Laptops are no longer just gadgets; they have become extensions of us and reflections of our own personalities. As such, we try to decorate our laptops with stickers of our favorite things, or buy laptop skins with images that we love. But for some people who are absolutely crazy about pink, having stickers or skins are not enough. Sometimes, you just have to have the rocking pink laptop.

Pink laptops have become very popular, judging by the growing number of companies which have decided to produce them. Of all these pink laptops which are currently out in the market, my top favorite would have to be the pink Sony VAIO VPCYB13KX/P. To begin with, it has this perfect shade of pink which I absolutely love. Don’t think that just because it looks so cute that it is a softy when it comes to features. It is packed with a 2GB memory and a 320GB hard drive. Also, it has the AMD Dual-Core E-350 1.60GHz Processor, so you can be sure that you will not be disappointed when it comes to performance.

In addition, if you like staying connected wherever you go, this laptop is the perfect option since it only weighs about seven pounds. It’s not cumbersome to carry around and with its popping color, is the perfect accessory to any outfit. This SONY VAIO laptop is currently being sold on Amazon for approximately $539.

Another set of pink laptops which I adore are the Dell Inspiron 1464 and the Disney Netpal by ASUS. I am a big fan of the Dell Inspiron because, like the pink Sony VAIO, it has quite an impressive list of specs and features. The Dell Inspiron notebook has a 2.26GHz Intel Core i3 350M Processor, a built-in webcam with 1.3 megapixels, a DVD/RW drive and a 500GBP hard drive. Judging by its pink exterior, nobody would have expected all those features to be hidden in cute pink packaging. The Dell Inspiron is perfect for the girl who likes to do a lot of work and fun with the computer, whilst looking great at the same time.

Like the pink Sony VAIO, the pink Dell Inspiron is perfect for the girly user who wants to combine fashion with functionality. The Dell Inspiron is currently being sold on Amazon for approximately $599.99. The Disney Netpal, on the other hand, is the perfect pink laptop for the little girls who are just starting to immerse themselves in the world of internet and gadgets. Compared to the Sony VAIO and the Dell Inspiron, the features of the Disney Netpal are not that impressive since the product is meant for the younger set. The Disney Netpal is also being sold through Amazon and will set you back $344.95.

Ultraportable laptops have been selling in huge numbers since the release of the Apple Macbook Air. These laptops boast a range of impressive features, with an extremely attractive design to match, but are they really worth the price tag? To help you make your decision, here are 6 ultraportable laptop disadvantages to consider.

1) High Price: Let's start with the obvious drawback: the price. This is one of the biggest ultraportable laptop disadvantages simply for the fact that it prices many people out of the market, and means you've got to worry about a much more expensive piece of equipment if you do take it out traveling with you. Compared to a chunkier laptop with similar specs, you're paying a lot more for the portability.

2) Fewer Ports: Because ultraportable laptops are so thin, manufacturers have gotten rid of any extra ports they can. These means there are fewer USB inputs, and in some cases ports such as Ethernet are missing altogether. This isn't a huge deal as there are often adaptors available if you really need them.

3) No Optical Drive: As with the ports, manufacturers of ultraportable laptops may do away with the DVD drive to save space and help improve the weight of the device. This could be one of the biggest ultraportable laptop disadvantages if you're someone who likes to watch movies or play lots of games on your laptop. However, you can connect an external drive if you need to, and most buyers have found that they actually use the DVD drive a lot less than they thought they did.

4) Small Keyboard: One of the benefits of ultraportable laptops when compared to netbooks is that they don't feel so cramped. However, they are still smaller than standard laptops, which can mean more tightly packed keyboards. This can present a learning curve for some users who need to get used to typing on their new device.

5) Storage Space: The top ultraportable laptops make use of the newest storage technology known as SSD. This comes with a number of benefits, most noticeably the fact that it means your data will load up super-quickly. However, such speed comes at a price, and most ultraportables will come with fewer GB of storage space as a result.

6) Less Powerful: Although included on the list of ultraportable laptop disadvantages, the performance is also an advantage of this class of laptop. When compared to netbooks, ultraportables are much quicker to work with, and can handle multitasking pretty well in most cases. However, in proportion to standard laptops, you have to pay a lot more for the same kind of CPU power, and you won't be able to play games that require decent graphics cards.

Ever since the Apple Macbook Air was first released, consumers have jumped on board the ultraportable laptop wagon. There is now a huge selection of Windows laptops available to match the Macbook Air, yet they all generally cost a lot more than standard laptop computers. If you're wondering whether this inflated cost is worth it, here are 6 ultraportable laptop advantages to get you drooling over these high-end models.

1) Easy To Travel With: The target customer for an ultraportable laptop is someone who needs to move around a lot, whether for work, study or general travel. Portability is one of the top ultraportable laptop advantages: these models are extremely lightweight, and thin enough to slip easily enough into any bag.

2) Stylish Design: Ultraportable laptops are the most stylish laptops currently available on the market. They tend to make use of alloy metal casing thanks to its protective and lightweight properties, and this creates a device that looks a step above your average laptop. This combined with super thin lips makes for a laptop that really looks and feels the part.

3) Screen Size: In the past, the only way to get a laptop weighing 3 lbs. or less would be to go with a tiny netbook. One of the more impressive ultraportable laptop advantages is the fact that there is no such compromise on screen size. Screens are still not huge at around 11-13 inches, but they're big enough to perform all the activities you're used to.

4) Hard Drive: Thanks to solid state disk (SSD) drives, you can access your data and programs extremely quickly on an ultraportable laptop. SSD drives also lead to extremely fast boot times, and resuming from standby should take no more than a few seconds. These drives are also much safer to travel with – far less likely to corrupt due to small bumps and knocks.

5) Trackpads: Although standard laptop trackpads are getting more advanced all the time, ultraportable laptops feature some of the best multitouch gestures to help you get things done a lot faster. This includes going back to previous web pages, zooming in, scrolling and more. You'll never long for a mouse again!

6) Performance: Last on the list of ultraportable laptop advantages is the fact that these laptops perform very well. True, they may not be as powerful as standard, chunkier laptops, but they're a huge step up from netbook computers where you'd struggle to run more than a couple of programs at one time.

If you're looking for the best ultraportable laptop then you'll soon notice that all the top models come with technology known as SSD. This stands for solid state disk, and is a new kind of hard drive replacing the drives found in lower-end laptops. With newer technology always comes a higher cost, and here are 5 reasons why it may just be worth paying out more money for SSD.

1) Instantly Ready: The best ultraportable laptop is going to be fast. This means a quick boot time, and only a few seconds to resume after being woken from standby. How do they achieve this? Using SSD drives. Because these drives have no spin time, they're ready to use as soon as you need them to be.

2) Fast Reading And Writing: SSD drives can read and write files on your computer up to twice as fast as older hard disc drives. This can make a huge difference when it comes to transferring large files, and you'll really notice the difference in terms of how fast your programs load up.

3) No Fragmentation: Unlike HDD, SSD drives won't get fragmented, and you won't have to spend hours defragmenting them. Fragmentation can greatly reduce the speed at which your hard drive will work, so this is another reason why SSD drives are so fast.

4) Safer To Travel With: Because SSDs are designed with no moving parts, they are much less likely to break if you knock them or drop them. This is what makes them so suitable for ultraportable laptops designed for travel.

5) Use Less Power: SSD drives are designed to use less power than older HDDs, which is important in small laptops where space is at a premium. The best ultraportable laptop models don't need a lot of space for cooling fans since their hard drives and processors produce a lot less heat than in standard laptops.

What About The Drawbacks?

It's also important to consider the downsides of any technology, and the main drawback of SSD drives is the fact that they're far more expensive than older technology. As such, not only will you need to pay more for the laptop models that come with SSD as standard, but the storage space will also typically be smaller than on a laptop using HDD.

As long as you can afford it, getting hold of the best ultraportable laptop models that make use of SSD technology is well worth it in terms of speed and protection in the case of any bumps or knocks.

If you're thinking about buying an ultraportable slim laptop then the chances are you've come across a few models that don't come with any optical drives included. On first glance, a laptop with no DVD drive may seem extremely limiting, but the truth is that there are many ways around it. Keep reading to find out more.

How To Get By Without An Internal Disc Drive

Gamers may be wary of buying a slim laptop with no optical drive for the simple fact that most games not only need to be installed from a disc, but they also require the disc to be inserted before they can be played. Have you checked to see whether there are any online versions of your game available? Services like Steam are all based on digital downloads, and most of the top titles are now being released in download-only format.

If you need to install software that isn't available online, then you can also take advantage of other computers in your home network. For example, Apple's Macbook Air comes with a feature that easily lets you access the optical drives of other Macs in your household as and when you need to. This means you're limited to only using the drive when you're at home, but it's still a useful solution.

The other option is to buy an external DVD drive that plugs into your slim laptop via USB. These don't require discs themselves to install and, once plugged in you'll be able to watch DVDs, burn CDs or do anything else you normally would with a disc drive. These external options are very inexpensive, especially in proportion to the cost of an ultraportable laptop in the first place.

Should You Buy A Computer Without An Optical Drive?

As you can see, there are many ways to get around the issue of not having an optical drive, even if you do find that you need one at some point. However, the choice of whether to buy a laptop without a drive ultimately comes down to the way you will use it. If it's going to be your main computer, do you need to read CDs and DVDs? If it's not going to be your main computer, will you be happy using a different computer whenever you do need to read discs?

The truth is that technology is shifting towards completely digital media. Although a slim laptop doesn't come with an optical drive as a space-saving measure, even desktop computers are now coming without optical drives purely because fewer and fewer of us are actually using them on a day to day basis.

If you no longer use your old laptop, or if your old laptop is broken, there are many ways to recycle it and dispose of it responsibly. In many countries disposing of electrical goods in household waste is against the law and can incur various penalties, but even where this is not the case there’s no point in throwing something away when it could be useful elsewhere. Here are some useful suggestions on how to recycle old laptops.

1) Sell It On eBay: One very easy option is to try selling your old laptop on eBay. If it still works, then there’s a good chance someone will want it, and even if it's broken you can sell it for spare parts. Workshops that specialize in laptop repairs are always looking out for old parts. If eBay fails, it’s also worth trying to sell through classified ads websites such as Gumtree and Craigslist. Although the potential audience may be smaller than eBay, listings are free.

2) Use Freecycle: If you can’t sell find a buyer then try Freecycle. This is a free and easy way to recycle old laptops. There is always demand for things when they’re free, so a Freecycle listing is likely to attract some attention.

3) Ask In A Computer Store: If you’re not sure what to do with your old laptop, go into a computer store and ask. Your best bet is to visit an independent retailer or computer repair shop, where the staff will have a better knowledge of the computing industry and be more familiar with second hand goods.

4) Donate To A Charity: Many charities would be happy to take an old laptop off your hands and this is one of the most resourceful ways to recycle old laptops. Not only do you get to dispose of your laptop (often the charity will even arrange to come and collect it from your house), but it can be used to raise money as a result. Alternatively, some charities may like to make use of the machine directly, making use of it in a hospice where facilities are usually limited.

5) Government Recycling Initiatives: Many countries now have services set up specifically to recycle old laptops and other electrical equipment. As landfill sites and city dumps are getting larger, and governments are becoming increasingly aware of the need for responsible disposal of waste electrical products, directives are being put into place that enable laptop owners to return their products to the shop from which they were bought, or to take them to special collection points.

Note: Beware that when you recycle old laptops you may be exposing your personal data to criminals who can take advantage of bank details or other sensitive information. For this reason, it is important to make sure that all personal data is erased. There is specialist software designed for this purpose.

You've just spent hundreds of dollars on a shiny new ultraportable laptop, so the chances are you're planning on taking it out and about with you a fair bit. If this is true then it's vital that you invest in the best portable laptop case that'll keep your new gadget protected against the movements of traveling. Here are a few factors to consider.

Get A Snug Fit

The best portable laptop case is going to be a very snug fit to your laptop. By choosing a case that matches the size properly, you can stop your laptop from sliding around in your bag and keep it securely cushioned from all angles. Thankfully, laptops come in many standard sizes, so you can usually find a laptop case designed to match the screen size exactly. If you're not sure, read some customer reviews to see how well the case fit particular laptop models.

Zips That Can Lock

Most laptop cases now come with two zips. The benefit of this is not for easy access to your laptop: they're designed so that you can hook a padlock through both zips to lock the laptop inside its case. Although this won't stop someone walking away with the whole laptop inside of its case, it will stop opportunistic thieves in their tracks.

Find Something That Suits Your Lifestyle

One of the main reasons why people buy ultraportable laptops is because they're easy to travel with. In the same vein, you may want to buy a laptop case to match. The best portable laptop case is often a sleeve made using neoprene. These are very slim and light, but provide very good cushioning against small bumps and scrapes.

Laptop backpacks are another popular option, especially with travelers. These will offer a variety of compartments in which to house your charging cable and other accessories. Many will also be designed to quickly unfold at security checkpoints, or with extra security measures in place to protect your laptop against theft when walking around in busy streets.

Whatever you do, don't be cheap with your case. The best portable laptop case is one that's made to last for a long time, and is made to fit your particular brand of laptop very tightly. Thankfully most of the top ultraportable laptop models are popular enough to warrant a number of dedicated laptop bags being made in their honor. It's well worth paying good money for a top quality bag that you can be sure will keep your laptop adequately protected.

The life of ultraportable batteries can vary. Although some ultraportable laptops may last as long as 9 hours, others – like the 11 inch Macbook Air – may only reach five. If you're going to be away from a power source for some time then it helps to implement a few of these battery-saving techniques.

1) Switch Off Wi-Fi: One simple method for conserving battery life is ensuring that Wi-Fi is switched off when not in use. To turn Wi-Fi off, you may have a dedicated switch or function (Fn) button, you may have an option in your power management settings, or you may have to access it through your control panel. In any case, be vigilant with your Wi-Fi and you’ll be able to keep using your laptop for longer.

2) Turn Down Brightness: Another simple method to help stretch out battery life is to turn down the brightness of your monitor. This can usually be done using the function keys on your keyboard (the function key for brightness will usually have a small sun image on it). If you are in a relatively dark place, turning down the brightness settings makes very little difference to screen visibility, but even in lighter environments screen brightness shouldn’t impact your usage too much. Tilting your screen at the correct angle can also help offset reduces brightness.

3) Quit Background Programs And Gadgets: A lot of the time our computers run background programs and gadgets without us even knowing it. Turning them off can help reduce power consumption and extend battery life allowing you to make the most of your ultraportable laptop when on the move. These programs often appear at the bottom right in the taskbar, but some will only appear in the task manager. Those in the taskbar are easily turned off, usually by right clicking on them and choosing something like “exit” or “quit”. Those in the task manager can be closed by highlighting the relevant program and selecting “end task”. Note: it is important not to close programs in the task manager if you're unsure of what they do. Some are essential to running the computer and may cause crashes and other problems if switched off. Always check before closing a program you're unsure about.

4) Turn Off Your Music And Mute Speakers: If you're listening to music while you work or browse the web, turn it off. Playing music through your laptop speakers uses up a lot of battery power, and even listening through headphones has a noticeable effect. It's also worth muting the speakers: websites especially will often have video or audio adds which will eat into your battery if the speakers aren't muted.

5) Look At Your Power Saving Options: All portable devices have power saving options. Your ultraportable laptop is no different. To see what options you have, simply right click the battery icon at the bottom left of your screen and select “power options”.

An ultraportable laptop is designed for traveling, which means they're often more durable and protected against knocks than your average machine. That said, it's still your responsibility to take care of your machine to the best of your ability, so here are 6 tips that'll help you do so.

1) Be Careful When Moving A Laptop Whilst It’s Switched On: When using an ultraportable laptop it can be tempting to move it around frequently. If the laptop is switched off, or is sleeping or hibernating, then there is no problem with this. However, if the laptop is switched on when you want to move it, there is a risk of damaging the hard drive. To prevent this from occurring, avoid jerky motions. Keep the laptop in a level position, rather than allowing it to tilt to one side, and use smooth motions. This will reduce the risk of damaging the hard drive.

2) Wait Before Moving The Laptop After Shutting Down: When shutting down your laptop, or putting it on sleep or hibernation mode, leave it in place for a minute or so after the process is complete. This allows the hard drive time to stop spinning, which helps to reduce the risk of the hard drive becoming damaged. This isn't so important if you have a newer SSD drive, as these don't spin.

3) Backup Data Frequently: No matter how careful you are with your ultraportable laptop, there is always a chance that the hard drive will fail. For this reason, make sure you backup your data regularly. USB sticks, external hard drives, and cloud storage are all suitable methods for backup.

4) Hold Your Laptop The Right Way: When carrying your laptop, it's important to hold it in the correct manner. Holding it at only one point, such as the side or a corner, will place undue strain on the casing and may cause it to bend. When this occurs, there is a risk of damaging internal components. The correct way to hold a laptop is either from the center-point beneath it (as a waiter holds a single plate), or to hold both the left and right side at the same time, minimizing the stress placed on the frame and preventing the casing from bending.

5) Use In A Well-Ventilated Area: Airflow is key to keeping your laptop cool. If the laptop overheats it can crash, and components can even be damaged. For this reason it's advisable to use your ultraportable laptop in a well-ventilated area. This will help prevent overheating from occurring. Above all, make sure that the heat vents on your laptop are not obstructed.

Just like desktop computers, laptops need to be kept secure. Whilst many laptop security risks are the same for desktops, laptops also have a host of their own unique security issues. This is particularly true if you want to travel with your laptop, so here are some laptop security tips to help keep you protected.

1) Antivirus Software: Install some good antivirus software on your laptop. MacAfee and Norton Antivirus are top brand names that will help keep your computer virus-free for a fee, but there are also some good free antivirus programs available such as AVG. It's also important to make sure that your antivirus software protects against adware and malware, as well as phishing scams. Some programs warn you in advance of potentially harmful websites through icons that appear alongside Google search results, which is an extra layer of security that helps prevent you from getting a virus in the first place.

2) Password Security: Although antivirus software should keep unwanted viral software from getting onto your laptop, it's still important to keep your passwords secure. Should a virus manage to breach your security measures, or should your laptop fall into the wrong hands, it is possible that your login details may be compromised. For this reason, keep your passwords safe. There are many ways to do this:

* Don't allow your ultraportable laptop to remember your passwords for any websites,

* Choose long, difficult passwords with a mixture of numbers and letters in both upper- and lower-case that don’t contain any parts of the username which they go with,

* Have different passwords for each online account that you have,

* To defend against keystroke logger software, scramble your passwords by typing one password character into the password box, then clicking outside of the box and typing a selection of random characters before clicking back inside the password box and entering the next character. Repeat this process for all of the characters in your password.

3) Unsecured Wireless Networks: Be wary of using unsecured wireless networks. Connecting to networks that you don't know can allow other computer users to access your data remotely. If you absolutely have to use unsecured networks, then the top laptop security tips would be:

* Change your passwords every few days,

* Copy and paste links when you want to post share them with friends on Facebook rather than clicking “share”,

* If a site has an http and an https address, use the https address,

* Avoid using any usernames or passwords during the session if possible,

* Don’t log into your laptop on its primary user account – use a secondary account with only restricted computer access,

* Switch your computer off at the first sign of any unusual activity.

4) Be Vigilant In Public Places: Remember to be careful when using your laptop in a public place. Ultraportable laptops usually look more high-end than other laptops, immediately attracting attention, and thieves who are aware of the technology they target will know that ultraportable laptops are worth much more than the average machine. Several laptop security tips for public usage are:

* To choose a laptop with fingerprint recognition, ensuring that only you can log onto the machine,

* Purchasing tracking software which allows the device to be satellite tracked whenever it is connected wirelessly to the internet,

* Only using the laptop in public places that seem safe.

Remember, not everyone is out to get you, but if you’re using a laptop and don’t want to encounter any serious problems of this nature, these laptop security tips should help to keep you safe.