Love your laptop

Freedom from the mains
It’s not just performance within Windows that can deteriorate over time. A regular complaint about aging laptops, and even many new ones, is poor battery life. Before deciding to buy a new battery, though, it’s best to make sure you’re using your current one to its full potential.

Both XP and Vista come with battery management software built in, so when unplugged from the mains they should automatically switch to less power-hungry settings. For example, the screen will dim and switch off quicker, hard disks will stop spinning unless they have to and, in some cases, the actual speed of the laptop’s processor will slow down to conserve battery life.

Although Windows does a good job of reducing power consumption away from the mains, you can push it a little further. In both XP and Vista, power settings can be adjusted using the Power Options tool ­ find this by clicking Start, then opening the Control Panel. In Vista, there are three plans listed. Click on the ‘Change plan settings’ link under the Power Saver plan and then click ‘Change advanced power settings’.

From here it’s possible to squeeze out extra battery life by adjusting all manner of settings, including display brightness and how quickly the hard disk should shut down during periods of non-use. Spend some time adjusting these settings and your battery will thank you for it. Windows XP users will find even more power-saving tips here.

Wireless woes
Aside from Windows’ built-in power management, there are various other tricks to increasing the battery life of a laptop. Wireless networking is one of the biggest consumers of battery power, so switch it off when it’s not needed. Some laptops have a dedicated wireless switch, while others require you to press two keys on the keyboard together ­ check the laptop’s manual, or look for an anten na icon on the keyboard.

Those running Vista can increase battery life further by downloading a small free application called Vista Battery Saver. When installed this tool will, among other things, automatically disable the Aero interface and Sidebar tool whenever the laptop is disconnected from the mains. It won’t work wonders, but it can provide a few precious extra minutes of battery life.

Another tip is to make sure there isn’t a CD or DVD in the laptop’s optical drive when away from the mains. If there’s a disc in there the computer will spin it whenever you access Windows Explorer, which causes quite a drain on the battery.

Although these measures can help, the amount of energy a laptop battery can hold will, over time, reduce. If your laptop is several years old and the battery is underperforming then a new one could help, but be sure to pick one that’s approved to work with your specific laptop model. Be sure to avoid suspiciously cheap replacements, too: poorly manufactured batteries can be a hazard. The best place to start your hunt for a new laptop battery is the laptop manufacturer’s website. Most will offer replacement batteries or, if not, advise on where to buy approved models. They’re not cheap, though, and can cost anything from £50 to well over £100.

Added extras
Another common complaint about laptops is that, over time, they lack the features found in newer computers ­ webcams, TV tuners and the like. Fortunately, this is simple to fix. There are hundreds of tools that can be connected to your computer via a USB port, adding all kinds of extra functions: add a TV tuner, for example, and you can convert the laptop into both a TV and a personal video recorder. Pick a model such as the £79 Ci nergy DT USB XS Diversity from Terratec and its two digital tuners mean you’ll be able to watch one Freeview channel while recording another.

Other popular USB add-ons include webcams for live video chats and mobile broadband adapters for high-speed web surfing when out and about ­ all of which can be added and removed without the need to shut the laptop down.

Along with USB ports, most laptops have other ways to connect peripherals. Look down the side of your laptop and you should see a long, thin slot ­ this will either be a PC Card slot or the newer Express Card slot, and either one allows you to plug in extra devices. You’ll find a complete guide to these expansion slots ­ along with how to identify which is used on your laptop ­ here.