It is important to clean the screen of your laptop regularly – dust and dirt may cause scratches when the screen is touched.

Always use a dry, soft cloth to remove dust, fingerprints and smudges from the screen. If this does not completely remove the dirt, try a cloth slightly dampened with hot water. For persistent dirt spray cleaning fluid on the cloth (or use cleaning wipes) and gently wipe in one direction – left to right or top to bottom.

Special cleaning materials for computer screens are obtainable commercially. Often these materials are in the shape of anti-static, pre-moistened wipes. If these are not available, you can make your own cleaning solution by mixing one part water with one part isopropyl alcohol (also called rubbing alcohol). If you do not have isopropyl alcohol, you may use a small quantity of vinegar instead.

When you clean the screen, there are a number of things you must avoid.

• Don't use paper towels or tissues – even though they appear soft they could scratch the screen.
• Don't use an abrasive cloth that has the potential to cause scratches – for best results use a piece of cloth cut from an old T-shirt.
• Don't use household cleaning fluids with an ammonium base (look on the label of the cleaning fluid) – ammonium will dissolve part of the protective top layer of the screen, leaving a dull, smudged effect.
• Don't spray liquid directly onto the screen, as some of the spray may penetrate the machine.
• Don't apply too much pressure when cleaning the screen – it could be damaged in the process.

Follow two simple rules as preventative measures.

• Don't touch the screen with your fingers when using the laptop – this will save cleaning time.
• Don't leave the lid of the laptop open when it is not in use – this will prevent dust from gathering on the screen.

Sometimes you do not realize how dirty your laptop's screen is until you look at it from an angle. Make a habit of cleaning it regularly, thereby extending its life.
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Yes, it is true.

The screen is a very sensitive part of a laptop. It is called an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen, indicating that it is filled with liquid.

If you gently press with a finger on the screen you will notice that it gives way slightly – you can feel liquid moving beneath the outer layer – and you will also see that the screen changes colour. Some people have the habit of pressing on the screen just to see the changing patterns. Don't do this! Your screen can be damaged if too much pressure is applied to it or if you poke it with a pen or sharp object. It is a good policy never to touch the screen with your finger or any object.

Be careful that you do not bump the screen or knock anything against it. Although the outer layer of the screen is made of touch material, its resistance has limits.

The screen can also be damaged if you slam it shut. Open and close it with care.

When you shut the laptop, make sure that there are no small items, such as pencils, pens, or small earphones, on the keyboard. These can damage or scratch the screen. Even the sharp edges of paper can cut the film of the screen if left on the keyboard when you close the machine.

The liquid of the screen may freeze when the laptop is exposed to very low temperatures and could cause permanent damage; it is likewise sensitive to high temperatures and when it expands it may render the screen dysfunctional. Avoid exposing the laptop to extreme temperatures. If your laptop was left outside (perhaps in your car) when it was very cold or very hot, first leave the machine for about half an hour to get to room temperature before you switch it on.

Don't be scared to use your laptop screen – but keep in mind that it must be handled with care.
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Most hardware manufacturers produce robust computers, but do not be deluded into thinking that your laptop will never break down. Never forget that it contains delicate parts and that there are a number of things that could go wrong with it.

• The laptop screen is rather delicate and may break down.
• The keyboard keys are used all the time and may get loose, or they may not react when being pressed.
• The battery may pack up. Over time the battery life will get shorter until you reach a stage where you can only work while plugged into an electricity outlet.
• The battery charger may stop functioning.
• The different cables may break; sometimes the inside of the cable gets broken, which can not be detected by visual inspection.
• The motherboard may fail.
• The hard disk may crash.
• The CD-ROM or DVD drive may malfunction.

Do you get the feeling that a laptop is a disaster waiting to happen? Don't despair.

• The problems listed here do not happen every day.
• It is possible that you may never encounter any of these problems.
• Many of these problems could be avoided with reasonable care.
• All of these problems can be fixed.

Don't focus on the things that could go wrong with your laptop – rather focus on the good things you can do with it.

If there are any other things that could go wrong with a laptop that you know of, please leave a comment.
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Big computers are usually housed in air-conditioned rooms. This is done because an air-conditioner:

• keeps the environment dust free
• provides a cool working environment.

When you think about the harmful effects of dust and heat on a laptop, you may conclude that an air-conditioned room is the only place where you should use your machine with safety.

In practice, this is hardly ever possible. Few people have air-conditioned homes and you won’t have this luxury in your classroom. Furthermore, one of the advantages of a laptop over a desktop PC is its portability. This implies that it can be carried with you and used anywhere. Most of the time you will work on it in an environment where there is no air-conditioning.

The good news is that laptops and desktop PCs have been made in such a way that you do not need special surroundings – they operate quite well in a normal environment at home, a classroom or most other places where you may take it. Of course, you must remember that your laptop is a delicate piece of equipment which must not be exposed to extremes in the environment.

Wherever you work you can compensate for a lack of air-conditioning. Keep two important rules in mind:

• avoid dust
• do not expose your laptop to very high or very low temperatures.
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The buddy system is a process during which two people, the buddies, operate together as a single unit so that they can monitor and help each other. The system is often used in adventurous or dangerous activities, where the buddies could assist or rescue each other in a crisis. When it is used as part of a training programme, the new buddy learns from the experienced buddy.

The system is very simple: get a colleague or friend to consent to act as a mentor. Ask to look over the buddy's shoulder and agree on a way in which a transfer of knowledge will take place. This seems like a good way for you to learn to use your laptop.

The advantages of the buddy system are:

• it is free
• interaction can take place at any time when it suits the buddies
• you won't feel shy, embarrassed or self conscious
• the system has the benefits of one-to-one (or face-to-face) training
• it is good to know there is someone you can call on when you need help, someone who will not laugh at you or belittle you
• the level of formality can be determined by yourself.

There are some pitfalls to avoid in the buddy system.

Wherever possible, choose your buddy yourself – and choose carefully. If there is a personality clash between two buddies, the process is doomed to failure.

Don’t choose someone who is too technically minded – this type of person tends to dwell on technical stuff that may not be what you need at this stage.

A lot depends on the availability and willingness of the buddy. If the system is enforced, it often does not work well. The cascade system, where some teachers are assigned to train others once their training is complete, is seldom successful. If the buddies know one another, and they trust each other, and are willing to sacrifice time for each other, the system has a far getter chance of success.

Even if you use another method to learn to use your laptop, you may still find it beneficial to latch onto a buddy.

A variation of the buddy system is the formation of peer groups. Perhaps there are other teachers in your school – at the same level as you – with whom you may team up. Together you can build confidence and skills.
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