Collections
Collections
Each collection is a short path through the reference, laid out for one real-life situation. You don't have to open every section in turn: a handful of links is already arranged so the basics come first and the more detailed pages follow. The level label next to each link shows you where to begin.
Kids are happy to follow rules when they understand why they matter. Explain that a laptop needs to breathe too, and the blanket underneath it will disappear on its own.
Every collection is built from finished pages of this reference. They contain no links to stores or repair shops, and we don't pad them with extra items: a link stays only if it answers a question people in that situation actually face.
The student laptop
For those who take a laptop to class, work in the library or the dorm, and can't afford to lose it right before finals.
- Five steps for the first eveningStart here
Paperwork, updates and backups: everything worth doing before your first big paper is due.
- Everyday habitsStart here
Answers about using a laptop in bed, closing the lid and carrying it while it's open.
- Cleaning the outsideNext step
A step-by-step article on freshening up the screen and keyboard without harming the finish.
The laptop on a business trip
For people who travel a lot for work: planes, trains, hotel rooms and stepping from freezing cold into warm buildings.
- Travel and storageStart here
A section on sleeves, carry-on bags, and why a laptop that's been out in the cold needs to warm up first.
- Terms for the roadStart here
Plain-language glossary entries on the power adapter, sleep mode and backups.
- If something happens on the roadNext step
Answers about drops, spilled drinks and choosing a repair shop in an unfamiliar city.
A laptop for your child
For families where a school-age child uses the laptop. Here's how to turn careful handling into clear rules rather than a list of don'ts.
- Words worth explainingStart here
Hinge, vents, display panel: short definitions that are easy to talk through together.
- Food and drinks near the laptopStart here
What to do if juice does get spilled, and why the most important rule is to call a grown-up right away.
- New pages for familiesNext step
A feed where articles about the family laptop and rules for kids will appear.
Read next
- Guides
A hands-on article on cleaning the outside of a laptop without damaging anything, plus the article catalogue.
- Topics
The four topics of this reference: everyday handling, cleaning and cooling, battery and power, travel and storage.
- Questions
Short answers about habits, heat and fan noise, accidents, and taking your laptop to a repair shop.
Sources
- Editorial materials of this reference
- Laptop manufacturers' user manuals (general terms)
Information is current as of the date this page was prepared. Laptops from different manufacturers are built differently, so before you do anything with your device, check the user manual for your specific model and follow it.