11 Things You Must Do With a Brand New Laptop

11 Things You Must Do With a Brand New Laptop

With the outbreak of COVID-19, Laptops have become essential part of our daily lives. The laptops are used for both work and online learning purposes. However, you should complete certain basic tasks after the purchase of a new laptop. Even though you can work with your new laptop after initial configuration, it's better to complete essential tasks to avoid disappointment. In this article, you will learn 11 things you must do with a brand new laptop.

1. Update the Operating System

The first step you should do after purchase of a new laptop is to update the operating system. This is because the laptop could be inside the warehouse for a long time after leaving the factory. The update provides the latest features and security enhancements. The new features will be configured during the setup process.

If you work with Windows 10, you should navigate to Settings | Update & Security | Windows Update and click Check for updates. If the updates are available, then it will be downloaded automatically. Windows will automatically restart the system during the setup process. If you are working with Mac, you should click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner and choose System Preferences | Software Update.

You should navigate to the App Store to verify for the updates if you have a macOS High Sierra or older devices. You need to search for macOS on the App Store to download the latest update. Talking about Linux, the update procedure depends on your distro. The Chrome OS automatically runs all updates in the background depending upon the Wi-Fi connectivity. The updates will be installed automatically on all operating platforms. However, in exceptional cases, there will be a requirement to use manual mode.

2. Bloatware Removal

If you purchase a new laptop, you will find several pre-installed Bloatwares, which consumes huge system resources and drive space. You will normally find bloatwares in Windows laptops and not in Linux, Mac and Chrome OS laptops. There are several third-party tools available to remove unwanted apps and extensions. You can also try to remove them from the Add/Remove programs inside Control Panel.

3. Antivirus Software

Even though Windows 10 ships with Microsoft Defender, you will have to install premium third-party antivirus software to keep security threats, malware, spyware at bay. It is to be noted that Linux and Mac machines don't include an antivirus program. However, if you browse carefully and accept files only from known sources, then you are in safe hands. If you work with Chromebook, you need a note to have to install any tools because the operating platform has integrated malware protection. You can also install Chrome extensions, which enhances the security of your machine to a large extent.

4. Anti-Theft Tools Configuration

What happens if your laptop is stolen with all data? You will be without your device, and the thief can potentially access all your files. Hence, it's essential to integrate a mechanism with which the security of the relevant device can be increased. Windows 10 comes with Find My Device, located at Settings | Update & Security | Find my device. If you activate this option, you will be able to access your laptop via your Microsoft account in case of any theft. In the case of macOS, you need to navigate to the Apple menu | System Preferences | Apple ID and select iCloud from the sidebar. You have to enable the Find my Mac option and select the Details button, which makes sure that you have allowed access to location services on your Mac. Talking about Chromebook, you can locate lost devices by navigating to the Security section of your Google account settings and selecting Find a lost device located under your device. The Prey tool enables you to keep track of up to three devices on the free plan.

5. Optimize Your Laptop's Power Settings

It's essential to optimize the power settings of your laptop so that the device functions for a long time. You should pay particular importance to battery life because laptops are oriented for portability. Firstly, you should reduce the brightness of the display to an optimum level. The main reason for the battery drain is attributed to the display brightness. If you adjust the brightness to very dim level, then it will cause eye strain and fatigue. The best way is to test several levels according to your requirements. That being said, you can adjust the brightness at any time by navigating to the Settings module. You can tweak power settings by navigating to Settings | System | Power & Sleep. You should select the Additional power settings option on the right sidebar and expand the window horizontally. In the case of Mac, the power savings settings can be accessed by navigating to System Preferences | Battery. To save battery save, make sure that only those apps that consume fewer resources are installed on the laptop. If you are not comfortable with Google Chrome, you can switch to Microsoft Edge, Firefox or other alternative browsers.

6. Configure Automated Backups

What happens if your system hard drive crashes and you lose files? You will realize the importance of backups in this context. The best way to backup all the files is to make use of a portable hard disk. You can make it a habit to save all data on a portable hard drive instead of your PC/laptop. This will help you to retrieve the data in case of hard drive failure. You will be able to locate several third-party software available to backup data from your PC. The best part is that you can automate tasks by scheduling backups using the relevant tools.

7. Cloud Storage Configuration

The best way to capture backups of your valuable files is to configure cloud storage. The main advantage of cloud storage is that you can access the files on multiple devices. For example, you can upload files using a laptop and access them using either a smartphone or tablet. You can configure cloud services such as Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Mega and much more. The disadvantage is that the storage space will be limited if you opt for free service. Google only provides 15GB of storage for all services such as Drive, Mail, Photos and others. You should note that cloud storage provides great benefits and enables you to access the files on the go using any compatible device.

8. Avoid Heating Damage

Laptops are prone to heating if used for an extended time. This is because the motherboard and other spares are concealed without adequate ventilation. You will notice ventilation holes on the rear side and bottom of the laptop. Meanwhile, desktop computers have large area with dedicated fans for CPU, case and power supply.

It would help if you cleaned ventilation holes on your laptop every month to avoid heat accumulation. If you work with a desktop and are not a hardware expert, then you will have to call a computer technician once in 6 months for a cleaning. If the dust build-up in large quantity, then the hard drive will produce abnormal sounds, which will result in decreased performance. The lifespan of the internal components will reduce if the heat accumulates. You should note use the laptop on carpet, bed and couch, which will obstruct heat dissipation. If you connect an external monitor, you can purchase a separate laptop stand to disperse the excess heat from the laptop. You should also shut down intensive apps if your system gets very hot during usage.

 9. Customize System Settings

You can work with your system without making any modifications. However, you can change wallpapers, screensavers and others from the Settings page. It's up to you to decide which element to vary depending upon your system requirements. You can complete the required tasks by selecting Personalize option from the desktop pop-up menu.

10. App Installation

After performing all the above steps, you can install third-party apps and productivity tools. If you would like to work with word processing and spreadsheets, you can install apps like LibreOffice. You can install Microsoft Office if you have a valid license. Windows ships with Microsoft Edge and you can install Google Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi, Firebox browsers depending upon your requirements.

11. Make use of VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your network connectivity and protect against hackers. You can access region-blocked content via VPN.

Conclusion

It's a joy to work with a new laptop. However, you should complete the steps mentioned above to enhance the usage of the system. You should note that few simple steps, in the beginning, will go a long way for a comfortable and intuitive computing experience.