Download the InfoCountdown Battery Timer
Try InfoWorld's multiplatform battery life calculator today!
Find out how long your battery actually lasts using InfoWorld's exclusive calculator, a Java applet that runs in Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
This simple Java program, written by InfoWorld Test Center's Andrew Binstock, provides an easy way to measure the battery life of your Windows, Mac, or Linux laptop -- or any laptop running Java.
The program runs continuously, writing the current and elapsed times to the screen and disk every ten seconds. This generates a regular, intermittent disk and screen I/O operation. If you configure the notebook so the screen is permanently on, the screen saver is disabled, and hibernation is turned off, the timings should represent the maximum battery life for very light but continuous work.
Ordinarily, you'll want to run it until your battery quits. Otherwise, you can stop it by typing Ctrl+C at the command prompt, or killing the corresponding Java process in the Windows Task Manager or the Mac's Activity Monitor.
Find out how long your battery actually lasts using InfoWorld's exclusive calculator, a Java applet that runs in Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
