Our tech devices go with us everywhere. We use our smartphones, tablets and laptops to check emails, monitor social media and capture those precious moments we encounter in our day to day lives. We take our laptops, tablets and smartphones for granted, they're delicate machines, and can suffer catastrophic problems if allowed to bake in the hot summer temperatures. Just like you, there are some things you need to do to make sure your technology will last for a long time. Here are some tips to keep your tech safe in the summer:
1.Know the "safe range" for temperatures.
Most tech devices are good to go in temperatures of 50° to 90° Anything warmer than this is asking for trouble. Laptop, smartphone and tablet batteries are notoriously not heat-friendly and the components of your delicate hard drive or internal storage might expand—sometimes causing permanent damage which puts you at risk for losing documents, photos and music stored on your devices.
2. NEVER leave your tech in a hot car.
Treat your tech like a baby and don't ever leave it in a warm car—not even in the trunk. The temperatures in your car on a warm day are almost always going to reach outside the safe range of your device. If you must leave your tech in a car, make sure it's been turned off completely.
3. Avoid high humidity.
Many laptops, tablets and smartphones can experience electrical problems when the humidity is very high, such as 80 percent. Don't work outside with your device on days like this, or you could fry it.
4. Stay out of direct sun, if you can.
Yes, heat usually comes with lots of direct sunlight. We've heard all the urban legends about your device's screen becoming damaged from sun exposure, but we can't find anything to support it. Either way, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Burton Kelso, husband and father of two tech savvy boys and Chief Tech Expert at Integral, which offers on-site and remote tech support, computer set-up and repair via locations all over the Kansas City Metro and online at www.integralcomputerconsultants.com. He regularly appears as a guest tech correspondent on ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS on shows such as Kansas City Live, Better Kansas City, FOX 4 Morning Show, offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, and gadgets. You can find Burton on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on YouTube.
1amaged from sun exposure, but we can't find anything to support it. Either way, it's better to be safe than sorry.
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