laptop battery news

We just posted our review of Toshiba Satellite M645, a 14-inch notebook that has a lot going for it. The Satellite M645 comes with a beautiful textured finish, which Toshiba calls Fusion X2, which resists fingerprints but not corny attempt to emulate our Jam Master Jay by using it to make the record scratching noises. The well-spaced island-style keyboard can offer a little more feedback, but because of its optimal sizing key and space, is one of the best we have, Äôve seen on a consumer notebook, which allows us to score 92 words per minute with ten thumbs typing test (our average is 80 wpm). And the M645, education ≤ s Dolby Advanced Audio system allows its Harmon / Kardon speakers on the output of the best audio quality we have, Äôve ever heard in a notebook.

Like any notebook, the M645 also has some flaws. The VGA webcam is very dark, its glossy display is very reflective and washes out the wider viewing angles, and its wireless tramsfer rate is nothing to write home about. But the main reason we did, M645 Äôt give a higher rating than 3.5 stars out of 5 (which is still a strong recommendation) is due to the cost and battery life of the configuration we tested. Our review unit came with a fast 2.4-GHz Core i5 CPU and Nvidia grahics GT330M with Optimus graphics-switching technology. However, it also comes with a low-capacity 4400 mAh battery yielded only 3.5 hours of patience and a $ 1,049 tag prices, which is a lot to pay for a basic 14-inch notebook below-average battery life.

If you plan to use your computer for 3D gaming or video editing of large files, like, appreciate Äôll Graphics chips are responsible for processing all the images sent to your computer? S display.
Learn Morediscrete graphics and CPU Core i5 but if not, you can get a much better value and battery life through custom formalities Toshiba M645, Äôs site. We recommend you go extended battery option, the i3 Core CPU, and 7200 rpm The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data.
Learn Morehard drive (for faster boots / app opens). All these combined will cost you a more affordable $ 809 and you, Äôll still get the same great speakers, chassis, and the keyboard.

Based on a consumer survey was sent out last week, Nissan may feel pressure to match the recent surprise announcement that the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid with an eight-year battery warranty 100,000 miles.

According to Katherine Zachary, a spokeswoman for Nissan, the investigation of the company went to 16,000 owners of 99 million bookings Leaf in the United States, and a sample of jugglers “hand” who expressed their interest in the car.

The multiple choice survey was detailed and he asked some questions about the battery warranty. After recalling various coverage on the Honda Civic (five years, 60,000 miles on the powertrain), Toyota Prius (eight years, 100,000 miles on hybrid components) and the Volt, he asks: “If Nissan has announced the standard warranty for Nissan Leaf battery is five years or 60,000 miles, to what extent would you consider purchasing or leasing the Nissan Leaf your next vehicle?

Respondents could choose “I decided – I’ll buy or rent, the equivalent negative or five other options with varying degrees of commitment. Among other approaches, they also asked if they cancel their reservation and receive their deposits if a $ 99 five years, 100,000 mile warranty was announced, then the same issue with one of eight years, 100,000 mile warranty.

The survey also included a question asking respondents to tick a guarantee option (ranging from 10 years and 200,000 miles in three years and 35,000 miles) they would not consider buying a piece. They could also choose a guarantee “not important” box.

According to Dr. Zachary, Nissan will start to take “orders hard” on the sheet in August and will announce the guarantee agreement by then. Asked why she had initiated the investigation, she said, “We want to ensure that we meet market expectations.” She refused to say whether the announcement Volt was a factor in the investigation.

James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said that Nissan should not be too concerned about the anxiety of consumers of the battery. “We did not see the hybrid car battery packs melting or explosion by the roadside, so people do not have those conversations with cold water,” he said. “They probably could not get away with anything less than five or six years and 100,000 miles, but the absence of a longer warranty will probably not be an agreement breaks for consumers. ”

But some posters on Leafowner.com want more protection. Chris Hammond, who runs the forum, said he would not accept a period of five years, the 60,000-mile warranty. “I have no interest in the risk of being one of the first of the Nissan Leaf if they do not return the product with a very strict security,” he writes. Another visitor, who claimed he had just finished take the survey, wrote, “I think they should go to the eighth year to compete with Chevrolet.”

Samsung has officially unveiled its T-Series range of laptops, although the company has yet to confirm prices.
The three devices are fronted by Q530, which targets business travelers and heavy mobile users.
Weighing in at 2.39kg, Q530 comes with a 15.6in HD LED screen, boasting a 1366 x 768 resolution and 16:09 aspect ratio. The device also comes with the latest Nvidia GeForce 330M GT graphics card. Storage options range up to 640GB.
The Q430 shares the same features as the Q530, but with a 14in screen and weighs 0.3kg less.
Meanwhile, the Q330 is highly portable at just 1.97kg and packs a 13.3in LED display HD. It is equipped with a hybrid graphics feature, automatically alternating between graphics mode Intel graphics card and the Nvidia GeForce HD 310M. This allows it to last up to seven hours on a single charge, according to Samsung.
All three laptops come with Samsung AllShare, a function that allows users to share multimedia files with Samsung cameras and mobile handsets using the Digital Living Network Alliance.
An ad-only Wi-Fi connectivity means the Q model series can copy files, images, music or share information with any other PC.
Battery life for the Q Series is claimed to be six hours with a 5200 mAh battery or seven hours on 5900 mAh battery. It could be boosted with Extended Battery Life Samsung’s solution, the firm said.
The Q-Series is out later this month going head-to-head with Toshiba’s R700, a 13in, 1.3kg laptop business that supports Intel’s latest i3, i5 and i7 chipsets. Toshiba claimed nine hours of battery life on a single charge. The R700 will be available in mid-July with prices starting around £ 699.
Prices for Samsung T-Series is reported to start at £ 599. V3.co.uk contact the manufacturer and is awaiting confirmation.

On Thursday, as President Obama toured the Michigan electric car battery plant supported with 151 million U.S. dollars in stimulus money, his administration is on the offensive to prove that the Recovery Act is money well spent. Part of that push is focusing on “tens of thousands of American job” that has come out of the federal investments battery.

Republicans Mr Obama called out during a conference call on Wednesday. “If they have their way, we are breaking ground,” he said. “The industry can not be done here.”

According to the White House, a half-dozen cabinet members and senior administration officials are on the road this week visiting Ev and battery companies have benefited from the stimulus funds. The HUD Secretary, Shaun Donovan, said the introduction of a federal public supported Ev headquarters in New York on Wednesday that the Recovery Act was created or saved 3,000,000 job and was on track for 3.5 million.

According to an Energy Department report released on Wednesday night, the $ 2400000000 in grant money given to the advanced battery and vehicle manufacturing are matched by participating companies “in the minimum dollar for dollar.” The report claimed that the United States made only 2 percent of the world’s Ev battery before the Recovery Act, but is able to produce 20 percent by 2012 and as much as 40 percent by 2015.

The report also said that all nine of battery plants opening as a result of incentive funds are broken ground and four are up and running by the end of this year. Said it was because of his investments there are over 20,000 Ev charging stations in the United States by 2012, up from fewer than 500 before the Recovery Act. The Energy Department is supporting two programs, and the Ev ChargePoint America Project, to set free Ev charger on the road in selected regions.

The Department of Energy report makes some very optimistic predictions about Ev battery pack. It says that between 2009 and 2013, “as 20 Recovery Act-funded factories begin to achieve economies of scale,” battery costs may drop by half. It is predicted that a “common” package with 100-mile range that costs $ 33,333 in 2009 could fall to $ 3,333 in 2030. It also says that the weight of such a pack may drop 75 percent.

“Battery weight and costs are coming down, but there are political agendas at play in the report,” said Erich Merkle, president of automotive Autoconomy.com analysis and consulting firm. “Do you want a certain outcome and look for information to support that outcome.”

Asked for comment, a spokeswoman White House, Amy Brundage, referred reporters to President Obama’s remarks on Thursday at the plant compact Power in Holland, Mich.., Which will make cell battery for the Chevrolet Volt and electric Ford Focus . Mr. Obama said that the goal of the program is incentive to “unleash private sector growth.” Despite the views of critics, he said, the United States would not be better off if the Holland plant has not been developed.

Hewlett-Packard intends to waive the fees of battery recycling technology section, and instead of giving a patent to the initiative, which aims to duplicate the benefits of open source development, through patents for sustainable technology available without royalties.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) announced late last week that HP will include, inter alia, IBM, Nokia and Sony in some of its patented technology freely available under the Eco-Patent Commons. Programme, launched in January 2008, the WBCSD is a joint venture and IBM, Nokia, Sony and Pitney Bowes.

“The aim of photography is that the free exchange of these patents lead to new collaborations and innovations aimed at helping others more organic and / or actions in a more sustainable manner,” said Björn Stigson, WBCSD president.
Battery Recycling

HP contributes three patents on the system, which attracted over one hundred such donations so far. Tech giant contributions patent on battery recycling station, which allows consumers to replace worn batteries with new ones or credit.

The company has also submitted a patent on a process that claims to eliminate the need for antioxidant, metal coatings, in certain stages of the microprocessor and assembly of printed circuit boards.

Illegal dumping and hardware failures in developing countries is associated with the exploration of precious metals in the equipment. Eliminating the use of gold and other materials in information systems have the potential to restrict trade in used equipment that has consequences for the health of workers and pose a risk to the environment from which fetching materials for water supply and toxic substances from combustion.

HP has also contributed to a system that monitors the “energy consumption associated with a bad weld on assembly lines, which affects the energy efficiency of certain production processes.

According to the WBCSD’s not expected to donate “their crown jewels” in the commercially lucrative patents, but those that can bring benefits to society, but do not have a high potential for loss.

“Leading companies and universities may have several patents, which provide benefits to the environment and does not constitute an important source of business benefits for them maintains the organization.
Open Source Model

WBCSD adds that the open source approach to software development has been the inspiration for the system. “As shown in the open source, free sharing of knowledge, can provide fertile ground for new cooperation and innovation”, says the organization. “Sharing of environmental patents can help others to become greener and to act in a sustainable manner for the environment – promoting innovative solutions and technologies to meet social innovation.”

In May, the German court in favor of Siemens, in the case, critics contend that allowing the patentability of software of any kind in this country, contrary to the declared policy of the European Union.