Maximizing your notebook's battery power
97244
Tips to squeeze every last minute of power out of your notebook's battery.
629358
A new "gas gauge" chip for laptop batteries provides much more accurate readouts of time left.
337683
A 7200rpm unit that's as fast as a 10,000rpm job, apparently
627709
Toshiba Corp. will exchange 340,000 notebook computer batteries, which the company said do not pose a fire hazard. but could could cut power to the notebooks, causing users to lose unsaved work
215972
Voltaic Systems shows off a laptop bag with integrated 14-watt panel and battery for charging laptops.
740071
A closer look at some behind-the-scenes tweaks for speeding up page loads, reducing memory drain and making the interface behave the way you want it to.
407627
Dynamic RAM is enjoying a boost in mobile devices, which are hungry for small, cool, power-efficient chips.
614390
New component could allow players small enough to fit in notebook PCs.
407137
Refreshed Centrino laptop platform aims to increase power, energy efficiency, and speed of optimized applications.
526605
Big batteries will fight blackouts and could make renewable power economically viable.
23711
Increasing front-side bus speed from 800 to 1,066 MHz addresses crucial bottleneck in system performance.
579224
At less than two pounds even with the battery pack, the Toshiba unit impressed PC World's reviewer with its versatility and overall performance. It's optimal for a small meeting of up to three people.
189378
Mobile processor is designed for use in thin and light notebooks.
255644
A new jacket with built-in solar modules can charge the batteries of mobile devices while on the go.
696809
Computers with AMD&#39;s Opteron processor will soon be able to take advantage of the same power management technology the company has already built into its laptop and desktop microchips.
637615
Taiwanese&#160;laptop maker Micro-Star International (MSI)&#160;plans to add Turbo-battery mode to a laptop PC aimed at computer gamers later this year in a bid to increase battery life and put out a more environmentally friendly product.The laptop will be the next generation of its G-series, which includes the GX600, a laptop with a button users can press to overclock the microprocessor. The Turbo-overclocking button on the current GX600 will gain a new use on the next generation laptop, Turbo-battery mode.Turbo-battery mode will add 20 percent more life to the battery, said Sam Chem, director of notebook computer sales at MSI, in an interview. The battery on the GX600 lasts for around two hours, so the addition of Turbo-battery mode would increase its power to two and a half hours.Turbo-battery mode only kicks in when a user hits the overclocking button while the battery is being used. When the laptop is plugged in, Turbo-battery mode will not come on.MSI&#39;s GX600 was one of the first laptop PCs to include a button for overclocking. Mobile devices in general aren&#39;t ideal for overclocking because of heat issues. When the microprocessor is prompted to work harder, it gives off far more heat. Desktop PCs are bigger and have more open space, as well as cooling devices such as bigger fans, making them more suitable for overclocking. But mobile devices encase the microprocessor and other hot-running chips and components into a much smaller area. Too much heat from one component can damage other parts.But MSI included new thermal technology in the GX600 to ensure its laptops wouldn&#39;t have a meltdown, Chem said. The result is that computer gamers using the laptop can get more performance for their money out of the microprocessor, which is one of the most expensive parts in a laptop. Overclocking can make a 2GHz microprocessor perform like a 2.4GHz or 2.5GHz microprocessor, he said.The GX600 weighs 2.7 kilograms and carries an Intel microprocessor, Nvidia 8600 graphics, 512MB GDRAM (graphics dynamic RAM), has a 15.4-inch screen and includes a number keypad along with the QWERTY keypad.MSI has been making laptops for three years. The company is also known for its motherboards and graphics cards.
85140
Larry Weber has been a leading force behind the big-screen TV tech. Now he's trying to tame its power consumption.Photos: A history of plasma panels