Author: Carl Bootsma

Carl Bootsma is the founder of Heartlandtechs, the technology blog for the computer hub Heartland Computers INC He is the owner of fast growing Information technology company and repair store "Heartland Computes" located at Sioux falls, South Dakota area.

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Buying Guide

Laptop Buying Guide

Laptop Buying Tips

If you are reading this, probably you are in the market for a new laptop.It can be an overwhelming decision with different models, different brands and features out there, but  I am about to give you some advise that will help you make right decision for your needs.

Three questions you wanna ask yourself, when you are looking for a new laptop.

  • Where am I going to use it? Is this live on desk mostly at home and at the office mostly or are you taking it with you.
  • What am I going to use it for? Are you planning to have laptop for generalized tasks or for more specialized ones. For ex. Video Editing and gaming.
  • How long am I looking to own it? Is this something you want to own for just a year or two? or Is this something for long term investment?

Basic checklist for everyday laptop

Processor:

Start at Intel® Core™ i3 Processor but if you plan to own it for 2+ years, consider Intel® Core™ i5 Processor

Hard Drive:
  • Minimum 500GB
  • Consider having 750GB for storing more videos, photos and music.
Screen size:
  • Go with 13″ for more mobility
  • At least 15″ for HD experience.
Battery Life:
  • Make sure it is long enough, if you are frequently using it on the go.
Solid State Drive:
  • For fast boot up and performance, SSD is better choice over HDD.

Laptop Upgrade

You can upgrade the RAM and hard drive on most laptops without voiding the warranty.

Upgrade to Solid State Drive(SDD) from Hard Drive.

Consider upgrade to Solid State Drive to get at least 4x speed and fast boot up. SDD has no moving parts, so very efficient option for power savings.

Buy SSD from our store

Tips for Purchasing Battery

Mostly, A Battery with more cells will last longer than a battery with less cells. Usually , 6 cell battery will not last as long as 12 cell battery module. If you are looking for purchasing new battery or replacing your old battery, buy from our store.

Heartland Computers : Top Refurbished Laptops at our store in Sioux Falls

Categories
Computer Laptop Repair

12 Tips to Extend Life Span of Laptop Computer

Protect LCD display monitor

  1. Do not use Alcohol or Ammonia to clean LCD screens. Use very soft cloths for cleaning LCD screens.
  2. Closing and opening the lid using only one side causes pressure on that hinge, and over the time, it can make hinge bend and snap.

Handle it carefully so you don’t lose data.

  1. Always “Shut Down” or “Hibernate” before moving your laptop. This cause hard drive spins down, which is good for power saving and also prevents potential data loss.
  2. Always use your carrying case when moving your laptop. In fact, a short fall might damage the hard drive and can cause the complete loss of your data. If your machine gets broken, contact our Repair desk to get service quote or have Heartland Computers laptop screen replacement at just $49.95
  3. You avoid spilling your drinks but even if that happens, do not power on a wet laptop or computer. Short circuits might cause loss of data or can even permanently destroy some integral parts of your machine. Carefully unplug the power and contact our  Repair service desk immediately.
  4. To keep your laptop from overheating, use it on hard and flat surfaces. Always make sure nothing blocks air vents.
  5. Do not expose your Laptop or computer to rapid temperature changes. During cold or rainy weather, it’s recommended to use laptop and computer inside air-conditioned rooms. In such weather, If you use your machine outside Condensation droplets would form inside machine and may cause corrosion on disk drive. If you use it in direct heat of sunlight and then bring it to air-conditioned room, do not turn it immediately, Instead, let it cool down to room temperature first.
  6. Many laptop computer owners forget to back up their data or they simply don’t have time for back up processes. Its recommended to backup important data on daily basis. You can get our In-store Data Back-up/Transfer services at just $49.95

*** Heartland Computers can help you recover your data, Contact Repair service desk now.

Computer Security and PC performance Tune ups

  1. Only use those softwares except antivirus, who are sending or receiving any data to their server with your permissions.
  2. Clean up cookies, history and temporary files generated by applications and browsing.
  3. Disable Unneeded Windows features. To do so, Go to: Start Menu >> Control Panel >> Programs,Click on “Turn Windows Features on or off” under programs tab.
  4. Always have antivirus software on your machine. We strongly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Pro for virus and malware protection.

You can click this to determine if your laptop or computer is infected. Also, you can buy our virus removal services here