Confused by all the power management settings and other options for your laptop? Unsure how to use Windows Vista to get the most out of your laptop? The Mobile Advisor has answers…when he can find a good Wi-Fi signal.
E-mail your questions to the Mobile Advisor at onthego@microsoft.com. We can't answer all questions personally, but each month we'll select a new question to answer here.
There are so many different types of laptops available now that I can’t keep them all straight. Big, small, tiny – help, I’m confused!
– T. Phillips, Spokane, CA
It is true that there are far more kinds of laptops available now than just a few years ago, especially when it comes to size.
Don’t be confused. Laptops are generally divided into three size categories:
1. Ultra portables. These weigh 2-4 lbs, have a typical screen size of about 13 inches, and are often referred to as “thin and light” laptops. An ultra portable is the best choice if you carry your laptop with you a lot, have more money to spend, and don’t mind a small screen.
2. Midsize laptops. These weigh about 5-6 lbs, are not as thin as ultra portables, include a built-in DVD drive, and often come with a bigger hard disk drive. They tend to cost less than lightweight laptops. Midsize laptops make up the bulk of the market and come in a wide range of prices. They range from generic-looking business laptops to sleek, stylish consumer models.
3. Large, “desktop replacement” laptops. These are sometimes called gaming laptops if they come with the latest powerful 3D graphics processors. They typically have 17-inch screens. The largest have screens of 20 inches—almost too large to be considered portable.
At the other end of the size spectrum from desktop replacement laptops is a new and emerging category of so-called mini laptops. These inexpensive computers weigh only 2-3 lbs, the same as ultra portables, but cost less. The tradeoff: Undersized screens (7-9 inches), small keyboards, and less speed. Because these tiny laptops are so easy to carry around but lack the power for doing much more than e-mail and web surfing, they’ve earned the nickname "netbooks."
Then there are Tablet PCs. The vast majority of people shopping for a mobile PC choose a conventional laptop. A small percentage instead buy a Tablet PC, which has a screen that you can write on or interact with using a Tablet pen instead of a standard keyboard and mouse. Because Tablet PCs also function like a traditional laptop (you don’t have to use the tablet functionality), many people just call them laptops. For more information about Tablet PCs, see Choosing the mobile PC that's right for you.
Finally, blurring the gap between laptops and desktop computers are “all-in-one” computers that pack the display and computer into a single semi-portable unit that looks like a thick, oversized monitor. These are even larger than desktop replacement laptops. You wouldn’t want to carry one of these computers around to meetings, but you could occasionally move an all-in-one computer from one room in your house to another.
For more information about the many different types of mobile PCs, see How to shop for a laptop.
The Mobile Advisor
How can I tell if my laptop has enough power to run the games I want to play?
– P. Ackerman, Sacramento, CA
Sadly, most laptops aren’t as good at running games as desktop PCs, which often have faster video cards, more memory, and bigger, faster hard disks. But this is rapidly changing—many of today’s mobile PCs come with plenty of power to run all but the most demanding games.
Before you buy games for your laptop, take a look at the minimum hardware and software requirements for each game. Check to see what video card you need, and how much memory and available hard disk space each game requires.
Confirm that your mobile PC meets the minimum requirements of the games you've chosen by comparing the Windows Experience Index base score for your mobile PC and for the game.
The Windows Experience Index is a handy measurement that rates your computer on five key components and gives you a number for each. Your overall base score is only as good as your worst-performing component sub score. It’s the overall score that really matters. (For an overview of the index, see What is the Windows Experience Index?)
Make sure that the overall base score for your mobile PC is equal to or greater than the one that's listed on the game. A game's base score is usually included on the packaging. You can also see it in the Games folder by clicking a game. It appears above the game's rating.
The scale goes from 1 to 5.9 (not 1 to 10, as you might expect). A 5.9 score is perfect. Few games require a base score above 5.
The Windows Experience Index rates your computer's performance with a base score (right, in blue box) of up to 5.9 and with subscores for each hardware component
Here's how to find your mobile PC's base score:
1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.
2. Look for the Windows Experience Index base score and sub scores for your computer. If you have recently upgraded your hardware and want to find out if your score has changed, click Update my score. If you don't see sub scores and a base score, click Score this computer.
If you find out your mobile PC lacks the power to play the games you want, you can try adding more memory, which should help. But some games require powerful 3D graphics, and unfortunately, it’s impossible to upgrade the video chip (also called the graphics processor) on most mobile PCs.
Most of the games included in Windows don’t require a powerful computer to run well. For more information about these games, see Learn about Windows games
The Mobile Advisor
What new features for the Tablet PC are in Windows Vista? I’m getting ready to upgrade my Tablet PC, and want to know before I install Windows Vista.
– D. Park, Austin, TX
Windows Vista includes a host of pen improvements that make a tablet pen easier to use. These improvements give Tablet PCs even more features compared to conventional mobile PCs, and add up to a big change when compared to Windows XP.
One of my favorite new Tablet PC features is pen flicks. These are gestures that you can make with a tablet pen to quickly navigate and perform shortcuts.
To navigate quickly through browser windows and documents, you can use pen flicks to drag up, drag down, move back, and move forward. For example, instead of dragging the scroll bar down to read a webpage on your Tablet PC, you can flick the pen, and the window will scroll down.
You can also use pen flicks to perform editing shortcuts such as copy, paste, delete, and undo. For example, you can paste an item into a document or delete text with just a flick of your pen.
I've only listed the actions that are provided for you. You can customize pen flicks to perform other functions as well.
Some new Tablet PCs come with screens that allow touch input. If you have one of these models, Windows Vista enables you to use your finger to perform many of the tasks that normally require a mouse or tablet pen. Just touch the screen with your fingertip.
Several other improvements enable better handwriting recognition.
Tablet PC features are included in Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate editions.
The Mobile Advisor
What’s the fastest way to conserve laptop battery power? Sometimes when my battery starts running low in a meeting, I want to quickly change the settings to use less power so it won’t die before the meeting ends.
– T. Hartano, Washington, D.C.
The quickest way to save power is to change the power plan setting.
Windows includes three power plans—Power saver, High performance, and Balanced—that conserve battery power, help your computer perform better, or strike a balance between the two.
Unless you change the power plan, your mobile PC uses the Balanced power plan, which automatically balances system performance and battery life.
To quickly switch to the Power saver plan, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click Power Options.
2. On the Select a power plan page, select the Power saver option, and then close the window.
If you already have your mobile PC set to the Power saver plan and still find your battery about to die in a meeting, there are other steps you can take quickly to save even more power in an emergency.
Follow step one above to open the Select a power plan page. Under the Power saver option, click Change plan settings. Drag the first slider for Adjust display brightness all the way to the left. This turns your display brightness down as low as it goes.
Some mobile PCs have a dedicated button or dial to change the display brightness (check the information that came with your computer or visit the manufacturer's website). Also, you can often adjust the display brightness from the Windows Mobility Center.
If you want to save even more power, you can put your mobile PC to sleep, and then wake it up when you need it. You can put most mobile PCs to sleep just by closing the lid. Some computers also have a physical sleep button on the case, often located near the power switch.
To put your computer to sleep without closing the lid, click the Start button, click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Sleep.
On most computers, you can resume work by pressing the power button. However, not all computers are the same. You might be able to wake your mobile PC by pressing keys on the keyboard, clicking your mouse button, or opening the lid. Check the documentation that came with your computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.
How can I quickly set up my laptop to give a presentation? I often have to fiddle around with it in meetings, trying to get it to work with a projector.
– A. Herriman, Denver, CO
Windows Mobility Center is the fastest way to adjust settings before you give a presentation. It lets you connect to a projector, adjust the brightness of your display, view how much charge remains on your battery, and perform other mobile PC-related tasks, all from a single screen.
To open Windows Mobility Center, click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Mobile PC, and then click Windows Mobility Center. (You won’t find it in Control Panel on a desktop PC – only on a mobile PC.)
There are eight sections in the Windows Mobility Center. To connect your mobile PC to a projector, in the External Display section of the Windows Mobility Center, click the Connect Display button. This is all I ever have to do when I connect my mobile PC to a projector.
Windows Mobility Center also allows you to adjust several other presentation settings. You can automatically turn off the screen saver, prevent system notifications from appearing, change your desktop background image, and adjust the volume level on your mobile PC when you start your presentation.
This can help you avoid unwanted things from happening when you connect your mobile PC to a projector, such as your computer going to sleep or a screen saver of crazy family photos starting unexpectedly.
How can I connect to different wireless networks when I take my laptop with me? I’m a frequent traveler and I often want to connect to new networks in coffee shops, hotels, airports, and other places.
– D. Pelton, Sacramento, CA
Windows Vista lets you see a list of available wireless networks and then connect to one of those networks, no matter where you are. (Assuming your mobile PC includes the hardware necessary to connect to wireless networks, of course.)
There are just three steps to follow:
1. Open Connect to a Network by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Connect to.
2. In the Show list, click Wireless. You'll see a list of the wireless networks currently available.
3. Click a network, and then click Connect.
If you don't see the network you want to connect to, click Set up a connection or network. A list of options will appear that includes manually searching for and connecting to a network, as well as creating a new network connection.
You’ll need a network security key or passphrase to connect to a wireless network, unless the network has no security (not a good idea in today’s world). If you don’t have the security key or passphrase, ask for it. Whoever is running the network should have this information.
In the list of available wireless networks, you'll see a symbol that shows the wireless signal strength for each network. The more bars, the stronger the signal. A strong signal (five bars) usually means that the wireless network is close or there is no interference. For best performance, connect to the wireless network with the strongest signal, if you have a choice.
Windows Vista also lets you see a list of all the wireless networks you've previously connected to and manage their settings, making it easier to connect to networks you’ve already used.
You can find all this information in the Manage Wireless Networks section in Control Panel. Here you can change the order in which Windows tries to connect to wireless networks, disable automatic connection to a network, delete a network from the list, and change security settings. Follow these steps to open Manage wireless networks:
1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Network and Internet.
2. Click Network and Sharing Center, and then, in the left pane, click Manage wireless networks.
Finally, a note of caution: Public wireless networks are convenient, but if they are not properly secured, connecting to one might be risky. Whenever possible, only connect to wireless networks that require a security key or have some other form of security.
Can I change what happens when I click the Power button? When I click it now, my laptop goes to sleep, but I usually want it to turn off.
– R. Haddock, Chicago, IL
Yes, you can change the behavior of the Power button. By default, pressing the Power button on your mobile PC puts it to sleep, as you’ve discovered.
Other button settings include turning off your mobile PC, putting it into hibernation, or doing nothing at all.
You can apply the same setting to all of your power plans or you can apply different settings to individual plans. For example, you can specify that the Power button put your mobile PC to sleep when it’s running on battery power and turn off your mobile PC when it’s running on AC power. Or, you can have the Power button do the same thing no matter what power plan your mobile PC is using.
My laptop runs out of power too quickly. What can I do?
– T. Adams, Portland, OR
It’s hard to diagnose your problem without knowing how long your laptop works before it runs out of juice, and how long the manufacturer says it should run. But one thing is for certain: Almost anyone can improve their mobile PC battery life by adjusting its power plan.
A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that manages how your mobile PC uses and conserves power. Power plans can help you save energy, maximize system performance, or achieve a balance between the two. There are three default plans—Balanced, Power saver, and High performance.
Begin by trying the Power saver plan. I’ll bet it solves your problem. It will reduce your power consumption by lowering system performance, stretching out your battery life as long as possible. The Power saver plan is best suited for activities such as reading e-mail messages and listening to music. I have my mobile PC set to use this plan whenever it’s not plugged into a power outlet.
To change your power plan, click the battery icon located in the notification area on the taskbar, and then click the power plan you want to use.
You can also select a power plan in Control Panel. Just open Control Panel, type power in the Search box, and then click Power Options.
One downside to running the Power saver plan is that it may cause Windows Vista to turn off the transparent Aero glass windows that look so nice. If you don't want this to happen, switch to the Balanced power plan, or create your own custom power plan.
How can I add more memory to my laptop when all its memory slots are full?
– J. Smith, Anacortes, WA
You’ve discovered an unfortunate truth about laptop computers—they’re less expandable and harder to upgrade than most desktop PCs. Compared to the cramped insides of a laptop, most desktop PCs (or tower PCs that sit on the floor) are positively cavernous. They usually have at least three empty slots for more memory, while many laptops only come with one open memory slot.
If you ordered extra random access memory (RAM) when you bought your laptop, you may open the cover and find out the only extra memory slot has been filled at the factory and there is no more room. The only way you can add more RAM then is to remove the RAM chip the manufacturer added and replace it with a larger size chip (for example, swapping a 256 MB chip for a 1 GB chip).
If you're going to add more memory to your computer, boost the total to at least 2 GB for Windows Vista. Especially if you're the sort of person who keeps a dozen e-mail messages, ten browser windows, and six other programs open at once—all while instant messaging. If you’re not sure how much memory your laptop currently has, see Find out how much RAM your computer has.
There are many different types of RAM, so you'll need to find out which type to buy for your computer. Check the documentation that came with your computer, or open your computer and look at one of the memory chips. The RAM type is almost always printed on the side of the chip.
The Mobile Advisor
What’s the best way to turn off my laptop? Just press the power button? When I close the lid, my laptop goes to sleep, but sometimes I want to turn it off completely.
– C. Preston, Dearborn, MI
Whether you should turn your laptop off or just put it to sleep typically depends on how soon you plan to use it again, and how quickly you want to start using it after you open the lid. Your laptop should start up faster when you wake it from sleep than when you turn it on, wait for it to boot up, and then log on.
As you discovered, most mobile PCs go to sleep after you close their lid. Windows Vista lets you choose whether your computer sleeps, shuts down, or enters another power-saving state. For more information, see Change what happens when you close your mobile PC lid.
When your laptop goes to sleep, Windows Vista automatically saves your work, the display turns off, and any noise from the computer's fan stops. If your laptop is running on battery power, the battery drains slightly as the computer sleeps, but it uses an extremely small amount of power. Usually, a light on the outside of your laptop blinks or turns yellow to indicate that the computer is sleeping. The whole process takes only a few seconds.
Because Windows Vista saves your work, there's no need to close your programs and files before putting your computer to sleep. The next time you turn on your computer (and enter your password, if required), the screen will look exactly as it did when you turned off your computer.
To wake your laptop, open the lid and press the power button. Because you don't have to wait for Windows Vista to start, your computer wakes within seconds and you can resume work almost immediately.
If you do turn your laptop off, it's important to turn it off properly—to ensure that your data is safely saved and to help keep your computer more secure. For more information, see Turning off your computer properly.
Help and How-to
