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Want to avoid an expensive mistake? Then be sure to avoid these ways of accidentally ruining your gadgets and electronics.
Careless Plug-Ins
Isn’t it the worst how you always plug in a USB the wrong way, turn it around, then it’s somehow still the wrong way, so you have to turn it around a second time? Well, we recommend laughing about it instead of trying to jam it in there, as breaking those delicate pins means opening up the whole device and replacing the socket. Of course, this goes for any kind of plug, with a special shout-out to HDMI cables. Note: This is something kids especially should watch out for. Extra note: Actually, everything on this list is something to teach kids about.
Too Much Heat
When electronics overheat, they either shut off to avoid further overheating or they break. It’s a bad idea to set up devices in direct sunlight or to leave them in hot places, such as a car. Of course, it isn’t the end of the world if you’ve left your tablet in the car—just don’t turn it on until it’s had a chance to cool off.
Too Much Cold
Nope, it isn’t just your gloved hands. Not only does that touchscreen not work so well in the cold, your battery suffers too.
No Screen Protector
Smartphones and other touchscreen technology relies on some pretty cool glass technology to work and stay unbroken. But they aren’t unbreakable and replacing a screen could run you a cool $200, so spend the $14 on a screen protector.
No Case
On your smartphone (or any gadget you regularly transport), a case can be the difference between a heart-stopping-but-ultimately-no-biggie drop and an actual substantial repair bill.
Never Rebooting
Most of us leave devices such as laptops, smartphones, and computers on constantly. And that’s fine. Modern devices are made to be left on. But you should still reboot every now and again. Why? Well, your device is keeping track of all sorts of applications and processes, and in the course of crunching all that code, some of it starts to work improperly. Rebooting gives everything a fresh start.
Never Updating
We’re not sure who started the rumour that you shouldn’t update your software, but they’re wrong. Update everything. Set things up such that they auto-update. After all, if Apple or Microsoft discovers a security flaw in their software and tries to patch everyone right away, do you really want to be the one who doesn’t get the new security until a week later?
And an extra note: Any device that is connected to the internet, which may include your printer, doorbell, router, or security camera, needs to be updated too. Most significant devices (again, smartphones, computers, tablets, etc.) have the option to update automatically. But sometimes minor devices, especially those in the Internet of Things category, do not. Make a list of any device that doesn’t auto-update and make sure to manually update from time to time. Are you checking your smoke detectors twice a year? At those times, check that all your minor devices are updated as well.
Water
Water is the enemy of electronics everywhere. Go the extra mile to avoid mixing the two. That means keeping your electronics away from condensation and probably making a rule in your household about not having drinks near devices.
Overflowing Storage
The rule of thumb is that ten per cent of your hard drive should be free at any given time. Make it a regular practice to delete old files and stuff you no longer need. Or stick it in external storage and free up your device.
Cheap Entertainment Centres
If you’re going to spend a thousand bucks on a TV, be sure your entertainment centre can hold the weight and won’t tip over when someone pulls out a drawer. Or a kid dangles off it. Better yet: wall brackets. They’re great for babyproofing.
Poorly-Mounted TVs
People make all kinds of mistakes when mounting a TV to the wall, including not sinking their screws into the actual framing, using the wrong bolts, using the wrong sinks, and more. If you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing, check with an expert.
Kids
Kids break things. That’s just what they do. And that’s how they learn. But if you minimize their chance of breaking their expensive electronics, they might not have to learn in such a painful way. Like this kid, who took his tablet fishing.
