| Depending upon the model, a notebook battery | | | | the PC Card slot, VGA/ FireWire/ USB port |
| usually lasts from 1 to 8 hours. However, with | | | | should be avoided. |
| efficient battery usage, an hour or two of | | | | Increase the RAM memory, if an extra slot is |
| battery power can significantly be increased. You | | | | available, as this puts fewer burdens on the hard |
| can save battery power by using the built-in | | | | disk, which consumes a lot of battery power. |
| battery saving modes and by following good | | | | Avoid multimedia games while you are running |
| notebook battery-saving practices. | | | | your notebook on battery power. Similarly, avoid |
| Built-in battery-saving modes are Stand By and | | | | music or movies. Copy the CD/DVD on the hard |
| Hibernate. In the Stand By mode, open | | | | disk and play it from there, instead of the optical |
| applications are stored in the RAM, the hard disks | | | | drive. Disable WiFi and Bluetooth. Built-in wireless |
| power down, the monitor switches off, but the | | | | cards should also be disabled. Decrease or set to |
| processor goes on running. When you again | | | | mute the notebook speaker volume. Turn off all |
| perform some activity of the mouse or the | | | | preprogrammed scheduled tasks. All unused open |
| keyboard, then the hard disk powers up, the | | | | applications should be closed. The general guideline |
| monitor switches on, and the data from the RAM | | | | is that when your notebook is on battery power, |
| is activated, restoring your notebook exactly the | | | | you should perform only such operations, which |
| way you left it. | | | | are the need of the hour. Rest of the applications |
| The Hibernation mode is used when the notebook | | | | can be performed, when your notebook is |
| is left unattended for a long time. The open | | | | connected to the mains. |
| applications are stored on the hard disk, which | | | | Keeping good care of the battery also prolongs its |
| subsequently powers down, the monitor turns off, | | | | life. To maximize performance of nickel-metal |
| and the processor turns off going in for | | | | hydride batteries, they have to be completely |
| hibernation. On soft rebooting like a restart or | | | | drained off before they are recharged. However, |
| wake up on LAN, the processor turns on, the | | | | lithium-ion batteries do not need cycling/ |
| laptop wakes up, and the same exact settings | | | | conditioning, and they do not suffer from |
| are restored. Both these modes should be used | | | | memory effects. Hence, they need not be fully |
| to conserve battery power. You can preset your | | | | drained off before recharging. When the notebook |
| preferences in the settings of your notebook, so | | | | is not in use for an extended period, the battery |
| that in case you doze off, or leave the device for | | | | pack should be removed to avoid battery leakage. |
| a coffee or a snack, the notebook automatically | | | | Before removing the battery pack, you should |
| goes into any one of these power saving modes. | | | | charge it fully and then remove it, as all kinds of |
| Following battery-saving practices can also save | | | | batteries should always be stored in a fully |
| notebook battery power. You should always | | | | charged state. Do not store your battery pack |
| adjust the monitor controls to suit the room | | | | along with metal parts, as this will short-circuit |
| lighting conditions. Dimming the contrast and | | | | your battery. |
| brightness saves battery power besides providing | | | | Utilizing the built-in battery saving options and |
| relief to your eyes. Auto-save and auto-update | | | | other means, you can significantly add one to |
| features of applications start in the background | | | | three hours more in the total capacity of your |
| without your knowledge and these should be | | | | notebook battery. Sometimes, in critical situations, |
| disabled. External devices consume a lot of | | | | like an important meeting, this extra hour of |
| battery power, hence the usage of external mice, | | | | notebook battery power can help you clinch your |
| monitors, keyboards, optical drives, videocam, | | | | desired deal. |
| digital cameras, or any other device connected to | | | | |