Archive for January, 2010

The beauty of the laptop computer is how portable they’ve become over the years. As they continue to get smaller and lighter, it’s easier to than ever to surf the web from the couch, the bed, and even outdoors! While it’s great that we’ve been freed from the constraints of our desks, we face a whole new set of challenges with laptops. One of the most serious is overheating.

A hot laptop won’t work as well, and over time it may cause permanent damage to the machine. Even worse, if you’re resting the laptop on your legs, you could even burn yourself! So what can you do to prevent this problem? Here’s a few tips to keep your laptop running cool:

• Don’t put your laptop on a soft surface. This includes beds, couches, and probably your lap! Softer surfaces will end up blocking airflow and cause overheating quickly. If you don’t have a firm surface, consider a laptop desk.

• Don’t put the laptop in a bag with no ventilation while it’s running. If the computer is actively running, it will again get no ventilation and overheat. The confined space can cause a lot of damage!

• Look for cooling units to assist the internal fans. Some laptops are built better than others and can cool themselves properly if on a flat surface. Other laptops will run hot even in the best conditions. A desktop stand with a fan is a great way to keep things running cool!

Now that we’re almost halfway through January, we hope you’ve figured out what your New Year’s resolutions will be! Here at Lap Works, we’ve resolved to continue to innovate and bring you the newest and most cutting edge laptop desk solutions. We’ve also resolved to be more healthy versions of ourselves, through improved ergonomics and better workday habits. Since that’s probably a common resolution for all of you, here are some of the small ways we’ve found improve ourselves:

• Take a walk – it’s good to get up from your desk every so often, just to stretch your legs. But if you can carve 10 minutes out of your lunch for a short walk, or take a stroll through the neighborhood before or after work, it can help stretch muscles and let you unwind after a long day.
• Stretch – yoga is a wonderful way to build strength and stretch out your muscles. Try a class once a week to help improve your posture.
• Adjust your monitor – your computer monitor should be no more than 20 inches close to your face. You should have it set up so the top of the monitor is at eye level in order to minimize your eye strain.

What kind of things are you doing in the new year to improve your health and reduce stress?