Microsoft has launched their latest and greatest operating system, Windows 7.  One of the qualities they feature is improved Power Management. The focus of power saving is to extend a laptop’s battery life.

“Windows 7 is designed to help your battery last longer.

How? For starters, Windows 7 runs with fewer background activities so your PC processor doesn’t work as hard and draws less power. Other innovations include less power-hungry DVD playback (handy on long flights), automatic screen dimming, powering off unused ports, and a more accurate battery-life indicator. So you’ll be less likely to be surprised by a dead battery.”

Windows 7 also has more energy saving options for IT administrators.  Per Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s chief environmental strategist, “Windows 7 is the first [Microsoft] operating system to operate at this granular level” of control over energy-saving options, the server and client interaction allows IT [departments] to run a power-efficiency diagnostics chart and then use that information to adjust PCs for optimum operation.”

Monitor brightness can account for as much as 40 percent of overall system power consumption; with Windows 7, by default, the screen can dim but not go completely black when the system is left idle, saving energy but not frustrating the user with the need to awaken a black screen. Microsoft estimated 70% of business PC users leave their PCs on at night for various reasons. Windows 7 is also a lot smarter at reducing power consumption for expansion ports and peripherals.  Power Efficiency diagnostics have also been added.

Clearly Windows 7 has many more hooks to help users, IT departments, and hardware companies to save energy.  In the end, all three must work together to achieve meaningful savings.