Laptop repairs, broken screens, port repairs

New pillow laptop bag

Friday 28th January at 02:35 pm by Allie Finnie | View/edit comments

Well we've seen laptop bag's that turn into tables and chairs but this is definitly a first. A laptop bag that doubles as a pillow? Trexta is releasing the Naptop, which should be available to buy in the next few months. The Naptop is a laptop sleeve come pillow. It will hold up to a 13 inch laptop between two padded sides, keeping your machine safe and secure while you sleep. It has a strap on the back which fixes it to the headrests in cars, trains and planes. Now I’m not sure how popular these will be but I can see the appeal if you do a lot of long distance traveling and take both a laptop and a pillow then this will be a great two-in-one option!

Good news for laptops from Nvidia

Wednesday 26th January at 12:53 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

Nvidia recently announced a chip known as "Project Denver" (sounds very special services) that'll be the company's first processor, based on the ARM core but destined for higher-powered machines. So what is the point of this new project?  Well they are aiming at a new chip that will enhance your next laptop’s battery life without forfeiting performance.

ARM is a base setup used by pretty much every mobile device on the market, from the iPhone to the newest Android phones to the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab which enables them to give impressive performance and amazing battery life.  Something we would all like.

Nvidia is primarily a graphics company but lately, they've been expanding, getting into systems-on-a-chip with their Tegra 2 line, a single- or dual-core chipset that's powering a lot of the hotter smartphones.  This new technology is aimed squarely at laptops and desktops, making it the first ARM-based processor we've seen that's intended to power entire computers.  We can’t wait for this technology to get out there and with the backing of Nvidia its not if but when it will happen.

Another form for the tablet market

Monday 24th January at 01:47 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

Samsung announced the arrival of their new Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series. The device that combines the benefits of a tablet with a laptop is essentially a netbook with a touchscreen running Windows 7. It is powered by an Intel 1.66GHz Z670 Oak Trail processor, packs a 10.1″ touchscreen, 2 GB of RAM, and 32GB/64GB SSD for internal storage. The device is also loaded with applications that are optimised for the touchscreen using Samsung’s own Touch Launcher. The PC 7 also has USB and HDMI ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, an ambient light sensor, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, can boot in under 20 seconds and will also be available with WiMAX support. With a touted battery life of 9 hours on one charge and a low price of just £400.  Out for launch in the US from March, it will be a while before we get any true feedback and whether it’s too good to be true. 

New Year's News from The Laptop Specialist

Monday 24th January at 09:22 am by Allie Finnie | View/edit comments

Click here to view our latest newsletter: http://bit.ly/gZjPV8

Watching TV via your laptop

Thursday 20th January at 01:26 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

Last January, Netgear presented its first Intel Wireless Display-based display device, the Push2TV, which enabled customers to stream whatever is being viewed on their laptop to their TV without the need for cables or wires. This month, they have announced its younger brother model PTV2000 which now offers full-HD video resolution and other improvements;

  • 30fps video: Image quality is now improved with full motion video.
  • Dual-band wireless connectivity: Supports multiple wireless bands to minimize wireless interference.
  • Extend mode: Users now can browse the Internet on the laptop while wirelessly streaming a movie to the TV at the same time.
  • Improved latency: Lag time between the laptop display and the TV is reduced compared with the previous version.
  • Expanded graphics card support: Laptops with both Intel integrated and discrete graphics processors are now supported.
The new Push2TV HD works with TVs that have HDMI or component connectivity.  The improved latency seems to be the key upgrade, as, depending on how improved it is, it might allow users to play 3D games. The previous version of the device, and of the WiDi technology, has about half a second of lag, making it impossible to manage real-time interaction. This also means WiDi might now finally catch up with WHDI, another prominent wireless display option, in terms of performance.
 
Netgear says that the new Push2TV HD is compatible with laptops featuring both current-generation and next-generation Intel WiDi technology. The device has a similar design to the previous version and can be used with any TV that has an HDMI port or component ports that don't already have built-in support for WiDi.
 
The Push2TV HD is slated to be available during the first quarter of the year and will cost around £75.00

750GB laptop hard drive

Wednesday 19th January at 02:06 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

Western Digital announced a new laptop hard drive that offers 750GB, the WD Scorpio Black 750GB. Though this isn’t the biggest laptop drive on the market, it's one of few consumer-grade drives that can spin at 7,200rpm.
 
Western Digital claims that the Scorpio Black is one of the fastest 2.5-inch hard drives on the market yet it consumes the same amount of energy as a 5,400rpm drive.
 
It's available now, and at around £95, it seems as though it would make a good replacement drive for any laptops that still use a 5,400rpm drive

Laptops for cash

Tuesday 18th January at 01:30 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

Question.  Do you have an old laptop collecting dust?  If the answer is yes then why not make some cash out of it.  There are plenty of sites you can get quotes on for your old laptop or better still, put the make and model in ebay and see what comes up.  People might be keen to buy it off you for parts and you are sure to make more money that way.  We know the anxieties about security and privacy when you get rid of your old laptop so before you make any committment, make sure you wipe all data from the laptop and if you are not sure that has worked, the safest way is to simply remove the hard drive from the laptop altogether and sell it without that bit.   All so easy and you have made money in the process, we all like abit of that!

Comments

Posted at Wednesday 19th January at 12:06 am by AYENI ABIMBOLA
His old but i dont mind if i can dispose it,or repair it and start workin the way it was before.
Posted at Wednesday 19th January at 02:16 pm by Sam
Why not try out No Fix No Fee service, if it cannot be fixed, we can dispose of it for you.

Turn up the volume on your laptop

Monday 17th January at 03:04 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

Now here is a great gadget for those of you who don't have the greatest of speakers on your laptop or if you need to improve the sound.  Its the JLab USB speakers who have been featured NY Times, on ABC News, in WIRED magazine, and on virtually every gadget site in the world.  At just £19.95 via Amazon, a bargain too.

  • Plug and play for PC* and Mac. Uses only USB power, no wires or batteries!
  • Easy to use. Incredibly compact and portable. Great for travel!
  • Produces crystal clear sound with dual 1-watt digital amps and 2 high output full range micro drivers.
  • Patented flexible design allows you to totally customize your listening experience by flexing the speaker into virtually any position.

Update for NVIDIA faulty chips

Friday 14th January at 02:23 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

For those of you who were unlucky enough to buy a laptop with the faulty NVIDIA graphics card, you may want to click on this link, you have until the 14th March 2011 to raise your issues.

Comments

Posted at Saturday 15th January at 11:17 pm by Qashif Masud
hi, l understand that nvidia will be re-infursing people for faulty chips, but they have not mentioned that they will pay out faulty sony laptops?! is there any chance they will? l have a sony vaio sz650n/c with a nvidia 8400m GS and it is one of the faulty models. l wish they replace mine
Posted at Wednesday 19th January at 02:19 pm by Sam

The article does state that they will in some instances pay for a replacement machine so try and claim for the whole thing.

Seek competitive quotes for your laptop repair

Thursday 13th January at 02:47 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments
We had a laptop in this week for a port repair & environment clean, total price to customer was £70. He was really please with this as just before Christmas, he has paid £200 for a replacement hard drive, £120 for the drive & £80 for fitting, we would have charged a total of £60-£80 including assessment – free fitting of drive. If someone quotes you a remedy for your laptop, please call around to make sure you are not being taken for a ride. We are always happy to give a price over the phone for like for like comparison, there are plenty of good companies out there, unfortunately, there are plenty of sharks too.

Dolby announces new technology

Wednesday 12th January at 01:31 pm by Allie Finnie | View/edit comments

If you listen to a lot of music or watch DVD’s through your laptop then you’ll be pleased to hear that Dolby have announced a new set of audio technologies which will make your audio experience a much more enjoyable one.  The new technologies are the Dolby Advanced Audio v2 and Dolby Home Theater v4.
The Dolby Home Theater v4 ‘delivers the ultimate surround sound experience in laptops and PC’s’

Acer will be the first to incorporate the new technology in their on their Aspire Ethos line.
For more information on Dolby’s new releases click here.

One laptop per child goes all tablet on us

Tuesday 11th January at 11:23 am by Sam Francis | View/edit comments
The project OLPC (one laptop per child) was present at the CES show in Las Vegas showing off their new design of the convertible laptop that turns into a tablet marketed to bringing school children all over the world into the computer age. Their aim is to push this to market in 2012 retailing at $165 (about £106). The bit we are excited about is their drive to lower power consumption from five watts to two by using low powered ARM-based chips from Marvell technology. This means that a laptop could last up to 8 hours and the tablet more like 10 to 12 hours. Fantastic news for those who do not readily have the luxury of electricity wherever they go.  To see a BBC interview, click here

Don't let your kids give you the runaround

Monday 10th January at 01:10 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments
This weekend, I got a call from a friend for some advice.  His daughter is in her first year of Uni and needs a new laptop.  She has told him that she needs the MacBook Air retailing at about £1000 - I told him she needs nothing of the sort.  She basically needs a laptop for her studies and for internet use, a laptop for this requirement only need set him back about £300-£400 or he could pickup a great reconditioned unit from about £200.  So please do not let your kids pull the wool over your eyes if you are having to foot the bill – normally their requirements stem from how cool it is rather than its workability.  From this photo, you can see the MacBook Air is a pretty cool looking laptop but at what expense?  Call us if you ever need some advice before you buy, one of our pet hates is buying superior technology to the needs of the user so we'd love to help you.

Is it a laptop bag or a desk?

Friday 7th January at 01:36 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

We are not sure whether to laugh or think this is a brilliant idea. Brothers, Nick and Beau Trincia have come up with this clever bag that is a carry case, work surface and a chair.  The system consists of a semi-rigid protective sleeve designed as an ergonomic laptop work surface and a protective shell that also functions as a comfortable seat. Together, they offer the portability and comfort to support work anywhere.  Ingenious! For more information and pictures, click here

A tablet that is a laptop?

Thursday 6th January at 12:08 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

We knew it would happen and Lenovo have stepped up to the mark by introducing a hybrid laptop/tablet. The most common complaint about tablets is that they are lacking when it comes to creating content but are brilliant for consuming it. The IdeaPad U1 is a laptop with a removable touchscreen.

Don’t get too excited as this will only be available in China but to be honest, that isn’t a bad thing as there are lots of things to get right for instance, you cannot access created content on the tablet unless its plugged into the laptop. By the time it hits the UK market, these issues will be a thing of the past and the the competition will be following suit.  Great news, we like this alot!

New razor thin 500GB laptop hard drive

Wednesday 5th January at 09:59 am by Sam Francis | View/edit comments
Hitachi has announced the Travelstar Z5K500 as its new incredibly thin, single platter high density hard drive. At just 7mm in height and a density of 636Gbit/inch which is almost 100Gbit per square inch more than its closest competitor.
Ultra thin and light devices are, without argument, a growing trend but in order for these innovative designs to live up to their true potential, they need rugged, reliable high-capacity hard drives that can withstand the rigors of a portable environment whilst satisfying the storage demands of the end user.
The drives are aimed at system manufacturers who want the thinner drives to differentiate product lines by utilising space savings to produce thinner devices, add battery capacity, increase shock robustness, or improve internal airflow.

Our New Year gift to you

Tuesday 4th January at 04:24 pm by Sam Francis | View/edit comments

 

As our first day back to work in 2011, we would like to announce that although VAT has gone up by 2.5% today, our standard service prices remain the same, that is our committement to our customers in these challenging times.  We can very rarely be beaton on price and speed of service so we hope this will help each customer save those extra few pennies.

Blog Archive

 

Get In Touch

Laptop issues can be a complicated business so take the stress out of it by simply passing it on to us. Either click here to contact us or here to log a problem

image

 

UK Computer Repair Companies UK Computer Repair Services

The Laptop Specialist, 18 Pelham Court, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9SH