These days laptop computers are becoming almost as common place as the desktop. With prices on laptops coming down many people are choosing them over the desktop and their mobility gives them an obvious advantage over the desktop.

However their small size makes them inherently more fragile and harder to repair when they do go wrong. Being compact they can get very hot and this heat can wear components out faster than in a desktop which is easier to cool. One thing you can do here to help alleviate this problem is to make sure you don't block the fan vents at the back of the laptop when it's on your lap (or if you're sitting up in bed with it!).

Another disadvantage of a laptop stems from the fact that they are mobile; they're much more susceptible to being dropped. Damage can range from keys popping off the keyboard to a broken screen. The latter are quite expensive to repair, though prices are coming down with new suppliers in Ireland starting up to meet the increased demand. I guess the advice here it just to be careful, particularly if using the power adapter take care no one is going to trip over the cable and pull the laptop off the table.

None final piece of advice; laptops and drinks don't mix well! I'm often asked to repair a laptop that's had liquid (tea, coffee, coke etc.) poured into it. Unlike a desktop keyboard that can be replaced for a few Euro if you spill something into it, a laptop is far more vulnerable to spills. If you do spill something into the laptop there's a few things you can do to help rescue the situation: