November 2004
Intermediate to advanced
272 pages
10h 6m
English
Content preview from PC Hardware AnnoyancesBecome an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
O’Reilly covers everything we've got, with content to help us build a world-class technology community, upgrade the capabilities and competencies of our teams, and improve overall team performance as well as their engagement.I wanted to learn C and C++, but it didn't click for me until I picked up an O'Reilly book. When I went on the O’Reilly platform, I was astonished to find all the books there, plus live events and sandboxes so you could play around with the technology.I’ve been on the O’Reilly platform for more than eight years. I use a couple of learning platforms, but I'm on O'Reilly more than anybody else. When you're there, you start learning. I'm never disappointed.I'm always learning. So when I got on to O'Reilly, I was like a kid in a candy store. There are playlists. There are answers. There's on-demand training. It's worth its weight in gold, in terms of what it allows me to do.
MAINTENANCE ANNOYANCES
EASING A DIFFICULT DOCK
The Annoyance:
I really have to fiddle with my laptop to get it to dock properly.
The Fix:
Most notebook and laptop PCs provide a rear connection that fits to a compatible docking station or port expander. The connector uses a whole slew of very small contacts and, over time, dust and oils (such as skin moisturizer residue) can accumulate on these contacts.
Laptop makers suggest you clean the contacts with 90% (or better) isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. Isopropyl alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) cleans well and dries quickly without any residue. Clean the contacts on both the laptop and the docking station. Repeat the cleaning two or three times, let the contacts dry completely, then reconnect to the docking station.
SELECTING A RUGGEDIZED PC
The Annoyance:
I work with my laptop in construction areas, and I always bump my computer or spill something on it. Is there some way to protect this thing?
The Fix:
You really touched on a big dilemma for mobile PCs. How does a device intended for use in the field protect itself from the dangers and foibles of real life? Drops, smacks, and spills are just some of the dangers that await mobile computers on job sites and remote locations-and yet, most laptop, notebook, and tablet PCs are quite fragile. For hardcore Navy SEALS types, Panasonic offers a line of shock, spill, vibration, and dust-resistant Toughbook notebooks that endure MIL-STD-810F testing (the latest and greatest military standards). If you ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access
More than 5,000 organizations count on O’Reilly
O’Reilly covers everything we've got, with content to help us build a world-class technology community, upgrade the capabilities and competencies of our teams, and improve overall team performance as well as their engagement.Julian F.
I wanted to learn C and C++, but it didn't click for me until I picked up an O'Reilly book. When I went on the O’Reilly platform, I was astonished to find all the books there, plus live events and sandboxes so you could play around with the technology.Addison B.
I’ve been on the O’Reilly platform for more than eight years. I use a couple of learning platforms, but I'm on O'Reilly more than anybody else. When you're there, you start learning. I'm never disappointed.Amir M.
I'm always learning. So when I got on to O'Reilly, I was like a kid in a candy store. There are playlists. There are answers. There's on-demand training. It's worth its weight in gold, in terms of what it allows me to do.