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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The issue of pornography may be of great concern to you. "If I bring a laptop into my home, would it not expose my children to a lot of filth?" you may ask.

Pornography is available everywhere. It comes in the form of books, magazines, TV, DVDs and it is also available on the internet. A laptop is only one of the many ways through which you can access pornography.

Pornography is not a technology problem – it is a moral problem. The best way to protect your children is to teach them about its dangers.

Some parents have a house rule which states that children may only use the laptop in the presence of their parents or in a supervised situation. This would be a deterrent against viewing undesirable material.

Internet filters are available and are useful if you want to protect younger children against inadvertently coming across pornographic sites. These filters are easy to install but they can be easily circumvented. They are therefore not effective for teens who may be seeking out these sites wilfully.

Parental supervision and involvement are essential if you want to create a positive and safe environment where your children could use an extremely important learning tool.

"Don't throw out the baby with the bath water" might have become a cliché, but the truth of it can not be denied in this instance. Refusing to acquire a laptop out of fear of exposing your children to pornography could be a case of throwing out the baby but retaining the dirty water.
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If you look at anything continuously for a long time, such as reading a book or watching TV, you may experience eye strain. The same could happen if you look at a laptop's screen for a long time.

Just looking at the screen is not harmful to your eyes. Eye strain is caused by looking at the screen without a rest for long periods of time. The good news is that the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen of a laptop is easier on the eyes than the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) screens of older desktop computers.

Teachers would not customarily look at a laptop screen for many hours on end and it is therefore unlikely that they would develop eye strain. If your eyes are more sensitive than that of the average person, you may have to take precautions to protect them. In some severe cases special spectacles could be prescribed by your optician.

Consider a few common sense measures that could alleviate the little bit of eye strain that you may have to endure.

• Since eye strain is caused by long, uninterrupted periods of staring at the screen, take frequent breaks. Get up and walk around – not only will it rest your eyes, but it will also be good for the rest of your body.

• Blink more frequently – it rewets the eyes and prevents dryness and irritation. If blinking is not sufficient, try eye drops to relieve itchy or scratchy eyes.

• Adjust the lighting in the room until you feel comfortable. This may require that you draw the curtains if there is a glare, or install an additional light if the environment is too dark. Experiment with different light sources and settings until you are satisfied.

• The brightness and contrast of your computer screen can be adjusted and it is suggested that you play around with these settings until you find a combination that is just right for you.

• Change the position of the laptop so that the screen is a comfortable distance from your eyes. You will be surprised at the difference that it could make if you move the laptop a few centimetres further or closer to you.

• Anti-glare screen filters are useful when you have to work in an area where you can not change the environment.

These suggestions are easy to follow and do not cost you anything.

Look after your eyes – you and your laptop will need them for many years.
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