Laptops Arena

Most of HP laptops come with built-in webcams. This allows users to video chat with their friends, manage video conferences and more. Webcams are also useful when it comes to computer tracking, as they can manage to take a picture of the thief and send it to the police. And as Compaq Presario was taken by HP a while ago, some of Compaq systems use the same technologies and components as a HP laptop computer, thus most of them have integrated webcams. So, if you are asking how to use a built in video cam on Compaq laptop, you are about to find out. Let’s see exactly how thing stand on a specific model, Compaq Presario CQ50-215NR laptop, which comes with a program called QuickPlay and it helps you manage your media files, audio, video, pictures and even to record videos with your webcam and take pictures. You can do this all without knowing too much about laptop computers and the steps which follow will be of great help to you.
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Just click on the Start button, then go to All Programs and then look for QuickPlay. Next, click on the video icon located on the toolbar, which stands next to the DVD option. Once you managed this, you will see yourself on the laptop’s screen. In order to take pictures, just click the Snapshot icon and with the use of Record button, you can record videos. Also, most of us chat on instant messaging programs, such as Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo Messenger and so on. And as mentioned above, you can start video calling with your friends. Within the messenger you use there is a webcam icon and you will be able to invite your friends to view your webcam. This is great if you have a lot to chat and you can get a microphone as well, you can show them the things you bought from your vacation, if you are away from home you can show them the place you are at and so on.

Moreover, depending on the model of the Compaq laptop you have, it can use HP Media Smart or CyberLink YouCam. After you see exactly the program you have inside your laptop, you will be able to activate it in no time. With HP MediaSmart, go again to Start and All Programs and open the folder which says MediaSmart, from there select HP MediaSmart Webcam option. You will see yourself on the screen and you can test the display settings by using the Capture button and the Snapshot button. If you want to change the display settings, the brightness maybe, or the webcam image, just click on the Display tab. With the other program you can do the same, as the procedures don’t change, just the name of the software installed in your laptop computer.

How that you know how to use a built-in video cam on a Compaq laptop, you will be able to chat with your friends and family and even hold a business conference in case you can’t be at the office. It is like you are there with everyone. Also, don’t forget that you can take pictures of yourself and what is around you and also record videos and post them afterwards on the internet if you like.

Should I buy a Compaq laptop? The decision is entirely yours without any doubts. But you need a bit of help in order to get through with the thinking and that is why we shall present some Compaq laptops to you and you will see their functionality, use and strengths and weaknesses. Actually, Compaq was bought by HP a few years ago and the parts inside are the ones used on some HP laptops. But Compaq uses cheaper components, because in fact the laptops are oriented for budget use. Their price will not exceed $500 and the parts inside are suitable for everyday computing. They do have everything you need, including wireless capabilities, optical drive and so, but they are not designed to compete with gaming and running intensive programs and so.
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For instance, HP Compaq 6735s is a solid built laptop computer with a very good keyboard, but with unpleasant trackpad buttons. For small business and consumers, this laptop is suitable for managing your tasking, but the features inside will not blow you away. If you are not excited about design, think that there is a reason why such a dull look is adopted. Travelers and business users don’t want after a few months to have a damaged laptop and to look bad. The black casing is durable and it will look the same no matter what. Blinking LCD lights can be distracting, even though they look nice when you see in pictures and so. There are 2GB of RAM inside, 160GB hard drive, LightScribe DVD writer and the battery will hold on for as long three hours and 20 minutes in less demanding operations.

Another inexpensive Compaq laptop is CQ42-136TU model, designed for entry-level, offering basic workhorse. When you look at it, again you will not find something spectacular, but it does the job right and it is durable, so you can’t expect more. If you are in a stylish looking laptop, all shiny and impressive, then you need to raise the bar higher, including the price to pay. This one comes with a more portable design, having a 14” display with a native resolution of 1366x768. As for technical parts, Intel Celeron T3100 processor sits comfortably inside and powers up everything, along with 2GB of memory, 250GB hard drive and 4500M Graphics Media Accelerator. As for operating system, Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit is pre-installed. Don’t forget about the tons of bloatware HP comes with, so you will have a lot of uninstalling to do. As for the battery life, you can manage around two hours and a half without any problem.

When it comes to a budget laptop, your expectations should be “budget” as well, meaning you can’t expect high-end features and high-performance, because everything high comes with a certain price. But if you just want to be portable, to save some money and to benefit of average processing, then a Compaq laptop might be what you are looking for. You should first of all make a list with what you expect from a laptop and if a Compaq ticks most the criteria you have listed, then yes, it is worth getting one. There should be a reason why users buy them, right? If not, the company would not be on the market producing more and more laptops.

Because HP bought Compaq in 2002, replacing parts inside a Compaq laptop is almost the same as replacing them inside a HP laptop. So when you need to replace keyboard on a Compaq laptop, the process is easy and can be done fast. Complete disassembly is not required, so with the right steps you should be able to finish the job in time and then get back to your typing. To complete the process, you need a Philips screwdriver, small-head screwdriver and the replacement keyboard. If you want to buy a new one online, check to see if it is compatible with your model. The price is quite small, so you should not worry of any budget drains.
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To start with, turn off your laptop, pull out the power adapter and remove the battery from the bottom. Use the screwdriver and remove the screws that keep together the keyboard/hinge to the Compaq laptop. Open the laptop completely, so that the screen is parallel to the keyboard and flat. Use the small screwdriver and insert it under the edges of the hinge cover and pry the cover up. The top of the keyboard is attached to the motherboard with fours crews. Remove them and lift the top edge of the keyboard slightly and carefully pull it toward the display. The keyboard is connected to the motherboard with a cable, so remove it and then use your fingernails to lift the edges of the connector tab. Don’t detach it more than 1 to 2 mm, because the connector must remain attached to the port. Put the ribbon cable aside and connect it to the new keyboard. Press down the connector tab to attach it to the motherboard. Finally, assemble the Compaq laptop back together and power it up, open a document and start typing to see if the keyboard has been correctly assembled on the laptop.

We all have the habit to eat at our computer, to drink or to carry our laptop to places. Because of all these, the keyboard can become unresponsive and the keys can be sticky and not a joy to use. When you have the time, it is advised to clean up your Compaq keyboard, so you don’t have problems in the future. You will need some extra tools, such as a can of compressed air, cotton swabs, clean cloth, some water and isopropyl alcohol. Again, you need to shut down the laptop and unplug it from the power source. Turn the laptop upside down and press some keys to release the debris that can be caught in between. Position the compressed air can at 1” from the keyboard and press the trigger to release air. Put some alcohol on the cotton swab and clean the sides of the keys. Now grab the clean cloth and damp it into warm water. The top of the keys and the keyboard entirely can be cleaned using it. You can clean your keyboard once a month, because even if there aren’t any crumbs, spills and so, dust is still hidden under it and just think of all those germs. It is best to take good care of your portable system, because you only help it to work better and to improve performance.

This is how to replace keyboard on a Compaq laptop and how to clean the keys in order to make sure it will work better from now on.

Mini laptop computers are designed for those looking to be ultra-portable and to have the ability to carry along their system even inside their suitcases. Indeed, mini laptops are very useful when it comes to basic tasking, such as browsing the internet, checking e-mails, editing some documents, listen to music, watch videos and other such light computing tasks. But that is the whole to it, because they can’t go further, as the components inside and performance will not allow them. There are many companies which have developed mini laptops and Compaq is one of them. Actually HP is behind of it all, but at least the prices are still budget and the functions remaining the same.
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If you are in search of Compaq mini laptops, then you should know there are various models available on the market and you will find out some of them right in this article. To start with, Compaq Mini CQ10-550CA has a price of $269 and features a 10.1” LED screen. Unlike other manufacturers out there, Compaq prefers to remain classic and offers only black systems. As for features inside and components you get the Intel Atom N455 micro-processor, 1GB DDR2 memory inside, 250GB hard drive and the 10.1” Anti-glare LED display has a native resolution of 1024x600. There is also a webcam and microphone integrated, so you can manage video chatting with your friends and family and there is also a 3-cell lithium ion battery. If you take a close look to the configuration, it is mostly the same as any of other mini laptops available on the market. This is because the computers are still tiny and it is pretty hard to fit powerful technologies in such compact sizes.

Compaq Mini 110c comes at an affordable price again and it has a very good keyboard, so if you are into writing a lot and chatting, then you can consider this model. But as for the rest of the features inside, we can’t say there is something impressing. It comes with a sleek; matte black plastic design, 10.1” display, has also a VGA output and the native resolution is 1024x576. Because it provides a solid build, it seems that this tiny device is up to handle a few scratches and bumps, but let’s not test that. The keyboard is 92% full and keys are wonderful to type on. As for the hardware, nothing too out of the ordinary: Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of memory and a 160GB hard drive. Webcam, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are also enabled. The sound is not very good, so if you want to benefit of music experience like it should, it is strongly recommended to get a pair of headphones.

Another Compaq mini laptop is Mini 700, with a 10.2” display, excellent keyboard and Windows XP this time. Despite the previous models, this one does feature a beautiful design, with an imprint pattern on the lid, slim chassis and edge-to-edge display. This is one attractive mini laptop without any doubts. The components inside remain mostly the same, except for the 60GB 4200rpm hard drive. If you have a lot of files to save, pictures, music and so, then it will not be enough, but if you use the system as your secondary one and just for browsing and so, then there should be no problem.

After a while, you might feel that the keys on your Compaq laptop don’t work properly. This might be because you accidentally spilt something on them, damaged them if you dropped the laptop, or just a mechanical failure. If this happens to you, the keyboard becomes useless and thus you will not be able to type anymore. You don’t have to consider replacing your Compaq laptop, even though the thought of disassembling the systems sounds scary. With some tools and patience plus a basic knowledge about computers, you can manage to replace Compaq laptop keyboard.
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First of all, figure out the type of Compaq laptop you have and buy online or from an electronic store a compatible keyboard. This is important because some Compaq systems have various measurements and not all parts are compatible with all models. After you have the replacement keyboard, turn off the laptop and turn the system over. Unplug any cables and devices you have connected to your Compaq before continuing. Next, push down the battery latch and slide it to the unlocked position. Pull the battery up and take it out from the computer. Now locate the two switch cover screws near the screen hinges, use a screwdriver to remove them, turn the laptop over and open the screen lid. Use a flat-head screwdriver to slide above the F1 key and just wiggle the screwdriver until the keyboard switch unlocks. Use the same mechanism for the F5, F11 and Insert keys. You should now be able to pull the keyboard locking strip situated above the keyboard.

Moreover, use the Philips head screwdriver now and remove the four screws on top edge of the keyboard. Grab the top end of the keyboard and lift it so it faces you. With care, set the keyboard down to the laptop palm rest. Now locate the ribbon connected to the motherboard and pull up the connector bar on the side of the motherboard in order to disconnect the keyboard’s cable. Now grab your replacement keyboard and connect the cable to the motherboard port. Put the connector bar back in place and place the keyboard properly on your Compaq laptop. Put back the four screws on top of the keyboard and set the locking strip above the keyboard. Just push it down until it locks into place. Finally, just put back the battery in its compartment and power on your Compaq laptop computer. Open a Word document or something and type some words to see if the keyboard works properly and all keys are functional.

Getting a replacement battery is not hard as you can buy one from online retailers and it comes at reasonable prices. If you want to save some money you can try the steps mentioned and replace Compaq laptop keyboard yourself. If you are not up for the job, you can always take your laptop in service and let a professional handle it. In case there are just some keys not running properly or so, you can try fixing only those and not the entire keyboard. This means that you don’t have to disassemble the laptop, just use a screwdriver in order to pull out the broken keys from the laptop.