Now that you have the laptop deployed and in use daily, you may want to buy a certain bunch of accessories which will not only make laptop usage more comfortable, but also may enhance features. While all accessories may not be of use for you or your usage pattern, but there are definitely some which will offer a lot of value and convenience to the entire package.

Here is a list of must-have accessories and add-ons, which you will want to pair your laptop with.

Cooling pad: Possibly the most important accessory you can every buy for the laptop. The amount of power at work inside the chassis produces unbelievable amounts of heat. On the other hand, the laptop’s built-in own cooling mechanism- the fan and the vents, are not very good at keeping the laptop cool. What this does is that it reduces component lives, kills battery life (both in the short term and the long run) and makes it uncomfortable for use on the lap. The cooling pad, which will be powered by the laptop’s own USB port, will offer a source of cool air for the fan to pull in and blow into the inside of the machine.

The solution isn’t very expensive either. Get yourself one of the Belkin cooling pads, and keep the laptop cool. There is one that offers a plain fan, while the slightly upgraded one offers a USB hub, which is powered externally.

Belkin Cooling pad (basic- Available in black and white colour)- Rs 900
Belkin cooling pad (with 4 port usb hub)- Rs 2,000


Mouse: Most people are not comfortable using the laptop’s built-in touchpad. Either they are too small to use comfortably, or the response offered is just too annoying. An external mouse is the way to go, and you can select the wired or the wireless type, depending on your preference. An external mouse will bring back the old world charm of using a mouse with a notebook, which will make those people happy who complain that the touchpad is tiring to use. A wired mouse will draw power from the laptop’s USB port, while the wireless one will require its own set of batteries.

Logitech M90 USB mouse (wired)- Rs 500
Targus wireless comfort laser mouse AMW51AP- Rs 1,800
Microsoft Arc mouse- Rs 3,300
Logitech M905 with Darkfield- Rs 4,999


Travel Battery pack: The laptop is essentially designed for use on the move, but is severely limited in this conquest. The limiting factor is the battery life. Most laptops have a battery life of between 2 hours and 4 hours. Some ultra light and low power processor based laptops can go up to about 6 hours on the same battery pack. Unless you buy an Apple Macbook with about 7 to 10 hours of battery life, depending on the model, generation and configuration!

However, for the rest of us, an extra battery, or a bigger battery is the answer. Laptops generally ship with 6-cell batteries. You can either buy another 6-cell battery to act as an add on ammo for the laptop while you are out on the road or a 9-cell or 12-cell battery which will offer between 7 hours to 12 hours of battery life in one go, from full charge to full discharge.

The extra batteries are not very inexpensive, and that is something you should be prepared for. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) branded batteries will cost anywhere between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 depending on the capacity, brand and laptop model.

This is where the urge to buy a non-branded battery does make its presence felt. Not only do they cost less, but claim to offer an equally good performance as the original ones. However, that is never really the case. A non-branded/locally made battery will not offer the claimed battery backup life hours, but will discharge quicker. The battery will wear out quicker. And may also damage the laptop by sending inconsistent power to it. Buy the original battery pack, rather than risk damaging the laptop.