Your Questions
Q: Just recently my laptop’s ‘On button’ is no longer sitting in a level position, it has slanted to the left side. I took my laptop to Fry’s to show them the problem but they were unable to tell me what the problem was without taking it apart. A second tech looked at the problem and indicated that it could be a circuit board that goes across the top where the button sits, or it could just be what he called a ‘pin’ that broke. However they would have to take it apart to find out the cause. If possible could you shed some light on this hardware problem? — Genevieve Herrera
A: There’s no way to tell, looking from the outside, whether it’s simply a question of replacing the button itself, or whether pressure from that button has flexed and damaged the circuit board where the button is attached. I’m not clear, after reading your note, whether the button is just crooked but still works, or whether it doesn’t work at all. In any case, I think you need to bite the bullet and take the machine in to be repaired. That lopsided button could be putting pressure on the circuit board and might eventually break something making the repair cost even higher.
Q: Not long ago I purchased an iPad. And I love it. But I had hoped to use it as a complete replacement for my laptop. My work requires the creation of fairly long documents and I find that I miss the conventional keyboard. So lately I’m carrying both my iPad and laptop on trips. That’s not much of a solution – so I’m asking what my options are. —Bill Rainey
A: Well, there are external keyboards for the iPad. The main options are to buy a keyboard case – the iPad fits into that case and that case includes a keyboard. Or you can buy an external keyboard that plugs into the iPad. I found a great website that discusses both options and even offers specific product recommendations. I think you’ll find one that suits the way you work: www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-make-your-ipad-a-laptop-replacement/.
So you think your computer is cool? Well, you’d better hope so because heat kills computers.
Let us count the ways that heat kills.
Let’s vent a little
Good ventilation is crucial when it comes to keeping a computer cool. Without it, heat builds up and, over time, you’ll damage the delicate electronic circuitry that does all the heavy lifting. Since the dangers and the cures are different for desktop computers – when compared to laptop and smaller computers – we’ll look at each type separately.
Desktops
For a desktop computer the secret is giving it plenty of room to breathe. If you squeeze it in tightly into a bunch of other gear you are cutting off the air that circulates and cools the computer. There should be three or four inches of free space on the sides and at the back of the computer.
There’s still more to be done. The majority of cooling for a desktop comes from the exhaust fan (almost always located at the back of the computer). Regularly check the grating over the fan to make sure that it isn’t blocked by dust or other trash. And take a look at the fan while the computer is on to make sure that it is running correctly and that the fan blade isn’t hitting the side of the protective grate.
Finally, about once every six months, open up the computer’s case and use a can of compressed air to blow away the dust that collects on the circuit boards. Just be careful when you work. It’s a good idea to touch the metal chassis to discharge any static electricity in your body. And don’t let the metal tip of the compressed air can get less than three inches from the components – otherwise a static electricity spark could jump from the tip.
Laptops and smaller
The trouble here is that the heat generating components are shoehorned into a tiny case. That causes heat to build up fast. When using a computer like this for long periods of time keeping it cool requires some added help.
There are cooling pads, complete with fans that are commercially available. But I find that a cooling rack for cookies does a nice job for a lot less money. Set the computer on the cooling rack and – just as it does for cookies – it’ll keep things cool. Here’s how it works, the heat from the computer creates a convection current that causes air to circulate beneath the computer. That air flow absorbs heat from the computer.
Laptops aren’t designed for 24/7 operation. You should put the computer in hibernation or sleep mode when you aren’t using it. That idles back or turns off a lot of the heat generating components. But, if you really want to be safe, turn the thing off altogether if you don’t plan to use it for the next hour or more.
Be cool and your computer will follow.
About the Author
