TIPS & RESOURCES

Mac laptop protection

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Temperature

It's best to keep your Mac laptop within its operating temperature range, as specified in the manual, typically 50° F to 95° F, so that it's always ready for use. You may want to put a keychain thermometer in your laptop bag to gauge the temperature.

If your Mac laptop does get colder than 50° F, its hard drive could be damaged by condensation when it spins up. You should give it several hours to warm up to room temperature before waking it or turning it on. It's also best to avoid leaving a laptop in a place where temperatures could exceed 95° F, such as in a vehicle during the summer.

Cleaning

Check your manual before cleaning your Mac laptop or its screen. One recommended cleaner is Klear Screen.

Cleaning can damage your screen over time, so it's best to avoid the problem if possible. 3M Privacy Filters provide a protective layer to prevent scratches and keyboard marks from appearing on your screen. Display cushions are also available.

Avoiding Static

Laptop computers can be more susceptible to static electricity than desktop computers. When you touch your computer, any static discharge will travel to the best ground available. For example, if static discharges to a network cable to which your laptop is connected, it can damage the ethernet port. It's a good idea to set your laptop down before standing up or sliding over (friction induces static) and to touch a metal object to ground yourself before touching your laptop.

Connecting to Analog Telephone Lines

The phone systems found in offices and hotels have ordinary-looking phone lines which may in fact damage your fax modem. Do not connect a phone line from a phone system to your fax modem unless you're sure that it's an analog line. Analog phone lines are usually connected to fax machines, designated modem ports and home phones. If this is a frequent concern, phone line testers can be purchased.

AppleCare Protection Plans

If you travel frequently with your Mac laptop, there's a good chance it will need hardware repairs in excess of the cost of an AppleCare Protection Plan. Contact Apple or an Apple reseller to purchase a Protection Plan for your Mac laptop before its one-year warranty expires.

Security

If your Mac laptop is stolen, none of the tips above matter. Most laptops have a Kensington security slot to which you can attach a variety of security cables. Other options include motion sensors and security software. Mac OS X's FileVault encryption can help to protect your data from access by others. And if you keep current backups, you'll retain access to your data.