A new tech device, like a new smartphone or laptop, can be an exciting thing. It’s interesting to see what’s changed since the last iteration you used, and of course, to enjoy faster speeds, better software, new features, and everything that comes in line with that. Sometimes, a feature may absolutely revolutionize your experience.
A good example of this is how high-refresh screens are now the norm among many different phone models. It may seem simple, but the smoothness and seamlessness of operating the phone is much more prominent when this feature is available.
So, you’ve purchased the laptop, and are now ready to set this up just for your particular needs. It’s good to take an hour or two to play around with the laptop, to figure out its added features, and to assess what settings are best for you. It’s best to do that now than in the middle of your office job, or in the middle of your university lecture. Then you’ll know what settings have been applied in a pinch – like automatically saving your essential documentation to backup folders.
With that in mind, let’s consider five steps you make take once you get that new laptop, in the best possible way:
Set Your Display Settings
It’s good to plan for your display settings in the best possible way. This may involve setting the right brightness, and even auto-brightness settings where appropriate. Furthermore, making sure the ‘night light’ feature, or whatever it may be called in your operating system, is scheduled to your local sunset hours can be important. This will add an amber filter to your screen nearer to when you head to sleep, so that the blue light won’t affect your circadian rhythm.
Display settings can also affect the size of the text, the screensaver, and how long it takes for your computer screen to lock and require its PIN after no activity. If set to a duration such as ten minutes, it will improve your sense of security going forward, and that can of course be beneficial.
Think On Your Security
It’s important to make sure the device from which we use digital banking, write up any work we have to deal with, and manage our social affairs is as secure as it can be.
A worthwhile means of doing this is to make certain our virus protections are in place, and that we know how to remove those affecting executables should they be present. You can view an essential guide for that here.
Security also means considering which programs are essential – make sure you only download them from reputable sites with strong security certificates online. Don’t run an executable if you’re unsure of how safe it is. In addition to this, you may be able to ‘lock’ certain folders with personal information, such as pictures of your family, to be opened with a PIN or password. This leads us neatly to the next step:
Configure Your Cloud Backup
At the beginning of the last decade, cloud backups and storage could be seen as something of a luxury subscription for tech users to enjoy, or you may need more advanced reasons to have one. Sites like DropBox led the charge in that regard.
Nowadays, most devices come with their own cloud backup facility, such as OneDrive working with a Microsoft account, or iCloud working for MacOS on their home Mac computer.. Of course, you can decide what service you use, and there are many of them out there at this point. A popular variant is Google, who use their Drive and Photos apps on all of their devices, and can be used on pretty much any internet-available computing device too.
Many of these cloud accounts have basic storage capabilities, but for some you can pay more money to enjoy a wider storage library. Configuring your cloud backup through the provider’s app downloaded to your desktop, and instructed to constantly ‘watch’ certain folders you wish to back up can mean that even documents you’re working on are saved immediately. No more does a university student have to witness the horror of losing an entire dissertation thanks to a failed hard drive or missing USB stick.
Set Up Distinct Profiles
It might not be that you’re the only one who will use this laptop, perhaps a parent might ask to perform some grocery shopping online once in a while, or perhaps you yourself will have two distinct uses for it – recreation and schooling or work.
This way, it might be a healthy idea to set up two user profiles on the computer for maximal ease of use. Let’s take the latter example. The first profile might be for your recreation, from which you fit a web browser with all the bookmarks you need, install all of the video games you wish to play, and log in to some streaming providers. Perhaps here you’ll also install chat programs for interest groups, like the ever popular Discord.
Then, on the second work profile you eschew all video game installations, and only keep a web browser and your word processor or spreadsheet tool. This might also be where you install your video conferencing apps. This way, you can better focus when you need to focus, without feeling tempted to waste time in recreation when you’ve set time aside to focus. It’s a simple psychological trick, but it’s an amazing one to implement.
Install All The Right Drivers
This is a simple tip, so we’ll keep it short. While you have internet access, it’s good to connect all of the devices you may use so the right drivers can be implemented. This might include graphics drivers, device drivers such as video game controllers, or wireless headphones.
Then, when you’re in the middle of work, you don’t have to fight to connect your headphones when you’re supposed to be productive. Taking care of that in advance will have yielded its own comforting reward.
With this advice, you’re sure to take the right steps once you get a new laptop, and become free to enjoy that through and through.
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