Should I Enable or Disable this?

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Below is information about the difference between Desktop Mode and Longevity Mode. Once you know the difference and their functions it will easier for you to choose the option that best fits your needs.

The easiest way to get the best battery life out of your Dell laptop is to select one of the preconfigured power plans. The preonfigured power plans automatically adjust key settings that can have a significant impact on battery life, such as reducing screen brightness or dimming the display when you are not actively using your laptop.

To extend battery life as long as possible during a working session

1. Turn off wireless - Your wireless card is a significant drain on your battery. If you don't need to be connected to a wireless network, then you should turn off wireless. Press the F2 key or use the wireless switch to turn wireless on and off.
2. Avoid multitasking - If you limit the number of applications you have running or the number of windows or tabs you have open, your battery will last longer.
3. Limit power-intensive activities - Batteries will last a lot longer if you are reading emails and editing documents than if you are watching a movie or playing  a video game.

Change the Power Plan

1. On the notification area of the taskbar,  right-click the Battery icon.
2. On the options list, click Power Options.
3. Select a power plan on the battery meter, such as Power Saver or Balanced.

Change the Power Management Plan.

• Change your power plan settings to shut down your screen and hard drive when not in use.

• Preserve Your Battery Charge

  • Remove USB powered devices whenever possible.
  • Close all unnecessary programs when not in use.
  • Decrease the screen brightness.

  Keep the Vents clear.

  Make sure all the vents are clear and free from dust and debris. If the vents are blocked in any way, the system will struggle to keep the airflow moving and the system fans will be constantly working to keep the system cool. This dramatically reduces the battery performance. If you are using the system on a soft cover or on your lap, use a tray or other hard surface to ensure all the vents are kept clear.

  Turn off the backlit feature on your keyboard, if your computer has that feature.

Extending battery lifecycle

Leaving your laptop plugged in all the time or never allowing your battery to fully charge when it's plugged in can actually reduce your battery's charge capacity and shorten its lifecycle. However, Dell has introduced two new battery charge settings, Dell Desktop Mode and Dell Longevity Mode, that help extend a laptop's battery pack lifecycle.

Desktop Mode

Desktop Mode monitors the charge status of the laptop battery, and if it spends most of the time at 100 percent charge while connected to the power adapter, Desktop Mode will automatically adjust the charge levels of the battery. The adjustments include regularly allowing the  battery to discharge or drain, even while plugged in. The benefits help slow the reduction of charge capacity over time and may even decrease the need to purchase a replacement battery during the life of your laptop.

To turn on Desktop Mode in Microsoft Windows

1. On the notification area of the taskbar, right-click the Battery icon.
2. On the options list, click Dell Extended Battery Life Options. The Battery Meter dialog  box is displayed.
3. Click the Desktop Mode tab.
4. Click Enable to turn on Desktop Mode.
5. Click OK.

Dell Longevity Mode

Longevity Mode monitors the charging and discharging behavior of your battery. If you're frequently connecting and disconnecting your laptop to a power source without allowing the battery to charge fully, Longevity Mode will moderate the extent to which your battery charges to protect your laptop battery health.

To turn on Longevity Mode in Microsoft Windows

1. On the notification area of the taskbar, right-click the Battery icon.
2. On the options list, click Dell Extended Battery Life Options. The Battery Meter dialog box is displayed.
3. Click the Longevity Mode tab.
4. Click  Enable to turn on Longevity Mode.
5. Click OK.