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Gateway M285 Tablet Laptop

We found this review about this Tablet Laptop.  The Gateway M285 Tablet Laptop to be exact.  Check out this review.  But if you just want to know the basic idea here is a quotation from that article:

“To some people, tablet PCs are a novelty–good for occasional touch-screen doodling and not much more. For others, especially note-taking students and conference room PowerPoint jockeys, tablets have become indispensable…..”

We found that these laptops not only offer the ease of use of the laptop model with a wide screen but they also offer the tablet feature allowing you to take hand written notes on the run.  The unit is easy to carry when it is folded as a tablet unit.  Sturdy enough to withstand the use as a tablet and has the features you come to expect when using a core duo processor.

These laptops are still available from Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff at some great pricing.  You can get all the specs and support documentation from Gateways website just use this User Guide link.  If you would like to consider purchasing this laptop try this link to the Gateway M285 Tablet Laptop.

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HP Compaq NC 6230

The HP Compaq nc6230 Notebook PCs offer the smart balance of mobility and performance in a thin, light, stylish design, meant for the professional who needs powerful computing, mobility and enhanced security in a reliable notebook.

Users will appreciate being able to take their office on the road without sacrificing performance, productivity or convenience. With total cost of ownership in mind, IT managers will find the HP Compaq nc6230 notebooks the ideal choice for enterprise-wide deployment to mainstream mobile users.

• Mobility: This thin and light notebook allows users to swap their MultiBay II optical drive with a weight saver, for optimal travel weight. Plan for all-day computing when you add the HP Travel Battery getting up to an additional 4 hours of battery life, and recharge quickly with HP Fast Charge Technology, which recharges the battery up to 90% within 90 minutes. And, with enhanced standby time (up to 1 week), you’ll be mobile and productive for days on end.

• Security: HP ProtectTools provide enhanced security capabilities to help protect against unauthorized access to networks and business critical data and enable IT managers to manage their security solutions in a simple, easy-to-use manner. HP Drivelock helps prevent the data on your hard drive from being compromised even if your notebook is lost or stolen, and an integrated Smart Card Reader and Norton AntiVirus software come standard with this notebook.

• HP Professional Innovations – hardware features and software solutions designed to enhance security, ease of use and reliability.

• Ease of Use: A touchpad scroll zone enables users to seamlessly maneuver through documents or web pages and the ambient light sensor adjusts the display for optimal viewing. This notebook’s convenient ultra-slim Multibay II drive allows you to utilize a variety of devices and is easily ejected using one hand with a soft-touch mechanism. Easily identify, manage and turn on and off your wireless devices using the HP Wireless Assistant, optimizing battery life.

• Reliability: The nc6230 notebook PCs are designed to meet tough business standards and offer reliability and confidence in your computer. The HP Mobile Data Protection System helps protect the hard drive from shock and vibration and helps reduce the risk of data corruption. Combined with scratch-resistant in-mold lamination and the HP Panel Protection System that helps prevent the display from scuffing and scratching, your notebook PC will look newer longer.

• Versatility: Built with versatility, this notebook PC allows customers to choose the features that most appropriately fit their business needs. Meet your demands for graphic-intensive programs by selecting the graphics card best for you. Users also choose the integrated industry standard wireless technologies that work best for them. The versatile, ultra slim MultiBay II drive allows users to swap optical drives with secondary hard drives, for increased storage capacity and data back-ups.

• Connectivity: Wireless connectivity and enhanced battery life help you get connected and be protected wherever your work takes you. This notebook PC’s dual antennas help you work efficiently with a more reliable connection to your network.

Purchase your HP NC6230 today.

New Products from RAM-Mount.com

1.  RAM Ez-On-Off Universal Flex arm mount (perfect for IFR flying or anywhere you want to clamp a flex arm mounting systems for notepads, books, music, cameras, lights, gps, phones, etc.)

2.  RAM Stabilizer leg for any vehicle base mount (included with some models and may be used as an option for added stability)

3.  RAM Ball & Post Base for Motorcycles (unique method to attach a RAM ball to a motorcycle handlebar)

4.  RAM No-Sharp-Edge Equipment Consoles ( 50% lighter, 30% less expensive, no sharp edges)

5.  RAM Cradle for Apple i-Phone 3G’s

6.  RAM Printer Mount for Zebra RW 420

7.  RAM Handi-Case Universal Notepad/Storage Case for just about every industry (carry it, mount it, stow it, throw it, etc )

8.  RAM Seat-Mate Universal seat mount ( use it in cars, planes, trucks, boats, chairs, etc. to mount a wide variety of items including laptops, tablets, netbooks, gps, printers, etc )

9.  RAM provides Garmin with the factory mount included with the 696.

10.  RAM Multi-Pad Universal Busy Life Organizer ( notepad holder for use in cars, planes, trucks, boats, tri-pods, motorcycles, lift trucks, etc. )

11.  RAM Powered Dock For The Symbol MC55, MC5590 & MC5574 Enterprise Digital Assistant.

12.  RAM Cradle for Sporty’s E6B Electronic Flight Computer

13.  RAM Cradle for Lowrance Endura

14.  RAM No-Drill Vehicle Base for Chevy Impala Police:

15.  RAM Antenna Mounts for boats and motorcycles

16.  RAM Cradle for Garmin Dakota GPS

17.  RAM Mount for Raymarine A50 & A70 chartplotters

18.  RAM No-Drill Vehicle Laptop Mount for the Ford Transit Connect

For all your RAM mount needs visit Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff today.

Achieving Speed – is it more memory or just the basics…..

There is a common myth being perpetrated on us all. And that myth is that adding memory to your computer is going to magically give you all the speed you need. While it is true that adding memory helps with speed, it is not the cure all to end all. With that said this article will not be the cure all to end all either. Rather, Pete Teague, Sales and Marketing Manager at Bob Johnson’s suggests some first step actions that may help improve your computers speed and hopefully saving you some money by not buying memory that  you may not need.

Pete says when you buy a new computer; it has certain factory pre-set defaults and is optimized to run suitably as is. These settings do not account for the software, games and other stuff you may add. As you add or remove such stuff the computer moves further away from these optimal settings. It’s analogous to adding a dishwasher to your house. Think of your water heater as your computer. When you add a dishwasher your water heater now has to provide hot water to it.  Just like your computer when you add stuff to it, that water heater is going to have less capacity to service other things like the shower head. Shut the dishwasher off and your back to having the original volume of hot water for showers – or volume/speed the computer pre-set functions were intended to provide.  Turn the dishwasher back on and oops, less hot water for your showers. It’s the same with your computer; add software and other stuff and the computer is now supporting resources that it originally wasn’t pre-set to support as is. Remove the software and stuff and the computer runs faster (shut the dishwasher off and the water heater provides more hot water for showers). Pretty simple huh? Not really. You see when you shut the dishwasher off the water heater does not know the dishwasher is still there, so it’s not trying to service it. With a computer even after you remove stuff, the computer’s resources are still being used because some form of the removed software is still running in the background. That background support is slowing your computer down. Yes, you can buy a larger water heater to solve the dishwasher/shower capacity problem, just like you can add memory to your computer to solve the speed problem. But here’s the rub: While the water heater’s delivery of hot water is only impacted when you run the dishwasher, your computer is running or supporting some form the removed or old software all the time and that is slowing the computer down.
So with that backdrop: If you want to make your computer faster you can spend money on memory and get some short term gratification. On the other hand, you can do the following first and see if that helps. If you’re a windows user try some basic maintenance (you should do this at least once a month anyway). This includes: Running up to date anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. Emptying your “temp files” and cleaning up your cache, making sure you empty the recycle bin and running the disk defragmenter program, all of these at a minimum. But where do you find the tools to do these things? Chances are your computer has these tools on it already. If not, visit http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/optimize.mspx and follow the instructions – its pretty simple stuff and easy to do. Following these steps will help to optimize your computers performance and most likely save you some money in terms of not buying memory that you probably don’t need. Now, if you’re an Apple user and I’ll admit I am not real familiar with Apple, the steps are probably much the same. I would first do an all around cleanup of the internet logging files. Then do a virus scan and registry check.  If these actions do not help then I suggest you try reinstalling your programs. Who knows, it could be that you really do need more memory but at least you will have made sure all the options to spending your cash were exhausted first.
 You see, at Bob Johnson’s we don’t want to sell you something you might not need. So if speed is your need, try the ideas suggested here first. If that does not satisfy your need contact us at 877-202-7788 or www.bobjohnson.com our techs might have other ideas. Alternatively, we can do the optimization work for you at a nominal cost. Worst case, we’ll sell you some memory but only if that is what you really need – we don’t like to sell stuff that might not be in your or your wallets best interest. (And, oh by the way, a new dishwasher or water heater may not be a bid idea anyway and the money we save you could help pay for it!) Happy computing!

See the original article.

The Panasonic Laptop is definitely my favorite laptop.  The Toughbook series of Panasonic Laptops are definitely something to see.  I am building this site because I first and foremost like these laptops.  But more importantly there is a strong need for information on where to find parts and items for the various models at reasonable prices.

I will be continually adding additional pages to this website.  But for the most part we will start out talking about the Panasonic Toughbook CF-48.  This is Panasonic’s semi-rugged model and started out with a Pentium III 600mhz Intel Processor.  Our favorite Panasonic Laptops dealer has them in stock now.  They also carry a number of parts for the CF-48 and other various Toughbook models.

Why would you want a Panasonic Toughbook Laptop?

I get this question all the time.  The reason that this question is even asked is because of a lack of knowledge about laptops in general.  I basically break laptops in general down to 3 categories. 

1. Throw away retailed laptops

2. Corporate grade laptops

3. Rugged built to last laptops

The first category relates to those laptops that they sell in stores like Staples or BestBuy.  These laptops will sell for between 600 and 800 dollars in general.  They include some good specs and have a 1 year warranty.  Some common models are the Dell Inspiron, Compaq Presario, or HP Pavilion.  And needless to say you will get a throwaway laptop that will work for just over the warranty period and after that things will happen.  You throw it away and buy another one.

The next grade of laptops are the Corporate laptops.  These laptops are sold to the corporations which will usually lease them.  These are the laptops that you see on the used laptop dealers websites.  They were built much better and brand new sell between 3000 and 4000 dollars.  They come with a 3 year warranty and include such models as the IBM ThinkPad T series, HP Omnibook series and the Dell Latitude series.  These are not usually for sale in the retail stores and must be purchased brand new from a Value added reseller of computer equipment.

The rugged built laptops are what this website is about.  These laptops are what we will be discussing on this website.  These laptops are built to last and are used in some pretty harsh environments.  I hope that you enjoy and find some good information about these laptops on our website.

Used Laptops are in every sense of the phrase relates to a laptop that has been used by a period of time.  When you look to purchase a laptop that has been used there are many sites that offer used laptops.  Take a look at the links below to see some websites that offer used laptops for sale.

In general all these websites offer laptops that are used.  These laptops typically have been used in the corporate world and have come ‘ off-lease ‘.  Meaning that the company that had leased them, has come to the end of their lease and have returned the units back to the lease company.  The leasing company is not in the laptop business and will typically sell the lot of computers to a wholesale company.  This wholesale company will then mete the lot out into smaller lots and sell to these laptop resellers.

Each of them will offer some sort of warranty.  In general, the warranty will be between 30 and 60 days with an extended labor only warranty thereafter.  When looking for the best deal you need to keep a close eye on the cost of the laptop and the length of the warranty and exactly what is warranted.  In most cases none of the used resellers will offer a warranty on the battery.  If they do usually there is a higher cost on the laptop itself.  Remember a laptop battery is a consumable item and the life of batteries vary greatly.  When buying a used laptop keep in mind to get the best deal on the hardware you are purchasing.  A battery is easily acquired on EBay or on various websites and at a reasonable cost.

Keep in mind that laptops have a very limited upgrade ability.  In other words you can easily upgrade the hard drive and in most cases the memory.  Some things that are too cost prohibitive is the Processor and screen.  Basically you are stuck with what you originally purchase.  So always max out the processor speed and screen size when buying.  Memory cost fluctuates and you can very easily pick up memory to upgrade your laptop at a later time.  Hard drives are the same way.

Should you pick a Dell, IBM, or HP laptop brand?  Well I have found that most people have some past experience that has determined their preference.  I have been asked many times which brand is the best and I basically can only go by the amount of repairs that we get on the various models.  However for the scope of this page suffice it say that I have no particular like or dislike of any model.

Do some models look ‘ cooler ‘ than others?  Again this is a personal opinion.  I have always viewed laptops as a tool.  That is like asking me if some hammers are better looking than others.  Hey if it gets the job done who cares.

In general, as long as your application does not require top of the line, state of art technology (which most people don’t need) a medium priced used laptop may be the budget saving solution for you.  However if you have money to burn go for the brand new ones.  Keep in mind that you get what you pay for in the new laptop business.  The new laptops under $600 are usually junk and you will be taking them to the shop more than you will be using them.  You are better off purchasing a used laptop for that same $600.  You will end up much happier and with a more reliable laptop.

Maximizing Aging IT Assets

In these difficult financial times it is important to maximize every dollar and every other asset we have. The question is how to do that. While we promote the purchase of our used computers that is only one of the ways we can help you maximize your dollars. At Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff we also offer asset utilization and management programs. These programs can save you money both now and in the future. Our programs in this area also provide a great way for you to not only plan and save but also to actively support the GREEN Initiative.

Our programs include:

• Purchasing your old and soon to retire IT products
• Refurbishing and updating your assets.
• Accepting older assets in trade to help offset the cost of replacement or updated equipment
• Utilizing HOBI International, our asset management and electronics recycling partner.

Between our own in-house programs and those of our partner HOBI International, we can help you with the disposition of corporate assets. There are important and critical decisions and considerations for any organization here, not only from both a financial standpoint and an environmental standpoint but also a regulatory compliance standpoint. The financial importance of these decisions and considerations is even higher with organizations depending on limited and often times grant based funding. Our collective team can work with you to understand your needs and requirements. We can help you with challenges such as logistics, tracking, storage, resale, testing and refurbishment, data protection, disposal and reporting.

When it comes to data protection and disposal, the stakes can be high - especially for those in the law enforcement and emergency medical services areas. You need a partner who understands the critical and confidential nature of the data on your computers. You need a partner who fully understands and appreciates the need to not only to properly dispose and/or reuse the hardware but also understands and appreciates new and strict regulatory compliance issues. These are key areas where we can help you.

At Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff we do not wait until you are ready to dispose of your assets. Rather, we work with you up-front when you are acquiring IT. Thus, when the time comes to migrate to newer or replacement equipment, your IT infrastructure is not compromised and your IT budget is not drained. Together, we will have established a plan for the future.

When combined with our warranted used computers, favorably priced repair services and network administration capability, we are certain that we can add longevity to, simplify and drive cost containment when it comes to your IT infrastructure.

Contact us today to discuss not only how our used and refurbished computers can save you money but also about our asset utilization and management programs. We are sure you will be pleased by what we can offer you.

About Bob Johnson’s: Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff, Inc. is a leading provider of refurbished computers, computer repair services, asset management and network administration services. Our client base includes commercial and residential customers along with several municipalities and their police departments. Here at Bob Johnson¡¦s, we pride ourselves on fast, personal and affordable technology solutions to the business challenges our customers face. We differentiate ourselves by not only being an information technology provider, but moreover a strategic ally to our clients. In addition, there is always a live person to answer our phone during business hours.

Here is a page that lists some links to laptop reviews on the various Panasonic Toughbook models.  The Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 is one example of what is reviewed.  These rugged laptops are well built and have a high rating from most users.  However the cost can be inhibitive to say the lest.  Just a base rugged laptop brand new from Panasonic can run upwards to $4000.  This is one reason that used Toughbooks are becoming more popular with government agencies and smaller police departments across the country.

When you weigh the cost of a brand new Toughbook versus the cost of a used ruggedized Panasonic it is easy to see why the used equipment is becoming more popular.  In addition with the popularity of “Going Green” reusing and recycling used computer equipment is the right thing to do.

The bonus is that you save money and save the planet.