Buying a laptop or notebook
- Whichever you choose, buy your laptop or notebook from a reputable retailer rather than a third-party seller online, as it may not have passed all the necessary safety checks.
- Beware buying substandard or counterfeit chargers for your device as there are many dangerous chargers available.
- Microsoft Windows is the most-widely used Operating System (OS) overall, with macOS (exclusive to Apple laptops known as macbooks), or Google’s Chrome OS (known as Chromebooks) also being popular.
- Matte screens reduce glare and so are better for office work and outdoor use, while glossy screens offer more vibrancy for media consumption.
- Look for a manufacturer's name, a model number, and a UKCA or CE mark but don’t rely solely on these as they can be faked by unscrupulous sellers.
- There should be at least 9.5 mm between the live and neutral pins and the edge of the plug.
- Register your laptop or notebook so you can be contacted easily if there is a safety recall of your product. It’s also much easier to return a faulty item or order a repair if it’s registered.
Using and charging a laptop or notebook safely
- Keep laptops and notebooks away from heat sources and liquids especially direct sunlight, humidity, and water.
- It's dangerous to use a laptop while bathing or showering.
- Exposing a laptop or notebook to extreme temperatures can be dangerous. For example, don’t leave it in a parked car where it could get cold in winter or hot in summer.
- Both devices use lithium-ion batteries that naturally get warm during charging. But if the battery is too hot to handle, stop using it, unplug from the charger, and seek advice from the manufacturer.
- Damaged batteries (dropped, crushed, or punctured) can become volatile and shouldn’t be used so pack and handle your laptop or notebook carefully when on the move.
- Regularly inspect cables for fraying, broken casing, or exposed wires, and check the charger plug for scorch marks or loose pins.
- Only use the cable and charger specified or provided by the manufacturer. And supervise children if they are charging their own device.
- Substandard and counterfeit chargers often fail to meet safety standards so if you need additional or replacement chargers, go back to the original manufacturer or a reputable retailer.
- Don’t charge a laptop or notebook under pillows or on soft furnishings such as sofas and beds as this traps heat and can start a fire. Charging on a hard, stable, flat surface allows heat to dissipate.
- It’s recommended not to leave a laptop or notebook unattended while charging or to charge while sleeping to avoid overcharging and overheating.
- Once the battery is full, unplug the charger. Don’t cover the device or the charging unit while it is plugged in.
- While charging, if you notice any odd smells or any sparking or smoke, or any swelling, cracks or damage, unplug immediately and contact the retailer and/or manufacturer.
- Regularly check the charger and/or plug and your socket-outlet for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch.
