1. Memory

One of the upgrades that is likely to have the most impact on any laptop is upgrading the memory. A computer with more memory is able to run more programs at once without slowdowns and can also help you open and edit large documents more quickly. Upgrading the memory is often fairly inexpensive and easy to do, so upgrade your laptop to the maximum amount of memory supported to get the most from the upgrade.

2. Hard Drive

Upgrading the hard drive in your laptop is a great way to get more storage for your important files, but it can also provide a performance boost. Upgrading from a 5200 RPM drive to a 7200 RPM or faster drive will boost performance, or you may even consider adding an SSD for faster boot times and a huge performance boost. Make sure to backup your important data before you attempt the upgrade.

3. Battery If your laptop is more than a year old, you may find that your battery does not last as long as it did when new. Battery capacity degrades over time, so replacing the battery with a new one is a great upgrade that will allow you to spend more time away from power outlets. Adding a second battery is also a great idea for doubling your battery life.

4. AC Adapter

An AC Adapter may seem out of place on a list of upgrades, but adding a second AC Adapter to your laptop setup can add extra convenience. Keeping an adapter plugged into the wall in your office and one at home, for example, makes it easy to quickly move from one location to another without the hassle of carrying an adapter around with you.

With these inexpensive and simple upgrades, you can add performance and convenience to your laptop experience, and almost anyone can perform these simple upgrades with a little planning and research.

With so many laptops in the price range and class of the HP G42t, this model hasn’t gotten a lot of attention in HP’s press releases, and in fact, there is little to differentiate it from most in its class. What you do get for price, however, is a good combination of solid hardware and good design.

With its 14 inch diagonal BrightView LED display, the HP G42t is a little smaller than the more common 15 or 15.4 inch laptops in its class. This subtracts very little from screen size, still providing a resolution of 1366 x 768, but it does make it a bit more portable and lightweight. The machine measures 13.46 inches by 8.97 inches by 1.43 inches, and weighs only 4.85 pounds, making it a very portable solution. In fact, the lightweight design of the HP G42t might be one of its more appealing factors. You get a full-featured notebook with a larger screen than smaller netbooks, but only a little extra weight.

Battery life is solid, at up to 5.5 hours. Those looking for netbook-like battery life might consider a second battery as an option to extend its battery life through an entire work day.

Upgrade options abound, as the buyer can choose a variety of Dual Core Intel processors or even upgrade to Core i3 and i5 processors for even more speed. Memory up to 4 GB is supported, and hard drive sizes from 250 GB to 640 GB are available to customize to the buyer’s specific needs.

The HP G42t may not have the bells and whistles of more compelling laptop models, but it offers a good combination of performance and portability. Its smaller 14 inch screen and lightweight frame may appeal to those who need more than a netbook but don’t want a lot of extra weight.

The HP AT908AA has a power consumption rating of 93Wh. It measures 2 cm by 7.5 cm by 20.5 cm and weighs .48 kg. It is compatible with a wide range of HP laptops, but is mainly designed for the ProBook and EliteBook series. It is one of many options to consider when wishing to extend the battery life of these laptops.

Most of the laptops in these series include a standard 6-cell battery, which fits snugly in the battery compartment of the laptop. Users who wish to upgrade can choose a large 12-cell ultra-capacity battery that will add significantly to the battery life, but also adds a lot of extra bulk, making the laptop much less portable, as it will generally have to be used on a desk or table. Another option is HP’s extended life battery which can be used in addition to the standard battery. This model also adds bulk to the laptop, however.

The HP AT908AA, on the other hand, is larger than the original battery, offering up to 8-10 hours of battery life, but only adding a little extra bulk and weight, as it fits into the existing battery compartment while sticking out slightly farther than the standard battery. This makes it a good compromise for extra battery life while maintaining portability and not significantly altering the shape and usability of the laptop.

For buyers who want great battery life without the extra bulk of other offerings, the HP AT908AA is a great choice. Its relatively low price will help a user get through an entire work day without adding extra weight to a laptop bag.

When looking to replace the battery on an HP laptop, you’ll first want to locate your model number. If you flip the laptop upside down, there is a white sticker that lists pertinent information to the build of your machine. Here you will find the exact number of your product, for example “HP Compaq 6735s” or “HP Pavilion dv9000t”. Then, beneath your product number, you will see a series of digits and characters listed after “p/n:” Record the numbers here, up to the “#” which denotes the end of the model number. With these, you can search at an online retailer or local shop and find a replacement that is compatible with your machine.

If you are looking for an exact replacement for your battery, or are unable to identify your exact machine, remove the battery from the machine and flip it over. On the underside of the battery will be a white sticker listing the exact part number of the component, which you can then take to a retailer or online store and order an exact replacement for your part.

If you are ordering a battery for a backup, be sure to store the battery charged at 40% capacity in a cool, dry place between zero and sixty degrees Celsius, or 32 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, switch your main battery and secondary battery periodically to make sure both remain in working order for years to come.

Dell laptop batteries are made with Lithium-ion technology, in 6-, 9-, and 12-cell formats. Lithium-Ion batteries are light-weight, have high charge-capacity, and require minimal “Conditioning” procedures. It is immensely important to condition Lithium-ion batteries for Dell laptops, every two to three weeks. This can prevent the battery life from depleting, and maximizes the replacement Dell battery’s performance.

If replacement laptop batteries go without routine conditioning, it can result in significantly a shorter battery life. Failure to use the proper AC adapter, with Dell laptop batteries, can also be hazardous. It can potentially create permanent damage to the battery, notebook, or both units. The battery can become dependent on the charger in order to function, and fail to retain any amount of battery life. Using the proper AC adapter helps to ensure optimal performance of the replacement battery for Dell devices.

Dell laptop batteries are CE Certified, through third party test laboratories and certification bodies. The CE seal of approval, certifies that the battery replacements for Dell notebooks have met EU consumer safety, health, and environmental requirements. The CE marking is mandatory on all products sold within the 27 countries of the EU, as well as with all countries that are members of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Since laptop computer batteries are rechargeable batteries, they also undergo a self-discharge when unused for extended amounts of time. Often, new laptop batteries are equipped with internal microprocessor circuits, that optimize the management of battery energy. These batteries are called “Smart Batteries” and also set the charger to the correct charge algorithm, predict running time, and provide a state-of-charge (SoC) indication. There are three primary forms of laptop computer batteries, Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium Ion (LiON).

NiCd notebook batteries were the first rechargeable batteries ever manufactured for laptop computers, and were relatively inexpensive, with high outputs. NiMH batteries were then released, and can still be seen on various laptop notebooks. They easily surpassed NiCd laptop batteries in reliability, cost, safety and capacity. The recently developed LiON batteries have become the most popular with today’s manufacturers, and are much lighter in weight than its predecessors.

To maintain optimal performance with laptop computer batteries, it is important to make sure that the  metal connecters are cleaned and free from damage. Also, avoid leaving the device powered-on overnight while charging. The laptop should be turned off occasionally, and it can be damaging to the notebook’s battery, to be continuously charging while powered on. When the device is shut down and powered-off, it is suggested to connect the power cable, to keep the internal battery cells moving at all times.