home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Short Description
- -----------------
-
- Battery Master(TM) works on battery powered computers to monitor
- and predict battery performance based on computer use. It
- displays critical information about the amount of battery power
- remaining and can be popped up within other programs. Battery
- Master's features include automatic installation, 5 alarms,
- Calibrate(TM) which allows it to learn the characteristics of
- your computer and displays a history of prior performance, Quick
- Discharge which reduces memory effect and custom configurability
- for ALL battery powered computers.
-
-
- Long Description
- ----------------
-
- Battery Master was written to make the use of your battery
- powered portable computer easier and less frustrating. It
- provides a gauge or meter to estimate the power of your
- computer's battery. Battery Master is a TSR (Terminate and Stay
- Resident) program that can be popped-up while you are using other
- programs. It displays useful information pertaining to your
- battery such as the battery time remaining, percent battery
- remaining, time elapsed since recharge, and capacity at the
- current usage rate. With Battery Master, you can better plan the
- use of your battery powered computer and avoid loosing
- information as a result of a power loss. You will welcome the
- following features:
-
-
- ■ Automatic Installation
-
- Installation of Battery Master onto your portable computer is
- fully automatic. Battery Master automatically configures itself
- for over 75 models of battery powered computers. The data used
- for configuration is based on actual testing rather than
- manufacturer claims. If your computer is not specifically
- supported, simply select the generic configuration and Battery
- Master will learn the characteristics of your machine after each
- recharge.
-
-
- ■ Pop-Up Battery Gauge
-
- The heart of Battery Master is its pop-up battery gauge that is
- displayed on the first page of this pamphlet. This screen can be
- popped-up while you are using your application programs. It
- provides a graphical gauge of your computer's remaining battery
- power. From this screen you also control alarms that give an
- audible warning as battery power diminishes.
-
-
- ■ Color Support
-
- If you own one of the new colored laptops, you will be pleased to
- know that Battery Master supports your color monitor.
-
-
- ■ Flexible Resident Clock
-
- When Battery Master is running in the background, you can
- configure it so that a clock is displayed in the upper right hand
- corner of the screen displaying the battery time remaining or
- simply the time of day.
-
-
- ■ Five Alarms
-
- Five alarms are available to alert you as battery power
- diminishes. Even if you forget to pop-up the Battery Master main
- screen, you have an audible warning as battery power diminishes.
-
-
- ■ Intelligent Calibration
-
- Battery Master keeps a history of your computer's battery
- performance so that it can learn the characteristics of your
- particular computer. As your history file builds after a series
- of recharges, Battery Master's Calibrate(TM) feature will make
- suggestions in an effort to help Battery Master more precisely
- predict consumption based on your particular usage
- characteristics.
-
-
- ■ Graphic Display of Prior Performance
-
- Calibrate also displays a graphic bar chart of the performance
- history of your battery. This helps you identify the "memory
- effect" that is typical of NiCad batteries. "Memory effect"
- occurs when a battery is repeatedly recharged prior to being
- fully depleted. The battery remembers and as a result looses
- capacity. Once identified, "memory effect" can be reduced
- somewhat by a total discharge. This is accomplished using
- Battery Master's Total Discharge program.
-
-
- ■ Total Discharge
-
- Battery Master's Total Discharge program is used to quickly and
- completely discharge your computers battery. This helps reduce
- the "memory effect." Battery Master's
-
-
- ■ Methodology
-
- Battery Master estimates battery consumption by starting with a
- specific capacity for your computer. This value is either chosen
- by you or the installation program. While the computer is
- running, Battery Master records information concerning CPU speed,
- back lighting, modem usage and other information that influences
- battery consumption. Based on those factors over time, Battery
- Master calculates the capacity and battery time remaining at the
- current usage rate. If you change the CPU speed or one of the
- other factors controlled by Battery Master's main window, it
- instantly reacts by displaying revised figures for capacity and
- time remaining.
-
- Quotes from some users of Battery Master:
-
- "Excellent software"
- "Friendly user interface"
- "It has helped me avoid data loss"
- "A must for all laptop computer users"