7 ways to boost your notebook battery’s life

You’re sitting comfortably on a flight. You’ve got your notebook PC in front of you, and you’re working on a presentation for an important meeting. Isn’t mobile technology great? But then, your battery dies – and your work abruptly comes to a halt.

Unfortunately, this is an all-too-familiar scenario for many notebook users. While notebook batteries become a little more efficient each year, we’re also relying more heavily on our notebooks for day-to-day computing. But don’t be discouraged. There are simple actions you can take – as well as new innovations you can take advantage of – that help your battery last longer, so you can stay productive.

1. Disable or disconnect

Peripheral devices can drain your battery life, even when they’re not in active use. So remove, disable or turn off your external hard drives, DVDs, USB devices, wireless cards and other accessories when they’re not needed.

Uninstalling little-used startup programs in Windows® XP or disabling them in Windows Vista® can also help reduce the power needed to load and run them every time your restart your PC.

2. Dim it down

One of the notebook’s biggest energy drains is its screen. Most HP Business Notebooks are equipped with Ambient Light Sensors, which automatically dim the screen in bright light. This prevents eyestrain and can save as much as an extra hour of runtime. If you need to manually adjust the brightness on your HP notebook, hold down the Fn key and use F7 and F8.

3. Manage your power

The power management utility of your notebook lets you set when your computer goes into hibernation in Windows XP or the new, more efficient sleep mode in Windows Vista. Using these energy-saving features can be an effective way to reduce the amount of power your notebook consumes.

4. Keep your cool

Notebook batteries should be used and stored at room temperature. Extreme temperatures can take a toll on battery life, causing irreversible capacity loss over time. So minimise battery exposure to extreme conditions, like bright sunlight or a hot car.

5. Take charge

Did you know that new batteries should be fully discharged and charged the first few times they’re used? This tells a battery’s “memory” exactly how much charge it can hold. If your battery is not going to be used for more than two weeks, you should remove it from your notebook.

Built into new business notebooks, HP Fast Charge technology charges your battery up to 90 percent in only 90 minutes to ensure you’re always powered up and ready to go.

6. Give your battery a check-up

The HP Battery Check is a smart and simple tool that tests the “health” of your battery to ensure that everything’s working properly. Windows XP users can download and install the utility while Windows Vista users can launch the tool from the Help and Support menu.

The diagnosis may ask you to calibrate your notebook battery so that the battery gauge accurately displays the level of charge. If your battery is no longer functioning correctly, which is normal over time and after regular use, HP Battery Check will tell you to replace the battery.

7. Carry a backup

Busy mobile professionals may find it necessary to carry a spare or get a secondary battery. Two options are the HP Extended Life battery, which provides up to an additional five hours of battery life with the added convenience of being able to charge the battery while docked; or the HP Ultra Capacity battery, which increases the battery life of an HP Business Notebook by up to 10 hours.
From: http://h71028.www7.hp.com