Five Ways to Upgrade Your Laptop

Laptops may be coming down in price but they are still more expensive to replace than a desktop computer. Keeping that laptop in service for as long as possible makes good financial dollars and cents as a result. Here are five inexpensive upgrades to keep that laptop usefully humming along for as long as possible.

Keyboard Protector:

Also known as Keyboard Condoms, these protectors are pieces of silicone or other transparent material formed to the shape of your particular keyboard. Protectors are designed to prevent dirt, debris and other materials (like coffee) from penetrating your keyboard, protecting it and your laptop internals from damage. These should be ordered from the manufacturer of your laptop to verify compatibility with your keyboard shape. They cost around $20 and will not only save you from having to clean keys that become stuck from grime but can possibly save your laptop from serious damage in the event of a spill.

If you don't do anything else to upgrade and protect your laptop at least invest in a keyboard protector. They may take some getting used to but they could save you from prematurely replacing your laptop in the event of an accident.

Bigger Battery

Investing in a larger battery for your laptop is an inexpensive way to make your machine a LOT more useful. Some batteries can increase the use time of your laptop to 7 or 8 hours if not longer! This could mean the difference between leaving your laptop at home or taking it with you and using it in class or at work.

Depending upon your laptop you may want to spend the extra money to get the battery from your laptop manufacturer as opposed to a generic battery retailer, so read any available reviews before sending your money off for any battery not specifically endorsed by your laptop manufacturer. Depending upon your laptop brand and model this upgrade could cost $150 or so. Look for specials and sales being run by your laptop manufacturer to catch a good deal.

More Memory

Laptops generally come configured with less memory than the laptop can actually support. Websites such as www.crucial.com and www.kingston.com have memory checkers to determine exactly what type and how much memory your laptop can handle. Have your make and model number available to determine exactly how high you can go.

Some older laptops come with an empty memory slot to make upgrading simple: Remove the panel on the bottom, align the memory card into the slot at a 45-degree angle and gently press into place. If you are at all unsure of this upgrade take your laptop to a retailer like Best Buy or Office Depot and ask someone there for assistance. They will normally install your memory for free.

For a quick boost in speed I recommend maxing out your memory all at once if you can afford it. This may mean removing the memory card or cards that are already in place but once you are finished you won't have to worry about doing it again. Crucial and Kingston memory are excellent brands: avoid low-cost store brands entirely to avoid system irregularities and possible incompatibility. Memory is one upgrade that will get you what you pay for in chip quality.

Larger Hard Drive

If you are using ½ or more of your hard drive space your laptop may experience a slow down depending upon the size of your current disk. Microsoft Windows uses a page file (or swap file) to more efficiently utilize the available memory on your computer. This page file uses empty space on your computer to store things in a manner similar to a storage building, swapping them out in memory as needed. When your laptop hard drive becomes full or badly fragmented this page file loses effectiveness and your laptop can slow dramatically.

Modern laptops are designed to accommodate hard drives 500GB in size or larger. To ensure getting the best hard drive for your laptop contact your manufacturer and ask for hard drive recommendations. This upgrade involves removing your current hard drive (generally from a bay accessed by a door on the bottom or side), placing the new hard drive in place and then reinstalling the operating system either from the restore discs that came with the computer or from a backup. Most commercially available laptop hard drives will come with instructions on replacing the hard drive in your laptop. Back up all of your files before attempting this upgrade: it is much better to be safe than sorry!

Don't throw the original hard drive away! Purchase an external case for it and keep it to back up your data and get the most bang for your buck.

Better Wi-Fi

Older laptops may come with Wireless B or Wireless G Wi-Fi cards installed, if they even came with Wi-Fi capability. This can be upgraded to Wireless N or to a more powerful antenna, enabling you to see and connect to more wireless networks and hotspots.

Sometimes the wireless card in laptops can be difficult to access for the average computer user so the simplest method of upgrading this component is by purchasing a USB wireless adapter that suits your needs. These run in price from $35 and up depending upon the power and capabilities of the adapter. Invest in the most powerful adapter that you can afford for best results.

Investing in a laptop upgrade can not only extend the life of your current machine but increase the pleasure you experience while using it. Consider the upgrades as a treat for you and your laptop to enhance your computing experience.

References:

"Upgrading and Repairing PC's, 15^th Edition;" Scott Mueller; 2004.

"Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, 2^nd Edition;" Scott Mueller; 2006.