[lotuseclat79]

How To Charge Your Laptop.

Four essential tips for extending the battery life of your computer, cell phone, and every other gadget.

Good tips!

-- Tom

[midders]

I've heard all sorts of tips regarding optimising battery life over the years. These tips have often been contradictory regarding one battery type, even without the confusion that Nickel-Cadmium, Lithium-Ion, Lithium-Polymer etc. causes.

The above article makes some good general points:
- beware heat
- don't over or under charge
but with regards to removing your laptop battery whilst using mains power; this is great until you move and accidentally pull the cable out of the socket, or there is a power cut, or the cleaner unplugs your power to do the vacuuming!

The most common advice that I've come across regarding modern mobile phones (and other mobile devices) is to keep them well topped up; if you're sitting next to your charger, plug the device in and top it up, even if it's got more than 50% charge remaining.

Modern batteries can last much longer than advertised; I've got one of the original batches of the Motorola V3 Razr with a Lithium Ion battery that still lasts 3-5 days on a single charge.

Slainte

midders