Windows 7 and Laptop Battery Life

You may have heard by now that Microsoft is preparing to launch their next generation of operating system for PC’s called Windows 7. The launch date is October 22, 2009 and many people are excited for the release, claiming this version of Windows to be the best in many years. The new OS comes with no shortage of new features such as user interface enhancements, speed increases, easier hardware requirements, etc. However, one of the more interesting bits of information about Windows 7 to come down the pipeline is its effect on laptop battery life.

Independent studies have shown that the Windows 7 operating system will increase laptop battery life by an average of 11%. Some have even seen increases up to 20%. When portable use is a necessity, as it is for many people using laptops and notebooks, these increases are welcome and in need. Microsoft claims their new OS consumes less power by applying technology to decrease power consumption caused by common tasks such as watching movies. They also cite the fact that Windows 7 does a better job of alerting a user about their battery status, allowing the user to plug in to a power source before the battery dies completely. Finally, automatic adjustments of screen brightness, processor speed, cooling policies, etc. have been in previous versions of windows and are in 7 as well, allowing even more power saving ability.

If you do plan to upgrade your laptop or notebook to Windows 7, there are a few details you should be aware of. First, Windows 7, like many versions before it, will not necessarily feature every driver you need for your computer. For example, some older laptops and notebooks need certain drivers for the screen in order to enable Windows 7’s screen dimming features. If these drivers are not included and are not installed separately, battery life may not be as good as it should be. Also, while most notebook battery drivers are supported and included by Windows 7, if you happen to have a battery that is not supported, you will need to run off of the laptop AC adapter. Second, as always, there are ways you can make Windows 7 perform even better in terms of battery life. You can turn off fancy UI features and animations, perform one task at a time rather than multitasking, keep you volume and screen brightness levels at a minimum, etc. Fine tuning your laptop settings can have a significant impact on battery consumption.

Finally, if you try everything you can and still do not get the desired life out of your laptop battery with Windows 7, it may be time to replace the battery itself. All batteries die eventually, and replacing your battery may be the only way to get the portable power you need or want. Since aftermarket batteries are fully compatible and come with a warranty in most cases, they are usually the smart choice, especially for older laptops and notebooks with hard to find batteries. If you really need more juice, consider upgrading to an extended life battery, where a slight increase in cost can mean a huge increase in runtime.