Making Your Notebook Computer's Battery Last

One of the biggest problems that notebook computer users have is battery life. Most of the notebooks that are in the market last about two to five hours and then off! After that it is time to hit the sockets and charge your notebook. This rather short battery life can be a real hassle. The good news is that you can extend this without having to carry another battery pack with you.

Go Low in Lighting - do you really have the need to turn up the lights on your screen? Unless the place you are using your notebook computer at is really dark you should dim your brightness. Having your monitor on full lighting can eat up a lot of your battery life.Let it Hibernate - many computer users allow their systems to stand by when not in use. While this saves a bit of power, it can still consume energy. A better option is to let your notebook hibernate. You will save a lot more battery energy since it will shut the system down when not in use. An added benefit is that you keep the system running better by allowing it to rest in between use.Do Not Overload on Programs - keep in mind that the more things you run on your notebook computer the more battery energy it consumes. Go through the applications and programs that are running on the background and turn off what is not needed. At the same time avoid running several programs at the same time. With less functions running and less multitasking your system's battery can last longer.Keep Things Cool - making sure that your computer does not overheat is an important factor. When heat accumulates in a computer system it tends to run slower. In turn this uses up more energy from your battery. Make sure that things stay cool by keeping air vents clean and using a cooling pad. This is especially true if you are planning on using it for an extended period of time.Cut Down on Resolution - if you do not have a need to use your computer for viewing images at high res or playing games then consider lowering the resolution of the monitor. Keeping this up can really eat into your battery energy. Some video cards consume as much power as a hard drive does. If you are simply typing and doing work on notebook computers this really won't affect the functionality of your tasks.

Richard McMillan is a recognised expert in the field of technology. For over 15 years he has been in the computer and electronics industry. During this time he has gained a reputation for his knowledge and insights.

Richard is part of the Computer.com.au team - a comparison shopping site that simplifies the online shopping experience while saving you time and money.

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Article Submitted On: March 12, 2011