Make Your Own Power Plan
Windows laptops include a few preset power plans for maximizing battery
life, but you can also customize your operating system's
power-management features (in Windows XP, under Power Options in the
Control Panel; in Vista, under Mobile PC in the Control Panel). Setting
aggressive targets for when the display turns off and when the machine
goes into sleep or hibernate mode will help your battery last longer.
Limit Your Connection
When you aren't actively using your notebook's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WWAN,
or other wireless connections, turn the radios off (via the hard
switch, if your PC has one, or using the appropriate utility), so they
don't run down the battery while they keep searching for a signal.
Also, use USB-attached devices sparingly while you're mobile.
Track it down
Thousands of laptops are reported stolen every year. Our advice?
Prepare for the worst by investing in tracking software like Absolute
Software's Lojack for Laptops, CyberAngel Security, or the free TheLaptopLock.
These utilities can pinpoint a registered notebook's location once it
connects to the Web, increasing your chances of recovering your system.
Dim the display
A laptop's biggest
battery-life-sucking component is its LCD display. To eke out more
juice when you're off the plug, turn down your panel's brightness to
the lowest level your eyes can stand. Most notebooks have a Function
key combo—or even a dedicated hot key—for a quick crank-down. (You can
also adjust brightness in Display Settings under Control Panel.)
Keep It Cool
Thanks to their small, cramped cases and tiny vents, laptops are prone
to overheating. Unfortunately, using your notebook on your lap—or on
top of a blanket that protects your lap from your scalding-hot
notebook—can seriously stifle ventilation and make matters worse. To
help keep temperatures in check, opt for a lap desk or a laptop cooling
pad that won't conduct heat or block your laptop's vents.
Back Up Everything
Constant movement puts computer components at risk, and because of
their portability, laptops suffer a lot more wear and tear than
desktops. All of that on-the-go use increases the risk of hard drive
failure, so make sure you back up the data on your laptop to an
external hard drive, thumb drive, or home server on a regular basis.
Portable hard drives like the Western Digital Passport Elite make it
easy to back up your data on the road.
Cover Your Keyboard
Keep liquids away from laptops at all times. That rule often gets
broken, of course, and accidents happen. Should that accident end up on
your laptop's keyboard, however, you could end up with more than just a
mess: Liquids that seep through your notebook's keys can fry its
components. Protect your notebook from spills with a custom-built,
plastic keyboard cover from ProtecT Laptop Covers.
Buy a Bag
If you plan to carry your notebook with you, the most useful accessory
you can buy is a laptop bag. They're available in a number of styles
and prices; for maximum protection, we recommend investing in a model
with a built-in padded sleeve. If you want something less conspicuous
(thieves have been known to target obvious-looking laptop bags), cover
your laptop in stand-alone sleeve and stow it in your backpack or
briefcase.
Let It Accumulate
When you move your
laptop from a cold to a warm environment, and vice versa, don't boot up
until your system reaches room temperature. Sudden temperature changes
can cause condensation to build up inside the notebook case; turn it on
too quickly, and the moisture could damage your system's inner
components.
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