Tag: Hardware

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – September 23rd, 2014

Life doesn’t always provide a place to plug in when you’re on the go. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help get the most battery life out of your Windows laptop.

Here’s a quick rundown on the 5 tips shared with Wills & Snyder in the Morning on WTAM 1100 Newsradio.

Keep Updated – Software updates not only help keep your computer safe, they can also fix issues with apps that aren’t behaving correctly and chewing up battery life. If you continuously have issues with your PC, don’t forget to check for driver updates at the manufacturer’s support site, including updates to the BIOS that can help with the charging system.

Check Your Power Settings – Windows allows you to configure when the screen and computer go to sleep, helping to save battery life when the computer is left on. Check that these settings are set optimally for how you use your device by visiting Control Panel, then Hardware and Sound, then Power Options.

Dim the Screen – One of the biggest battery drains on most devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops, is the screen. Dimming the display can significantly improve battery life. Change your screen settings on Windows 8 by bringing up the Charms bar, then Settings, where the brightness will be displayed towards the bottom.

Turn Off Bluetooth – Most new laptops come with a Bluetooth radio built-in. Even if no Bluetooth devices are connected to the laptop, this radio will draw from the battery. Turn it off when not needed.

Disconnect USB Devices – Every USB device attached to your laptop uses a small portion of your power, including USB flash drives. If you don’t need it currently, disconnect that device. Keep in mind that connecting your smartphone to the laptop will allow access to the files, but will also drain battery life as the phone charges itself off the laptop.