Sunday, July 13, 2008

33. Notebook Travel Guide

By: Johnny T from Notebookreview.com




Introduction

Travelling from A to B is part of everyone’s daily routine. More and more people are opting for notebooks instead of desktops, due to their portability. Whether you are taking it to work, class, or a LAN party, how you carry your notebook along with its accessories is an important consideration during and after the notebook purchasing process.

This guide will aim to help people pick a suitable notebook “carrier’’ and to give you a few useful hints on the do’s and don’ts when travelling with your precious investment. There are 3 parts to this guide with subjects spanning from picking the right bag and accessories to advices on packing your bag for a long trip.

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there
- Will Rogers


Hope you enjoy this guide. More importantly, hope this helps with your next journey!



Table of contents

  • Part 1 - Bags
  • Part 2 - Coming soon
  • Part 3 - Coming soon

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So lets get started with part 1!




The ''Laptop Bag''

Traditionally, when the term “laptop bag’’ (or laptop brief case) is mentioned, this sort of style of bags comes into mind…


The good old type design made purely for notebooks. They come in many shape and sizes, and are available from notebook manufacturers (usually rebranded), and big notebook accessory brands. Used by most professionals and corporate users, mainly because “it just works” and does exactly what it says on the box. They feature a well padded area within the bag and a strap to hold the notebook in place. They are usually quite rigid and durable, although they can be fairly heavy on their own. The bags are usually made from synthetic materials with a few high end products made from leather. In terms of comfort, they are pretty standard inline with messenger bags, though it might depend on the shoulder strap provided. At the end of the day if you don’t feel the pads that came with the bag are good enough, then you could always ditch the standard ones and purchase one of your own as there are wide selections available.

Usually they don’t have much room for much else except for the notebook and its charger plus some discs and a small book or two.

Deviating from the traditional style are modernised designs such as the one below…courtesy of NBR member John Ratsey’s snacks and accessories. As you can see it is quite stuffed, it features a much larger outer compartment for accessories and other goods. The design is edging more towards the “messenger style” bag.


If you are looking for something practical, and not too flashy, this is the one for you!


Messenger/shoulder

Many members participated in polls a while ago, the first poll asked about which type of bag members used. Messenger style bags topped the poll, with back pack trailing closely behind. Notebook sleeves by themselves came last out of the three.

So, let’s get on to messenger style bags. They have one strap going over the shoulder just like the traditional laptop bag, but they come in a large variety of shape and sizes. Original messenger bags were meant for telephone pole repairers in New York City, they were designed with easy access in mind so that workers can reach for their tools easily. Soon they were adapted by bike messengers and since then its popularity have risen dramatically. Since the 80s they are have became a fashion accessory for the masses, but also remained the choice of bike messengers.


So what made them so popular? Most bike messenger styled bags are made from durable canvas, and are designed to last. One of the main reasons is that the items inside remain easily accessible and have many useful compartments. There are many derivatives of the messenger bag. As a fashion accessory, it has downsized and its range of materials has increased too. This has resulted in many more designs and colours.

Notebook messenger bags differ from the traditional laptop bags greatly mostly because the main priority of the bag is not only the notebook, but also the contents. This meant that the notebook compartment does not take up the majority of space in the bag, but it takes form as a small compartment, almost like a “sleeve’’ attached to the insides. This leads to another option: users can choose to pick any type of messenger bag they want and put their notebook in sleeve of their choice and just put it in the bag, meaning there is no need to purchase a notebook specific bag.


In terms of notebook messenger bags, there are many established brands such as Belkin, Timbuk2, Crumpler and Targus. The notebook accessories orientated brands tend to aim to design a messenger style notebook bag, where as the more traditional messenger bag brands focus on the materials of the bag and its functionality with an added notebook compartment, but they do tend to cost more due to the use of premium materials and more demanding quality control.

Since the traditional messenger bags are designed for what its name says, they tend to have mountains of room for other goods. Even with the additional notebook compartment, I managed to fit 2 full size pillows into a messenger. On the other hand, notebook messenger bags are usually quite compact, essentially being a modernised version of the traditional laptop bag.


In conclusion, the messenger bag is popular because of the range of sizes and designs available on the market. The two main types of bags are the traditional messenger, which focuses on durability mixed with the traditional style that have attracted a strong following, and the “messenger style” bag offering good notebook protection whilst remaining stylish along with a affordable price tag.



Backpacks

Backpacks, or rucksacks as know in many parts of the world, are the preferred choice for comfort. Two straps distribute weight evenly on your shoulders in comparison to shoulder bags’ single strap design. Rucksacks also provide decent back support. The majority of backpack has a far superior capacity than standard shoulder bags; they also have many external compartments so that items can be easily accessed.

When comparing its notebook carrying abilities’, it in very similar to that of a messenger bag because it is essentially a special notebook compartment build into a backpack. Again, you can choose to purchase a standard backpack along with a notebook sleeve to be put into the bag.

While backpacks might not be considered as stylish by some people, the range of designs offered is definitely on par, if not better, than shoulder bags, with a selection ranging from camping packs to speciality notebook bags. Some designs even incorporate wheels and an extendable handle so that you can drag a heavy bag along.

The size of backpacks is a problem for some people, especially among those who frequently travel by public transport. It might be considered as “bulky”, and sometime it is hard to find space to place the bag on the floor and carrying it on your shoulders without knocking into someone can be difficult.

If capacity and comfort are high on your list, then backpacks would be an excellent choice!



Sleeves



Whilst bags have a good amount of space for AC adaptors, and other accessories some people might not require that and that is where a notebook sleeve will do a great job for people on short journeys such as going to your local library or coffee shop. Although they are only designed to carry a single notebook computer, you can easily fit some paper work inside, or maybe a few discs.

Notebook sleeves are usually made from neoprene, which is a soft material similar to that used for wet suits. For a higher level of protection there are notebook sleeves which have a hard shell, that although not totally rigid, provides extra protection for harder impacts. The downside is that they are usually slightly larger and not as light as their neoprene cousins.


Notebook sleeves come in a large variety of sizes and designs, so there will be one that will fit your notebook and style.




Hard shell/rugged


Some users may be required to take their notebook to non-everyday destinations. This could be field work, or to destinations where carrying a notebook with you is not an option (e.g. must be checked in, or put into a boot of a car). Or maybe, you just feel like a bit more protection for your notebook is required.

There are a few hard shell backpacks on the market. The “shell” is usually made from durable plastics and can withstand a certain degree of abuse. Of course this will not safe your notebook form the worst accidents.


There are also rugged cases. The outer shell is generally made from metal (usually aluminium, may differ for premium products or others which require an even higher amount of durability). The insides are usually padded with thick layers of foam to protect the notebook from shocks. The compartments are usually pre-cut to fit specific accessories therefore it is not very flexible in terms of what you can put inside the case. Of course with good build quality and extremely durable materials, it all comes at a higher price in comparison to other bags.


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Picking right one for you

There are several important factors to consider when choosing the right bag/sleeve for carrying your notebook. Below are a few important points.

Size of your notebook
The protection features are most effective when the sleeve/compartment fit your notebook snugly. This because a tight fit would mean that the notebook does not “hit” the padding when landing on impact, instead the padding will nicely cushion the notebook.

Notebook protection features of the bag
Some bags/cases pride themselves on protection features, whilst others might have other features or better style but only light protection. Perhaps you will pick your sleeve and bag separately. The choice is yours.

What other goods will you be carrying?
The capacity of the bag will be important if you carry a large amount of items with you daily. Cables, drives, paperwork, snacks, and drinks and take up room. Therefore it is very important to consider the amount of space you will require before making a purchase.

The length of your journey /comfort of the bag straps
This is important in terms of comfort. Whilst convenient, using a bag with poor padding will not be good for your shoulders in the long run. Individual pads are available for shoulder/messenger bags, some manufacturers even provide you with a choice. Also using a single strap bag regularly will put all the strain on one shoulder. Consider the distance of your journey and pick a bag that is comfortable for your shoulders will do much good for you!

Weight of the bag when unfilled
Certain materials whilst durable they are also much heavier when compared to others. This could add a significant amount towards the overall weight. Be sure to try out the bags.

The type of environment in which the bag will be used
You might require a rugged case, or you won’t need a bag at all! Don’t buy something you don’t need just because of looks and features. Consider your uses.

Looks/styling
The looks is an important factor for many people when purchasing a bag. A flashy bag might attract looks from people you might or might not want looks from. Sometimes a more subtle design hides the fact that you have an expensive notebook in your bag.

Monday, July 07, 2008

32. How It Works: Your Guide to Notebook Technology

By: Pulp (Dustin Sklavos) from NotebookReview.com

I suspect the way most people look at their computers is the way I look at my car: confused and silently hoping that each day it will just work without any problems. The technology that goes into computers has progressed at a breakneck pace that until recently has only showed signs of slowing down; that said, the "slowdown" is roughly equivalent from reducing your speed from about 125 miles per hour to about ... we'll say 105.

Mercifully, if anything stays the same, it's the way computers are built. If you pop open the case on a desktop computer, there's an amalgam of wires, circuit boards, fans, and all kinds of crazy stuff that will likely just confuse people. But the logic and design that goes into this labyrinth of technology has actually gone relatively unchanged over the past decade. Of course, your laptop, on the other hand, won't do you the luxury of having all these interchangeable parts. In many ways a laptop can actually be MORE complex than a desktop.

Case in point: if my video card in my desktop goes on the fritz and decides it doesn't want to draw pretty pictures anymore, I can just pull it out and replace it with a new one. Not only that, but I have a wide variety (probably too wide) of cards I can put in a desktop, from $20 to even as far as $2,000 for workstation-class hardware. How did I know the video card itself went bad? I plugged my monitor into another computer and it worked just fine.

But what if your laptop stops giving a picture? It could be the cable that connects to the screen inside the shell. It could be the logic in the screen itself. It could be the graphics processor, the processor normally mounted to a removable video card in a desktop but soldered into place inside the laptop.

This long introduction boils down to a single point: laptops are complex. Even for the seasoned technology enthusiast they can be tricky; for the neophyte and the average user, they can be downright mind boggling. And that's where this guide comes in.

How It Works: Prologue

Over the next several weeks, I'm going to break down a single part of your laptop and explain what it does. This isn't going to be about recommendations, this is going to be about knowledge and understanding, dispensing information in such a way that eventually, you won't even need recommendations. You won't need someone to tell you "get this, this is good." You'll be able to know what you need and why.

This week I'll be covering the basic information you'll need to understand the stuff I'm talking about. Don't worry, it's not a huge deal, and there isn't going to be a test later.

There's one very important term and two units of measure that are vital to explaining any of these things to you.

Units of Measure: Hertz (Hz)

The dictionary definition of hertz is a measure of frequency.

You will probably never hear anyone refer to a computer as operating at hertz; the lowest you'll ever hear is megahertz (MHz, 1 MHz is equal to 1,000,000 Hz), and over the past few years you've also heard gigahertz (GHz, 1 GHz is equal to 1,000 MHz). I'll basically be starting at megahertz.

While megahertz may superficially be used to calculate "speed," it's best analogy would be revolutions per minute in a car. Basically, depending on the gear your car is in, 3,000 rpms may result in more or less work getting done. There are a lot of factors that go into just how much work actually gets done: who made the engine, what type of engine it is, etc. Processors are basically the same way. An AMD processor and an Intel processor both running at 900 MHz will do different amounts of work even though their frequencies are the same.

You will also hear megahertz used interchangeably with gigahertz (GHz); again, 1 GHz is equivalent to 1,000 MHz, so if your processor runs at 2.2 GHz, it's running at 2,200 MHz.

The terms "clock speed," "clocks," and "frequency" will all be used interchangeably in regular jargon to measure the same thing: the megahertz or gigahertz a processor runs at.

Units of Measure: Bytes (B)

Without getting into the esoterica of bits, etc., a byte is basically a means of measuring data. The same prefixes used to measure hertz apply to bytes, but it gets a little tricky. I'll try to make it easy for you.

We count in what's called "base 10," and just about everything we interact with on a daily basis is counted in this fashion. We count in units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on. We're used to it. It's just how we measure things and it works out fine.

Your computer, on the other hand, counts in "base 2," or binary. Computers operate data basically in a sequence of "on" and "off;" and just about everything "digital" these days can be broken down into 1s and 0s. What this results in is some math that's going to feel slightly goofy. Basically, here's how your units of measure work out:

1 kilobyte (kB) = 1,024 bytes (B)
1 megabyte (MB) = 1,024 kilobytes (kB)
1 gigabyte (GB) = 1,024 megabytes (MB)
1 terabyte (TB) = 1,024 gigabytes (GB)

You see how the scaling can get kind of confusing. If you visit wikipedia, you'll see "kibibyte," "mebibyte," "gibibyte," and "tebibyte." Look, that's probably closer to "correct," but that's not everyday jargon and it's not what everyone's comfortable with. I had an English teacher tell me "alright" isn't an actual word. You know what? Everyone uses it. "Alright" will make more sense than "all right" in modern language at this point, so if anyone tries to correct you on measuring bytes, punch them in the face because they have nothing better to do than quibble with you on minutiae.

Where were we? Ah yes. Since we're used to counting in base 10, we expect a megabyte to be a thousand kilobytes, not 1,024. Without getting into specifics of what we're counting, I'll just say that generally it's okay to fudge this particular detail. So if you buy something that advertises, say, 320 GB and you only see 299 ... it's in the ballpark. You got what you paid for.

That's a lot of confusing terms just to get to a simple point, ain't it? Like I said, it's generally okay to fudge it. When I get to a part of your notebook that it isn't okay, I'll let you know. Trust me, it seems like a lot, but it can become second nature in a hurry.

Very Important Term: Bandwidth

Bandwidth is basically used to describe the speed at which data can travel, and is generally notated as kilobytes per second (kB/s), megabytes per second (MB/s), and gigabytes per second (GB/s). You see how it works.

This is very important to know, because the connections between components inside your computer are largely designed around the concept of managing bandwidth.

Bandwidth has a nice bonus over the terms of measure I brought up above because it works pretty linearly. 23 GB/s is always going to be faster than 21 GB/s, unlike MHz where 900 MHz can be slower than 600 MHz if the 600 MHz processor is a better or more efficient design. Likewise, there's no confusing jargon like there is with 1,000 MB being used to fudge 1,024 MB. Bandwidth is what it is: how fast data can move from point A to point B, and we measure it in MB/s and GB/s because it sounds cooler that way (actually, we just measure it in whichever way is most practical and appropriate to scale, but I like my explanation better).

Conclusion

This felt like a textbook, didn't it? Makes your brain hurt, doesn't it?

It's cool, I'll do you a solid like a good textbook does and condense the nonsense:

  • Megahertz (MHz) are more or less analogous to revolutions per minute (rpms) in an automobile engine and are not a direct notation of "speed."
  • MHz are used to measure the frequencies processors run at.
  • Bytes (B) are used to measure amounts of data.
  • We count in base 10; computers count in base 2. It's okay for you to fudge the difference in bytes as long as you're conscious of it.
  • Bandwidth is measured linearly in a measure of bytes per second, and will be the basis for a lot of parts of this series.