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Why Laptop Batteries Don't Last as Long as Claimed

by Terrence O'Brien on June 22, 2009 at 03:12 PM

More Accurate Battery Test for Laptops in Our Future?
Anyone who has shopped for a laptop knows that a manufacturer's estimated battery life is estimated pretty liberally. Usually, the numbers are based on a test called MobileMark 2007, which measures how long a computer's battery lasts under conditions that are, to be polite about it, completely unrealistic. The screen is set to 20-percent brightness, Wi-Fi and any other wireless tech shut off, and all apps are turned off. As the New York Times said, "it turns a computer into a dimly lit clock."

The problem is that nobody simply sits in front of their laptop staring at a blank screen. In fact, most users treat their laptops just like a desktop PC. Most users listen to music, instant message, and browse the Web (all at the same time) with the brightness pumped up to 100-percent. It's no surprise that when manufacturers claim battery life is around six hours, it .

Some are finally trying to tackle this discrepancy. Processor manufacturer AMD is pushing for a new metric, to be listed alongside the MobileMark score, that would tell a customer how long a laptop will last while running videos or games. While AMD says it has support from "some" PC makers, the New York Times is quick to point out the company's use of the word "some." Manufacturers, it seems, aren't exactly chomping at the bit, here. Known for building processors that rank highly on MobileMark 2007, Intel is understandably reticent to adopt a new standard, instead suggesting that shoppers check reviews and publications to get a clearer picture of a battery's life.

While we're 100-percent behind a more realistic measure of laptops' battery life, AMD has yet to make a proposal to BAPCo, the industry consortium that regulates such things. For now, the best you can do is to take Intel's advice and do your due diligence before making a purchase. [From: New York Times]

Tags: AMD, battery, battery life, BatteryLife, laptop, mobilemark, top

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