Understanding the Battery of Your Laptop

Unlike desktop computers, mobile laptops are battery-powered. Laptop computers provide a recharging mechanism for the computer battery when the computer is plugged in.

How long a mobile computer can run on its battery is very important to users because this determines how long the computer can be used without plugging it into an electric socket. The ability to work without network wires, thanks to Wi-Fi, is kind of undermined if you have to plug into a standard electrical outlet just to get power.

Many factors go into laptop battery life, including the kind of battery used, the power drawn by the CPU, and the power needs of the computer’s peripherals. This is an area to investigate carefully before you buy your laptop, based on your needs. So review battery life specifications carefully before you buy.

Some CPUs, such as the Pentium M (sold under the Centrino brand name) from Intel Corporation and the Crusoe from Transmeta Corporation are specially designed to be used in laptops because they have low power draws. (Of course, the CPU isn’t the only laptop component that draws power.) You can check to make sure that the laptop you are considering uses one of the microprocessors specially designed for laptops.

Also, rechargeable batteries do wear out, and are expensive to replace. A tip that helps to extend the life of your rechargeable battery is to make sure to fully charge and fully discharge the battery (by using the laptop) when you first get the laptop.