Most backlit keyboards have several small LED lights located under the keyboard. These LED lights are often just above a reflective layer that spreads the light more evenly around the area under the keyboard. Directly below the keys is a layer of clear material with several dots for each key. These dots reflect the light up into the individual keys to help illuminate them. The keys themselves have a semi-transparent layer in the area of the letter, number, or symbol on the key. This allows the light to come through the intended portion of the key, while the rest of the key is opaque, blocking the light.

While it may be possible to add a backlit keyboard to a laptop that was not originally designed for one, there are a few problems involved. First, laptops are designed to minimize wasted space, and a backlit keyboard often takes up more space than one that is not backlit. This would make it difficult to fit into the available space. Second, the keyboard would require power connections to the motherboard that were not intended by the manufacturer and could cause damage to the system. The low cost of most laptops makes it much more practical to simply upgrade to a model with a backlit keyboard than to risk damaging a laptop over a minor modification.

One major benefit of OLED displays is that they are very lightweight and even flexible. Weight reduction is a constant battle for laptop manufacturers, and reducing the weight of laptops by using OLED displays is something that would seem to be very appealing. While the flexibility of OLED displays doesn’t seem to be much of a factor for laptops, it could allow for new designs that think outside the box. For example, Sony recently demonstrated a prototype device with an OLED display that could be rolled in and out to save space.

Another major advantage of OLEDs that could appeal to laptop manufacturers is better power efficiency than LCD and other technologies, as it uses less power when running and can selectively turn off portions of the display and not consume any power. OLEDs also have a faster response time than LCD displays, which results in a higher frame rate and smoother motion.

There are currently many disadvantages for OLEDs, however, which are hindering their adoption as an LCD replacement for laptops. The major hindrance is the higher cost of producing the displays. OLEDs are also more prone to water damage and do not currently have as much longevity as LCD panels, causing them to lose brightness more quickly.

OLEDs are seeing a lot of growth in portable devices in recent years, and the technology will likely continue to be used in more and more products in the near future. Once the cost of manufacturing OLEDs begins to drop and some of the other disadvantages of the technology can be resolved, we are likely to see it used more and more in laptops in the coming years.

1. Memory

One of the upgrades that is likely to have the most impact on any laptop is upgrading the memory. A computer with more memory is able to run more programs at once without slowdowns and can also help you open and edit large documents more quickly. Upgrading the memory is often fairly inexpensive and easy to do, so upgrade your laptop to the maximum amount of memory supported to get the most from the upgrade.

2. Hard Drive

Upgrading the hard drive in your laptop is a great way to get more storage for your important files, but it can also provide a performance boost. Upgrading from a 5200 RPM drive to a 7200 RPM or faster drive will boost performance, or you may even consider adding an SSD for faster boot times and a huge performance boost. Make sure to backup your important data before you attempt the upgrade.

3. Battery If your laptop is more than a year old, you may find that your battery does not last as long as it did when new. Battery capacity degrades over time, so replacing the battery with a new one is a great upgrade that will allow you to spend more time away from power outlets. Adding a second battery is also a great idea for doubling your battery life.

4. AC Adapter

An AC Adapter may seem out of place on a list of upgrades, but adding a second AC Adapter to your laptop setup can add extra convenience. Keeping an adapter plugged into the wall in your office and one at home, for example, makes it easy to quickly move from one location to another without the hassle of carrying an adapter around with you.

With these inexpensive and simple upgrades, you can add performance and convenience to your laptop experience, and almost anyone can perform these simple upgrades with a little planning and research.

The Dock and Case

Although they are included in the box, we would be remiss not to mention the excellent dock and case that come with the Slate in any list of essential accessories. The included dock provides additional connection options such as extra USB ports and an audio output jack, making it a great way to use the slate on a desk with ease, even with a keyboard and mouse.

External Optical Drive

One of the biggest criticisms of the iPad is its reliance on a host computer for many operations. Support for external optical drives makes it easy to install programs or even burn discs directly from the Slate, even on the go. This addition helps to blur the line between a tablet and a full-featured laptop.

Ethernet adapter

The Slate comes with great support for wireless standards, but many users may require or prefer a wired ethernet connection. HP’s USB ethernet adapter is designed for just this purpose. It provides wired ethernet when you need it, and can be disconnected and carried along when you don’t.

Wireless keyboard and mouse

While the touchscreen aspect of the Slate 500 is likely what most buyers prefer, there are times when a keyboard and mouse are necessary. It is a good idea to have a wireless keyboard and mouse for times when typing is a priority. In fact, with the extra USB connections on the dock, it is easy to keep these connected, ready to be used with the Slate whenever it is docked.

1. For safety, remove the laptop’s battery and disconnect the AC adapter and any cables connected to the laptop.

2. Flip the laptop over to access the bottom. Remove the two screws holding the memory access cover in place and remove the panel.

3. Remove the one black screw inside the memory access panel, two screws at the top right and left corner, and five screws inside the battery compartment.

4. Flip the laptop back over and open the lid. Gently begin to pry the plastic bezel above the keyboard up toward you. Be very gently to insure you don’t break any plastic tabs in the process. There are cables attached to the bottom of the bezel. You do not need to remove the bezel, simply lift it high enough to access the keyboard.

5. Pulling the top of the keyboard up toward you, lift the entire keyboard high enough to access the ribbon cable connecting it to the motherboard. Gently pull this cable up toward the screen to remove it.

6. Connect the new keyboard to this connector and slide the new keyboard into place. Replace the plastic bezel by snapping it into place.

7. Flip the laptop over and replace all screws and access panels.

Once the laptop is reassembled, replace the battery and reconnect the AC adapter. Boot up the computer and test the keyboard. If everything is functioning correctly, you are finished.

For one thing, touch screen displays are a lot easier to navigate than even using a traditional mouse. With a touch screen, you simply have to touch what you want to select or interact with, and it’s done. This also allows users to do more delicate tasks than they could with a mouse, as the touch of a finger is easier to coordinate than moving an external mouse to influence the graphical cursor. Eliminating the accommodation for a mouse also frees up hardware space on your laptop, allowing for the keyboard to expand to a fuller size, making it easier to type than on a regular machine.

In fact, the exclusion of a mouse and therefore mouse accessories (such as room for a mouse pad, or a touch pad, or extra USB or serial ports), actually has the potential to lower the production costs of these machines, which in turn makes them more affordable for consumers. Indeed, as more and more touch screen laptops make their way onto the market, prices are continually dropping and becoming even more accessible for users.

Touch screen laptops also add the convenience of features that traditional laptops cannot. For example, students can use a stylus with their touch screen computers and physically write down their notes on their computers, which can be run through text-recognition software and converted to type, or manipulated by a note taking program that can allow them to manipulate and organize their notes in ways traditional pen and paper nor traditional laptops could. It’s also worth noting that many touch screen laptops also include the functionality of having the LCD screen swivel around to essentially make the machine a convertible Tablet PC, which is an added bonus and makes the machine even more portable and easier to work with.

The next step in notebook hard drive replacement for HP, is to loosen the two Phillips-head screws securing the hard drive cover to the bottom of the notebook. With a flat-edged tool, lift the inside edge of the HP laptop hard drive cover, and remove the unit. Remove the two additional Phillips-head screws that secure the hard drive to the HP laptop enclosure.

Then, before the replacement of the notebook hard drive for HP devices, slide the hard disk drive toward the outside edge of the enclosure, and disconnect the hard drive from the system board connector. HP laptop hard drives should be carefully slid out of the enclosure, and placed in a static dissipative package. After the unit is removed, the installation of the replacement notebook hard drive for HP devices can be performed.

New HP laptop hard drives should be supplied in its own, static-free packaging, and ready for installation. To insert the new hard drive, push the unit toward the inside of the enclosure until the connector is seated properly. Replace the two Phillips-head screws that secure HP hard drives to the base enclosure. Also replace the hard disk cover, onto the enclosure, and snap the outside edges into position. Once the screws are replaced, the battery can be re-inserted, and the notebook hard drive replacement for an HP device is complete.

As TV evolves with recently released 3-Dimensional Television display, Laptop and desktop monitors have been taken to the next level as well. The Sony Vaio AR Digital Studio provides its users with a magnificent, HD quality, video experience. It is fully equip with an HDMI port for complete compatibility with HD TVs and monitors. It also comes with availability for SD Memory cards and Express card expansion. To top it all off, the AR Digital Studio has a luxurious integrated camera with amazing quality and 3 USB ports.



With the release of the AR Digital Studio, Sony has been able to grasp the attention of gamers everywhere. It provides the superior power and versatility of a Mac Book Pro, and compatibility with the grand selection of games for PC only. Everything a gamer needs to overcome the difficulties of “lag” and under-qualified hardware is integrated into the new Sony VAIO at a lower cost to the customer than any of the specialized manufacturers. Now, MMO RPGs are smoother than ever and the beautiful graphics from the heavily detailed, first person shooters can be pushed to the limits.

Fingerprint scanning is an effective means of security. It is also one of the best ways of keeping prying eyes off of classified information being held on your laptop. Protect your hard drive, and remove the need to remember multiple passwords. Hundreds of large corporations are investing in the implementation of biometric scanner requirements. This technology has been proven to be the most reliable form of security for any laptop, personal or business.



Enhance your management by adding an additional layer of network security. Fingerprint readers provide convenience and a sense of security that can be found nowhere else. They supply a variety of uses and enhance workflow to be quicker and smoother than ever. The uses of fingerprint readers on laptops are endless and provide more than just security for sensitive information. Web access, wireless authentication, and simplified password storage reduce the complexity of consistent use.



Wifi has become one of the standard features on laptop computers, and to keep out unwanted infiltration at wireless hotspots, hardware-based options like fingerprint readers have been introduced to increase the security of personal information. Increases in the reports of stolen laptops have been a strong motivation for manufacturers to incorporate this highly reliable feature into laptops everywhere. Hackers are also getting smarter and software has proven to be uses against their tactics. Now, the guaranteed security of a fingerprint reader on personal laptops can put ease to the distress you have over the possible loss of vital information.

The battery of the VAIO VGN FZ21E provides a sufficient capacity for mobile use and has an exceptionally low temperature emission. HP has also provided an HDMI port that makes this new notebook fully equip for High Definition media entertainment. The Sony Vaio FZ21E is obviously optimized for perfection, with its great office task abilities and low heat emission.



Another magnificent version of the Sony Vaio is almost completely directed toward college students. The VGN NR160E has tons of hard drive space peaking at 160GB, and offers a solid computing experience for an unbelievable price. It comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual core mobile processor for the fastest level of performance without using too much power. This allows for less stress on your computer and smaller chances of overheating.



Sony is known for providing the best LCD panels on the market, and the VGN NR160E is no exception. The color and contrast are remarkable and have the same great quality of the high resolution notebooks offered at more expensive prices. At such an inexpensive price, the Vaio VGN NR160E gives students the ability to have a top of the line computer for one of the most inexpensive prices.