Accessorizing Your Laptop - Five Need-to-Know Basics For The Laptop "Extras"�

So you have finally decided to get "hip,"� and "with it,"� and have waved farewell to your clunky old desktop computer and purchase that sleek, new, state of the art laptop. No sooner did you bring it home and register its software with the various manufacturers, than you also started receiving the advertisements for the latest, greatest upgrades, must haves, and improvements. Naturally, after investing a rather sizeable chunk of money into this machine, you are wondering if you really need to purchase all these upgrades, or if you should leave well enough alone. Here are five essential need-to-know basics for all these laptop "extras"� that seem to suddenly fill your e-mail inbox.

First and foremost, you must have a very clear understanding of where, when, and what you will be using your laptop. For example, an aspiring writer chasing his muse away from home will have different needs than a graphic designer who is preparing for a client presentation. Thus, the first "extra"� you will most likely purchase is extra software.

Secondly, no matter what use you will make of your laptop, the odds are very good that you will need to print out some material. You may find that you have some articles ready to submit and wish to print a hardcopy for yourself. In the alternative, you may want to see what the layout of your newly designed website would look like on paper, and again, you will need a printout. Perhaps you even hope to include such items in a hardcopy portfolio; regardless of your reasons, you will need a printer. Granted, you probably still have a printer at home that came with the desktop computer you recently retired; however; if you happen to be traveling, you will suddenly realize that finding an available printer that will work with your laptop is not as easy as it sounds. While there may be copying centers that also specialize in business access, depending on your location they may be hard to find, and so it is best to purchase a portable printer that easily hooks up to your laptop.

Thirdly, depending on your system, you may have any number of USB ports. Usually, you will have about two. If you decide to update any of your peripherals and are not able to hook them into the usual port, you will most likely have to take up one of the USB ports. If you decide to run more peripherals than you have ports, you will quickly find frustration. Fortunately, USB hubs are inexpensive accessories that can very nicely complete the set of "extras"� you will require for your new laptop.

Fourthly, yet very importantly, is the question of the power supply. If you travel a lot, you will find that power supplies at times may be iffy, and at other times may be non-compatible with your system. This is especially prevalent if you travel outside the United States. To assure that you are not running down your battery back-up with no recharging in sight, it is a wise idea to purchase an additional power adapter or perhaps converter that will assure that you can plug in anywhere, at any time.

Last but not least, consider the climate in which you will be working. During especially hot weather it is quite possible to overheat a laptop, and thus a notebook cooler is a wise investment. Not only will it assure that your laptop stays in top shape, it also will not drain an untoward amount of power from your laptop's battery. Granted, it will require an additional USB port to operate, but if you purchased the USB hub, you'll be in good shape.

In closing, it is apparent that the need-to-know basics for laptop "extras"� revolve around the user: these "extras"� are as individual as the user, and the needs s/he may have for the machine. One size definitely does not fit all, but each and every user will have different requirements from a laptop. Thus, if an accessory does not appear useful to you, even after careful consideration of the advantages, then quite possibly it is not the "extra"� for you. Please remember, "Extras"� are highly individual add-ons!