Higher CPU Usage and Shorter Battery Life in Windows 7?

[r_manic]

To be clear, Windows 7 is faster on my XPS than XP was (same number of apps installed as my old XP installation). Yet is anyone else also experiencing higher average CPU usage and shorter battery lives? Life seriously goes down to 1:30, was 2:00 a few weeks under XP)

Any thing I can do about either? Figured Windows power plans won't work anyway, since I constantly use the laptop when unplugged.

 

[cjl]

Power plans should help - they affect more than you might think. Try setting it into power saving mode. Even so, I'm surprised. Why is firefox using so much CPU in that screenshot?

 

[boonality]

The power plans can make better than a 1 hour difference on battery. Power saver really is nice on battery, it doubles my battery life on a dell E1505.

 

[Scotteq]

Figured Windows power plans won't work anyway, since I constantly use the laptop when unplugged.

Use the Power Plan - problem Solved.

 

[r_manic]

Ok, will keep you guys posted...

Have no idea why Firefox is using up that much. What's your average CPU usage in Windows 7 guys?

The screenshot was taken after I just closed my three Prism apps (standalone Gmail, Google Insights, and Google Docs). Since it still runs on Firefox platform, does this have any effect?