Extra precaution will protect computers from cold weather
14th February 2011 · 0 Comments
As San Antonio and Texas computer users embrace the cold by adding a heavier coat or hat, now is the time to also protect computer devices from the elements.
The manufacturers for computers advise that people should keep their computers at temperatures hovering between 50 to 90 degrees. Except for the summer, most of us never see cold weather, except when one of those famed blue Northers roll into our community.
As someone who repairs a lot of broken laptops after one of these cold spells, I would like to suggest that business professionals follow these simple steps.
Step 1: Never leave your computer outside for an extended period of time especially when the weather hits 10 or 20 degrees. If you have left a computer outside for an extended period of time, I would allow 20 to 30 minutes for it to adjust to its normal temperature range. It’s kind of like your parents not allowing you to swim for 30 minutes after eating. A computer needs the extra time to avoid condensation.
Step 2: Never use a hair dryer to warm up a computer to expedite the condendation process. This can cause cracks on the screen.
Step 3: If you are like some people who leave their computer battery in their car because they have one of those super computers that needs recharging every 9 hours or so, now is the time to bring the battery with you while the weather is cold. Just like the laptop it supports, extreme weather can impact the performance of your battery.
Step 4: Invest in a padded computer case that can protect it from the elements. Your Best Buy and Altex are two excellent places to buy them. A Microsoft Certified Professional like me can also sell them.
Like stocking up extra logs for this week, a few simple steps can protect a laptop from the elements. Here’s hoping that these tips will help you protect your laptop or mobile device from the elements, but if an issue should occur, a qualified computer technician can help fix them.
Bryan Guinn is the chief executive officer of Prism Technologies. He also is the new president of the San Antonio International Association of Certified Microsoft Professionals.
