Does Your Laptop Call It Quits Before You Do?

Keeping your laptop up and running without the benefit of an outlet requires smart, effective use of your battery’s energy. Whether it’s a long flight or an afternoon in the park, knowing what’s draining your computer’s energy can help you get through―with runtime to spare. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your laptop doesn’t power down before you’re ready to call it quits.

1. Dimmer lasts longer
   Turning down the brightness on your screen is an easy way to squeeze some more juice out of your battery. See how dim you can get your LCD without squinting, keeping in mind that every squint is gaining you uptime.
2. Unplug unnecessary devices
   Unplugging unnecessary external devices will save your energy from wandering down a dead end street. Even when not in use, anything plugged into a USB port―such as a mouse or an external keyboard―uses energy just sitting there, and that power can add up quickly, especially when speaking in terms of multiple devices.
3. Minimize running programs
   Shut down any applications not integral to what you’re working on. This means anything running in the background, from toolbar search engines to music programs and Web pages. Even having an unused CD in the drive uses energy.
4. Keep it cool
   Making sure your laptop stays cool will help it run more efficiently―and efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to extending battery life. Check the air vents to make sure they’re not obstructed, and consider buying a laptop stand so it doesn’t have to sit directly on your lap.
5. Hibernate, not standby
   Keeping your laptop on standby is convenient, but its convenience comes at a steep price compared with the hibernate function, which uses far less of your laptop’s precious resources.

Source: American Power Corporation (APC) on Techcentral Weekly

Do you know where your old computer ends up?

When disposing of, or donating, old IT equipment, do you confirm that your service provider is licensed to process waste electronics and that your responsibilities under the EU WEEE Directive are being looked after properly

See what can happen if you don't here

Environment Agency cracks down on 'Waste Tourists'

The UK Environment Agency is heading up the global crime team that is working with Interpol to track the links between organised crime, the illegal export of electrical waste and 'waste tourists' - those who visit a country posing as tourists with the intention of organising shady waste deals.

During their visit the 'waste tourist' will get one or more containers filled with waste and arrange for export. Their typically short stay makes it very difficult to bring them to justice.

EA chairman Lord Chris Smith said: "Investigations have found that each year thousands of tonnes of waste electrical equipment are shipped from Europe and America to developing countries to be stripped down - often by children under appalling conditions - to extract valuable metals such as gold, copper and aluminium.

"This is unacceptable. It is essential that we work with our counterparts in other countries to share intelligence and stamp out the growing problem of illegal waste exports.

"The group's aim is to tackle an international problem with an international response.

The Environment Agency-led Interpol Global Crime Group initiative won the praise of both the US and Canadian Governments during recent international meetings.

Lord Smith together with Chief Executive Paul Leinster met with US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and her officials in Washington last week to discuss key global issues such as climate change, waste and water resources.

The two organisations will work closely on intelligence-led illegal waste operations in the future.

Reproduced from

http://www.edie.net/news/