9 Tips to Extend Laptop Battery Life

9 Tips to Extend Laptop Battery Life

Recently we published a post on buying a laptop or desktop computer. The primary reason you would consider buying a laptop is for its portability.

Sure, a laptop could be plugged in all the time… but if that were the case, you really would get more value from buying a desktop computer.

Of course, the downside to portability is that laptops run on a battery with a limited amount of power.

If you are looking to extend laptop battery life, here are nine tips that ought to do the trick.

1. Enable Power Saving Mode

Most laptops are designed with some sort of power saving function. By enabling it, your system will instantaneously trade off some its power in exchange for preserving the life of your battery.

2. Disable Unused Features

You can extend battery life by disabling features you are not currently using. A few examples include:

  • Devices connected by USB
  • External hard drives
  • WiFi and Bluetooth

Any time a hardware component is in use, it kills your battery faster.

3. Decrease Brightness & Volume

Extend laptop battery life by diminishing the brightness of your screen. Most laptops are designed with hot keys to do this. After all, the display on your laptop drains the battery rather quickly at full brightness.

You may also wish to consider muting the volume. Playing sounds through your laptop speakers will also cause your battery life to drain faster.

4. Close Programs

If you are not currently using a program, close it. Be sure to fully shut it down through the Task Manager.

Take a peek at the programs loaded in your System Tray, as well. Those minimized programs may be draining a lot of system resources on the back end. As a result, your laptop battery dies faster.

5. Do One Thing at a Time

Sure, you might like having a dozen browser tabs open, working in Excel, streaming live music, all while uploading a new video to YouTube… but the reality is that multitasking drains your battery exponentially faster than doing one activity at a time.

If you really want to extend your laptop battery life, only use it to complete the most important task you need done now.

6. Clean Your Battery

If you have a laptop with a removable battery, odds are that dust and debris collect in its enclosure. Every so often, take the battery out to wipe it down with a dry cloth. It is a good idea to clean the contacts while you are at it.

7. Store Your Laptop in a Cool Environment

Heat can permanently weaken the charge your battery is able to hold. Clean the laptop fan regularly so that it can keep your machine cool, and be sure to store your laptop somewhere away from excessive heat.

8. Let Your Battery Die

Every so often, let your laptop battery completely die, and then give it a full charge with the power left off. This has been shown to extend laptop battery life.

9. Contact a Professional

After following the strategies list here, do you still find that your laptop battery dies faster than it should?

Are you considering purchasing a second battery for emergencies?

Would you be open to upgrading some of your hardware components to improve the overall efficiency – and battery life – of your laptop?

If so, contact our team at Target PC Repair. We have years of experience solving laptop battery issues in the Cleveland area.

Choosing Between a Laptop or Desktop Computer

Choosing Between a Laptop or Desktop Computer

If you’re in the market for a new computer, you may be trying to choose between buying a laptop or desktop.

Before you decide to purchase either, have a look at this list of factors to consider.

Portability

If you need a computer that can easily be transported from one location to the next, there is no contest between a laptop or desktop; you obviously need a laptop.

This is especially true when you consider weight.

Cost

For the same money you would spend on a laptop, you could get much a more powerful desktop computer.

Or, if you are working within the constraints of a limited budget, you could get a functional desktop for far less money than a laptop.

Connectivity

When it comes to connectivity, choosing a laptop or desktop is close to a draw.

Sure, a desktop is virtually always in a location that gets internet access. But thanks to wireless cards, you can get internet connectivity from a number of different locations.

Space

A desktop computer will take up more space than a laptop. If you do not have a desk, or a proper place to set up a desktop computer, you would be best to choose a laptop.

Ports & Drives

Few laptops are made with CD-ROM drives anymore, although this may not be an issue for you. A laptop is also likely to have less ports. If functionality and flexibility is an issue, a desktop computer is best for you.

Screen Size

What will you be using your new computer for?

If it is simply intended for word processing and web browsing, a laptop may do the trick. A 15″ or 17″ screen would be adequate. In fact, you could even choose a smaller netbook option and still perform those operations.

If, however, you intend to work with larger video files, do any kind of design work, or play games, it is easier to connect one, two, or even three different high resolution monitors to a desktop.

Granted, you could connect a monitor to a laptop, but that would eliminate the key benefit of portability.

Comfort

If ergonomics are a factor, it will be much more comfortable to work on a desktop than a laptop.

You can easily position its keyboard, monitor, and mouse to be more comfortable.

Laptops, on the other hand, vary significantly in terms of their keyboard layouts and trackpads.

Furthermore, it can be difficult to set up your laptop in such a position that you can comfortably view the monitor while typing… unless, of course, you intend to use it at a desk.

Accidents

Since laptops tend to be transported more often than desktops, they are more prone drops, spills, and other accidents. If you are the clumsy type, it might be best to stick with a desktop computer.

Upgrades

When choosing between a laptop or desktop, give some thought to long-term use. It is much easier to upgrade hardware components in a desktop than a laptop.

The same goes for repairing or replacing particular parts.

Theft

A laptop is much more likely to get stolen than a desktop computer.

Laptop or Desktop – Which One Wins?

When it comes to space and portability, laptops definitely win. If you are working within a very small space, or you often need to take your computer with you, choose a laptop.

In virtually every other scenario, desktop computers are the better choice.

Just don’t forget to have any upgrades or maintenance performed by Target PC Repair!