The main value of a portable computer is its portability, so be careful not to overload your system with accessories. Nevertheless, there are many different accessories available, and any combination of these items may improve the value and usefulness of your system. You're probably going to need a carrying case, preferably one with a shoulder strap, to transport and protect your computer. If you plan on traveling extensively, an additional battery might be a wise purchase. Beyond these two fairly indispensable add-ons, you may also want to consider purchasing an external mouse or keyboard if you find it cumbersome to use those included on a portable. Other potential accessories include external CD-ROM or DVD drives, hard drives, tape back-up drives, printers, modems, and scanners. Generally, when upgrading or adding new hardware to your laptop computer, you're better off using external devices rather than internal devices. Although external devices may cost a little more than internal ones, portable computers, due to their small size, usually offer little or no internal upgrade capacity. If you think you're going to need extra devices, you may be better off simply purchasing a top-of-the-line portable computer that has all the extra options already included so that you don't have to constantly reconnect your peripherals. For more information, consult a computer professional.
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