DUMMY'S QUESTIONS

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I am allowed only a laptop down here in Mexico and I do not want to buy a space eating desktop with an operating system in español with keyboard.

I am getting OLD. I need a bigger screen, a bigger, more comfortable keyboard (preferably wireless) and a comfortable wireless trackball.

I have an older el-cheapo Compaq Presario CQ57 (Checker Cab Grade) laptop. It has a 15.7" rated screen.

I would love to have this critter fully operational with the lid closed tight. Is this possible? Use maybe a 22" screen, and the wireless stuff maybe eight feet away from the computer.

Of do I need to have the lid popped open. Dust is the issue. Lots and lots of grit and powder.

Is the Compaq graphic card inside so lousy that everything is going to look crummy on a bigger screen? Can I save money and not lose much by selecting a same size screen with fewer (pixels?)

The sound card sucks. So I just ordered up one of those plug into the USB 2.0 port gizmos that converts everything to 3.5 mm plugs. It's supposed to have it's own vastly better built-in sound card.

There's a 20-dollar supposedly great LEPAI amplifier available that can power better speakers. The computer speakers I have used in the past sound like something you used to hang on the window in a drive in theater. Horrible.

Is there such a thing as bookshelf speakers that the Lepai can power to make decent sound, like for movies and music? I know I am going to need a powered subwoofer to get decent explosion sounds and bass guitar and organ.

[MrWizard]

Windows and or your laptop sound card, should have an audio equalizer software built in
We're you can set/adjust the sound to your taste

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I am going to place the laptop next to a "True Hepa" filter and blow that air across the thing and hope the laptop fan chooses that air.

OK, I guess I can ask this question safely: There are two "qualities" of screen sold for TV's. The 1080 model is called high definition? With the CQ57 graphics card is this more expensive model of screen or TV worth it? Or is it a mere waste of money? I know if I sit close I can get away with a smaller screen size. For some reason I have "tender ears". What a compliment to being hard of hearing. Is is dumb to think of maybe finding some kind of a graphic equalizer and boost those frequencies my ears are weak in? I've got some weak areas in the speech frequencies. I am at the point of considering some kind of gizmo to plug into a cellular phone to adapt to and wear full size headphones anyway. Be nice to find a cellular for this.

What in the blazes are GAMING HEADPHONES? They sure get enough money for them.

Finally, if anyone out there has a smaller useful flat panel TV earphones or any of this stuff they want to sell, I have a California 91910 package service.

This laptop is a 2011 model 1.0 GHz dual processor with 2GB RAM. Pretty awful.

[wa8yxm]

Is it possible to run it with lid closed... Depends.

There is one way to do it and may be another.

SOME laptops you can set (usually in power options off the control panel) how they respond to a closed lid (Do nothing, sleep, hibernate, turn off monitor) you want turn off monitor but otherwise keep running.

Now you need a Wireless or wired keyboard and mouse, If it has PS/2 Connectors I have KB and mouse but I like wireless and USB.

And an external monitor (Most laptops have provisions but if yours does not and has enough USB ports. go-4-that route)

And that is all there is to it, very easy.

IF you can not find an option to keep it running lid closed.........

Find the tab on the lid that presses the switch and .. Well.. I think you can figure it out.. I DO NOT recommend this save as a last resort.

[Gene_Ginny]

Kiwi_too wrote:

Gene&Ginny wrote:
Remember that the laptop still needs the fan running and pulling/pushing air through it to keep it cool.

Fan still runs when top is closed.

My thought was the dust/dirt issue.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Dust is the issue. Lots and lots of grit and powder

[AllegroD]

Gene&Ginny wrote:
Remember that the laptop still needs the fan running and pulling/pushing air through it to keep it cool.

Fan still runs when top is closed.

[dan-nickie]

Campfire Time wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
The only way I have seen to use a laptop in the closed position and external monitor is with a Docking Station. The manufacturer specs does list a part number for one.

Not true. True docking stations no longer exist.

How would you know that that is not the only way I have ever seen?

[strollin]

Campfire Time wrote:
... True docking stations no longer exist. ...

Maybe not as prevalent as they once were but just yesterday I was issued a brand new Dell Latitude E6430 laptop complete with docking station by my employer.

[Gene_Ginny]

Remember that the laptop still needs the fan running and pulling/pushing air through it to keep it cool.

[Gdetrailer]

Trackrig wrote:
Since your laptop is old, it probably doesn't have an HDMI port. Monitors have been using HDMI and the old pin cords for several years. Make sure when you buy the monitor, that it still has the old pin connector so it will connect to your laptop. They may have started leaving them off to save money.

Bill

Not totally true, COMPUTER monitors should have DVI (Digital Video Interface) AND VGA (what you call a "old pin connector").

DVI can be "adapted" to HDMI but you won't get any digital audio which may have been routed through the HDMI.

HDMI is really a HD TV Digital interface which includes HD audio plus digital handshaking which is there to prevent an unauthorized device from viewing HD content..

Newer laptops (a couple of years now) often include a digital external video "mini port" connection which CAN provide HDMI, DVI or VGA video..

Mex is asking about an OLDER laptop so really most likely that will rule out miniport, HDMI but could have DVI/VGA port.

Mex should NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM buying a COMPUTER monitor which will support any or all of the possible combinations..

But since space is limited, perhaps Mex should consider buying a LCD HD TV which should also have VGA or HDMI inputs. Newer TVs do very well doubling as a TV and computer monitor..

That is what I do when I go camping, I take a small LCD Tv which has VGA and plug my computer into the TV..

Your laptop CAN be operated with the lid down but you may need to make sure you don't fully close it or the laptop may think you are done and power down or sleep..

Just add a external keyboard and mouse along with a bigger monitor and you will be set..

If your laptop does not have a video port (which would be a bit odd) you can get a external video card which uses a USB port. These do have some possible quality/speed issues but as long as you are not attempting to play HD video they should be passable..

[sh410]

More than likely his computer has a VGA video port but there are VGA to DVI adaptors available. Many monitors have both VGA and DVI video ports and many are supplied with both cables in the box.

[Trackrig]

Since your laptop is old, it probably doesn't have an HDMI port. Monitors have been using HDMI and the old pin cords for several years. Make sure when you buy the monitor, that it still has the old pin connector so it will connect to your laptop. They may have started leaving them off to save money.

Bill

[Campfire_Time]

dan-nickie wrote:
The only way I have seen to use a laptop in the closed position and external monitor is with a Docking Station. The manufacturer specs does list a part number for one.

Not true. True docking stations no longer exist. There should be a monitor jack on the back side of the laptop. you'll need to set the laptop to use an external monitor. Its one of the function keys to set it up. And you'll have to make sure that the power management is set to not shut it off or put it into sleep mode when closing the cover.

SRS labs makes software that dramatically improves sound from laptops and desktop computers. I use it on an Acer netbook. SRS Audio Essentials

[sh410]

In the contol panel select the power options, select advance tab, at the lower portion of that tab is what you want the computer to do if you close the lid. one of the options is to "do nothing".

[MrWizard]

Check display settings and power settings
You should be able to tell/set it, so it does not turn off when closed
If push comes to shove you can cut off the little push button on the switch that is pressed down when the lid is closed