Dear Ladies:

You have helped me more than you can imagine. Just think about this. I actually took a battery out of a laptop. Two or more years ago I didn't even know how to use a laptop and now I'm taking batteries out. rofl.

I wonder how long a laptop lasts? And how does one know when one needs a new laptop. Does it just die on you?

See, I thought I knew everything and I actually found out I needed one more question asked.

Oh, I use this mainly to watch videos on youtube or putlocker. The AC Adaptor brick thing gets warm. I gather this is normal??

Melody

Yes, the "brick" does get warm.

Make sure your laptop is propped up on pencils or something similar. The heat it generates will kill it faster.

The screen may go (very common with HPs),
or the harddrive may die (which is what happened to ours).

Our son put in a new harddrive for us so it is still plugging along.

Laptops don't live long. Enjoy it while you can. I dislike them immensely.

I'd make sure you plug into a surge protector... in case of an electrical surge during storms or emergencies.

Mine has been plugged into a surge supressor since day one. And it's been sitting on one of those Radio Shack fan things since day one. So my laptop won't die any time soon.

Any why on earth do you dislike a laptop. I think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread.

Melody

For myself prefer my desktop, just because it is more ergonomic and comfortable for my neck and for typing. At the desktop I can sit back in my lazy boy office chair..and be more relaxed..
But I like having my laptop for moving around, out in my painting studio, or out on the patio in the summertime.

The viewing angle of laptops and the slightly closer keys are harder on my RSI/TOS symptoms.

I definitely hear you about the keyboard. I am used to typing 146 words a minute (I've won typing contests). I especially like the microsoft broken keyboard. But I had to re-learn all my typing skills when I got the laptop. Thankfully, even at my age, I seem to be better in the brain skills department. Maybe it's all that Methyl B-12? lol

Melody

We had desktop computers when they first came out. No Internet then. After a number of years we went to laptops. I, too, am a very fast typer with 120 words a minute - no mistakes - on the old manual typewriters. I had no trouble typing fast on the desktops or on the laptops.

Whatever works, works.

I have an interesting story to share with you all. About 30 or so years ago I worked for a company and I was on the Administrative Floor. I was a private secretary to the Executive Vice President. We secretaries ALL had Selectric typewriters and we would go at them like speed demons. I also had lunch with all the other secretaries in the whole company on another floor every day at 1 p.m. (We all would watch All My Children).

Well, one day some one comes in and poses an idea. They want to select ONE secretary and send her to IBM school because the company was going to be testing the first IBM Desktop Computer with a dot matrix printer. Guess who they chose? ME???

I went to IBM school every day, learned how to use the computer, and in about 3 months I was the one who had the very first IBM desktop computer instead of the Selectric Typewriter. Man, I could fly on that machine. The dot matrix printer was the noisiest thing and they had to install a big cover on it because it was driving everyone crazy.

So guess what happened when I went to lunch. NO ONE SPOKE TO ME. No one!!! Not for almost two years. I was persona non grata because I had the only computer in the whole company.

Well, two years past, everyone got a personal desktop computer at their desk and guess who they called up saying 'Melody, what does the F10 button do, what does the F2 button do?

We also did word processing and I knew the whole thing because I had been doing Multi Mate Advantage for two years. The other gals called me all day long asking "How do you paginate, how do you do mail merge". I will NEVER forget those questions. I was hopping from my desk to all the other secretaries and showed them all. I never said one word about them not speaking to me for two years. What would that have accomplished?

Then I got the first ink jet printer. Then a laser printer. Finally, they all got the same thing.

It was so hard back then not having any friends. I have never forgotten that experience.

Melody
P.S. The whole computer had a 20 megabyte hard drive. Can you imagine??

If that battery is 2 years old, it was due to soon be replaced anyway. Whether the laptop was on the AC adaptor or not, makes no difference. The battery will gradually "die", your operating system may suddenly report it to you as if it "just" died, but truthfully the battery starts dying the moment it is used for the first time.
My $200 Black Friday special Toshiba is now 6 years old and the battery last for about 3 minutes, that's enough time to safely shut it down in an emergency and I agree with the other poster that says replacment batteries are a racket/rippoff-way overpriced ! Adaptors being warm is perfectly normal and did you know that an ac adaptor plugged into nothing but the wall recepticle still uses electricity ? Unplug those unused ac adaptors and save your money ! Look about-you could have as many as 10-12 of them plugged in !

I have a question. Why would anyone plug in an unused ac adaptor? I have never done that. I only plug it something into a surge supressor or into an outlet only if I'm using the appliance. I have never had an unused ac adaptor plugged into the wall (without the other end plugged into something). That is what you are talking about right?

Mel

Heya Mel ! As far as the ac adaptors, I was only answering your question about it being warm, yeah that's normal. Even when not under a load.
The unused ac adaptor statements I made are not aimed at anyone in particular, but many many people leave the ac adaptors plugged in when not in use. Don't assume just because you correctly plug them in when you actually need them, that everyone follows that example.
How many people plug in the cell phone ac charger and simply unplug them from the phone and go ? Alot.
So anyway, you did get a Kindle Fire ? The new one ?