Unplggd: Help your Tech Beat the Heat

“Over the long weekend, we got the chance to wake up like they do in the movies: Out of bed late and straight to the balcony with a coffee and laptop in hand. Despite the lovely scenery, we didn’t last long out there—it was nearly 100° outside. And if we couldn’t stand the heat, we can’t imagine how our laptop must have felt. To keep your laptop safe and happy in warm weather, read on for a few tips we learned about working in the sun and humidity and storing your laptop inside warm cars.

1. Know the “safe range” for temperatures.
Most laptops are good to go in temperatures of 50° to 95° Fahrenheit or 10° to 35° Celsius. Anything warmer than this is asking for trouble. Laptop batteries are notoriouslynot heat-friendly (even just a few exposures can make your battery life suffer) and the components of your delicate hard drive might expand—sometimes causing permanent damage and hard drive failure.

2. Give your laptop a chance to adjust.
Don’t walk and work with your laptop open. If you’re moving from the cool A/C to sweltering heat, or from outside to indoors, shut your laptop down. Let it adjust to the new temperature before starting it up again. Condensation can build up inside your machine just like on your glasses.

3. Know how to keep your laptop safe in a hot car.
Treat your machine like a baby and don’t ever leave it in a warm car—not even in the trunk. The temperatures in your car on a warm day are almost always going to reach outside the laptop safe range. If you must leave your laptop in a car, make sure it’s been turned off completely.

4. Stay out of direct sun, if you can.
Yes, heat usually comes with lots of direct sunlight. We’ve heard all the urban legends about your laptop’s screen becoming damaged from sun exposure, but we can’t find anything to support it. Either way, it’s better to be safe (and cool!) than sorry. But if you have to work in direct sun, make it easy on your eyes. Go for a dorky-looking laptop hood or attach an anti-glare screen cover.

5. Beware of high humidity.
Before you plan a mobile office day, check the weather reports for humidity. Anything above 80 percent should make you cautious, although your device may have its own humidity specifications. Really humid weather can escalate that condensation effect we mentioned before, shorting out your circuits. But even if it doesn’t do damage, excess moisture in and around your machine can trigger the built-in water damage sensor, sometimes voiding your warranty.

6. Back it up.
Always a good idea, you should back up your data if you anticipate wanting to work outdoors. We’ll say it again: Heat can do permanent damage to your hard drive. Use an external drive like this one.

7. Be ready for sudden storms.
Depending on your geography, you might be privy to random summer showers. It’s one thing to get caught without an umbrella on your coffee run, but it’s quite another to have all of your expensive equipment with you. Bring an umbrella and keep your water-proof cases and sleeves very nearby.

8. Use a heat-dissipating laptop stand.
You know how warm your laptop can get in your lap on the sofa, so be careful of where you set it outdoors. At the very least, use a laptop pad or stand. But for an A+ effort, grab a self-cooling stand, like this one from Belkin.

9. Wrap it up safely.
The same advice you use in the bedroom will help you stay safe outdoors. To protect against sudden storms and help temper the effect of moving from cool to warm air, make sure your laptop cases and sleeves are rated for “moisture, shock and scratch protection.

Via About.com

(Images: Entrepreneurs-Journey.com)”

Unplggd: How Much Will You Pay?

“We were speaking with a friend last week about their recent iMac purchase. We had serious sticker shock when he revealed the price. He got a lot of bang for his buck, and had a legitimate argument for spending so much. It got us thinking though, how far are we willing to go with tech purchases?

Our friend spent over $2,000 on a new iMac. Of course it was top of the line, so the price was justified and his argument was certainly reasonable. The way he looked at the large purchase was this: if he got the absolute top of the line, each maxed out component adds extra years onto the life of the machine. There will be no reason for him to need a new computer for at least 5 or more years. There won’t be any extra little upgrades he’ll have to do here and there, because those have already been taken care of.

So, we got to thinking — do most people practice this method? Obviously having the funds available is extremely helpful in this situation, and not everyone does. Do you save your money until you are ready for the go-for-the-gusto purchase, or do you buy low and keep upgrading every few years? We know people that have kept their computers for over 10 years, but that required regular upgrades. When all of those upgrades are added up, we imagine the two different approaches equal out. So, how far are you willing to go? Are you a go big or go home, or an upgrade over time purchaser?

By Kristen Lubbe”

Unplggd: Cafe Security

“Q – I usually work from home, but sometimes I enjoy going to my local coffee shop and doing my stuff there. There are times when I just have all my stuff sprawled out and need to use the restroom. Is there some type of software that’ll tell me if anything gets stolen while I’m away for just a few minutes? I own a Macbook and an iPad, if that helps. Thanks!

A – Here’s a short roundup of potential options:

THE “FEEL GOOD” OPTION: There’s are number of software options out there, but one should avoid ones like PadLock, which causes a piercing alarm to go off whenever your iPad/iPhone is disconnected from your Macbook. The only problem is that it doesn’t address the whole scenario if the thief ends up grabbing both devices, making the software pretty much useless. While some form of protection is good, it’s best to have more than just a single security precaution, even if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

THE SLIGHTLY BETTER SOFTWARE OPTION: Of course, there’s Apple’s Find my iPhone/iPad service is probably the only reason we’d use their MobileMe’s at all given the number of free options out there that provide similar cloud syncing features of the service. TUAW has a good write-up on how to set it up. (PS: A paid subscription is required for MobileMe service) The downside is that it’s only used to track down items after it’s stolen instead of prevention of the device getting stolen in the first place.

THE SLOWER, MORE SECURE OPTION: If you’re looking for the best secure option, having a security lock is probably your best bet. Even if the thing isn’t even properly locked, the impression of added security will deter most thieves.

OR… JUST ASK: For the most part, customers are just friendly folk enjoying their time there as well, doing work just like the rest of us. If you’re just going to disappear for a few minutes, just ask a neighbor next to you to watch your stuff if they look like they’re going to be there for a while. Chances are, others will notice the friendly gesture and will be wary of shady individuals if they try to do anything sneaky!

Got a gadget security tip for coffee shops, airports, and other public spaces? Let us know below!

By Anthony”

Image via Europe a la Carte.

Unplggd: Year of the Tablet

“Year of the Tablet, eh? It certainly well looks like it. And now, we have HP steppin’ up their game with their own tablet – the HP Slate – positioning themselves as the anti-iPad/anti-computer of choice with a custom OS, integrated webcam, SD slot, and iTunes-touch.

Aside from the slick touch UI, we’re definitely loving the ability to hook the tablet itself up and project it onto an HDTV via a dock. It was one of my #1 requests for the iPad, but I guess we’re just going to have to wait a little bit longer for Apple to catch up with the needs of consumers.

If teasers are your thing, be sure to check out the 30 second HP Slate trailer. If the quick editing and cinematic orchestra doesn’t sell it for you, the features might certainly will.
Let us know what you think! Does HP have a solid winner on their hands?

[Via Engadget]

By Anthony.”

Unplggd: Fold-out Keyboard Concept

“We’ve gotten used to typing on a compact laptop keyboard. But there’s something to be said in regards to comfort and speed when you can stretch out and type away on a full size keyboard and not worry so much about keyboard commands to make up for lost real estate. That was the driving idea behind Yang Yongchang’s compact concept laptop design, which folds out to reveal a full size keyboard inside.

In conjunction with the unveiled keyboard hidden within, the concept specs include a 6.5″ 16:9 capacitive touchscreen display for pinch and zoom use, LED backlighting and a front panel camera. Is this the form factor netbooks need to help cross from niche to fully mainstream? We’re not sure, as this design adds a bit of engineering and structural complexity, and as is often the case, simple is better (more affordable and less likely to break).
[via Yanko Design]
By Gregory Han.”

This Green Laptop Gets a Designer’s Touch

HP has partnered with designer Tord Boontje to create a lovely little laptop that’s environmentally friendly and beautifully designed – two things we treasure at Herman Miller. It is Tord’s first foray into the world of technology and he’s taken his signature floral cutout design and embedded it into the laptop’s exterior and interior. HP has managed to create a  10.1″ mercury-free LED screen and they printed the user guide using environmentally friendly soy inks. Certainly a step in the right direction. For all the info on this beauty go to HP’s site (make sure you’ve got your sound on – you’ll feel like you’re in the woods!)