How to prolong lithium-based batteries

   Battery research is focusing heavily on lithium chemistries, so
much so that one could presume that all portable devices will be
powered with lithium-ion acer batteries in the future. In many ways,
lithium-ion is superior to nickel and lead-based chemistries and
the applications for lithium-ion batteries are growing as a result.



Lithium-ion has not yet fully matured and is being improved continuously.
New metal and chemical combinations are being tried every six months
to increase energy density and prolong service life. The improvements
in longevity after each change will not be known for a few years.


A lithium-ion battery provides 300-500 discharge/charge cycles.
The battery prefers a partial rather than a full discharge. Frequent
full discharges should be avoided when possible. Instead, charge
the sony vgp-bps9a/b battery more often or use a larger battery. There is no concern
of memory when applying unscheduled charges.



Although lithium-ion is memory-free in terms of performance deterioration,
vgp-bps9/s batteries with fuel gauges exhibit what engineers refer to as "digital
memory". Here is the reason: Short discharges with subsequent
recharges do not provide the periodic calibration needed to synchronize
the fuel gauge with the battery's state-of-charge. A deliberate
full discharge and recharge every 30 charges corrects this problem.
Letting the battery run down to the cut-off point in the equipment
will do this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly
less accurate. (Read more in 'Choosing the right battery for portable
computing', Part Two.)



Aging of lithium-ion is an issue that is often ignored. A lithium-ion
battery in use typically lasts between 2-3 years. The capacity loss
manifests itself in increased internal resistance caused by oxidation.
Eventually, the cell resistance reaches a point where the pack can
no longer deliver the stored energy although the vgp-bps9/b battery may still
have ample charge. For this reason, an aged vgp-bps9 battery can be kept
longer in applications that draw low current as opposed to a function
that demands heavy loads. Increasing internal resistance with cycle
life and age is typical for cobalt-based lithium-ion, a system that
is used for cell phones, cameras and laptops because of high energy
density. The lower energy dense manganese-based lithium-ion, also
known as spinel, maintains the internal resistance through its life
but loses capacity due to chemical decompositions. Spinel is primarily
used for power tools.



The speed by which lithium-ion ages is governed by temperature and
state-of-charge. Figure 1 illustrates the capacity loss as a function
of these two parameters.




size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Figure
1: Permanent capacity loss of lithium-ion as a function of temperature and charge
level.

High charge levels and elevated temperatures hasten permanent
capacity loss. Improvements in chemistry have increased the storage performance
of lithium-ion sony batteries.

size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">

The mentioning of limited service life on lithium-ion has caused
concern in the vgp-bps8 battery industry and I will need to add some clarifications.
Let me explain:

If someone asks how long we humans live, we would soon find out
that the longevity varies according to life style and living conditions
that exist in different countries. Similar conditions exist with
the batteries, lithium-ion in particular. Since BatteryUniversity
bases its information on the feedback from users as opposed to scientific
information derived from a research lab, longevity results may differ
from manufacturer' specifications. Let's briefly look at the various
living conditions of the lithium-ion battery.



The worst condition is keeping a fully charged vgp-bps12 battery at elevated
temperatures, which is the case with running laptop batteries. If
used on main power, the battery inside a laptop will only last for
12-18 months. I must hasten to explain that the pack does not die
suddenly but begins with reduced run-times.



The voltage level to which the cells are charged also plays an pa3399u-2brs important
role to longevity. For safety reasons, most lithium-ion cannot exceed
4.20 volts per cell. While a higher voltage boosts capacity, the
disadvantage is lower cycle life. Figure 2 shows the cycle life
as a function of charge voltage.



size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">

There are no remedies to restore lithium-ion once worn out. A momentary
improvement in performance is noticeable when heating up the pa3534u-1brs battery.
This lowers the internal resistance momentarily but the condition
reverts back to its former state when the temperature drops. Cold
temperature will increase the internal resistance.



If possible, store the pa3535u-1brs battery in a cool place at about a 40% state-of-charge.
Some reserve charge is needed to keep the battery and its protection
circuit operational during prolonged storage. Avoid keeping the
battery at full charge and high temperature. This is the case when
placing a cell phone or spare battery in a hot car. Running a laptop
computer on the mains has a similar temperature problem. While the
battery is kept fully charged, the inside temperature during operation
rises to 45°C (113°F).



Removing the battery from the laptop when running on fixed power
protects the battery from heat. With the concern of the battery
overheating and causing fire, a spokesperson for the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission advises to eject the PA3615U-1BRM battery of affected
laptops and to run the machines on a power cord. It should be noted
that on a power outage, unsaved works will be lost.

The question is often asked, should the laptop be disconnected from
the main when not in use? Under normal circumstances, it should
not matter with lithium-ion. Once theToshiba battery is fully charged,
no further charge is applied. However, there is always the concern
is malfunction of the AC adapter, the laptop or the battery.



A large number of lithium-ion inspiron 6400 battery for cell phones are being
discarded under the warranty return policy. Some failed batteries
are sent to service centers or the manufacturer, where they are
refurbished. Studies show that 80%-90% of the returned batteries
can be repaired and returned to service.



Some lithium-ion batteries fail due to excessive low discharge.
If discharged below 2.5 volts per cell, the internal safety circuit
opens and the latitude d630 battery appears dead. A charge with the original charger
is no longer possible. Some battery analyzers (Cadex) feature a
boost function that reactivates the protection circuit of a failed
battery and enables a recharge. However, if the cell voltage has
fallen below 1.5V/cell and has remained in that state for a few
months, a recharge should be avoided because of safety concerns.
To prevent failure, never store the battery fully discharged. Apply
some charge before storage, and then charge fully before use.



All personal computers (and some other electronic devices) contain
a xps m1530 battery for memory back up. This battery is commonly a small non-rechargeable
lithium cell, which provides a small current when the device is
turned off. The PC uses the battery to retain certain information
when the power is off. These are the BIOS settings, current date
and time, as well as resource assignment for Plug and Play systems.
Storage does shorten the service life of the backup battery to a
few years. Some say 1-2 years. By keeping the computer connected
to the main, albeit turned off, a battery on the PC motherboards
should be good for 5-7 years. A PC should give the advanced warning
when inspiron 1525 battery gets low. A dead back-up battery will wipe out the
volatile memory and erase certain settings. After battery is replaced,
the PC should again be operational.



size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Longevity
of high-power lithium-ion

Generally speaking, XPS M1730 Battery live longer if treated in a gentle
manner. High charge voltages, excessive charge rate and extreme
load conditions will have a negative effect and shorten the battery
life. This also applies to high current rate lithium-ion batteries.



Not only is it better to charge lithium-ion Latitude D520 Battery at a slower
charge rate, high discharge rates also contribute the extra wear
and tear. Figure 3 shows the cycle life as a function of charge
and discharge rates. Observe the good laboratory performance if
the dell battery is charged and discharged at 1C. (A 0.5C charge and
discharge would further improve this rating.)





size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Latitude D830 Battery experts agree that the life of lithium-ion depends on other factors
than charge and discharge rates. Even though incremental improvements
can be achieved with careful use of the battery, our environment
and the services required are not always conducive to achieve optimal
battery life. The longevity of a battery is often a direct result
of the environmental stresses applied.

size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Simple
Guidelines

• Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts
  additional strain on the Latitude D600 battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges
  are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion
  does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion
  differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly
  cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.
  
  
• Batteries with
  fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge
  once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored,
  the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off
  the device prematurely.
  
  
  
• Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a
  hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the dell hg307 battery at a 40% charge level.
  
  
• Consider
  removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers
  are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)
  
  
  
• Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion  XPS M1330 Battery for later use.
  Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold
  at clearance prices.
  
  
  
• If you have
  a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by
  placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store
  the battery at 40% state-of-charge
  
• The artices from: batteryblog  laptopbattery  batterymag  laptopbatterymag
  
  
  

Fujitsu Lifebook T4010 Tablet PC notebook

The Fujitsu LifeBook T4010 fujitsu lifebook t4010 battery vgp-bps8 is a Tablet PC notebook convertible device. Fujitsu has more than 60 % of the worldwide Tablet PC market-share and they have been in this market since the beginning, so it seems that Fujitsu has the best experience with this type of product. The T4010 vgp-bps10 is not a pure Tablet like the Fujitsu Stylistic ST50xx series, the ST50xx is a slate style Tablet PC (no keyboard, just electric pen as input). The T4010 meanwhile is a kind of a "variable" notebook, meaning that in normal mode you can use the T4010 as an ordinary notebook, but when you flip the screen over on top of the keyboard, it transforms into a tablet style device, and thereby brings to the table the advantages of a tablet and notebook all-in-one.

Fujitsu LifeBook T4010

The T4010 vgp-bpl8 battery is targeted at professionals and business people, students vgp-bpl8 in certain disciplines might find this device highly useful too, but the $2,000+ price tag might put it out of the price range for such people. One field where tablets are doing well is of course medicine. This makes a lot of sense because you can use a tablet easily while you are on your feet, with a regular notebook you really need a flat surface to rest on. With a Tablet PC you can hold the device with one hand and the pen in the other hand acts as a mouse and input device. I personally like to use this Tablet PC feature in situations when an ordinary notebook is uncomfortable, such as in a car behind the steering-wheel (when parked in traffic or waiting for somebody, not while vgp-bps2b driving preferably!) or even in bed. If you're flying in cramped conditions with little room in front, a Tablet PC may be easier for input purposed then too. Taking notes by hand in a meeting and capturing sketches, not just writing, is a nice feature. Engineers, scientists, designers and anyone capturing flow diagrams could appreciate this feature. And if you're worried that the operating system might be tough to get used to, well just remember that Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is nothing more than Windows XP Pro with some added features, there's not too much of a learning curve.

The left side bay on the T4010 vgp-bps9 is hot swappable and modular

The T4010 belongs to Fujitsu's LifeBook series of products. So besides just being of good vgp-bps8a built quality (it feels really sturdy and the screen holds perfectly for this one point flip-over hinge in both positions) you will have some useful goodies that come with all LifeBook products. One such feature is a modular bay system. The optical drive (DVD/CD) is the default item that goes in the modular bay, but an additional vgp-bps8b battery or hard drive can be placed there instead and all those devices are hot-swappable. The sweetest part is that you can share those devices with other model series LifeBook notebooks too, except for the tiny LifeBook P and B series products that is. A second useful feature is the built-in TPM (Trusted Platform Module). With SmartCard reader (built-in or separate) and SecureIT Suite (smart card and software for it) you can encrypt your LifeBook`s hard drive easily. Encrypting a hard drive is beneficial if you have sensitive data so in case of theft, all data stored on the hard drive disk is not accessible, even if somebody tries to put it in another computer to read it. On the bottom of the screen is the so called "security panel", five buttons for BIOS level password. A very impressive feature is what's called an integrated bridge battery. This integrated bridge battery means that you can swap the main battery out, without vgp-bps9a/b shutting the machine down (you do have to put it on sleep) and then put in a freshly charged battery. After you put the T4010 in sleep mode, you can remove main battery and it will still be stay in an operating mode for 30 seconds, which is surely enough time to swap a juiced up battery in. Like all Lifebook's, the T4010 vgp-bps9/b is designed to work seamlessly, so sleep is the natural mode vgp-bps9/s if you are not actually using the notebook. I like my tools to be ready anytime within seconds so I keep the T4010 in sleep mode a lot, I don't want to wait for Windows to fully boot, the only concern is Windows itself because temp files and other garbage will build up over time. However, one restart on a Sunday evening each week seems to solve this problem for me.

Design

The T4010 converting to Tablet PC mode

The T4010 looks good from the outside. A combination of black screen latitude d630 battery cover and solid silver magnesium is maybe a little bit conservative for some people's tastes, but this adds a "business-class" feeling. The weight of the T4010 is a little less than 2 kg (4.40lbs) which is quite good, all things considered. The 12.1" XGA (1024x768) screen is non-reflective and especially good if using this notebook in poor lighting conditions, it even works somewhat well in sunlight. On the right or bottom side (depends whether you're in tablet or notebook mode) of the T4010 xps m1330 battery are some small LCD lights that give information about the hard drive status, battery/batteries and so on, a power button and then five buttons related to security (BIOS password) and other tasks, e.g. scrolling pages, switching screen modes, acting as ENTER and function key and others. The pen, called a digitizer, is located on left side of the screen. Included in box is twine for connecting the pen with the notebook, this is a really useful "small matter" that prevents losing the pen, which happens to cost $40 or more. Also on the upper and bottom sides of the screen are two built-in microphones.

Input Devices

Fujitsu T4010 inspiron 1525 battery in notebook mode with keyboard available for use

The beige colored "apple-look" keyboard, similar to other Lifebook's, is sturdy and responsive. The key pitch is around 3-4 mm and I personally like the soft sound that gives audible so you both hear and feel a key has been pressed correctly. Do not think I mean the audible feedback of the keyboard is a cheap clack, the sound is really soft but solid feeling. The Left Ctrl key is in the right place -- that being the bottom left corner, so many notebooks have inspiron 6400 battery a function key there and it's really annoying. LifeBook's have never followed such annoying keyboard mistakes, often done by other manufacturers. An almost full size Enter key is a blessing too. The Windows key is in the right place, right where it should be. Call me lazy, but I prefer keyboard shortcuts and that's why I never liked IBM's ThinkPad keyboards without the Windows key. If you want to hit Window-key + D to access the desktop or just open some program or document, there is no key presented on IBM's ThinkPad and so you are forced to use the touchpad or stick. I don't like to be forced to do something I don't want to do! The only concern for the T4010s keyboard is that the Home and End keys share their place with PgUp and PgDn keys and are accessible only in conjunction with using the Fn key. The Touchpad is made by Alps and does well as usual. Beneath the touchpad are left- and right click buttons with a scroll button between them.

Speakers

Tiny stereo speakers are located at the front and are usable mainly for VoIP (e.g. Skype). You can listen to music too, but do not expect anything of great quality. However, for VoIP they are cleverly placed because no matter what mode the T4010 inspiron 1545 battery is in, tablet or notebook sound from the speakers will not interfere with microphones. Using it either way with Skype or MSN audio conversation service is pleasant and can cut some serious numbers from your phone bill.

Front side of T4010

On the front of the notebook is placed a power indicator, a headphone/line-out port, microphone line-in connector and a socket for MemoryStick/PRO/SD cards. On the right side is an optical drive (or whatever is there, remember it is a modular bay system) and standard Kensington slot for security. On the back are located (from left to right) power inlet, standard modem port, USB port, infrared and behind small plastic covers LAN and VGA output. latitude e6400 battery On left side can be found a Firewire port, second USB port, PCMCIA slot, SmartCard reader and hard switch for wireless connectivity. Especially good is the last button because it's the easiest way to manage connections and save some battery if WiFi or Bluetooth are not needed. Antenna-switch-module software lets the user configure how this button will act for wireless LAN and Bluetooth. Also on the left side is the hot air outlet for cooling the system, air inlets are placed on bottom. This is good to know because if you use the T4010 as notebook while in bed where intake is blocked, the T4010 will get very hot and noisy. Generally noise is not a concern with the vgp-bps2a T4010, only under heavy load does the cooling kick-in and you can hear it. Ordinarily Office application use is not demanding enough to stress the Pentium M, even when multitasking. But if I play Quake 3, the T4010 will be noisy. For me this doesn't matter as I use headphones anyway. Besides, this notebook is not designed for gaming, and Quake 3 is the upper limit of gaming for which you can expect decent frame rates.

Above view of T4010

On the bottom of T is an expansion bus for the port replicator. A port replicator lets inspiron 1501 battery a user connect all the external devices once to the replicator and then use the notebook as a pseudo-desktop machine by placing it in the dock. There are 4 USB ports on the replicator, headphone/line-out, microphone/line-in, VGA, DVI, LAN pass through and power adapter inlet.

Battery

TheT4010 has a 6-cell 4800 mAh battery vostro 1000 battery and Fujitsu claims runtime for up to 5 hours on this. As usual, small print says that it depends on applications used and other circumstances (first and foremost it means reduced screen brightness, which I really hate). The battery life depends so much on actual usage that there should be some scenarios. For comfortable battery life what you really need is a second battery -- an added 3800 mAh can make the T last even longer. I played my beloved Quake 3 using two batteries (regular 4800 mAh and additional 3800 mAh) and I got a very impressive result, I could play almost 2 hours. Watching a DVD (with main battery only, WiFi active for MSN and Skype) resulted in battery runtime of 2 hours 41 minutes. Office usage with main battery only (Outlook, Avant Browser with 4-5 tabs, 2 Word documents, 2 simultaneous MSN conversations, WiFi and Bluetooth active, highest screen brightness) resulted in 3 hours 57 minutes of battery life. Not bad results at all.

Wireless connectivity

The T4010 I have came with an Intel PRO 2200 BG vostro 1500 battery mini PCI card for the internal wireless card. It rests beneath the keyboard and worked as expected, after Intel released 9th series drivers for this wireless card, all is seamless. The Alps Bluetooth is good too. I hooked up a Fujitsu PX mouse, GPS, Samsung SGH-D500 as a GPRS modem and Samsung Bluetooth headset and there was no problem to manage all those devices even if they were used at the same time. Products from Alps Electric are always something you can count on and drivers for them never cause problems either, that's why Alps parts are often used in quality notebooks.

Conclusion

From a notebook perspective the T4010 has good build quality, looks great and offers vgp-bps2c a lot of security and data safety related features. Performance wise it is powerful enough for me. From a Tablet PC perspective, I probably never used all the capabilities offered by this machine. But I am now getting a new notebook, the LifeBook S7020, and I already know I will miss some of the features offered by the T4010. Most of all I will miss the possibility to browse the net or use MSN messenger while in bed! With Tablet PC it is far more comfortable then with ordinary notebook.

Pros

Long battery life

Modular bay system

Rich software bundle

Variable between notebook / Tablet PC

Looks nice

Solid build quality

Comfortable keyboard

Cons

A little bit expensive

You can fall into some habits that are hard to break!

Dell latitude d630 magazine

The Latitude D630 battery is Dell’s latest update to the D620, a light-weight business class machine. The Dell D630 comes with the very anticipated Santa Rosa platform but is visually the same as its predecessor. The machine starts at $899 (as of this writing) and most upgrades are reasonably priced.

Some of you are probably wondering as to why I chose so little RAM and a rather small hard drive. Like I said, most upgrades are reasonably priced. I purchased 2GB from Newegg for $80, Dell’s upgrade would have been $200 as vgp-bps8 battery .

Reasons for buying

I’m a college student majoring in International Business and IT. My previous machine, a HP dv4000 vgp-bps9a/b battery with the 12-cell monster-sized battery, was far too heavy (nearly 9 pounds with the AC adaptor) for me to carry in my backpack for 6 consecutive hours. I also travel quite a bit to visit family in Spain and need something to keep me occupied on the 12-hour (or more) plane trip.

First Impression

I was surprised at how little there was in the box. Aside from the vgp-bps9/b battery laptop and the charger, it only came with the OS, Roxio Creator 9, and application discs. The manual itself is rather useless. In fact, I would not even consider it a manual ... it's more like a caution and legal guide. I had to guess my way into getting started and it was frustrating because I have not used Vista until purchasing the D630. I’m still stumbling with it.

Build and Design:

This thing feels like a tank and is extremely sturdy. The hinges on the machine are stiff latitude e6400 battery but not difficult to open and the screen will not wobble. There is no flexing of the screen and you truly have to try to press the back to see ripples. When closed, a small, shiny hinge holds the screen locked. The top and bottom of the machine are made of magnesium. I still wouldn’t recommend dropping the machine in order to test if the material is durable.

The speakers are (I think) inside the laptop because I saw no openings for them. The inspiron 1545 battery sticks out in the front rather than the back. You are also able to add another battery to the DVD bay or replace the drive with something updated down the road. It is very simple to replace the drive in case something happens.

I do have one aspire 3680 battery complaint: I frequently use my USB slots and I dislike having the other two ports in the back. I prefer them on the side. The USB slots are also a bit stiff. Sometimes you have to try to jam the connector into the slot.

Screen

Many people complained about the terrible brightness level of the lifebook t5010 battery D620. Unfortunately, I don’t have a D620 to compare it to. I do, however, have a Viewsonic VX2025wm desktop monitor that has been color calibrated with a Spyder2 Suite. This seems like an apples to orange type of comparison but if I am to compare it, I must use something that has been in my possession for at least one full year. The added benefit is that this comparison shows how far the colors differ from a screen that has near-perfect color reproduction.

I am happy to report the 14.1-inch, 1440x900 screen is surprisingly brighter than I expected. I was able to easily see it indoors with the sun behind me. This was tested with highest screen brightness level (8/8).

Color accuracy and contrast, on the other hand, out of the box already left me disappointed. The best way to describe the contrast is a dark shirt that has been washed too many times. The horizontal viewing angles are very good but I can’t say the same about the vertical lenovo t61 battery ones. You have to stare directly at the screen or else there will be discoloration and distortion. There is a bit of light leakage at the bottom. If you truly want the best screen available, the best bet would be to wait until LED screens come out or hook the laptop up to a monitor.

Speakers

The speakers output at about two watts and are under the left palm lenovo t60 battery (I could feel them vibrating). There are the quick mute and volume buttons on the top of the keyboard, all very handy to have. The speakers are loud ... much louder than I expected. Depending on what is being played they might be able to fill a small room. Unfortunately, a loud speaker does not always equal quality output. At high and sometimes even medium levels distortions start occurring. Granted, this is a business machine that was primarily designed to just output warnings and the like. It’s like Dell bought out all the extra Gameboy speakers and super sized them.

If you like to listen to music, bring your own external speakers and possibly your own sound card.

Processor and Performance

CPU: My machine came equipped with the new Santa Rosa platform. Upgrades to the processor include lenovo r60 battery a faster front-side bus and a new level of power state. According to an Intel rep (I used to work in retail), I was told these new chips are about 10-15 percent faster and equally consume less battery life than the previous Centrino generation. This will not, however, make minor application usage (office programs) run any faster. The design behind this is most likely for the battery use and people that need a faster processor (multimedia users).

HD: The hard drive is an 80GB SATA drive running at 5400RPM. My plan was to buy a 160GB lenovo r61 battery drive and a notebook enclosure from Newegg, replace the 80GB drive, and convert the machine’s original drive to a portable HD. Due to financial reasons, I did not go through with it. The faster transfer speed (higher density) and larger storage are nice ideas but we can’t have everything.

GPX: I’ll be blunt, this machine was not built lenovo t400 battery t43 battery for gaming. Intel upgraded this generation’s integrated graphics but it is still no match for a dedicated card. Essentially, the X3100 can run old games but don’t expect F.E.A.R. or an equally graphically intensive game to be playable.

RAM: If you wish to run multiple applications, get the 2GB. Vista recommends (read: needs) 1GB to run the OS and any other application(s) smoothly. Before I upgraded the machine with 2GB, it came with 512MB. It was crawling and nearly always accessing the hard drive (and consuming more battery in the process). After the upgrade to 2GB, it ran as smooth as a hot knife through butter. I needed 2GB because Photoshop is a huge memory hog. If you plan to use this machine for office use, 1GB will most likely be enough to accommodate your needs.

Wireless

My machine came pre-equipped with the Intel 3945 Wireless card offering a/b/g wireless inspiron 1525 battery reception. I did not opt for the 802.11n because it is still in draft mode and the G reception will be around for a while. Chances are, when I get my next laptop (years from now), a new standard will be accepted for wireless and the N reception will be rendered obsolete.

I was able to test the connection with my Linksys WRT54g router, a somewhat common router. I was able to go anywhere in the lenovo x200 battery house and pick up a signal. No matter where I went, I could not get the laptop to drop the connection, I had to go outside and walk all the way towards the opposite side of my neighbor’s yard to kill it. To put it in perspective, that is about 150 feet.

My D630 vgp-bps9a came configured with Bluetooth. I tested it with my PDA and was able to synchronize it with no issues.

Battery

I need my machine to last as long as possible. I chose the nine-cell inspiron e1505 battery despite the fact it sticks out. I truly believe I made the right choice because this thing lasts a very long time. With Firefox, Office, Wi-Fi, and screen at max (8/8) the battery lasted (I ran it until the laptop shut off) an astounding 5 hours and 15 minutes. Same test bed but no Wi-Fi landed me with 5 hours and 45 minutes.

I did not have enough time to test it with the screen at a medium level but Vista inspiron 1501 battery tells me I can safely say it can push a little over six hours with Wi-Fi. If you get the Media Bay battery to go along with the nine-cell, I would venture about 7.5 or more hours. Of course, this is assuming you are using it for lightweight programs and you have 1GB or more of RAM.

At the bottom of the battery there is a xps m1330 battery button that allows you to check the battery level. It goes by five levels, giving you an estimate of how much charge is available. I consider it helpful because you don’t need to turn the laptop on to check the battery level.

Operating System and Software

I ordered my machine with Windows Vista Business. The inspiron 6400 battery machine came with practically zero useless software. In fact, aside from the amazing bundled security software, it only comes with Roxio Creator 9 and Cyberlink PowerDVD 7. The only thing that I uninstalled was Google Desktop and Google Explorer Bar.

Security and others

The machine came bundled with a security package by Wave Systems. The software lifebook t4220 battery comes with a wizard that assists you in selecting what level of security you wish to implement. You are granted the option to ask for a password and /or fingerprint at boot-up. You can even encrypt the hard drive with the same password/fingerprint.

Warranty and Customer Support

I chatted with Dell customer support several times to get a feel for the support they would provide. I am extremely happy to report all the customer support reps that I talked with were very knowledgeable. They all answered my questions without hesitation and correctly, all are very polite if you too are polite. The longest I was on hold was for five minutes.

I’ve heard of horror stories from the consumer line of Dell but the business line is unbelievably good. I know I made the right choice by paying for the $100 for in-home service. If some of you are more “butterfingered,” get the Complete Care package.

Upgrading

Upgrading the machine was an interesting journey. The machine originally came with a stick of 512MB and it was upgraded to a matched pair of 1GB sticks (2GB total).

The RAM slots are in two places, under the keyboard and under the laptop. I decided to start with the most difficult, under the keyboard. Let me warn you right here, it was difficult for me to do it and I’ve built more computers than I have fingers and toes. I had to remove the hinge, which felt like it could crack at any given second, followed by the keyboard. After many sweaty but careful minutes, I was able to replace the RAM. The other slot, on the other hand, was extremely easy: one screw and I was done.

To make a long story short, the computer didn't boot up at first after my do-it-yourself upgrade and after calling tech support I thought I might have to purchase a new $350 motherboard. Luckily, the RAM just needed to be seated properly. I could have saved time and avoided a great deal of stress by ordering the RAM from Dell.

Conclusion

The short time spent with the laptop was enjoyable. Would I still order from Dell? Without a doubt, but this time I would pick the machine to be bundled with 2GB and forget about this moronic idea of saving money. There are some things I wish could have been included or modified but the Latitude D630 is a solid machine that I would recommend to anyone.

Pros

Extremely sturdy design and feel

Amazing security software

Bright screen

Great battery life

Awesome overall performance

System tends to run cool and quiet

Excellent customer support

Practically zero bloatware

Cons

Somewhat expensive upgrades

Sound quality

Contrast ratio could be better

Not a Lenovo keyboard