zoom to an object without using the NumPad I zoom all the time for many situations, but most of the time the zoom goes to nowhere and I have to adjust all the time to get the right spot. I have tried ShiftB which works ok only sometimes.
I can press NumPad because I'm on my laptop, and I can't find a similar way.

What I need the best is to select an object from my scene list, then click for a zoom  that will bring me the right zoom for that object.
Is there a handy way to do this on a laptop?
Also what would be handy is a zoom to center, I could not find a laptop solution for this.
You could use the menu item 3D view header View > View Selected, that is the same command as pressing NumPad .

AltF will center the view depth over whatever the mouse hovering on.

Home will zoom and center the view so all objects are in view.

Possibly the best solution for you is in the User Preferences under the Interface tab then check the two boxes for Auto Depth and Rotate Around Selection. That will make the viewport rotate around whatever object(s) is selected.
  

Also in the user preferences under the Input tab you could try enabling the Emulate NumPad check box. That will make the regular 1-0 keys act like the NumPad.