It's tough to get things done on your laptop when your battery's gone dead. We previously showed you 15 ways to score more battery juice, but as it turns out, using the right browser can also help.
Tech analysis web site AnandTech ran a "browser face-off" to see which browser, among those tested, fared better in the battery preservation department. Specifically, they continually loaded three web sites (AnandTech and two unnamed sites) on three laptops (a Gateway NV52 and NV58, and an ASUS Eee PC 1005HA), testing each computer's battery life using Safari (version 4.0.3), Chrome (version 2.0.172.43), Firefox (version 3.5.2), Internet Explorer (version 8.0.6001.18813), and Opera (versions 9.6.4 and 10 Beta 3) browsers.
The results? The inevitable margin of error (e.g., network issues, notebook brands, and so on) aside, their tests showed that in some cases, there was a 30% difference between the worst browser, Safari, and the best one, (um) Internet Explorer 8. In fact, IE8 even beat out Firefox with AdBlock installed.
This battery test isn't the ultimate measure of a browser, but if you're really desperate to get the most from your laptop battery, it offers some interesting insights. (For our part, we can't imagine using IE8 just for the battery boost.) If you want to see how the various browsers match up on more substantive tests, check out our most recent browser performance tests.
Browse the full post for all the relevant details. If you're looking for more ways to extend your battery life, check out previously mentioned system monitoring software BatteryCare for more detailed battery information and one-click battery savers.
Browser Face-Off: Battery Life Explored [AnandTech via Gizmodo]