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Despite the improvements that the Intel Sonoma platform has brought to battery life, this aspect of mobile computing still has the capability to frustrate users at the most inconvenient moments. A system shut down always seems to occur when there is no mains power source available and there is a need to complete a task within a tight deadline. It has happened to me and if something similar has not happened to you then you are incredible lucky or a very infrequent user of your laptop. Whichever category you fall into, you might be interested in a solution offered by APC (American Power Corporation).

Backed by its impressive record within the UPS (Uninterrupted Power System) arena, APC has turned its attentions towards helping free the laptop user from the constraints of a 3 to 5 hour battery life. This particular solution comes in the form of its Universal Notebook Battery which promises up to eight hours of continuous power for most laptops. A list of compatible laptops with power setting information is attached to the packaging.

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Opening the bubble packaging, which proved to be the most difficult task associated with this product (there must be an easier, more convenient way to encase a product), reveals the battery unit, a connecting lead with two heads at one end, a number of adapters suitable for a range of laptops plus a User Manual on a CD. It is immediately obvious that, although the supplied lead is meant to provide the power recharging facility, there is no plug for connecting to a power source. Instead you need to use the AC/DC power adapter that comes with your laptop.

The battery weighs 2lbs, measuring 2540 x 1651 x 152mm (H x W x D) and is charcoal in colour with a centrally positioned APC logo. Before making use of the battery you need to peal off a couple of sticky labels. The label on the left reveals the various voltage settings that are available to cover various laptops. A selector switch needs to be set to the setting that corresponds to the laptop. If this information can not be found on the laptop then you will need to refer to the Compatible Guide supplied with the battery.

The second label, on the right, covers the power connection socket. To this you need to attach the single end of the supplied lead. As mentioned earlier this lead has a double-headed end. One of these ends can be affixed to the laptop power adapter and charging can be implemented. A series of LEDs on the battery indicate the progress on the process which should take around 3 hours for a first time charge. When all four LEDS turn blue then the battery holds a full charge. You can then attach the other end to the laptop using an appropriate adapter.

Under normal circumstances, when offered a choice of mains or battery power, a laptop will default to mains power. However the APC device has the capability to fool the laptop into believing it is a mains power source and thus the laptop will use it rather than its own internal battery. Furthermore, as well as powering the laptop, the APC battery will also recharge the internal battery at the same time as if it was a mains power source. Up to eight hours will be available but this figure will depend on factors such as how much internal recharging is required and the use of power-hungry applications.

While you can buy a second battery for your laptop, this can prove expensive and still limit you to a similar time constraint as before. It will also only be compatible with your current laptop. The APC battery, on the other hand, should give longer battery life and has the ability to recharge the internal battery. It can also be used with other compatible laptops if the need should arise. In some cases you will have to pay more for a proprietary brand than the £179.99 APC is asking for its product. I know which one I will choose.

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=UPB80I