Around 20 years ago, a lot of people in the tech industry believed that the laptop’s days were over as more and more people began moving over to different kinds of mobile computing. But they couldn’t have been more wrong, and today laptops are still going, and remain one of the most common kinds of computer in the world.
Due to their mobile nature, it’s not uncommon for a laptop to not last quite as long as long as their desktop counterparts. From moving around constantly to having battery issues, there are a lot of problems that can spring up and shorten the lifespan of a laptop. Let’s look at some tips and tricks to keep a laptop running for as long as possible.
Charging Thresholds
Laptop batteries are often one of the first components to go, and for a laptop owner that has a particularly old model and can no longer find a replacement battery, it makes the laptop unusable in terms of how mobile it is. Batteries that are overused can also be dangerous, often swelling and causing damage to the laptop.
If a laptop is plugged in for long periods of time, it’s a good idea to set some kind of threshold, meaning that the battery cannot be charged beyond this value, such as 80%. This is not a feature that’s a part of every laptop model, but HP, Dell, and Asus business laptops will often have this option available.
Regular Cleaning
Dust can begin to build up over time in the internals of the laptop, and after a while the laptop will no longer be able to keep itself cool as efficiently as it once did. This is why it’s a good idea to take the time every now and again to clean out all the dust.
The easiest way to go about this is by acquiring a can of compressed air, which can be used to blow out all the dust from the small nooks that can be found inside the laptop, and special care should be focussed on cleaning the fan, if it has one.
Cooling
As the laptop works, its components, specifically the central processing unit, will produce heat, and if the laptop gets too hot too often, it will begin to degrade. Although it’s in the name, it’s not always a good idea to have a laptop sitting on a lap for too long, as this can cause heating issues.
It’s always best to keep the device on a flat table or desk, and to have it in a well-ventilated area that doesn’t get too hot, especially when spending long periods of time working or checking out odds for the latest NRL sports bets.
Keep It Updated
Another way to keep a laptop running as long as possible is by ensuring that it always has the latest software updates. This is especially important for the operating system, and new versions can bring important updates that can help with the overall longevity of the device.