IrDA and power consumption

[yak]

Hi,

are there any estimates how much of the battery time is wasted if the IrDA port is enabled all the time in a ThinkPad (particullary T41)?

And is it enough to disable it in Windows (in ThinkPad configuration utility or Hardware Manager, which seems to be the same) or do I have to disable it in BIOS to save the power? I would like to be able to quickly turn it on when needed without shuting down the system.

Edit: Disabling in Windows seems to be enough cause I see no blinking when I look at the IrDA port using a camera-phone (normally you can see the blinking there because, in contrast to human eye, these devices "see" the infrared range). Anyone willing to confirm?

[Paul Unger]

I have mine turned off at the BIOS level. Never use it . . .

[jdhurst]

I would say battery time difference would not be noticeable. My infrared port is always on, and after 4 years, battery time is much more a function of battery aging. Batteries age noticeably, and inexorably from the day they are new. ... JDH