Colored Laptops

Laptops used to be alien territory to me, but when my son’s college assignments required a more mobile, high-spec computer (and moneymaking opportunities came my way), my search for laptops began.

After visiting a reputable PC store and following a quick rundown of features of laptops, I lost no time and purchased a reasonably priced laptop. However, my son was soon downloading games. My work also kept me continually using our new laptop.

Laptops are wonderful things. You switch them on and they work. Imagine my dismay when we switched ours on and it wouldn’t start. The battery was drained. After hours of using cable power the laptop still did not work. A quick examination showed that the battery had started to leak after only four months of use. For us, laptops lost their charm for a while. How different it would have been if we had taken proper care of the battery.

Seasoned users of laptops recommend many ways of extending the battery life. Batteries for laptops vary in their chemical makeup and the care needed. Always check the product manual. Remember to remove unused USB and external devices, such as webcams or Wi-Fi, if plugged in, because these still consume energy.

Multiple programs running at the same time on laptops may add to the CPU load, thus requiring more power from the battery, so it is wise to reduce these. Emailing and word processing on laptops will consume less power than playing online games or playing a DVD. It is wise to add more RAM, instead of depending on the virtual memory of laptops. When looking for laptops, try to search for those with more power-efficient features and longer lasting batteries.

Fully charging and then fully discharging the battery every two to three weeks may preserve the battery life. Some users suggest that if laptops are just used at home, it is better to take the battery out and use AC power instead.

A 40 percent charge is recommended for dormant batteries but don’t leave a charged battery dormant for long periods. Some users advise that, after charging, the battery should be used at least once every two to three weeks.

A user with experience of laptops claimed that his 3-year-old battery still lasts up to three-and-a-half hours. He stores the battery 40 % charged and reverts to AC power. Every month, he discharges the battery to 5 %, recharges it to 100 %, and discharges it back to 40 %. Indeed, there are different tricks for different laptops, but in the end, it’s all a matter of taking proper care of your battery.