2013年5月31日星期五

How to extend your laptop battery life

Your laptop battery life is short lived; you can predict its obvious future- it will die soon. You cannot stop it from wearing out but can surely work on making it long lasting.

Attach only when needed

It is not necessary to keep your battery attached to the laptop 24*7.  If you are in a place or if you need to work for long hours, just keep your battery charged and then detach it. Survive on AC!  Remove it safely when the laptop is switched off or on hibernate mode. If you have kept your battery aside just make sure to charge it and use it once in a while, else that can also lead to short battery life.

Cool it

Make sure you keep your battery cool. That implies, you keeping your laptop on a hard surface always so that is lets your device ventilators work efficiently and discharge hot air. Constantly keeping your laptop on charge not only heats it up immensely and damages it but also reduces the battery life. If you work endlessly and travel a lot, it might require you to charge your battery constantly. What you can do here is buy that cooling fan exclusively designed for laptops. It is not very expensive and comes across wide range as per its quality. Pick what suits your needs and start using one.

Check on charging time

Along with frequent usage of battery also put a check on the duration of charging the battery. Ensure that once your battery level is full your remove the plug from the socket. Excessive charging also leads to wearing out of your laptop batteries.

Old laptops

In case of old laptops, to avoid further draining of your batteries, fully charge and fully recharge. In case of new laptops fully charging can be a little harmful, but makes things easy for you as you can use the laptop for longer via battery.
 
Literally saving the charge

The above were a few tips to keep your battery alive in the long run, but here are a few pointers as to how to keep your battery from draining out on a daily basis, every time you work without AC.
·         Dim screen brightness
·         Use hard drive than CD or DVD
·         Hibernate not standby
·         End programs running in the background
So, now that you have basic knowledge about how to take care of your laptop battery, follow these steps the next time and save money spent on several new batteries.

How to choose a laptop battery

Every laptop company has different batteries, and many laptop companies have different batteries for different models. So how to figure out which is yours? Well, you could buy it directly from the company, which means you’ll probably pay a serious premium (Dell, for example, has been known to charge four times more than ones you can get elsewhere). Unless you have to, why pay more?
Instructions
1.Obtain the model number of the replacement laptop batteryyou need. If you’re simply replacing a battery, just look at your old one, and it should be there. If not, log onto the manufacturer’s website and look up your model, then its accessories. Find the battery you need, and make a note of the model number.
2.Establish which laptop battery you want, if you have options. Some laptops have extended life batteries, and some have batteries that charge quicker than others, both of which cost more than your garden variety battery. You can determine what is available to you by (again) visiting the manufacturer’s website. If more than one battery is available, it will tell you. You might want a longer-life battery if you spend a lot of time “off-cord,” or working on planes or in airport terminals. Quick-charging laptop batteries tend to be a luxury, however, some laptops won’t fully charge without several hours of charging; take that into consideration when deciding which to purchase.
3.Set the market. When you visit the manufacturer’s website, note the prices for the batteries. This will establish the high-end of what you might have to pay, and allow you to compare. Take note of the model numbers for each of the dell laptop batteries you might be deciding between, since you will want to make sure that you get exactly the one you want, and not a knock-off.
4.Comparison shop to determine who has the lowest prices. Buyer beware, however..there are a lot of small electronic websites that promise one thing and then send you the Japanese version of the laptop battery, which may or may not work for your computer. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
5.Compare the prices to the price of the manufacturer. If it’s close, go with the manufacturer, since you know for sure that whatever it sends you will be the perfect thing for your computer. Keep in mind that there is a slight, but very real, chance that loading the wrong battery into your computer will damage or even completely wreck your laptop .

2013年5月24日星期五

Ways of Maintaining HP Laptop Batteries

The estimated lifespan of HP laptop batteries is one of the most pertinent queries of every HP customer. There are several factors that extend the battery life and maximize their runtime. HP laptop battery have 200 to 500 charge cycles before they cease to hold charge. One charge cycle begins with charging your laptop battery to the maximum, then letting it discharge completely and go to sleep, and then charging it fully again. The variation in the number of charge cycles rests on the maintenance of the laptop.
HP Laptop Batteries: Maintenance
HP laptop batteries are a product of advanced design and superior craftsmanship. However, a laptop battery requires optimum care to provide optimum services. Here are certain dos and don'ts that users must follow to ensure longer battery life.
Some practices to avoid are:
Avoid leaving your battery in extremely high or low temperature areas. Exposure to direct sunlight and excessive dust or dirt can damage its electronic components, thus reducing longevity.
Exposure to extreme cold temperatures is also not recommended, because on return to normal temperatures moisture forms inside the battery. This spoils the electronic circuit boards.
Avoid extracting the battery and trying to short it manually.
Try not to frequently drain the battery of charge before plugging it in.
Avoid leaving the HP battery for laptop while charging it for a prolonged period. Keeping the battery in a constant state of charging will reduce the battery's lifespan.
Some guidelines to follow are:
Calibrate your laptop battery once in every two months.
Decrease the hard drive activity by defragmenting the drive regularly.
Disable the startup items, since these items encroach on the virtual memory and add to the CPU load.
Remove battery pack from your laptop if you are not using it for a week or so.
HP Laptop Batteries: Optimizing Runtime
Optimizing the runtime of HP laptop batteries is possible through:
Turn off programs, such as Photoshop, high graphics games and burning of DVDs and CDs, when not in use. Running unwanted programs drains the battery faster.
To save power, leave the laptop on Hibernation mode if you do not plan to work for a while.
Lower the contrast level of the screen
Avoid multitasking
Such careful maintenance ensures prolonged battery life; however, this does not mean eternal life for HP laptop battery.

5 Ways to Improve Your Laptop Battery Life

laptops are becoming more and more popular these days. They are lightweight, small, cheap and can last on battery for hours. The hardware is more or less the same for all: a 10 to 12 inch screen, Intel Atom processor, 1 gigabyte of RAM and a 250GB hard disk. That's not much, but is enough for simple office tasks like web-browsing, chatting or editing texts. Playing multimedia is also an option, but is watching a movie on a 10 inch screen a pleasure?
Still, most hardware manufactures are trying to prove that laptops, are the ultimate portable computers, capable of doing the exact same tasks as their bigger counterparts. That is why most people suffer great disappointment, after the initial boot of their new system - it's slow and laptop battery life is terrible. What can we do? Plenty!

1. Remove bloatware
Each new system is generously equipped with lots of cool software: search toolbars, multimedia players, manufacturer branding, trial software etc. The problem is, there is a great chance, you won't even launch any of it. However, they are all there, mostly running in background, consuming your system resources, what slows it down. Removing unneeded apps can be done by hand via Control Panel or as I recommend it, using specialized software called PC Decrapifier. Application automatically identifies unneeded software, creates a restore point so you can always revert any changes made and removes all unnecessary apps. Plain, simple and free of charge. Less software is running in background, your laptop is faster and lifebook batterylasts longer.
2. Update your system
Windows is often updated by Microsoft to fix security issues and improve performance. The whole process is usually done automatically, but it's always a good idea to take a look at optional updates available for your system. Don't delay the update process, it's best to install fixes as soon as they arrive!
3. Turn off visual effects
Most laptop come with Windows 7 Starter Edition or Windows XP, which don't include Aero interface. Yet, turning off some additional visual effects like shades or animations, might give a small performance boost. For maximum performance switch to Windows Classic theme, which looks a bit odd these days, but is still very usable.
4. Use alternatives
Commonly known apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player are user-friendly and powerful, but can be also very resource consuming. Keep in mind, getting things done, doesn't always require professional tools. Internet is full of very small, yet full-featured apps, that are easy to use and fast. Search the Internet and you will see for yourself.
5. Take care of your battery
Batteries in laptop, like everything else, have limited lifespan. A standard unit should survive a couple of thousand cycles of charging and discharging. Afterwards it capacity will start to degrade, giving you less and less time to work. A common misconception is that an unused battery, should last longer in perfect shape. Quite the opposite. An laptop battery kept at full charge all time, will start to degrade sooner than a unit used on a daily basis. Bare in mind that any laptop or laptop produces heat, which rises temperature in and around the battery, which shortens its life cycle. If you have your laptop plug-in most of the time, simply remove the battery. When working on battery power, try to avoid discharging it entirely, they don't like that.
laptop are designed to be lightweight travel companions and that's how they need to be treated. Getting things done on them, require a little bit more time and energy as you need to configure the operating system properly and find the right software. The results can be very rewarding so give it a go!

2013年5月17日星期五

When to Replace a Laptop Battery

How Do I Know When to Replace My Laptop Battery?
The most obvious sign that it's time to replace your laptop battery is if your battery is completely drained and unable to hold any charge whatsoever. It doesn't have to get that far, however, as there are ways to tell beforehand that the time has come to find an adequate replacement. In fact, here are 4 specific tell-tale signs that it is indeed time to replace your laptop battery
1)    The Runtime/Capacity Has Significantly Diminished: Does it seem like you're battery isn't allowing you to use your laptop as long as it used to? Are you finding yourself charging your laptop more frequently? If so, it's very likely that the performance of your laptop battery is slipping and it's time to find a replacement.
2)    You've Charged Your Laptop Battery More Than 300 Times: While chances are most people won't be keeping track of each and every time they charge their laptop, it's not hard to come up with a rough estimate. Simply take the average number of times you charge your laptop each week and multiply it by the number of weeks you've been using the battery. If that number turns out to be greater than 300, it looks like it's time to start searching for a new battery.
3)    You've Been Using the Battery for Over 18 Months: It's a fact, all rechargeable batteries wear out with time and usage. For the typical user, noticeable reduction in run time generally will be observed after 18 to 24 months. The more you use your laptop, the sooner you'll start to notice a dip in the performance of its battery. Keep this in mind once you've been using a particular laptop battery longer than 18 months. If it just isn't performing like it used to, you know it's time for a new one.
4)    Battery Check Utility Says It's Time: Almost every laptop comes with a Battery Check utility that will indicate when it's time to replace your battery, or when the storage capacity has reached a "Low" state. At that point, it's pretty clear that the time has come to
So while the most obvious sign that it's time to replace your laptop battery is when it's dead and unable to charge, paying attention to the signs above will help prevent ever having to reach that point. If any of the above applies to you and your laptop battery, you may want to start looking for a replacement as soon as possible.

Long Live Your Laptop Battery!

Laptop batteries are like people--eventually and inevitably, they die. And like people, they don't obey Moore's Law--You can't expect next year's batteries to last twice as long as this year's. Battery technology may improve a bit over time (after all, there's plenty of financial incentive for better batteries), but, while interesting possibilities may pop up, don't expect major battery breakthroughs in the near future.
Although your battery will eventually die, proper care can put off the inevitable. Here's how to keep your laptop battery working for as long as possible. With luck, it could last until you need to replace that aging notebook (perhaps with a laptop having a longer battery life).
I've also included a few tips on keeping the battery going longer between charges, so you can work longer without AC power.

Don't Run It Down to Empty
Squeezing every drop of juice out of a lithium ion battery (the type used in today's laptops) strains and weakens it. Doing this once or twice won't kill the battery, but the cumulative effect of frequently emptying your battery will shorten its lifespan.
The good news: You probably can't run down the battery, anyway--at least not without going to a lot of trouble to do so. Most modern laptops are designed to shut down before the battery is empty.
In fact, Vista and Windows 7 come with a setting for just this purpose. To see it, click Start, type power, and select Power Options. Click any one of the Change plan settings links, then the Change advanced power settings link. In the resulting dialog box, scroll down to and expand the Battery option. Then expand Critical battery level. The setting will probably be about 5 percent, which is a good place to leave it.
XP has no such native setting, although your laptop may have a vendor-supplied tool that does the same job.

Keep It Cool
Heat breaks down the battery, and reduces its overall life.
When you use your laptop, make sure the vents are unblocked. Never work with the laptop on pillows or cushions. If possible, put it on a raised stand that allows for plenty of airflow.
Also, clean the vents every so often with a can of compressed air. You can buy this for a few dollars at any computer store. Be sure to follow the directions on the can, and do this only when the notebook is off.

Give It a Rest
If you're going to be working exclusively on AC power for a week or more, remove the battery first.
Otherwise, you'll be wearing out the battery--constantly charging and discharging it--at a time when you don't need to use it at all. You're also heating it up (see "Keep It Cool," above).
You don't want it too empty when you take it out. An unused battery loses power over time, and you don't want all the power to drain away, so remove it when it's at least half-charged.
Never remove the battery while the computer is on, or even in standby or sleep mode; doing so will crash your system and possibly damage your hardware. Even inserting a battery into a running laptop can damage the system. So only remove or reinsert the battery when the laptop is completely off or hibernating.
If you've never removed your laptop battery and don't know how, check your documentation. (If you don't have it, you can probably find it online.) The instructions generally involve turning the laptop upside-down and holding down a button while you slide out the battery.

2013年5月10日星期五

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How do I Choose the Correct Laptop Adapter?

Choosing the correct laptop adapter is all a matter of voltage, output power, and proper connection. If all of these things do not match the original specifications of your computer, than a new laptop adapter will likely not work on your machine and may potentially cause a lot of damage. In the end, most replacement adapters will have a list of computers they are compatible with.
The first thing to consider for the laptop adapter is the voltage. The easiest way to check this is to turn the computer over and see if there is a voltage listed anywhere on the bottom of the machine. A sticker may be affixed with this information and other similar laptop specs listed. It should be a number with a V attached to it, such as 19.5V. This information is also available on the original adapter, if it is available.
The second thing to look for is the current output needed for the laptop adapter. This number will have an A of mA associated with it. For example, it may say something like 4.7A or 950mA. These numbers ensure that the power going to your machine will be acceptable and keep it operating within normal parameters. Not paying attention to either of these numbers could cause the electrical systems in the computer to malfunction and quit working altogether.
Once these two issues have been settled, the other important step is simply to make sure the connection fits the port in your computer where it is to be plugged in. The voltage and output current of the laptop adapter will not matter if it is not able to be connected. If ordering online or if you do not have your computer, it is advisable to check this out as soon as possible.
Many may choose the safest route possible and go with a replacement laptop adapter directly from the manufacturer, if available. While this is a good option, these parts may be more expensive than others that may be available from after-market manufacturers. Further, as long as the numbers match, all should work nearly the same and be just as safe and effective.
Another thing to consider is whether you want anAC laptop adapter or DC adapter. An ACadapter is made to be plugged into any standard electrical outlet such as those in a home or office. The DC adapter is made for automobile use.
Typically, laptop adapter can be found for sale anywhere computer accessories or laptop batteries are sold. Though the price will depend on the model and manufacturer, most tend to run between $40 US Dollars (USD) and $100 USD. They are also available from many online retailers as well.

Extending Notebook Battery Life

Keep Your Battery Going with PowerPlus

PowerPlus is a technology offered on Samsung notebooks designed to let you discharge and recharge your laptop battery up to 1,000 times. That’s better than three times the longevity of a standard laptop battery, which typically wears out after 300 cycles and three years of daily use.

Most battery damage occurs when the cells inside are at or near capacity. That’s because batteries get a bit hot under the collar when they max out their charge at 100 percent. This heat causes the delicate structures within to start to break down, which ultimately makes the battery less capable of holding a charge. Eventually capacity drops to the point where the battery won’t hold a charge at all and it has to be replaced.
PowerPlus works to avoid this problem by keeping your battery properly conditioned, thanks to a set of technologies that helps prevent this kind of damage to the delicate electronics inside.

Battery Life Extender

One of the key features of PowerPlus is a simple setting you’ll find on your Samsung laptop called Battery Life Extender. You’ll find Battery Life Extender under the Samsung folder, inside “All Programs” in your Start menu. Here you’ll find the option to either leave your battery in Normal mode (which lets the battery charge to 100 percent of its capacity) or engage the Battery Life Extender mode, which caps the charge at 80 percent.
Battery Life Extender helps keep the battery from overcharging and overheating, which protects it from being damaged. The result is a battery that keeps on going for years. And of course, it’s an option you can turn off or on at any time. If you find you need a little extra juice for a long flight, the setting can always be returned to Normal mode, giving you full access to 100 percent of the battery’s capacity.

The Green Connection

Keeping your battery in good condition doesn’t just save you money, it also helps the environment, as fewer batteries end up in landfills—and fewer batteries have to be created to replace them.
PowerPlus is a good first step in an energy efficient computing strategy, but you can do even more. You can prolong your battery life, and reduce the number of recharges it requires, by taking a few simple steps to prepare your laptop to minimize its power consumption. For example:
  • Change your laptop’s “power plan” (in the bottom right corner) to the “Energy Saver” profile when it’s unplugged
  • Dim your screen to the lowest comfortable brightness setting
  • Shut down unused applications and processes by quitting programs when you don’t need them
  • Turn off Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi when not in use
  • Unplug unused peripherals: USB connections almost always draw power

2013年5月3日星期五

Why Recycle Laptop Batteries

Each year, over three billion dry cell batteries are sold throughout the United States. What happens to each one of those batteries when they run out of juice? Well, that’s something that each of us needs to work on. While the recycling of laptop battery is becoming more and more common by the day, we still have a long way to go. Here we’ve answered three very important questions that exist when it comes to the recycling of batteries.
WHY do I need to recycle old laptop batteries?
According to Adria Vasil’s book Ecoholic- 50% to 70% of heavy metals found in landfills come from our everyday batteries. That’s 50% to 70%! Because batteries disposed of in municipal landfills and trash incinerators can disperse significant amounts of heavy metals and other toxic substances into the air and water, battery waste prevention and recycling strategies are essential.
Laptop batteries make up a significant part of that 50% to 70% of heavy metals in landfills. And while most manufacturers are taking great steps in producing new types of eco-friendly batteries, it’s important to remember that laptop batteries and computer batteries should never, ever be thrown in the trash.
HOW should I recycle my laptop batteries?
It’s safe to say that most people are beginning to recognize how important it is to recycle laptop battery and keep them out of our landfills. The easy part about all of this is that you really don’t have to much when it’s time to discard a used up laptop battery. In fact, all you have to do is contact your local recycling facility for more information on how to dispose of your used computer batteries properly.

How to Extend the Life of a Laptop Battery

1.Remove the battery pack from the laptop if you do not use your laptop for extended            periods of time (a week or more).
2.Do not expose the battery to high heat. Do not leave your battery in your car in the summer.Hot batteries discharge very quickly.
3.Plug your laptop charger adapter into a UPS and not directly into a power outlet or surge protector.
4.If you have a nickel-metal hydride battery, completely drain and recharge the battery once a month to maximize its capacity to hold a charge.
5.Fully charge new battery packs before use. A new battery needs to be fully charged and discharged (cycled) a few times before it can condition to full capacity.
6.For laptops that work as a desktop replacement, reinstall the battery every 3-4 weeks and allow it to discharge fully .
7.Do not leave a battery in a laptop while using an electrical outlet for long periods of time. This will keep the battery in a constant state of charging up and that will reduce the life cycle of the battery.
8.Adjust screen brightness. If you use Windows on your laptop, there is a Power Options option in Control Panel that helps you optimize power usage. You can set the laptop to become inactive when not in use for quite some time. It is also possible to adjust the display brightness on the laptop. This may allow prolonged battery life.
9.Program Overload. Run only the programs you are using at the time of use. Programs that run in the background use more system resources and drain laptop battery life.
10.Keep a spare battery: A good idea is to have a spare battery. Batteries are affordable these days and easily purchased online from electronics sites. Have at least one fully charged at all times for a quick battery change. Some laptops can run with two batteries. Some laptops are also compatible with external batteries that can be easily added when necessary.