Flipped screen
Has this ever happened to you on your laptop?
Using your Ctrl key and the up and down arrows on the your keypad should regulate your problem. Give it a couple of seconds for your screen to refresh. For some laptops try ctrl-alt and the arrow keys.
Acer Inspire One on sale
This Acer netbook is pretty handy and great for users who are looking for a small way to surf the net and check their email. Bigger than a blackberry – smaller than a notebook laptop. The Acer Inspire 1 comes with usb ports, media card reader, 120 gig hdd 1gig ram memory. Most come with Linux installed or WinXP home. The one featured below comes with XP home. Only negative is that it doens’t come with a cd drive. So if you plan on installing programs from a cd or pics/music/videos from a cd, then best to add an USB external cd drive to your purchases. Check on ebay for some better deals.
If you don’t want to spend too much money and would like to get started with a netbook, then maybe take a look at this site - Tiger Direct – Acer on sale – refurbished
Its also good for kids who are just starting to use a computer. Its light and pretty sturdy. The keyboard is smaller, so adult fingers will have a longer time adjusting. Also the trackpad was a little tricky for me. I’m accustomed to having my click button on the bottom of the pad, the Acer has them on the side. My experience so far with it has been pretty good. Its handy when i’m on the go – although it does get pretty hot on your lap if its there too long – so for kids, have them use it on a desk or table.
Overall: 7.5 out of 10
The laptop for your price range
In case you’re in the market for a laptop, decide on how much you want to spend and what your needs are. If you’re looking for something for the home to surf the net or and check email – consider a model in the 599-899 range. If the laptop is for your child under 14 – i would go with a cheaper model, cuz of the potential quick wear and tear of the laptop while under child care. A laptop for a teen – you can then trust them to be more careful and go in the 599-899 range. If its for yourself – then you deserve to spoil yourself a little and look at the higer end laptops.
Remember to look into getting a longer term warranty when purchasing any laptop.
$399-599 Range
AcerAspire 8.9″ Laptop featuring Intel Atom Processor 
Dell Inspiron Mini
$599-899 range
Sony 16.4″ VAIO Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo T5800 2GHz Laptop
Compaq 15.4″ AMD Athlon X2 QL-60 Dual-Core 1.90GHz Laptop
Toshiba Satellite 15.4″ Laptop featuring Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400
$899 and up range
Sony VAIO 16.4″ Laptop featuring Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5800
Laptop or Desktop?
Nowadays lots of people are ditching the old desktop and buying a laptop. In terms of price, laptops are considerable more expensive than desktops.
I use my desktop at home and work, and my laptop when I’m on the go. The desktop is more comfortable. The keyboard is well positioned for my wrists and the screen is at eye level. Price is also a factor with more and more desktops along with their screens are going for under $500. With a desktop, you also don’t have to worry about bumps and scratches compared to the laptop that can get abused if not careful.
The flexibilty of a laptop is pretty much the deciding factor. With many establishments adding Wifi to their environment, laptops now are not only restricted to a home or an office. People are able to surf the internet nowadays while sitting in the park or waiting for a bus. Space is also the biggest sell. Don’t need much room for the laptop as it can sit on any flat surface. Because of their smaller size, repairs and upgrades will also be more expensive as the labor is more tideous. Also theft is important and all laptop owners should have a lock.
I actually know quite of few laptop users that keep their laptop docked on a desk all the time. Not a great idea, as you’ll never give a chance for your battery to discharge. Keeping it powered all the time, will shortened the life of the battery.
So basically the choice of a laptop or desktop really depends on your status – if you’re an adult with a professional lifestyle – then the laptop would be ideal. If you have a family with children then i would go with a desktop. Again everyone’s needs are different, There is no one right answer. However, weigh the pros and cons that should help you come to a solid decision.
