Topaz News Issue 2

The Information Resource for TOSHIBA Laptop Owners

Issue No 2 - Winter 2005

Welcome to this latest issue of Topaz News- the newsletter for Toshiba laptop owners. This newsletter is produced approximately four times a year and is distributed by email on a requested basis only. If you would like to subscribe to Topaz News or unsubscribe, please follow the link at the foot of the page.

Going Wireless

Wireless is rapidly becoming the most popular network format at home and is increasingly common in many offices. If you don't already have WiFi on your laptop, you can upgrade to wireless networking either via a plug-in PC card adapter or by installing an internal WiFi PCI card. Whilst the plug-in card is the cheaper option, the advantages of an internal WiFi PCI card are an optimised antenna built into the LCD cover, lower power consumption of the WiFi device and, of course, a PC card slot that can be used for other things.

Toshiba have produced an informative 5 page guide, the Toshiba WLAN Roadmap, which explains the differences between the various WLAN standards. The Roadmap (PDF) can be downloaded from the Topaz web site:

Toshiba WLAN Roadmap (PDF)

And if you are thinking about upgrading your laptop to wireless, there has never been a better time to do it thanks to this month's WiFi Upgrade Offer. Click the following link for details:

Wireless Upgrade Offer

Not a lot of people know that...

Topaz is well known for being the UK's leading Toshiba Laptop Repair specialist but fewer people know that we also supply and fit a wide range of Toshiba Approved Laptop Parts & Accessories too. Apart from WiFi cards mentioned above, we supply laptop batteries, Bluetooth, memory upgrades, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, etc. Further information and pricing is available on the Topaz web site:

Laptop Parts & Accessories

What's New from Toshiba?

Toshiba Laptop Survives Collision with Steel Floor...
Now Watch the Video!

Toshiba's latest Portégé M300 model, currently starring in Toshiba's TV ad, features Toshiba's Easy Guard technology.

EasyGuard is in fact a set of technologies under the three headings of 'secure', 'protect' and 'connect':

hardware enabled system & data security
shock protection case
hdd protection
magnesium case work
spill-resistant keyboard
built-in wired & wireless connectivity, including Bluetooth

You can find more about EasyGuard on the Toshiba web site by following the link below. Those of our customers who are not of a nervous disposition can watch the video of a Toshiba being test-dropped from desktop height onto a steel plate.. but please don't try this one at home!

Toshiba EasyGuard...

And finally... Have Laptop Will Travel?

A significant proportion of laptop failures are caused by avoidable accidental damage, often when the laptop is in transit. Here are a few basic rules that will help protect your laptop from damage (or worse) while you are on the move:

DON'T place hard or bulky objects against the display lid. One knock could crack the display. A very expensive repair!
Remove any cables or protruding accessories, e.g. Wireless PC Cards, before placing into the case, as they can snag on the sides of the case and damage the internal connector. Another expensive repair!
Use a nondescript carrying case, not one which says "Toshiba Laptop- Please Steal Me"!!

Topaz Support Limited www.topazsupport.co.uk © 2005
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Issue 2