neoprene MacBook sleeve [Tinkerlog via Make via Lifehacker.AU] More »
Make a PDA Laptop using an old book
10:16AM Sarah Stokely | You might not be able to tell from this photo, but this “laptop” is actually a PDA and foldable keyboard, stripped down and embedded in an old book. It was done by the team over at MAKE. They’ve got a video demonstration of how to do it (fittingly hosted by a guy in a “I void warranties” t-shirt) which is only four minutes long, so you might want to refer to the PDF for more detailed instructions. You know, I have an old Handspring lying around somewhere… :)
Weekend Project: Make a PDA Notebook [MAKE] More » 
Give an Old Laptop New Life with Cheap (or Free) Projects
4:00AM Kevin Purdy | Like a famed race horse or a classic book, you don’t just throw away a laptop because it’s banged up a little. Even if it seems outdated and underpowered, most any laptop is still small, quiet, and relatively low on power consumption, making it a seriously valuable spare to keep handy—even without a working screen. With some free software, a little know-how and some creative thinking about your home network, nearly any old laptop can find its second wind, and today I’ll run through some of the best ways to get it there.Photo by daveynin. More »
Check Screws to Prevent Future Laptop Problems
1:00AM Lifehacker US Edition | No laptop lasts forever, but many live long lives through upgrades or replacements. Those life-extenders can easily fall apart, however, if there’s a stuck or jammed screw that will make hardware replacement a tricky, or even damaging, proposition. CNET blogger Michael Horowitz recommends pulling out a tiny screwdriver and testing out the screws on any new laptop, especially on the oft-upgraded memory trays, hard drive holders and other devices. While obviously not a tip for those uncomfortable with DIY hardware replacement, experienced laptop owners might be within their rights to request a replacement or repair on a new unit if they find jammed screws, as the useful life of their new system would be effectively shortened. Got any new laptop maintenance routines you’ve discovered (or discovered too late)? Share your tips in the comments. Photo by Daquella manera. Got a new laptop? Get out your screwdriver [CNET News] More »
Tips on Saving Battery Power in Linux
9:00PM Kevin Purdy | Tired of having the Windows side of your dual-boot system eat up more battery power? Want to simply do the right thing and stop sucking power for unnecessary power cycles? Linux power-saving site LessWatts.org has a wealth of tips and tricks for reducing the power needs of desktop and laptop systems. Among the intuitive power-savers: Stepping Ethernet ports from gigabit to standard 100/10 speeds when not at the office Disabling unnecessary Bluetooth radios Turning off Wi-Fi “auto-associate” behaviors that draw power when wireless is shut off Check out the site for more power-conscious tips, helpfully organised by device type. How do you conserve battery (or just outlet) power on your Linux system? Share some hacks in the comments. LessWatts.org – Tips [via Hackosis] More »
