Aside from cleaning your screen and dusting keyboard, however, you'll need to take a few extra steps to maintain your laptop's health:

-- Play it cool

A laptop computer generates a lot of heat, especially when running latest high-powered software. Too much heat and you risk damaging internal circuitry.

Always try to keep your laptop in a well-ventilated, cool environment. And ensure you don't block fan grills on sides, back, or bottom of machine at any time.

-- Handle screen carefully

Avoid touching or playing with your LCD screen.

Yes, it might be fun to watch waves generated by your finger against screen, but LCD displays are fragile devices that must be cared for.

Take care when cleaning screen too, and use only approved cleaning materials.

You won't want to pay money for screen repairs or, even worse - a new machine entirely.

-- Don't drop it

Whatever you do, don't drop your laptop computer! Keep it safe inside of a carrying case when moving around or traveling.

Don't leave it on edge of a table or on an unstable support of some kind. One ill fated drop to floor could spell death for your mobile office.

Try to make sure rubber feet underneath are in good condition and are still attached. This will prevent device from sliding around accidentally.

-- Be careful with those drinks...

If you need to have a drink while working or playing, be careful not to spill it.

Most people refuse to believe they need it. After all, their computer is in their office or home and only turned on by them. They no longer use diskettes and their e-mail is checked with latest and greatest virus checker.

Just try to advise your Boss, Mom, Dad, brother or sister that someone could hack into their home or office computer and look at their files. Watch their reaction. Most of them will say: “Well if someone really wants to take time to view my files, let them. I have nothing of value on that computer anyway.” This is same reaction consultants receive from clients.

So nothing of value is on your computer? What about Turbo Tax? If you did your taxes last year, then your social security number is on your computer. If you do online banking, then your bank account is on your computer. What about your financial statement, your genealogy, your passwords? Oh, you have passwords on your Accounting Files! Ha! Check out www.findpassword.com

So now let’s talk about real world. Okay, a phone line, or DSL or Cable line is a TWO WAY FLOW. There’s a key word here, a TWO WAY FLOW! Now you think in a skeptic way, that this article is going to give you scare tactics so it can sell you on latest and greatest virus checker. Nope, to plug security leaks in your computer is absolutely free. You don’t even have to pay for shipping, keep reading.

If it’s free, then why didn’t my computer consultant tell me about it? You wouldn’t believe how many updates will need to be installed. My Toshiba Windows XP system is barely 2 years old, and Windows had 49 + 18 + 2 updates. Why do I list them in that manner? First you must install first 49, then another 18 are found, then an additional 2 more.