Chapter 3: Managing Power

Using the battery

Your notebook’s battery lets you use your notebook without having to plug it into an electrical outlet. The battery recharges when the AC adapter is plugged into your notebook and an electrical outlet.

The battery has the following characteristics:

■Employs current battery technology standards

The computer uses a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery which does not have the memory effect problem of Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries. Li-Ion batteries consistently provide the longest battery life.

■Battery-low warning

When the battery charge level becomes low, the status indicator on your notebook flashes at regular intervals. This tells you that the battery power is critically low (and you should save your work). You can correct this situation by recharging the battery.

Whenever possible, use the AC adapter. The battery will come in handy when you travel or during a power failure. We recommend that you have an extra, fully-charged battery available as backup.

Using the battery for the first time

To use the battery for the first time:

1 Plug the AC adapter into the notebook and an electrical outlet, and let the battery fully recharge.

2 Disconnect the AC adapter and run the notebook on the battery until the charge is used up before recharging again.

You only need to do this once or twice with a new battery or with a battery that's been stored without being used for a long time. If the computer is to be stored for more than two weeks, we suggest you remove the battery. Battery power from a fully charged battery depletes in roughly a day with the computer in Standby mode or a month in Hibernation mode or when power is off.

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