10 Essential Notebook Accessories

So you have just bought your first notebook or laptop computer! Congratulations!

To fully appreciate your laptop or notebook you do have to considersome essential accessories that can greatly improve the enjoymentand pleasure you get from owning one of most highly sophisticatedmachines this side of the Model T... the notebook computer.
Here are some of the essential or near essential laptop accessoriesyou should consider:

1. Carrying Bag or Backpack - This is essential if you will be doing a lot of traveling. You might even want to consider a wheeled bag for thoseheavier laptops.

2. Extra Battery - Since most batteries last less than 5 hours you willneed an extra battery or two. You should also check out bringing alongan external battery for your laptop. If you're looking for laptop batterieshere's a general guide, along with links to different brand name notebookbatteries.

3. Port Replicator - This is one essential you should consider buying for yourlaptop or notebook computer. It's a real hassle dealing with all those wiresand connections on your laptop - that's where your port replicator or dockingstation solves your problem. Plug all your peripherals into the docking stationor port replicator - connect and disconnect your laptop with ease without havingto deal with all those wires and connections. A must have!

4. Auto and AirPlane ac adapter - Another essential laptop accessory if youdo a lot traveling, battery life on most notebooks is not great so havinga handy source of ac power from your auto or from an airplance is a 'no-brainer'!

5. USB Hub - Some older model notebooks come with one or two USB ports; if youneed more - try a handy USB hub. It will give you more options.

6. Wireless Card - Most laptops and notebooks now come with a wirelesscard. Many top brands have 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g or all three!If your notebook doesn't have a wireless card, you can get a rather inexpensive802.11b Linksys PC Card adapter for under $50.

7. Optional External Hard Drive - Most notebooks or laptops now come with a 40 to100 gig hard drives, but still if you download and save a lot of movies or DVDsyou will take up that storage space quicker than you ever thought possible. If you needan extra hard drive for storage or back-up - try an external hard drive.

8. Optional External DVD Burner - Many laptops now come with a built in DVD drive but in case you need this extra for CD or DVD burning (movies, songs, videos, etc.) try an external DVD burner for your notebook. For maximum compatibility, try to get one that supports both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW formats.

9. Optional Wireless Keyboard and Mouse - Might sound strange suggesting this option since most laptops already come with a keyboard! But depending on your notebook make and model, the keyboards on most notebooks are not the greatest to type with. It all has to do with the wrong angles and the shape of the laptop - so if you wanta wireless desktop style keyboard and mouse - it is relatively cheap to buy.

10. Insurance! If you do a lot of traveling, you may want to invest insome laptop insurance. Laptop theft is a still a big problem and it'sbetter to be safe than sorry.