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