Life Without a Laptop

Many people get used to having their laptops and would probably feel very hard done by, if you took it away from them. So far, I have actually been able to handle the lack of my laptop pretty well. I guess it is because I hadn’t had it for long, but I still do run into situations where I think “boy, it would be nice if I had my laptop right now…”

I am sure there are many people that will laugh at that statement, but as many laptop users know, once you have a laptop, you can find a myriad of ways to integrate it into your life.

There are many advantages to having a laptop, and the portability is one of the biggest ones. Having the computing power to bring just about anywhere is really nice, and provides a sense of freedom. I was able to take my laptop to a local park, sit under a tree, and type up an article or two for the Bloggy Network, listen to some music, and just generally give myself a change of environment.

We as a society are so used to needing to be at a desk, infront of a monitor, limited to the cubicle, or office at work as well as the computer desk at home, and this view is changing. Now just beyond your computer could be a coffee shop, park, or even an airplane. This sensation can inspire creativity, keep you occupied when you might have otherwise been bored, or allow you to connect to family or friends, even when not at home.

My laptop is currently out being replaced for a new laptop, as I had a stuck pixel that would not go away, and it was bugging me. During the short time I had it, it took over a place on my desk next to my computer, with three monitors set up (two for the computer, and of course the one attached to the laptop), my desk looked very powerful, though it caused many sighs from my fiance who is not a fan of technology.

Another great use of the laptop is to find directions, and other useful information. A friend of mine was in town and wondered what we should do. If I had the laptop, I would have gone to a free wireless access spot, whcih there are many around where I live, and connected to the Internet. I could have then proceeded to find out what events are going on, including maps of where everything is. I have lived in Ottawa for over a year, and still have problems finding places.

Have you been holding off getting a laptop for one reason or another? Is it the price that is stopping you from buying one? They are pretty cheap these days, as you can get a respectable laptop for around the $1000 mark, and a less powerful one for as low as $600. This might still seem like a fair bit, but with Dell and other companies allowing payment plans, it is easier and cheaper than ever to pick up a nice portable machine you can use to transfer pictures, video, and documents on. You can do work while travelling. You can do research anywhere they offer wireless Internet access.

The rewards of having a laptop over a normal computer are a thousand fold, just make sure you get one with a good battery life, and great warranty, or get ready to deal with laptop withdrawl symptoms.

photo thanks to Gregor909 from SXC.hu

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