Why a Netbook's Battery Capacity Matters

When I see or hear about a new netbook in the market, the very first question that pops into my head is "How's the battery?". This is then followed by "What is its processor?" and other questions about the netbook.

The reason why I ask first about the battery is that most netbooks today bear the same specifications - same operating system, same processor (Intel Atom N450 is the latest processor commonly found in netbooks), same hard drive capacity, same RAM (upgradable up to 2 GB usually), etc. 

It is with respect to batteries that they oftentimes differ. Batteries may either be 3-cell or 6-cell. Currently, most netbooks have 6-cell batteries. Most probably, you would not want to get a netbook with 3-cell battery only although they may be a bit cheaper. A 6-cell battery is more advisable to have in a netbook. But take note of this: even among 6-cell batteries, there may be differences in capacities. Some netbooks have 6-cell batteries with 48wh capacity while some netbooks have 6-cell batteries with 63wh capacity. Of course, the latter can run your netbook longer than the former on a single charge. 

Worthy of mentioning here also is the fact that some netbooks offer 9-cell batteries. Ordinarily, this means longer runtime on battery for your netbook. However, this also means an undesirable bulge on your netbook in order to accommodate the 9-cell battery. Some people do not mind this anyway.

For netbooks, the ability to run on a battery for a longer period of time is very essential. Netbooks are meant to be carried around and used anywhere. They are not intended to be desktop replacements and to sit in one corner of your room the whole day.

If you are eyeing a particular netbook, you may want to inquire into how long the netbook can run on a single charge. Some manufacturers claim that their netbook can run for 10, 12, or 14 hours even though their batteries may be of the same capacity. This is due to the fact that netbooks today have built-in programs that allow the users to adjust the way the computer consumes power depending on how the computer is being used on a given occasion.

Once you are already satisfied with the battery, you may then proceed with your other questions about the netbook, especially about those that makes it different from the rest of the species.

MSI CR400 Classic Notebook

MSI CR400 Classic Notebook

MSI release a new classic notebook CR400 with 14-inch LCD display and it has unibody design with 45-degree angles after release MSI CX Series.

MSI CR400 has a large 14-inch high resolution display with 16:9 aspect ratio and 1366 x 768 LED backlighting. It has a 6-cell high capacity battery and the latest GeForce 8200M graphics processor unit. In addition to providing the performance of high-quality display, LED backlighting saves power and increases battery life.

The CR400 notebook from MSI supports 802.11 b/g/n high-speed wireless LAN, and has a Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR, which offers a triple progress in the flow of data. It comes with an integrated 1.3M webcam and microphone to provide a well-organized, real-time communication.

The MSI CR400 is compatible with Windows Vista Home Premium operating system supports Intel Core 2 Duo with Nvidia chipset MCP79MVL. The notebook has a storage capacity up to 4GB and a 2.5″ SATA HDD 250/320/500GB. It also includes a DVD super-multi optical drive with a 4-in-1 card reader that supports SD, MMC, XD and MS.

This post MSI CR400 Classic Notebook brough to by Laptop Review. Visit Gadgets Review for information about gadget and technology

Nokia Booklet 3G

Nokia - the same company that brought us a wide array of high-end mobile phones - has recently released its newest merchandise, the Nokia Booklet 3G. Nokia Booklet 3G, however, is not a mobile phone. It is a mini-laptop or, in our current tech lingo, a netbook.

Nokia fans might have received this with much rejoicing. But, is the Nokia Booklet 3G going to leave an indelible mark in the field of netbooks, which is now filled with competitive brands?

Here is a rundown of its features as mentioned in NokiaUSA.com:

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Operating System: Windows 7 Starter

Body: Aircraft-grade aluminum slim body with super chassis construction

Dimensions: 10.39 x 7.28 (with hinge) x .78 inches (or 2 cm.)

Weight: 44.09 ounces (or 1.25 kg)

CPU and chipset: Intel® Atom™ Z530, 1.6 GHz; Intel® Poulsbo US15W

RAM: 1 GB DDR2

Hard drive: 120 GB

Display: 10.1-inch, 1,280 x 720 pixel display; Glass window

Keyboard: Frame Keyboard (it has a chiclet-style keyboard)

Battery: 56.8 watt hours; up to 12 hours

Connectivity: Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Built-in 3G modem (data calls only): WCDMA 850/1900/2100

I/O ports and slots

- HDMI 1.2 out for HD video

- 3 x USB 2.0

- 3.5 mm headphone out (OMTP: with OMTP headsets also functions as audio in)

- DC-in

- SD card reader

- SIM/USIM slot

Audio and video

- 1.3 megapixel FF camera

- HDMI port for HD video out

- Built-in stereo speakers, and microphone

- Analog audio output/headphone out (with OMTP headsets also functions as audio-in)

Others:

- Accelerometer (motion sensor)

- Integrated GPS and A-GPS

- Ovi Maps application

Colors: Available in Black, Ice, Azure

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Undeniably, this is a feature-filled netbook. The looks of it alone can send its competitors running away and back to their drawing boards. It is very sleek, good-looking, thin, and light. Aside from those, it has its own SIM Card Slot. This is then a cross between a PC and a mobile phone. It has the power of a PC but the mobility and connectivity of a mobile phone.

One thing that I found very attractive about it other than its general appearance is its amazing battery life. Nokia claims that the netbook can run for 12 hours on its battery alone thereby dispensing with the need to carry the charger all the time. Well, 12 hours translates roughly to about 10 hours in real-world situation or use. Nonetheless, 10 hours of use - unplugged - is still amazing.

The price? As of press time, Nokia USA attached a price tag of $599 to the Nokia Booklet 3G. In my opinion, that is quite a hefty price for a netbook.

The price is a big turn-off for me. At the moment, you can get very good netbooks at a price even lower than $400. I admit that the Nokia Booklet 3G looks really cool but I would still go for ASUS Eee PC 1005HA, which remains my personal favorite because of its [also] long battery life (10.5 hours) and functionality. It is also way more affordable at the price of $349.99 or even less. I don't think that the extra $250 you would have to pay for the Nokia Booklet 3G is all worth it.

5 Ways to Prolong the Life of your Notebook/Netbook Battery

For what good is a notebook or a netbook when its battery is crap? Forgive me for using that word but that is just the way it is.

The reason why notebook and, just recently, netbook computers were created is portability. Portability here does not only mean ease of carrying it around but also convenience in using it wherever you are, especially when there is nowhere to plug your notebook or netbook into.

Batteries are undoubtedly very important in a notebook or a netbook.

Most laptops nowadays have lithium-ion batteries and they allow for 500 cycles, more or less, depending on the capacity of the battery. One cycle consists of a charge/recharge and a discharge.

Eventually, batteries will die. A concrete example of this is the battery of my old notebook computer. On a full charge, it used to be able to run the notebook for several hours. Few months after, it started to give me only 30 minutes, then 10, and now that notebook computer cannot anymore be used unplugged. So much for portability, eh? I cannot anymore carry it around even though it is light because I would always have to look for a place with power sockets to plug it into.

Yes, it is a fact that the capacity of your notebook battery will diminish each day. However, there are ways of prolonging its life. Here are 5 ways:

1. Almost no one reads user's manuals these days. Maybe you have to go against this trend and start reading the user's manual included in your purchase of your notebook or netbook. It will tell you when to fully discharge your battery. I have read some manuals (no, it is not my hobby) stating that the user should let the battery fully discharge at least once a month or after several cycles - usually 30 cycles. This is necessary in calibrating the fuel gauge of your battery and in order to keep it accurate.

2. You do not need to always use or drain the battery until it is fully discharged. In fact, this will put more strain on the battery. Do it only as stated in the manual or once a month or after every 30 cycles, as the case may be. You should recharge the battery as soon as it alerts you that its battery level is already low - mostly when the level is only 10%.

3. If you intend to use your notebook computer plugged, you may remove the battery. As soon as the notebook computer is plugged into a power socket, the notebook is going to start recharging the battery if the battery is connected. This means the start of a new cycle. You can prolong a cycle by removing it when the computer will be plugged anyway, except when you will be charging the battery. However, if you are going to use your notebook as a desktop replacement - that is, you will be keeping it plugged for a longer period of time, say for several weeks or even months- you might as well store the battery in a cool, dry place at 40% level of charge. It was shown that it is at this level that the battery's capacity will not diminish the most when on a prolonged storage. In case of a prolonged storage, it is advisable that the battery be kept inside a sealed plastic bag to protect it from dust and moisture.

4. When running the notebook or netbook on its battery, activate the power-saving mode. This will exert less strain on the battery. While we are on this, let me also remind you not to use too many programs at the same time when your computer is running on its battery to avoid exerting too much strain on its battery. Disable some programs, adjust the screen brightness, and disconnect external hardwares, if convenient.

5. Avoid overheating the battery. Heat affects the battery pack. Likewise, do not put your notebook or netbook under direct sunlight or in hot places.

These are but few of the things that you can do to prolong the life of your notebook's or netbook's battery. These are very simple tips to consider and follow but the reward is great. Surely, you do not want to shell out money to replace a battery that you have only been using for few months.

Netbook or Notebook? What to Buy?

If you are planning to buy a computer (other than a desktop), you might be confronted with the question, "Which one do I buy - a netbook or a notebook?"

First, what is a netbook? A netbook is a type of laptop computer that is smaller and lighter than a regular notebook, but has a slower processor. Traditionally, in terms of the size of the display, netbooks have less than 12 inches of display. Well, this is a very generic definition so I guess it is best to find out how the manufacturer calls its particular product - whether they call it a netbook or a notebook.

However, with the latest developments in computing technology, some features which are originally found only in notebooks are now starting to be seen on netbooks, and vice versa.

Now, as to which one to buy, your choice should be guided by what you are going to use the computer for. If you intend to run "heavy" programs, go for a notebook. But if it's portability you are looking for, the obvious choice is the netbook.

There are so many sites giving more detailed distinctions between the two, but allow me to list down some of the aspects you may want to look into before making a choice:

1. Processor Speed

Netbooks have slower processors than do notebooks. As of today, most netbooks have Intel Atom N280 which is only capable giving 1.66 GHz, which works well on netbooks. On the other hand, notebook computers can have processors capable of more than 2 Ghz. So if you need a computer for photo and video editing, AutoCad, or other programs requiring more powerful processors, avoid buying a netbook. But if you will only use your computer for regular office programs, web browsing, and chatting, netbooks are the perfect choice (watching videos and listening to music are, of course, also possible in netbooks).

2. Display

Needless to say, notebooks have larger displays than netbooks. However, this does not mean that smaller displays are not good. In fact, they work just fine. It all boils down to your preference.

3. Keyboard Size

As with the display, keyboard size on notebooks is better than that found on netbooks - and by better, I meant larger and easier to type on. However, newer netbooks offer good-sized keyboard which people can easily get accustomed to (such as that on Dell Inspiron Mini 10 or Samsung NC10). The choice is up to you. The bottomline is ease and comfort.

4. Storage

A regular netbook in the market today only has 160 GB of storage (hard drive) compared to a much larger size in notebooks. A netbook's 160 GB is ordinarily sufficient for all your office files and music and some videos; but if you expect to save a lot of "big" files over time, 160 GB might not be enough.

5. Memory (RAM)

At present, I have not heard of netbooks that can be equipped with more than 2GB of memory. You won't be needing more than 2GB of RAM for regular office programs and web browsing. Notebooks can have as high as 4GB of RAM (or 8 maybe?).

6. Disc Drive

Netbooks do not have disc drives. However, you can install programs directly from the Internet or by using a USB flash drive.

7. Battery

A lot of netbooks now can run for more than 6 hours on battery on a single charge (Asus EEE PC 1005ha claims 10.5 hours). Notebooks, on the other hand, as they consume more power, can run on battery for maybe up to 5 hours (6-cell battery being the basis). Nevertheless, as I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, there are now features that are appearing both in netbooks and notebooks, which features were originally found only in either of them. Battery life is one of these features. There are now notebooks that can run for about 8 hours or so (Toshiba Portege T130 claims 11 hours of battery life!), as claimed by the manufacturers. Take note, nonetheless, that manufacturers oftentimes quote the maximum number of hours the computer can run on battery - that is, the computer running under maximum battery-saving mode. In real-world situations, however, these claims are higher by, more or less, 2 hours.

8. Portability

Netbooks win in this aspect over notebooks. But, again, this feature is becoming less exclusive in favor of netbooks considering that there are now ultra-light and ultra-thin notebooks in the market, just like MSI X600

There you have it!

As a final note, we cannot categorically say that a netbook is better than a notebook, or the other way around. It will all depend on the purpose the computer is going to serve... or your reason for buying a computer in the first place. Before buying a notebook or a netbook computer, analyze first your needs and choose the one that suits it.

Good luck on buying a netbook or a notebook (or both?)

[I personally recommend ASUS EEE PC 1005ha for a netbook if your primary concern is the length of time you can use the netbook unplugged. It has an excellent battery life by current standards.]

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