In follow up to my post about tips to save laptop power when running on a battery, I missed the most obvious, yet significant factor: the battery itself.

When you are buying a laptop, you should almost always opt for an upgraded battery. If you think about it, you will probably have your laptop for several years, so spending an extra $50 (or however much it costs) over the course of time is really not too significant. Considering you don’t know when you will need it and your battery cells can significantly improve the usage time when you are unplugged, the cost is well worth it.

I know when you order laptops from Dell, you have the option to upgrade from a 6 cell to a 9 cell battery and I always go for it. Just keep this in mind the next time you are purchasing a laptop.