Rate my accessory purchase list for my new Studio 1555 coming soon.

I haven't (really) purchased a new laptop in over 4 years. Other than a replacement I got 2 years ago and a netbook I bought this year.

So I kinda went crazy and got a bunch of accessories. I still need to get a new wireless N router and a wireless N card for it.

Belkin travel size power/surge protector (comes with 3 outlets and two usb power outlets which is kinda cool). Plugs into the wall directly, no cord. Can swivel.

Midnight blue portable/wireless Microsoft mouse

bluetooth adapter http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11866

extra USBto Mini cable http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9804

media remote http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14380

USB hub http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48

and shopping for a usb flash drive right now

I also have a wireless xbox 360 controller and a wireless microsoft microphone that I won from them.

 

Why not buy a USB PCI card with internal usb ports? That way, you can hide the bluetooth adapter inside the PC and sync with with a bluetooth mouse.

 

And this card exists where?

note that there is a difference between a USB expansion card for desktop computers vs the PCI slots available for laptops. There may be one of these made for laptops, but I'm not sure. You can however buy a bluetooth mini card for your laptop, assuming you have a free port.

 

yeah but that was purely a price issue. $3 vs $20 and internal installation..takes up a slot too

 

Me personally the first things I bought for my laptop were:

1. A cooling mat - went with a marginally expensive Notepal Infinite. Not perhaps the best, but the vents matched up with those on the laptop, so it does the job nicely

2. External speakers - went for a set of 5.1 speakers from logitech

3. External sound card - to go with said speakers. Middle of the road Creative 5.1 usb sound card. Does the job

4. 22" monitor - had one lying around, but if I didn't then I would have bought one.

5. Expresscard docking station. This is a neat little device which has usb ports, ps2 ports, LAN + VGA. Connects via my expresscard, means I only have to plug one thing in and everything else works. Magic, but expensive.

6. External DVD Writer - Internal DVD drives on laptops are harder to replace than an elcheapo external one; so whenever I am at home I use an external drive; saves the old wear and tear on the internal one.

7. Logitech vx nano mouse. Now this is great whether at home or on the go, nice small, great feel in the hand, and I just love the scroll wheel on it.

8. External keyboard - again when at home there is nothing like a full size keyboard with a million additional function keys meaning everything is a single click away.

Now admittedly, most of this is only useful when I'm at home; but the way I figure it, if you want a laptop, it's probably because you will use it in other places. If so, you want minimal items with you when you are away from home. I have no intention of listening to music on laptop away from home, nor watching movies, playing games or anything. It's back and forth to work, and when it's at work, it's working, when it's at home, well it's probably working too.