Powerbook/Macbook Wisdom: What do I need to know?

[Grumpyguy]

Okay, having never owned a notebook in my 24 years as a Mac owner, I'd like seasoned Powerbook/Macbook users to share their wisdom, insight, websites, and accessory experiences.

What tips do you have? What do I need to know? What do I need to do? How do I keep this baby pristine?

Secret keyboard combos that only laptop users know? : )

For instance, what the hell does and Express card slot on this thing do????

Two things I have done so far, is to buy a nice laptop padded bag and an airport base station and I will probably pick up the Apple Care for $249 at Expercom.

[Ken Sp.]

I encase mine in a Speck Products hard case. Just make sure you occasionally take the case off to clean between.
http://www.speckproducts.com/

I also have a screen type protector over my trackpad and have a MarWare palmrest pad.
http://www.marware.com/PRODUCTS/MacBook-...ack-Deluxe

[Rick-o]

Don't drop it. ::o

Seriously, it happens more often than one might think.

[DaviDC.]

Check LA Computer for AppleCare. They usually have the best price.

[thermarest]

I love my Logitech bluetooth mouse. Both cheaper and more comfortable than Apple's IMO. Makes carrying the computer from place to place just that much more snappy.

[jardster]

I agree.... screen saver pad (I have this one, http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreensavrz.aspx). Basically, it prevents oils from your fingers getting on the screen when you close the lid.

I have a Logitech bluetooth mouse that I love. The trackpad is great, but a mouse really helps.

I bounce from home to office, so of course I got another MagSafe so I don't have to carry mine with me daily.

Enjoy!

Oh yeah, get AppleCare! Laptops are much more delicate than desktops, take more abuse, and are not "user friendly" when it comes to replacing important parts. It's worth it.

[vicrock]

e-bay for applecare - always the cheapest if you can wait.

[mattkime]

don't forget to appear smug whenever using the machine, in private or public.

[davester]

Get yourself a solid, very well protected carry case if there's any question about the one you have. There will be bumps and collisions if you carry the thing around much, and many of the "laptop cases" have pathetic amounts of padding and protection, especially on the all important corners. I have a Brenthaven...not the most hip-looking case, but the laptop is virtually indestructible when inside it.

If you will keep your laptop often docked at one particular place, buy a separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and USB hub for that location, all set up in an ergonomically correct configuration. That will serve two purposes...1) keep down the wear and tear on the laptop keyboard; 2) save you from RSI and shoulder/neck pain. A laptop is ergonomically horrible to use. You won't notice for a while, then when the pain appears it will be too late, and a long recovery process.

Get an extra powerbrick if you're going to take it places. I actually leave one at work and one at home all the time so I don't have to wrap up and carry one around too much. Also, before I got the second one I'd occasionally show up at work without the brick, meaning I only had an hour or so of battery "up" time available.

Buy a locking cable. It won't stop a determined thief, but where I used to work we had unlocked laptops grabbed from desks by well-dressed thieves pretending to be clients. Also get yourself a copy of this: http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/ . Not a 100% solution, but a lot of protection for the money.

[JEBB]

Laptops are the way to go even if you almost never take yours on a trip. They are as powerful and have as capacious hard drives as desktops. Best of all you can easily move them to another location or even put them in a drawer if you need your desk top for some other activity. By the time your laptop needs some major subsystem upgrade the rest of it will be so out of date that you'll want to replace the whole thing anyway. My 2¢.