There are a lot of laptop care tips on the Web, like this one from wikiHow.  Laptop care tips are nice, but are there any “show your love” tips?  Well, that’s what I’m talking about here, tender loving care of the hardware!

If you do an Internet search for laptop care tips, you’ll notice most are repeated.  I’ll avoid that and pass along a few tips that you may not have read, starting with the cosmetic care. Then we’ll move on to internal hardware.

Laptops are like cars in that it’s almost as important how it looks as how it works. There are two parts of a laptop that are seen first and tend to create the biggest visual impression: the keyboard and the LCD screen.  Next would be the top cover and then the outer chassis.

A micro-fiber cloth with a little bit of water will work fine for most clean-up jobs. But, what if the LCD has a year’s worth of pen ink, dried finger oil or tape and sticker residue?  The micro cloth may not get the job done.  Try lightly dampening an old but soft cotton t-shirt with water, and then add a little bit of alcohol (50% isopropyl alcohol).  I use a spray bottle with a 65% water and 35% alcohol mixture.  It’s very convenient to spray the mixture on a cloth.  Gently wipe the area that you want to clean, but do not rub.  I’ve made many LCD displays look brand new doing this. The difference is almost night and day.   Very important that you do not use household cleaners as most contain ammonia, which is very bad for LCDs and other parts!

There’s nothing wrong with using alcohol unless you’re personally sensitive to it health-wise!  This article from handstands.com says otherwise.  It is only a problem if you use 70% and above alcohol as it will take paint off any plastics.   You have to use common sense and moderation with any kind of cleaner.  It’s not a bad idea to use gloves and other safety equipment like a mask.

Here’s another situation that isn’t mentioned on the Internet, but happens to a lot of people.  It involves the little rubber bumpers around the LCD display, and on the bottom of the computer.  Normally you can contact the manufacturer and request replacement bumpers to be sent for free, if the computer is in warranty.  Bumpers protect the computer like roller bladers use pads.  If you love something you would want to protect it, right?  A quick fix for bumpers not sticking properly is using two-sided sticky tape.  It’s really fast and easy.  Just take the old sticky stuff off the bumper, and then place the bumper on the tape and cut the excess tape around it.  Then place the bumper on its correct chassis position and you’re back in business.

Now to the inside of the laptop. I strongly advise that you do not use compressed air to clean the inside.  Digital Inspiration has a video on how to properly use compressed air to clean your keyboard.  Compressed air can push debris further inside the computer.  Of course some does come out but let’s face it — it’s not an efficient way of cleaning a computer.  It’s more advantageous to suck out the debris. It’s also very important that the dust and debris be removed from where the cooling fans pull in air.  If you push or pull air in the same direction as the cooling fan flows, then the heat sink fins can’t unclog properly.  It is better to back flush air through the system.  Over at Notebook Review you can see how a laptop owner had a hard time cleaning the fan and heat sink.

I use a low-power vacuum (like a portable hand vac), which I position to pull air out where normally cooling air enters the computer during operation.  It works wonders if you do it right and it prevents having to breathe the dust that compressed air blows all over the place.  It’s very important that you do not use a high-power vacuum that can suck bark off a tree!  The inside cooling fan could be damaged.  A fan vac should not spin the cooling fan to excessive RPMs.  To be extra gentle, you can hold the fan still with a cotton swab.

Well, that is it for now.  I really hope that you discovered some ideas that will help you show some love to your laptop.  If you have any maintenance tips, please share with a comment. 

A number of you have asked for Linux tips on Your Blog. So with a tip of the hat, I’m pleased to pass along a nugget submitted by community member aikiwolfie:

A quick and very simple way to get web cams working in Ubuntu is to install a Gnome application called Cheese. Installation is very simple.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type sudo apt-get install cheese
3. Let the installer run and that’s it.

This works for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04. I’m not sure about earlier versions. But it won’t hurt to try it.

It’s easy to submit a personal technology tip or an idea for a Your Blog post. Just type your thoughts in the “Idea Submission” box in the upper right corner of Your Blog.

BTW, worth mentioning, for clarity, that if you have an idea related to *improving* Dell products or services, the best way to let us know is to post on the IdeaStorm site.

With the average price of gas well above $4/gallon (and closing in on $5), the cost of getting lost or wasting time looking for an address is at a historical high — and the return on investment of a good GPS system gets more attractive. Great deals make these cunning devices even more attractive.

With favorable notice from ZDNet and Crave on its unique features — and a limited-time promo dropping the price to $199.99 — the Navigon 5100 might be a great choice for digital nomads.

For me the most intriguing differentiators are:

• Free (no monthly fee) traffic updates.
• Lane change, speed and photo-realistic views of complex intersections (forewarned is forearmed), and
• Zagat ratings and reviews (for driving directly to that new place you heard about instead of circling around an unfamiliar neighborhood – not that I’ve ever done that).

First off, in the interest of full disclosure, let me say – I like Windows Vista. However, one company can only do so much to ensure a smooth migration from one operating system to another for billions of computer configurations. We’re talking about being compatible with both software and hardware from the past two decades.

For example, my three year old uses an ancient (but small footprint) all-in-one computer. The computer is almost eight years old, but runs Vista well.  However, the two-year-old wireless network card didn’t have a Vista driver available.  I did eventually find one on the Korean version of D-Link’s Web site.  Somehow, I doubt this is Microsoft’s fault that it wasn’t readily available.

However, the Vista issues with software compatibility are another matter. While most of my Windows XP software runs just fine, that isn’t always the case. For a complete list of legacy software Microsoft has tested and certified for Vista, you should check out this Web page. I’d prefer not to setup a new PC, just for purposes of restoring an old backup or performing a numerical calculation on a pervious tax software package.

In this situation, Microsoft Virtual PC is a lifesaver. Computer virtualization is the white-hot field of having a complete, indistinguishable virtual computer (of any operating system) running on the physical computer under your desk. With Microsoft Virtual PC, your Windows Vista PC can run Windows XP without any appreciable slowdown. With Windows XP in a virtual PC consuming the whole screen, there is no way to visually determine Windows Vista as the true operating system installed. The virtual PC even connects to the network as a regular PC. 

My Vista PC running a Windows XP virtual PC within it.

Businesses use virtualization, for many reasons. The most obvious being, there are less pieces of equipment to purchase, organize and replace. This is eco-friendly, as idle virtual servers running on a single box take less energy. Quality Assurance teams like this, because they can quickly set up and remove a test environment without a lot of work.

A virtual PC is typically saved as a single file on the host computer. Microsoft has even started allowing entire downloads of virtual machines for software evaluations. This allows businesses to evaluate complex software installations in minutes, without modifying their network or servers.

Likewise, for the hobbyist at home, Virtual PC is a great place to install trial software. If you don’t like it, delete the Virtual PC. In this case, there is no chance of hosing your true desktop system or having your system changed. A list of my Virtual PCs can be seen below. 

My Vista machine has two virtual Windows XP machines. I test software on the temporary machine, and keep a fresh Windows XP installation around to start over with.

You can download Virtual PC 2007 free of charge from Microsoft’s web site. The download size is a mere 35 MBytes. There are alternatives to Microsoft’s software. VMware is Microsoft’s primary competitor, they also offer a free (but more limited) virtualization product. Likewise, they provide many Linux virtual machines with software preinstalled to evaluate.

Do you still have a copy of Windows XP on DVD? You may be installing it sooner than you think.

I love Netflix, and I’m a big fan of their Watch Instantly feature. Like lots of folks have pointed out, there are some limitations to that functionality: it requires Internet Explorer which means you have to sit in front of a computer or laptop to watch streamed movies. That’s why there was lots of buzz since Roku and Netflix announced a set top box for $99 that lets you watch these streamed movies.

Thanks to Lifehacker’s Adam Pash for an excellent post about how you can use a Media Center PC, the vmcNetflix add-in and an Xbox 360 as an extender for watching streamed movies in your living room. Adam also includes a YouTube video from Mike K. (you rock IMHO) at hackingnetflix.com where you can see it in action. Lifehacker also shows everything you need and a step-by-step process for setting it up.

I know what I’m doing when I get home.

As more and more people buy laptops, some of the most common questions we hear involve wireless networking.  I know when we moved into our house we didn’t want long network cables connecting all the rooms, so we bought a wireless router.

We’ve all seen those commercials about Internet-ready wireless laptops and they look great.  No wires to plug in or trip over, and the ability to be mobile and connect from any room in the house.  What’s not to like about it? But there are some practical concerns to having a wireless network as well.

Wireless Internet routers use the same 2.4 Ghz radio wave range as most cordless phones.  If you’ve used one of those phones you know that there are places in the house where reception isn’t all that great.  The same thing can happen with wireless networks.  Walls, overhead lights, baby monitors and electrical wiring are examples of things that can cause interference.  Even the water in pine needles has been proven to cause problems. Anything that causes interference will slow down your wireless connection and could be enough to drop you offline. 

You will want to take all these into account when deciding where you want to set up your wireless router.  Linksys has some tips to help you decide where to set everything up. 

And it’s not just things inside your house that could be causing interference.  As wireless and cordless devices improve and have more range it could actually be your neighbor’s cordless phone interfering with your connection.

While wireless networking is great when it works correctly, it can be frustrating when it doesn’t.  If you’d like to learn more, and get help from other Dell customers, Dell has a forum that is dedicated to helping with wireless, Internet and networking problems. 

I’ll be posting more information on the different types of wireless cards as well as tips for troubleshooting and securing your wireless network.  Let me know what’s on your mind when it comes to wireless networking and I’ll be glad to try and work it in.

Have you heard of Regina Lewis?  She’s on national TV and radio, and she’s an accomplished writer who does a great job simplifying technology for the masses. She also happens to be AOL’s consumer advisor. 

You might be one of the millions who frequent CNN, ESPN and Google – but you might also be interested in virtual vacations, dining for less, fitness and going green.  These are just a sample of the recent and timely topics on reginalewis.com.

Would you like to know which stores in your area carry the Nintendo Wii or Wii Fit?  I would.  Try the Wii Tracker site, which was mentioned last week.  No need to make dozens of calls or spend time driving around the city with today’s higher fuel prices. 

Were you interested in knowing about Dell’s (PRODUCT) RED Super Bowl commercial?  She had it covered in this entry from February, two days before the big game.

Her site is highly relevant, frequently updated, and allows you to enjoy the best of the Web and technology without having to find it yourself.  Additionally, Regina brings a style to each of her postings that is approachable for novice and advanced computer users – you won’t find technical language here.

I look forward to your comments as I begin developing future topics on simplified personal technology.

This is a follow up to my post last week on “Look Out for Phishing E-mails.”  Jervis961 had commented on a phone scam known as *72 or 72#.  This rang a bell, but I couldn’t remember the time frame.  Curiosity got the best of me and so I started to surf around the Internet. 

There was a lot of information about the *72 scam.  Here is a recap:  If someone calls you and asks that you call another number for any reason and the phone number begins with *72 or 72#, don’t do it!  Whatever number you dial after *72 will have its calls charged to you.  Basically, this is unintentional call forwarding.  You can get more up to date telephone scams information here.

Why am I writing about something so old? To remind everyone that scams and cons are recycled all the time — they just appear to be different due to little changes in how they are executed.  It will be attempted over and over until people catch on.  That is when an old scam will be recycled into something slightly different. 

Here is a quick story.  I know a professional trainer who teaches group and private lessons.  To sign up for a class you use her Web site and then mail your payment.  Well, she got an e-mail from someone who said an Italian model was coming to the U.S. and needed training between camera shoots.  The e-mail even named hotel and geographical references in the area where this pro teaches.  There were three e-mails with the final one stating that the payment for the classes would be a cashier’s check.

The cashier’s check would be a fixed dollar amount, that for some reason the model would not be able to cash, in order to pay the trainer directly.  Instead, the trainer would have to cash the check and send the left over amount to the model’s manager.  I have not heard or read of something like this before, but it did remind me of another well know scam.

So, which phishing e-mail does this remind of?  Yup, that’s right, it is the, “My cousin is the king of a country and needs your checking account number so that we can deposit money into it and for your help you can keep half the amount” scam!    While it is different, the delivery method is the same.  Plus, it plays on what people desire so much — that they could win something or get something for doing almost nothing.

Here are the highlights:

• Scams and cons are recycled all the time.
• If you get suspicious e-mails, look for similarities of past scams you are aware of.
• If it looks too good to be true, it most likely is.

If you think you’re arriving late to the social media party, relax. It’s just beginning.

In your quest to master our new Web 2.0 world, here’s a thought: Why not start with yourself? Chris Brogan recently penned a brilliant post on 100 things you can do to better brand yourself online. Home Base, Passports, Outposts and a lot more, including some helpful offline tips like if you’re terribly shy, consider finding a “wingman” for events.

Check it out here, then come back to Your Blog and tell us if you had any “Aha!” moments.

I’m fairly certain that when I was an infant, my parents never had a baby monitoring system.  Well maybe two tin cans and some string, but that’s not quite as nice as what you can get today.  And while monitoring systems are all the rage, not many currently available have the secure monitoring capability to include video as does the Graco iMonitor.

The iMonitor is a digital, color video baby monitoring system that allows a parent or guardian to watch over their loved ones remotely with the use of a handheld receiver (Parental Unit).  You can mount the camera (Nursery Unit) over a crib, in a corner, or on a wall and have instant audio and video feedback in regards to what your child is doing.  The camera on the unit can adjust to swivel from left to right for better positioning and it also includes nightvision, that’s pretty slick!

The Parental Unit itself is very portable and sports a 1.9” color video screen.  From the unit, you can adjust the volume, zoom in and out with video camera, change brightness and all this from a distance of up to 600 feet.  Not to mention it includes an alarm and can be set to use several languages. 

We tested the unit with our son, who will be turning 3 years old this August.  While I expect many people will use this primarily for newborns and infants, we found the unit extremely handy for keeping an eye on a mischievous toddler.  Setting up the device was very quick and easy, simply install the rechargeable battery pack for the Parental Unit, install AAA batteries as backup for the Nursery Unit (Camera), plug in the AC adapters for power/charging and you are good to go.  

Initially, we set the camera up on the counter to monitor our son in the living room.  The first thing my wife said when we turned it on was “Wow… we should have had something like this earlier.”

The video was in color, however I did find it a bit jerky when my son moved and played with his toys, but the audio was very clear.  Even with the slight jerk as he moved within the frame, it captured his movement and activities in much greater detail than I had been anticipating.  For a newborn or infant who is primarily still in their crib and not as active, I wouldn’t imagine that video capture would be an issue.

The night vision is great.  We were able to clearly see our son sitting in the dark as he watched the movie Cars.  However, he was a bit distracted by the red light from the camera, which is easily visible in a dark room.  We both laughed from the other room as we watched him get up to investigate the camera.  We also saw no issues with interference when we used the unit through several rooms while sitting outside on our patio.  All in all, we both love the monitor.  Just by flipping open the parental unit, or sitting it on the table next to you, one is easily comforted by seeing and hearing your loved one as they lie or play in another room. 

I’d like to thank fellow blogger and occasional Your Blog reader Lindsay Lebresco at Graco for sending me a review unit.  If you would like to get involved in the Graco community, check out the Graco Blog.  The site is very family oriented and filled with great tips such as Top 10 Ways to Keep a 2 Year Old Quiet, and who couldn’t use more ideas in this area?  =)