Really dumb laptop question!

[happyrobyn]

So here's something I've always wondered ... I hear so many digiscrappers talking about scrapping on their laptops. Well, I am not a laptop owner and when I think of a laptop, I think of that weird finger scroll mouse thingy. How can you scrap with one of those???? Do you hook up a mouse to your laptop or what? Maybe down the line I would like a laptop, but must first get this question answered so I can stop wondering!!!!

Thanks for the Computers 101 lesson!!!!

[holly]

oh, i used to use one and yes, need a mouse! LOL i used to have a docking station when i had one. so i docked it to my desk and used a monitor, keyboard and mouse. my printer was hooked to the dock, etc. it was so convenient cause it was like a desk computer, with the ability to pop it out and move it!

[lunafaerie]

I'm so used to my laptop I don't even think about the touchpad anymore, although I do think I might have some repetitive motion damage using the touch pad for scrapping, lol.
I went on a trip, took my laptop, realized how much scrapping I got done away from home and my desk (and my son & dh) that I've been hooked ever since. And since I have wireless on the laptop, I just can't seem to ever stay off this thing!

[happyrobyn]

Thanks guys ... but I think I'll have to stick with a mouse. When I try to even read email with my husband's laptop and touchpad, I feel like a complete idiot! It WON'T go where I want it to go! But I do like the mobility of a laptop. However, it might become a problem as my computer is like a magnet to me when I'm home so if it could come with me, I wouldn't be able to get off it!

[MarshaZepeda]

I bought a wireless mouse to use with our laptop. You pop in the usb "reciever" and mouse away! lol! And it's super cute, too b/c it's smaller than a traditional mouse and fits really comfy in my hand... :)

[happyrobyn]

Now you're thinking, Marsha!!! Maybe I'll have to start laptop shopping.

[andreavictoria]

I just got a laptop and we were able to get a wireless mouse too. Let me tell ya, I LOVE it! It's also connected on a wireless internet connection. AND, we finally figured out how to share files between the desk top and the laptop! Needless to say, the laptop has become a part of my body, lol!

[ScrapHappyME!]

I absolutely love my laptop - just bought a new one last night and didn't even give a desktop a second glance! I use a wireless mouse - it's a piece of cake and who wouldn't love scrapping from their couch? :)

[MarshaZepeda]

Hey Andrea!
So do you think you guide me into networking my comps? I tried using the wizard but got scared b/c it said that since I was hooked into the internet constantly that I would be putting my comp at risk of invasion! scary...

[andreavictoria]

I would love to give you a step-by-step on how to set up a wireless file sharing connection...BUT I have no idea how we got it work. We seriously spent 100+hours trying to get that darn thing set up. It was such a major head ache! Just thinking about it makes my head hurt, lol.

Yikes, I don't remember seing that when we were running the wizard. I think our big problem was getting the desk top and the lap to to 'ping' each other. To see if they can 'ping' do the following:
1.Click the start button at the bottom of your screen.
2.Go to Run, enter cmd
3.From there a little black box should show up.
4.Enter ip config and then press enter(I'm not sure if there needs to be a space between ip and config, try it both ways)
5.After that it should give you a bunch of information, what you are looking for is the IP address.
5.Do this for both the lap top and the desk top.
6.Once you have the IP addresses for both the laptop and the desk top, you will need to, in the same screen that you ran "ip config," enter ping space(insert your IP address). It may take a few seconds for the computers to communicate with each other. After it's done it's thing it will let you know if they can 'ping' each other.

For us, that was the big problem, the computers could not communicate with each other. But if you can get them to 'ping' each other then I think it will be a lot easier for you than it was for us. Then I would just go ahead and run the Set-Up Wizard and follow it step by step.

HTH,

Andrea

[MarshaZepeda]

Thanks Andrea! I'll give it a go and see what happens... :)

[Kat Stokes]

I want a wireless laptop so dang bad!!!! Maybe next year. I would definately have to get a wireless mouse to use with it. I hate those touch pads they have on them.

[NancyS]

I bought a wireless mouse to use with our laptop. You pop in the usb "reciever" and mouse away! lol! And it's super cute, too b/c it's smaller than a traditional mouse and fits really comfy in my hand... :)

I must have the same mouse as you - so easy to plug into the USB port, and it is a very nice size to use. When I pack up the laptop, the part that goes into the USB port packs up into the back of the mouse.

I can use the touchpad also at the same time, but I rarely do.

[MarshaZepeda]

I must have the same mouse as you - so easy to plug into the USB port, and it is a very nice size to use. When I pack up the laptop, the part that goes into the USB port packs up into the back of the mouse.

I can use the touchpad also at the same time, but I rarely do.


Must be... I love that feature! :) It's a microsoft one...

[NancyS]

Guess not the same. Mine's Labtec - silver/blue like my laptop.

[Hippychickelly]

my laptop came with a littel mouse that the Cord pulls in and is small I love it!
TO be hones tI dont like the mouse on the desktop anymore LOL

[Charla]

We have a regular mouse plugged in to our laptop. We had a wireless mouse, but he died, so now we have that wire. When we had the wireless mouse and with the wireless internet, the only wire was into the wall. DH complained about that...said it would be better if it could get its energy wirelessly too :tounge_sm (with photoshop running the battery doesn't last nearly as long!)

[meems]

I use the touchpad only. I'm so used to it I think it would bother me to use a mouse. My desk is too crowded to have room for a mouse.