by Marc Zimmerman

Created on: January 21, 2010   Last Updated: January 24, 2010

Computers, we all have one in some shape or form, whether it be an old Gateway from 1999 with Windows 2000 operating system, or a shiny new laptop that never leaves your side.  As computers of all kinds are generally expensive to begin and require regular software and/or hardware maintainence (to assure optimal performance), we can't afford to break them over silly mistakes.  

If you own a desktop, you'll probably notice the four main components that make it up: the monitor, the tower (desktop itself), the keyboard, and the mouse.  Though the mouse is probably the cheapest of the four, that doesn't mean that you should slam it down on your desk when the computer freezes or you die in a video game.  Most current-day mouses are guided by a laser-type apparatus on the bottom that detects movement in relation to the surface in which the mouse is lying.  If the laser becomes damaged or completely broken, then your mouse is basically inoperational.  

To go into detail, the laser mouse is sensitive to pressure and can therefore be damaged when slammed on the desk.  If the laser is damaged by pressure, you'll notice that the mouse typically slows down and is unresponsive to your movements.  The point being:  don't let water get into the creases of the mouse or underneath it, and don't throw it on the ground.  Second, the keyboard is where finger meets plastic, and hundreds of thousands of words will be entered upon it in your computer's lifetime, so take good care of it unless you want to buy a new one.  To keep things simple, keep crumbs away from the keyboard, as they'll lodge under the keys and begin to decay and mold unless you somehow remove them.  Also, avoid water damage to the keyboard, as the internal structure of the keys is basically a giant microchip, and when exposed to liquids, it will cease to function. 

Generally, if water is spilled on a keyboard, the region that suffered the damage will generally act unresponsive and may require you to sometimes press harder on the key for it to type.  Third, the computer tower is the control center of your computer; if you damage it, you can kiss your computer goodbye.  In most powerful computers, usually designed for gaming or any other memory-hogging acticities, the tower will have multiple cooling fans that take in air from the outside environment and use it to cool the system, and then blow it out the back.  My best piece of advice: don't put your computer in the middle of a room where sawdust is flying everywhere or the middle of a dustball.  Though dust does eventually collect, and the best way to get rid of it is to clean your computer's outside on a weekly or monthly basis, simply removing dust from the vents and other vulnerable regions, just to keep it looking and running clean. 

And lastly, there comes the monitor of the computer.  Now, most modern flat-panel monitors have a plastic coating to protect the internal structure of the monitor.  I shouldn't even have to explain safety precautions for keeping your screen functional, as they're so simple:  avoid water contact, don't ever throw anything at the screen, don't bash it, and don't leave it on all night if you're not using the computer.  

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