Laptops Power to the people: CNET's guide to laptop batteries Dying for more juice? We'll help you extend your laptop's battery life or choose an external battery to do the job.
By Brian Nadel (April 5, 2004) | 
| The simple fact of laptop life is that notebooks simply don't run as long on their batteries as they should--even long-lived notebooks, such as the IBM ThinkPad X31, last only 8 hours on two batteries. So, what can you do if you'd like to boost your battery life by anywhere from 4 to 10 hours?
One of your best options is an external laptop battery made by a third-party company. These devices weigh between 1.6 and 3.3 pounds and range in cost from $150 to $500. In some cases, they can also power your cell phone or handheld device.
If you don't mind lugging a few extra pounds, these batteries are easy to use because they simply plug into the notebook's AC power port and require no software. To gauge how well external batteries can get you through a long flight or a day at the beach, we rounded up four of the most-popular batteries and subjected them to a high-impact workout in CNET Labs. Pack one of these, and you'll never look at a wall outlet the same way again.
But there's more to extending battery life than simply shelling out cash. To help you make smart decisions about the laptops you buy and the way you use them, we also demystify the various battery technologies and examine the fuel cell technology that might power your next laptop. We also give you 10 tips for getting the most out of your notebook's current battery, along with a glossary of key terms. We can't make a battery last forever, but we can help ensure that you get the most out of every electron.
Here's why lithium-ion batteries are the current power kings.
Batteries vs. fuel cells | |
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Power and performance
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Ten tips for the power hungry
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Glossary: how a battery works
Get the scoop on how and why the electrons flow and learn the key battery terms.
Brian Nadel is a 21-year veteran of technology journalism. He also has worked for PC Magazine, Business Tokyo, Popular Science, and NBC Radio News.
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