104 Mobile Computing
Running the computer on battery power
Recharge time varies depending on usage. Battery may not charge
while the computer is consuming full power. After a period of time,
the battery will lose its ability to perform at maximum capacity and
will need to be replaced. This is normal for all batteries.
To ensure that the battery maintains its maximum capacity,
operate the computer on battery power at least once a month. The
Lithium-Ion battery has no memory effect so it is not necessary to
let the battery fully discharge each time. However, for better
accuracy of the battery meter, it is helpful to fully discharge the
battery periodically. Please see “Maintaining your battery” on
page 115 for procedures. If the computer is continuously operated
on AC power, either through an AC adaptor or a port replicator (if
applicable to your system), for an extended period (more than a
month), the battery may fail to retain a charge. This may shorten the
life of the battery, and may cause the battery meter to be inaccurate.
For optimum optical media performance, it is recommended that you
play DVDs while running the computer on AC power. For more
information about Windows® power plans, see “Power Plans” on
page 111.
The computer also has an internal real-time-clock (RTC) battery.
The RTC battery powers the RTC memory that stores your system
configuration settings and the current time and date information. It
maintains this information for up to a month while the computer is
turned off.
TECHNICAL NOTE: Depending on your system, the RTC battery may
only charge while the computer is turned on.
NOTE