Notebook Computer Battery Life

Got a laptop? Ever use it running on the battery? Then you probably want to read Tom's Hardware Guide's Squeezing More Life Out of Your Notebook's Battery (parts one and two). Part one should be more helpful to someone who doesn't have a laptop yet and wishes to purchase one, as it talks more about the hardware features. Part two discusses ways to help on a laptop you already have and talks about activities that affect the battery life. Some things should be obvious, like watching a DVD reduces battery life. Other things aren't quite as obvious, such as the fact that more system memory (RAM) actually increases your battery life. This is because the system uses the hard disk to compensate for not having enough memory (the basic end-result of a concept called virtual memory), and the amount of power required to maintain RAM is insignificant compared to the amount of power used by the dark side... er... I mean the hard disk. The end of part two includes a 10 tips to extend battery life list.