Selecting the right laptop - sewing the seeds of a new business
If you thinking of starting up a business from home or perhaps slowly trying to turn an existing hobby into a more profitable pastime, then in either case a little bit of forward planning is sure to help things go more smoothly. An obvious choice at first seems to be the business laptop - a type of model that is aimed at the more serious user who values security and durability. If your business is going to revolve around curtain making then of course there will be other equipment that is more vital to your venture, such as the right type of sewing machine, and the best materials for each job. A laptop will still be a very useful machine on which you can keep a record of incoming orders, your stock of cloth and cotton for sewing, and orders you have placed with suppliers for new materials etcetera. It might be that you want a computer that can be used for business and also for the whole family, especially while you are just starting out. A home laptop is designed to be easy for several users to share, with such features as face recognition so that logging on becomes a simple matter of looking into the webcam, with no password to remember. You can instead keep a clear head to concentrate on your curtain designs and the skilled needlework that goes into making each set, rather than worrying about how you access the information that is stored on your laptop.
Qosmio G50-129 from Toshiba
Keeping a record of your creations
A nice way to record your progress with making each set of curtains, and one that will allow you to look back and learn from your mistakes, is making a video of your work as you progress from the design stage through to making up the curtains and putting the finishing touches to them. A digital camcorder is easy to use and modern models are very compact so they are not difficult to carry with you. As well as recording your works in progress, they are very handy for shooting in potential clients homes so that when you get home you have a visual record of how their house is decorated and the feel of the place comes across very well with moving images rather than still pictures. Your laptop can be used to edit each film down to a manageable size so that they can be stored on your hard disk or on DVD once you have a lot of footage. There are a number of free programs to choose from that will help you with the editing task. You will also find that as you build up a collection of different people's homes, you will be able to use them for inspiration later on when you are trying to come up with new patterns and designs for your curtains. A gaming laptop is probably the best option if you start to do any serious editing of your videos as they have plenty of memory and good video cards.
Toshiba's Camileo P10 Camcorder
Concentrating on your strengths
Many people find they spend too much time fiddling around with their computer rather than taking advantage of the possibilities that it offers to free up time for more important matters. It does not have to be this way and as long as you choose your new machine carefully, you should find a laptop a valuable time saving device rather than a burden. It should leave you free to focus on developing your sewing skills and letting your imagination help you come up with new and creative designs for each set of curtains that you work on. Whichever type of computer you decide is the best one for you, choosing from a reputable manufacturer should mean that you will be able to rely on decent laptop support in the event that anything goes wrong with your machine. A website with the latest drivers and software to download for your machine, as well as a good warranty, are some of the things to look for when making your selection. As with your sewing equipment, it is reassuring to have the backing of a good after sales service. In the case of your laptop there should not be many problems with moving parts, and as long as you keep the operating system up to date, hopefully the support service should be there more for your own peace of mind. If you want more flexibility in choosing individual components for your computer then you could have a look at the satellite laptop range.
Satellite U500-10U
Travelling light and staying in touch
If you like the idea of visiting different areas of the country to get inspiration for your designs, or you want to service a wide area, offering curtain making services to remote clients as well as those on your doorstep, then maybe you would prefer a laptop style which places a premium on portability rather than power. You may already have a desktop machine on which you can perform more demanding tasks and simply be looking for something that will help you to stay in touch with customers and friends while on the move. If this is the case then a machine with a high end specification, offering vast amounts of memory and the latest in digital surround sound systems will not be the best use of your money. A netbook is something that would most likely fulfil your needs with the least amount of fuss and prove to be the most economical purchase for you. They are lightweight, at the lower end of the price range, and more than enough for checking emails, surfing the internet and using most ordinary programs. If your storage needs grow with your business and you want to keep records of every set of curtains that you made as well as the thoughts that went into the design process, then you can always buy an external hard drive to use in conjunction with your computer, at a later date. Whilst a laptop may be quite difficult to upgrade, there are plenty of peripherals available.
Toshiba's NB100-12A
