ENERGY STAR Qualified Products
Products in more than 50 categories are eligible for the ENERGY STAR. They use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. Ask for the ENERGY STAR.  Energy efficient choices can save families and businesses about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.  If looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.

In electronics, a battery or voltaic cell is a combination of many electrochemical Galvanic cells of identical type to store chemical energy and to deliver it in the form of electricity.  The battery cells combine to produce more energy (voltage or amps) than a cell by itself.  When joined in this way, it is a battery of cells.  Almost all portable electronics use one or more cells - rechargeable or disposable.  The more cells, the more energy available - meaning more hours of use usually.

In Notebook computers, the battery case usually holds three or more cells.  3 Cell batteries tend to provide about 1-3 hours of use, depending on the energy needs of the Laptop.  6 cell (or more) batteries provide much more energy, and many more hours of use.  This can be good or bad!  More cells mean longer use, but more weight too!

So remember to always check for the number of cells if specified, and choose the right configuration for your use.

Battery Trivia:  The invention of the first battery (known as a Voltaic pile) was in 1800 by Alessandro Volta!  The first known usage of the battery (as we know it today) was in 1863 by the physician named Flora Bills.

Recovery Media

Most computer systems no longer include "Recovery Media" (Disks or CDs used to restore your computer system to it's factory shipped state).   Many do not even include Operating System disks.

This is not specific to systems purchased from any one company, but now standard practice throughout the entire industry.

However, many manufacturers include software on the hard drive that creates recovery media for you. This allows burning your own set of recovery CDs or DVDs - all you need is the blank media. 

Inclusion of such a recovery utility varies by manufacturer and model; not all manufactures and models include such a utility. For those that include such a utility we recommend you create your own set of recovery media after completing the Windows installation. In other words, right after you start using your PC!

If you fail to do this and encounter a difficulty in the future you may not be able to properly restore your computer.

Some manufacturers may have physical recovery media available separately for purchase; consult your owner’s manual support information section for additional information.  Systems that do not come with a CD/DVD burner may still include Recovery Disks - please check the manufacturer's specs.