Accelerometer API for Laptops

Question

Most IBM (and some Dell) laptops have built-in accelerometers to stop any moving parts during a sudden fall, but I was unable to find a standardised Windows API to access this data. I assume that each manufacturer would provide a driver to interface with the sensor.

1. Which popular laptop brands come standard with accelerometers accessible from an API and which libraries should I use to access the data?
2. Does an API* exist to abstract away the differences between different manufacturers? I am aware of the Windows 7 Sensor API, but I would like support for XP and earlier.

Answer 1

Most reputable notebook vendors have accelerometers to park the hard drive head if the notebook is accidentally dropped or is abruptly impacted by another object (i.e. when a certain acceleration threshold is exceeded). For example, my HP has its "HP 3D DriveGuard". However this technology is embedded low-level, it seems to work even if the OS is not loaded, so I suppose it is in the BIOS. I suppose that it is exposed just an ACPI way to enable or disable this technology. So, even on Windows 7 with standardized sensor APIs it is not accessible as a standard accelerometer like in a smartphone. Maybe in future if market demands it (but I don't think so).