Notebook manufacturers are looking for innovative ways to combine hardware and software technologies to maximize battery life and power management. This makes it difficult to keep the system under five pounds. However, new battery chemistry may soon provide longer life and lighter weight. In the meantime, many users buy spare batteries to compensate for short battery life. Preferences Notebook keyboards come in a variety of sizes and designs, and buyers should test them for comfort.
Many notebooks provide almost full-size keyboards, which are preferable for many tasks.
Larger keyboards are sometimes available as peripherals. Pointer preference also varies from one user to another. Most notebooks come with either a basic trackball or touchpad. However, some users might not find them comfortable to use. Different types of pointers, such as scrolling or programmable mouse buttons, can be hooked up to notebooks, and a standard mouse can usually be attached to a port.