hello everybody

i was happy to get the FMV U8240 (or U810) mini laptop, but since i experienced that the battery lasts for only 2 1/4 hours (140min) using Vista ...

therefore, I want to use a linux whereby the battery time is as long as possible.

what i want/need is only a desktop with icons, wireless lan (for internet browsing, but without any scripts, flash players and so on) and a text processor similar to wordpad.
that is because i want to use the laptop mainly for taking notes in the lectures and study-related internet browsing (so nothing like flash players, scripts or other luxury stuff needed).
the linux may be more comfortable, but better not if this would shorten the battery time. the main interest is to make the battery time as long as possible (because i have a long day in the university).

can you tell me which linux i shall take? ... possibly, which linux is especially programmed to save battery?


what i tried until now: i installed puppy linux on a usb drive. but - i am wondering why - the battery time was nearly same about 2 1/4 hours. i don't know why, but i guess that puppy does not switch off the hard disk, does not lower the power for the graphic card, the performance of any accelerators and so to save energy ... (???)

You aren't going to get a dramatic improvement over Windows as far as battery life, it does nearly all that is possible to save battery as it is. The only thing Linux can really do to save battery is use less resources, but this doesn't give a major improvement.

There is really no version of Linux that is better at battery saving than any other, they all have the same basic tools to do it. It is all in how you configure them.

Hardcore solution: write your own minimal kernel

Softcore solution: try powertop and see if there are "easy" possibilities of expanding your battery life.

Fun to try?

With Puppy and a USB stick you don't need a hard drive at all.....

So you could take it out completely.....

That would save you weight, and whatever power the hard drive used....

Not sure how big of an issue the hard drive is in the scheme of overall power consumption, but it might be fun to try anyhow...

THANX a lot for your information!

it's good to know that i cannot choose a wrong distribution.
i'll go on with puppy on usb stick and try to configure it power-saving - found a nice site with tips to do this while searching for powerTOP: http://www.lesswatts.org/.