As more and more people are becoming part of the mobile workforce and using laptop or tablet PC’s battery life is often a primary concern. Today’s portable computers use lithium-ion batteries instead of older style nickel-cadmium power sources. In addition to being able to hold a greater charge, lithium is also very light weight, another important concern for portable computers.

Are you ready to get your laptop battery to last for a while? Understanding what type of battery you have and how to care for it can go a long way toward that goal. Steps that will extend the life of one type of rechargeable battery will kill another type of battery. Being knowledgeable on the type of laptop battery you own can go a long way towards being able to use your laptop battery for a long time to come.

One of the most common complaints by laptop users, how to get longer usage time. We've all been there, ready to take advantage of our mobile status, get some work done on the train or on the plane, batteries all charged are ready to go, when 45 minutes into your project, the first signs that the battery is going to fail appear. The screen dims and before you can save, your laptop shuts off.

Laptop batteries usually come in two types - nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride. It is important to charge brand new batteries in cycles of fourteen to sixteen hours. The batteries should be allowed to cool down before recharging them because overcharging them will shorten their life.