I was reading this article the other day on laptop security while traveling and using the internet while in hotels. It got me thinking a lot about how much information we put into our laptops and smartphones and how that has the potential to be used against us. Just the thought of it scares me and makes me want to take all of my money out of the bank and put it in a safe under my bed. Of course I won’t actually do that because knowing myself I would probably lose the key to the safe but sometimes I just feel like it.

We’ve talked about ways you can protect your laptop and your wrists by using an ergonomic laptop stand. There are also many ways that you can help protect yourself from information theft but I won’t go into all of them here. The main point is that if you keep your system up to date and be smarter about what you download then you won’t be as easy of a target as the next guy who takes no precautions. That does not mean that your computer is impenetrable. There would always be a way in. But for most of us we don’t have a whole lot that is worth taking when compared to CEO’s of huge corporations and government officials and the like.

Still I almost think that it’s more of a creepy feeling than a fear that someone is going to take all of my money. Just the thought of someone else being able to track my every click or read everything I’ve written or who knows what else is really just creepy. It reminds me of a time that our house was broken into when I was a kid. We came home and our place was trashed. Things were thrown everywhere. I had a piggy bank full of pennies that I had been saving up and they even took that. Knowing that someone that had no regard for any of your personal belongings had been rummaging through your house was a really strange feeling.

This is the kind of thing that makes me want to leave my laptop and portable laptop stand at home and just take a notebook and pen with me. I guess someone could easily take that too though no one probably would because there wouldn’t be anything of value in it. I’ve never had anyone eyeing my moleskin at the light rail station but I’ve definitely seen people casing my laptop bag. Perhaps Apple will come up with some sort of solution to this problem but I’m pretty sure it’s something we will always have to deal with as humans.

Ah the MacBook Air. You really have to give Apple credit for this one. Of course I know what you’re thinking: I’m just another fanboy that will buy anything Apple makes. Well, I’ve been looking at one for quite a while now but just haven’t brought myself to buy one yet. Why? Because compared to the MacBook Pro it’s just not quite powerful enough for all of the things I would like to do with it. I would really love to have one though for all those times when I’m just going out to write. I could have a tiny laptop bag if all I had was a MacBook Air and a small portable laptop stand. 

For a lot of people the price of Apple products are the real barrier. The differences between Windows and OS X really seems to be less and less important as more software (is it still called that?) runs on Windows and OS X. It also seems like there is a day coming soon when we don’t even have to think about software. Everything will be done by an app or in a browser and kept in the cloud. Still, while Apple products may be “sleeker” and “sexier” there are still those that can not be swayed but such frivolous ways to buy a computer and go with the most practical and powerful machine for the best price.

This has been the edge over the MacBook Air that other laptops have had; so far that is. What if there was a MacBook air that was on $799? The current MacBook Air lineup starts at $999 but rumors have been going around that Apple may release a $799 11″ version in the third quarter of this year. That my friends could be enough to sway everyone away from the HP’s and Dells and Sonys and Lenovos and all those other Ultrabook manufacturers.

But isn’t that part of the problem with competing with the MacBook Air? I mean it sure isn’t easy keeping up with all of the new notebooks and ultrabooks and fauxtrabooks that are being released by so many companies. With Apple, you know that when it comes to product lines they don’t put stuff out there that they haven’t thought about…a lot. I mean they only have two notebooks that come in different sizes and it’s been that way for some time and looks like it’s going to stay that way for a while. Quality over quantity. They don’t just release a bunch of products to see which one is going to do well. All that does is add to the confusion.

Either way I’m glad for all of the competition and that can only be good for consumers. Longer lasting batteries and less heat will not only mean thinner laptops but also thinner and more portable laptop stands as the need for heat dissipation and cooling pads will no longer be as important.

We’ve talked a lot here about the differences between laptops and tablets and we’ve come to the same conclusions that most do. Still as I sit here on my laptop typing away with my lapdesk I have a hard time imagining life without it. Here is a summary of my thoughts regarding the laptop vs. tablet debate:

1. Tablets are better for content consumption, casual gaming, and ultra portability.

2. Laptops are more powerful and better suited for working (especially with a keyboard).

But we all know that hybrid devices are bound to become a part of the portable computing landscape. Laptops with touch screens that fold over or out or under to turn into tablets. Intel just revealed their own hybrid called the “Letexo”. We don’t know when it will be available or exactly how much it will be but it will probably be around twice the price of a tablet. If you think of it as an Ultrabook with touchscreen features added then it’s actually not a bad price. If it’s more of a tablet with an added keyboard than it seems a little spendy.

So what is there to make of these tablet/hybrids? Certainly they will have to be bulkier and heavier than there tablet counterparts. I still don’t know if the type of work done on laptops will really be aided much by having touchscreen capabilities. I think a better idea than even a trackpad would be something of a built in Wacom tablet instead.

Regarding ergonomics, I still haven’t seen anything that would make a good portable laptop stand obsolete. Ultrabooks may have us doing away with active cooling pads but for anyone that needs to type or spend long hours in front of their monitor ergonomics will still be a big issues. For people that use their laptops extensively on a daily basis they find this out pretty quick.

As far as Intel taking a huge chunk out of the “Apple” that remains to be seen. A look back at the past few years would tell us that Apple has something up it’s sleeve that no one else has thought of yet (or maybe a better way to put it is “thought of well” yet). One think that I would personally find intriguing would be a larger tablet with a retina display that also had the capabilities of fine point stylus like interaction. I’m sure with Adobe Cloud coming out soon and their new apps that a lot of creatives would appreciate something like that.

I’ve often wondered what it is about the smartphone that make them so addicting. I can think of countless times that I’ve been sitting in a car or at dinner with someone in silence as they stare blankly into their handheld device. Even watching a movie these days can’t be done without the temptation to check Facebook or update your Twitter account in regards to what you think about the plot so far. It’s really pretty crazy how much time we spend on these things and I have to admit that I am no exception. I was an early adopter of the iPhone and was hooked right from the start.

But what is the real draw to these devices? Is it unlimited knowledge at your fingertips? Is it the ability to be connected with anyone around the world at a moment’s notice? Is it becoming the main way we learn and interact with the world? The main way we now communicate thoughts and feelings with those around us? Well it’s actually a million things which is the good and bad side of it. 

I remember seeing a picture at a friend’s house in their downstairs bathroom. It was of a guy sitting on the pot with his laptop working away. I’m pretty sure he was so enthralled with whatever he was working on that he didn’t even notice someone open the door and take the picture. At least that’s the way it seemed to me. The thing is laptops have made this kind of working possible for better or for worse. I’ve even seen laptop stands that are designed for use while on “the throne”. And for sure many a lapdesk have made their way into the bathroom.

But what does this picture have to do with smartphones you ask? Well, I assumed he was working so hard that he didn’t even have time to stop working and go to the bathroom. That was a few years ago. Now I know that when someone takes their iPhone to the bathroom with them they are probably just playing Words With Friends. I think that the smartphone has become such an easy way to access so much content that this kind of interaction with computers where we can’t even stop to go to the bathroom without them is becoming more and more common. It used to be the geeks that just loved being on computers. People that would actually have an adjustable laptop stand in their bathroom. Now because of smartphones it’s everyone, all the time, and everywhere!

I’m not trying to be a downer and I love my iPhone just as much as the next guy. There’s been times when it’s been invaluable. The problem is that we are training our brains to digest trivial information quickly and are not allowing ourself anytime for contemplation and focus. Not even when we go to the bathroom. And, just like this article states, I do believe that one day the shower will no longer be a sacred place of peace and relative quiet that is free from the internet.

The jury is still out on whether tablets will eventually replace laptops or if the laptop will always be around and just play a smaller and more specific role than it used to. We’ve talked about how Ultrabooks and the MacBook Air are the future of laptops and how the lines are blurring between laptops and tablets due to advances in battery and memory technology. The thing that will be much harder to change is the way that we interact with these devices. So far there just isn’t an easier way to write than the good old fashioned keyboard.

There are of course Bluetooth keyboards that you can connect to your iPad and surely the apps will advance to a point where most of what we do can be done on a tablet. There are also other devices that can be easier at times to use than a touchscreen such as a mouse, but I’m sure people could get used to something else. 

Here is a great example of an iPad case that makes your iPad look so much like a MacBook Pro that it’s no wonder Apple hasn’t taken any legal action against it yet. It could be that as of now it is still only available in Japan. It could also be that there is just a hole in the case so the Apple logo on your iPad shows instead of blatantly ripping off the logo itself. The argument could be made that the design is a blatant rip-off of the MacBook Pro but you have to give them credit: if this thing works as well as it says it does, it may be worth looking into.

It boasts the brushed aluminum-like finish, the black keyboard (not backlight though), and also adds a USB port and extra battery supply. While the keyboard still connects via Bluetooth, it would still seem very convenient to have a case that includes the keyboard like this one. I’ve seen others that do the same but none of them look like they would give the actual feel of typing on a laptop keyboard like this one does.

It’s great to see new laptop stands and iPad cases come out that try to help bridge the gap between devices. My thoughts as of now are that tablets and laptops will continue to evolve simultaneously and that both will be around for a long time. As the technology for tablets advances that same technology will be applied to laptops and the extra space that laptops have will always allow more components to fit inside them. This will always make the laptop that much more powerful and flexible. My gut is that our future, at least for a while, will be filled with multiple devices and not one that does everything.

Some of the best thing about laptops are also the things that make them more vulnerable to damage than their desktop counterparts. Their portability allows us take them into our humid bathrooms or leave them precariously propped on furniture for pets and kids to knock over. We pick them up any way we can grab a hold of them and leave them laying on the floor like hardcover schoolbooks from high school. So here is a good reminder and hopefully a few new tips for you to make your beloved laptop last a little longer until it’s the right time to upgrade as opposed to having to replace a broken screen or corrupted hard drive. 

1. Keep food, drinks, and other foreign objects away!

This is one of the most obvious but is also probably one of the hardest things to be disciplined about, especially for people like me who find it hard to work without a cup of coffee. I try to at least finish eating before getting back to work. As for coffee and other drinks, keep them as far away as comfortable possible so if you do happen to spill them you have a second to move your laptop out of the way. A great benefit to portable laptop stands is that they can protect the bottom of your laptop from spilled drinks on tables. If you pour a venti latte on your keyboard there is not much that will protect your laptop from that.

2. Be nice to the insides.

This includes the battery which you should fully charge and completely discharge at least once a month. Apple suggests turning your laptop completely off if you won’t be using it for a couple of hours and also leaving it around 50% charged for long term storage (over 6 months). These tips will help your battery last a little longer. And speaking of turning your laptop off, please do so when not transporting by hand (in your bag, car, etc). Also, let your laptop acclimate to changes in temperature before you turn it on.

3. Be nicer to the screen!

The laptop screen is a weak point, especially the hinges that hold it to the rest of the computer. Don’t pick it up by the screen. Make sure you don’t close it on anything, put heavy things on top of you laptop, use a pressure grip to hold your laptop (rather hold it vertically from the bottom like a books), or touch the screen. These things can all cause damage to your screen which can be very expensive to replace.

4. Be cool.

Your laptop needs to breath. Don’t use your pillow as a lapdesk stand and suffocate it. Don’t use it directly on carpet which can block airflow. Make sure that air can get under and flow freely around your laptop. The very best way to do this is by using a laptop stand. You can either use an active cooling pad that uses USB to power a small fan or a passive solution that let’s air flow under your laptop. This is a necessity and easy to do. It will make your battery last longer and your CPU won’t have to work so hard.

5. Stay calm and level.

OK this one is a bit of a misnomer. I would say place your laptop on a flat surface though you can and probably should tilt it if you can. Just try not to let parts of your laptop rest on hard corners to put extra stress on certain parts and try to avoid compressing your laptops drives. Many laptop stands are flat but allow you to tilt up your computer which is better for ergonomics. Some laptop stands only prop up the back which may be really portable but not as supportive as a full coverage stand.

When I first found out that I was going to Hawaii for three weeks I was really excited! Of course, who wouldn’t be? Especially when you live in a grey and cloudy place like Seattle. After 6 months of cold rain and cloudy skies you really need a break. Of course these days there aren’t really any vacations that don’t involve some kind of work. While this wouldn’t be strictly a “working vacation” there are definitely some things that I had to get done. So I packed my bags and one of my all-time trusty laptop stands and headed off to the beautiful island of Hawaii.

And where else did I picture working on my laptop than outside by the pool? When you think of working on vacation in a tropical island that is the typical picture that comes to mind. Oh and what a deceiving picture it is! While it may seem like a dream there are many, many things to consider before you can start your relaxing poolside working vacation.

1. Wake up early.

This may not sound like a great idea while on vacation but if you want to work outside it may be a necessity. My laptop was not nearly bright enough for comfortable viewing in the middle of the day even in the shade. One of the easiest ways to counteract this was to wake up and get outside before the sun was too high in the sky. An extra added bonus are all of the pleasant ambient noises of the morning which mainly consist of birds and rustling palm trees.

2. You need cooling.

In Seattle cooling is often an afterthought. I have laptop stands with active cooling but I usually reserve those for times when I am watching movies on my laptop or trying to run some real CPU intensive programs such as video editing. In Hawaii, it is much warmer and I often found that a laptop cooling pad was real handy. It was a good thing that I bought a great lapdesk that is also one of the best cooling pads.

3. Find a cabana.

This not only helps out with the first thing on my list but may also help out with your productivity. There can be a lot of distractions by the pool but just having that little roof over my head helps me to focus. Something about being in a smaller space really helps you focus. The great thing about a cabana is that you can still see the wonderful view and tan those pasty white legs.

There are of course other solutions such as sun shades (if you want to look extra dorky) or just working inside. I found that a lapdesk and cabana worked out pretty well and garners less awkward glances. was to just wake up early and get as much done as possible before the sun was too high and that cool ocean water was calling my name.

If someone asked you if you would rather work from home or continue to work in your cramped cubicle for the rest of your career what would you say? I have a good feeling that most of us would jump at the chance to trade in our cold office environments for the warmth and comfort of our own homes. Of course not everyone would be able to do their job from home. Also there are many people who would miss the interactions with others that they enjoy in the workplace. Still for a lot of people, the opportunity to telecommute, freelance, or run their own business from their homes is much more appealing than sitting in the same cubicle day after day for years on end. Wouldn’t we all just like to wake up without an alarm clock, pour ourself a cup of coffee, and walk over to our desk in our pajamas? Who would miss things like sitting in traffic or having to dress up in business attire?

There are a growing number of people that are able to work from home nowadays but choose not to. When I say choose not to I don’t mean that they would rather stay in their cubicle but instead they go to places like coffee shops to work on their laptops. You can still get out of the house when you need to and still get work done in an environment that is nice and casual. This getting out of the house does more than just force you to get out of your pajamas and put real clothes on. It may actually help you be more productive.

Still some take it even further and decide that they don’t want to just sit in a coffee shop with a bunch of random people but would actually like to voluntarily go to an office like environment full of people like them who enjoy the freedom and flexibility to work on their own terms and in the vicinity of like minded individuals. This is called coworking. The upside is that you are no longer isolated from other people that are trying to get work down also and may give you the chance to network and collaborate with others. These coworking places are not free though and often cost more than a latte does every couple of hours (a standard rule of thumb for those who work in coffee shops is to buy a drink at least every two hours). They do often include the essentials such as tea/coffee, wi-fi, and yes laptop stands! But what really drives people to work in these coworking environments is the collective energy of like minded people and the great potential for networking and collaboration. I guess it depends on how much your type of work depends on those type of interactions. For myself coworking sounds like an interesting idea but I’m still content to take my lapdesk to Starbucks and type away for a few hours.

Growing up in the Seattle area I often wonder what life was like before Starbucks. I know there was a time in my life where I really hadn’t even heard of Starbucks but now I can’t think of one. As a Seattlelite one of the first things I think about when traveling to another city is where the nearest Starbucks is. I’ve found them in all major cities that I’ve been too and often times in the smaller American towns too. In one Seattle suburb that I used to live in there were at least 8 and possibly more Starbucks (including the ones inside grocery and bookstores). All this to say that a place to go for a decent cup of coffee and work on your laptop is never far in Seattle and many other cities around the world thanks to Starbucks. Not to mention that Starbucks really filled a gap, at least in Seattle, for that third place that is really beneficial for societies. 

Now I’m not saying that I don’t support the little guys. In the small waterfront town that I live in now just south of Seattle there are actually no Starbucks at all. There are two cafes in my small town and I regularly frequent one that is very cozy and has a great working environment. And while the wi-fi is free and fast and they encourage people to stay and work on their laptops they have overlooked one major thing that Starbucks has obviously put some thought into. Their tables are really uncomfortable and too high for any extended typing. And when I say extended I mean anything more than some words in a search engine. Even with a proper laptop stand there is nothing you can really do to lower a table height down to a good typing level. If your arms and wrists are too elevated you are going to feel uncomfortable very fast. Most of the time I end up moving over to a couch they have and pulling out my lapdesk instead of trying to deal with the pain of typing in such a bad position.

When I walk into a Starbucks I know three things: I’ll be able to get a pretty good cup of coffee, I’ll have wi-fi and an outlet, and the tables are really great for sitting at with a laptop. My local coffee shop really just didn’t put much thought into the person that is going to sit down with their laptop and type away for a few hours. And thought they are really friendly and inviting it’s obvious that the kind of customer like myself was more of an afterthought while Starbucks put some real consideration into these types of people.

Warning: The video below contains a few minor expletives. Nothing that would garner an “R” rating but I thought you should know before you watch this at work or in front of young ears.

Many of you may have already seen this video entitled “Facebook Parenting: For the troubled teen.”  So far it’s been watched nearly 31.5 million times! The story goes that Hanna (the daughter) went on a long Facebook rant about how she does more than her fair share around the house, barely has time to finish her schoolwork before she passes our for the night, and is basically treated like she is the cleaning lady. Well, it’s pretty obvious that her father had a different opinion and was not too happy to find her post online. Even though she blocked her parents from the Facebook post (I imagine she just chose not to share it with them on Facebook) it still go around to them. The dad also notes that he works in IT so he has some experience with computers. I doubt any of his previous work included troubleshooting laptop problems with a .45 caliber pistol but hey, I could be wrong!

Unfortunately there is no laptop stand that I am aware of that would save your laptop from someone bent on shooting it nearly point blank with hollow tip .45 caliber bullets. I did however find this bullet-proof kevlar laptop case but I’m pretty positive our laptop would still suffer some damage at this range and with this many rounds.

Putting bullet holes through your laptop gives a whole new meaning to laptop cooling but I’ll guarantee you in the end won’t work as well as a good cooling pad. If Hannah acts up again I think I’d prefer to see her next laptop on a riser and her disgruntled father practice his long range sniper skills instead. You know, just to keep thing interesting.