You can get express card and pcmcia/cardbus/pc card laptop cards from and .
Misc
Dell Wireless 1500 internal card, available from dell $70
802.11a/b/g+draft-n. twice the range & speed of regular wireless cards. but made specifically for innards of Dell Inspiron Notebooks.
probably blocks cell transmission too. blocking cell phones is not allowed for restaurants and possibly other public places.
Laptop Hard Disk Upgrade
Read the reviews of users. get your IDE drive while you can.
Western Digital Scorpio Blue WDBABA3200ANC-NRSN 320GB 2.5" IDE/PATA Ultra ATA133 / ATA-7 Internal Notebook Hard Drive, available from newegg $149.99+4.99
(wide connector with LOTS of gold pins). size is not a problem for older laptops, there is no BIOS drive size limitation that I could tell on laptops (but there may be a 127GiB/137GB limit on some old desktops).
2.5" IDE/PATA hard drives, available from newegg $40-140
(wide connector with LOTS of gold pins). you may not be able to see any more then 137GB if your BIOS can't handle it. only a few makes of drives left. the older internal drive standard. this is the last IDE model type available, so buy while you can (you might be able to pick up a samsung at a local computer store)!
2.5" SATA hard drives, available from newegg $40-260
the current internal drive standard.
2.5" Universal HD upgrade kit, available at apricorn $39, newegg.com $27.79+6.98
USB 2.0. comes with upgrade software.
2.5" EZ Upgrade Universal & PATA Hard Drive Bundle HD upgrade kit w/160GB, available at apricorn $119
USB 2.0. comes with software. 120GB no longer available.
2.5" Xtreme Upgrade 7200 RPM SATA HD upgrade kit w/120/160/200GB, available at apricorn $149,$169,$229
USB 2.0. comes with software.
General Tools 17 Piece Precision Screwdriver Set 63518 - Cyberguys.com, available at cyberguys.com $20
required to open the laptop access panel.
Laptop Bags
Rosewill Black 15.4" Notebook Bag Model RBG-002 - Retail, available at newegg $25+15
Large capacity Comfortable shoulder strap Multifunctional pocket for your pens,documents,name card and ipod. With long opening hole at backside of bag, you can hang the bag on your luggage. Capacity: 15.8"x12.5"x5.8", Dimensions: 16"x12.8"x6"
Case Logic Black 17" Slimline Laptop Case Model VNC-17 - Retail, available at newegg $25+11
Adjustable internal compartment w/moveable padded divider accommodates variety of laptop sizes, ensuring a perfect fit. Speed Pocket - A quick access, secure place to put valuables (watch, keys, coins, etc.) prior to passing through airport security. Interior sleeve is perfect for files, documents, magazines. Capacity: 16.4"x11.54"x1.82",
Dimensions: 19.5"x14"x4.75"
All newegg Laptop Cases, available at newegg $16-60
different sizes, different colors & styles for ladies. 8 pages worth.
Mobile/Laptop Printers
HP OfficeJet H470 series, available from HP $250-$25instantrebate to $350-$35instantrebate
Get yours with a battery, wireless, or both or none. ($40 combo pack ink ysilding 330-480 pages, 12.1¢/page).
Docking Stations
USB 2.0 Laptop Docking Station with Video, available from cablestogo $100
Use your Laptop as your Desktop -- with only ONE cable!
(1) DB-9 RS-232 serial port 1,200bps-115.2Kbps, (1) DB-25 parallel IEEE-1284 bi-directional (for printers & old zip drives & scanners), (1) PS/2 keyboard port, (1) PS/2 mouse port, (1) 10/100 Ethernet LAN port, (3) USB 2.0 female type A downstream ports (3-port USB 2.0 Hub), (1) VGA female out port (included VGA/USB 2.0 combo cable connects the dock to your Laptop), (1) VGA male in port
Kensington SD200V Laptop Docking Station with DualView - Black, available from dell $110
4 USB 2.0 ports, video, mic & speaker jacks.
short usb extension cables (port-saving device)
you don't always need a long USB extension cable. sometimes you just need s short one. like for those USB sticks. avoid plugging those directly in your laptop. plug them into a hub or plug them into one of these extension cables.
startech.com $3+shipping
get several. these things will save your USB ports from wear and tear from long stiff dongles like usb sticks. Majic Jack comes with one and I suggest thorougly that you use it even though they put the thing down. Why? we lost 2 ports on my mom's laptop to flakiness due to wear, wiggle & wrench.
decent USB Hubs
has 2 verticle ports for usb sticks. has handle. red and green LEDs that aren't really bright (for those of you who don't like that). beefy power supply.
Synchrotech/Koutech 13-port hub, available from cyberguys.com $40+$10shipping, newegg $30-40 free shipping, amazon.com $45, ebay $36 free shipping
no LEDs. newegg has cheaper hubs.
laptop coolers
this is REQUIRED EQUIPMENT for a laptop (unless *maybe* you have a toshiba qosmio 17" - my mother's doesn't need cooling). this will prevent most lockups, flakiness, crashes, slowdowns, reduced life expentancy, on a laptop. I especially recommend this for hot laptops such as the Dell laptops. actually, this would be my first recommendation for all laptops.
Antec Cooling system for notebook computers Model Notebook Cooler 200 - Retail, available from newegg.com $59.99+9.48
ULTRA Sub Zero X7 17" Notebook Cooling Station Model U12-40899, available from newegg.com $45+4.99
Xigmatek Shield Notebook cooler Model NPC-D211, available from newegg.com $44.99
laptop coolers, available from newegg.com $20-$60
Also available at your local office supply store or computer store.
surge supressors (power strips)
TrippLite ISOBAR8ULTRA ISOBAR 8-outlet 2350Joules w/noise filter, available from newegg $53, nextag $50-$117
11/11/2009. 8 outlet (0 wall adapter). good for A/V. 12' cord. turns 6000V spikes into <35V harmless ones & most spikes into sine waves (I'm probably not saying this right). EMI/RFI filter. best in the industry and 14 million satified customers. smaller ISOBARs are available from newegg and tigerdirect. description says, "Widely spaced outlets accommodate up to 4 large transformer plugs without blocking outlets", but I would say maximum 2 the way things are set up — use a 14" extension cord. 4 filter banks. metal case. old venerable standard. ISOBAR825ULTRA with 25' cord and same 8 outlets
TrippLite ISOTEL8ULTRA ISOBAR 8-outlet w/telephone line protection 2850Joules w/noise filter, available from nextag $58-130, newegg $64
11/11/2009. 8 outlet (0 wall adapter). good for A/V. 12' cord. turns 6000V spikes into <35V harmless ones & most spikes into sine waves (I'm probably not saying this right). EMI/RFI filter. best in the industry and 14 million satified customers. smaller ISOBARs are available from newegg and tigerdirect. description says, "Widely spaced outlets accommodate up to 4 large transformer plugs without blocking outlets", but I would say maximum 2 the way things are set up — use a 14" extension cord. 4 filter banks. metal case. old venerable standard.
routers
Linksys E4200 Wireless N Router Maximum Performance Dual-Band IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n 450Mbps, available from newegg $134.99+4.99, linksys $179.99
8/17/2011. 4x10/100/1000 LAN switch ports, 1x10/100/1000 WAN, WEP, WPA, WPA2, 6 antennas. has inline power brick instead of wall adapter, so is a little clumsy for wiring closets. does not achieve full rated 1000Mbps speed because of processor speed (no commercial home router does). Not sure if it or anything else gets to full 450Mbps. next standard (WiGig) is 7Gbps... where are we going to get processors for that?
what accessories to get
this counts the first-time costs of getting a laptop.
with your laptop you should also get:
- printer $120-400
- box of copy paper $35
- router $40-180. can get anywhere. pick one that takes dd-wrt if possible, makes router solid. hopefully there is already one in the house!
- usb hub (to save your precious usb ports from damage) $15-40. can get anywhere
- ethernet cable for the router $15
- broadband internet service for the computer. wireless broadband is very expensive for what you get (2-5GB/mo)
- Tripplite ISOBAR power strip (one of the models is fine) $60 best in the industry, at least get something good $25-60
- laptop cooler, antec makes one with a 250mm fan that is good, but there are also other models that are cheaper which will work. $25-60
- Mcafee Total Protection or Norton 360 $40-99
Total Cost $350-889