42Chapter 2
Operating on Battery Power
Power Management
This computer has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals connected to the serial and parallel ports, and video memory. If no activity is detected for a period of time (called an inactivity time-out), the computer stops some or all of these devices in order to conserve energy.
This computer employs a power management scheme that supports APM (Advanced Power Management) or ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) which allows for maximum power conservation and maximum performance at the same time.
If your computer is set for APM, you can set timeout values for your computer’s devices before power-saving methods are applied to these devices. If your computer is set for ACPI, Windows handles all power-saving chores for your computer.
Note: Power management (APM or ACPI) greately prolongs your battery life. See “Advanced Power Management” on page 46 and “Advanced Configuration and Power Interface” on page 46 for more information.
Power Management Modes
Display Standby Mode
Screen activity is determined by the keyboard, the built-in touchpad, and an external PS/2 pointing device. If these devices are idle for the period specified by the Turn Off Display value, the display shuts off until you press a key or move the touchpad or external mouse.
