The Mini toolbar is a ghostly floating palette which automatically appears whenever you highlight text. Initially all the options it contains are discreetly semi-transparent. However, when you position your cursor over the various controls it contains, the Mini toolbar becomes activated.

It contains a number of options for formatting your text. All of these options can be found in the Home tab of the Word Ribbon. The top row of icons allows you to change the font, size and colour of our text and also contains Word’s nifty Format Painter. The Format Painter allows you to copy the format of the selected text to other areas of your document.

The second row of the Mini toolbar contains buttons for making your text bold, italic or centre aligned. It also has options for altering the colour of the highlighted text, indenting text and inserting bullets.

The Mini toolbar offers a very convenient way of quickly formatting your text without having to go back to the Ribbon to find the options you’re looking for. However, there are times when it can be inconvenient. This is particularly true when using the drag-and-drop facility within Microsoft Word.

This useful feature allows you to highlight text and simply drag it to a new location. However, what you sometimes find is that, as you are about to drag, your cursor collides with the Mini toolbar and instead of dragging your text you end up changing its format.

As a Word user, you’ll decide whether you like the Mini toolbar facility. If you decide it is more trouble than it’s worth, Word allows you to deactivate this facility. From the Office button, choose Word Options. In the Popular category, the very first option is “Show Mini Toolbar on selection”. If you have had enough of the Mini toolbar, simply deactivate this option. Now, whenever you highlight text, the Mini toolbar will not appear.

Even if you have asked Word not to show the Mini toolbar, it is still possible to display it by simply right-clicking on selected text.

Most veteran PC gamers know exactly what they want in a gaming laptop, and those who have the time and money have probably already built their dream computer themselves, but if you are a little newer to the field, a little more fond of the smaller notebook footprint, or a little less comfortable with a do-it-yourself computer, you need to be armed with these basic facts before purchasing your gaming laptop.

The three most important components for any high-end laptop are the processor, RAM and graphics card. Since you are building a gaming rig, you will want to focus on your graphics card first and foremost. Make sure you load up the video memory with at least 256MB and remember to select a notebook that has a dedicated graphics card. Integrated graphics simply cannot handle any modern, 3D gaming.

The next most important component is your processor. Dual-core CPUs are the hottest thing out right now. Ideally, you want to stay within the top two or three fastest dual-core CPUs, in terms of processor speed, that are currently available at the time of your purchase. This will ensure that your notebook is fully optimized for all of today’s latest 3D games.

The third most important factor in the speed of your laptop is RAM. You will need at least 1GB to safely play most 3D games without any memory bottlenecking, although most hardcore gamers opt for 2GB or more just for the added punch and/or bragging rights.

The fourth and final tip would be to go with 7200rpm hard drives, as these will definitely speed up load times by adding some extra horsepower to your gaming machine.

With recent advancements in mobile technologies, laptops are now becoming more and more popular in the gaming community, as the prospect of a portable gaming rig that can produce desktop-like performance on the go is something that appeals to all gamers. Just remember to follow these four simple guidelines to ensure that your laptop will be able to meet or exceed all of the hardware requirements for your gaming sessions.

Laptops can range from ultra-portable models that weigh only around a pound or two, to desktop replacements that can weigh 10 pounds or more! Laptops of all sizes and weights can be clunky and difficult to carry. They dont usually fit into a purse, and putting them in a briefcase with other stuff can damage them.

Carrying a standard laptop case isnt always a good option, either. For one thing, these bags often arent as secure as youd like. They can easily be snatched off of your shoulder if you arent cautious, and a thief could make off with your computer very quickly.

They can also be very uncomfortable on your shoulder. When you carry a heavy burden on a single shoulder, it can become painful pretty quickly. The load shouldnt be carried on one side. This can throw you off balance and also be damaging to your shoulder.

A better idea is to use a computer backpack. If youre going to be carrying your computer around all day, this is even more essential. You need something that will distribute the weight of the computer more evenly, and a backpack does that.

Since a backpack has two straps, the weight of the computer and its accessories is spread over two shoulders rather than one. This helps keep you balanced, and also helps keep your shoulders safe.

Standard laptop cases are also much easier to steal than backpacks. This is another major concern. Many people have had their cases snatched right off of their shoulders by a thief who then ran quickly into a crowd and disappeared. With a backpack, the thief would have to snatch the bag off of two shoulders. This would be nearly impossible to do without being caught, and most thieves wouldnt bother.

If youre going to buy a backpack for your computer, you might want to get some sort of additional protection for the laptop itself. Backpacks dont offer as much protection against bumps and drops as thicker leather or vinyl cases. You can buy sleeves for many models of laptop. These sleeves offer additional padding, and they offer additional protection against damage while inside the backpack.

When shopping for a backpack for your laptop, you should look for a few key elements. Youll want a roomy backpack that can carry your computer and its accessories. Youll need something that will hold your computer, your adapter, and any accessories like a mouse, external hard drive, alternate keyboard, and other accessories. Plus, you may also want to carry books, your cell phone, cosmetics, or other items.

You may also want to look for a backpack that has a locking mechanism so people cant unzip your backpack and remove items from it while its on your back. Skilled thieves can take items from a backpack without the owner even noticing.

Some backpacks come with a method for securing them built in, but others can be locked with a small padlock. Look for a backpack with two zippers on the same track. These two zippers can meet in the middle and be locked with a padlock that is attached to the holes in the end of each zipper.

Backpacks are a great option for carrying a laptop. They offer casual style for people who may not want the more professional style of a standard laptop case, and they are generally far more comfortable to carry because of their ability to split the weight between both shoulders.