11" + lowest brightness, light use.... how long will the battery last?

[mattcube64]

I know I'm do for a rotation in my computers in the coming months, and not really sure how I want to go about upgrading everything.

Just a quick question. I see that with moderate use (half brightness, constant web use) I can expect to get about 4-5hrs of life.

When I'm on campus all day writing in the library, I can get away with the lowest brightness setting, and will only use internet to browse flash-free forums and check my email. In that case, any idea how long I might be able to squeeze out of the 11"? Thanks!

 

[drjsway]

lowest brightness, flash-free internet, e-mail, I can get 9+ hours. However, I can only comfortably use lowest brightness in a pitch dark room (sometimes I write through the night). For me, it was be uncomfortably dark in the library.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

with brightness set at 50% i get about 5 hours if im browsing the web. thats with flash content here or there. with gchat.

If i have wifi off and Im work processing, i can easily reach 7 hours.

If i'm watching a movie, it's somewhere between 2.5 to 3 hours. depending on the movie and bit-rate.

I usually bring it to work and it lasts me the whole day. Now, i don't use it all the time. i just use my macbook for personal stuff while doing all my work stuff on my work computer but on/off i can go 10-12 hours easily.

 

[acron1]

I know I'm do for a rotation in my computers in the coming months, and not really sure how I want to go about upgrading everything.

Just a quick question. I see that with moderate use (half brightness, constant web use) I can expect to get about 4-5hrs of life.

When I'm on campus all day writing in the library, I can get away with the lowest brightness setting, and will only use internet to browse flash-free forums and check my email. In that case, any idea how long I might be able to squeeze out of the 11"? Thanks!

In a case where you will be closing the lid when not in use (remember instant on) like in a library as you are doing research you may be able to get that or more...

 

[Over Achiever]

I've used it at 2 bars brightness (almost lowest setting) in a pitch dark radiologists room, checking e-mail, browsing, minimal flash use if any. I got close to seven hours of battery life or so.

 

[ggf]

I know I'm do for a rotation in my computers in the coming months, and not really sure how I want to go about upgrading everything.

My experience using an 11" air on a plane at the lowest brightness settings for word-processing and presentations is that after about 4 hours, the indicator still shows about 4.5 hours left. I think you would get 5 hours comfortably for the type of use you are proposing

 

[bossxii]

I know I'm do for a rotation in my computers in the coming months, and not really sure how I want to go about upgrading everything.

Just a quick question. I see that with moderate use (half brightness, constant web use) I can expect to get about 4-5hrs of life.

When I'm on campus all day writing in the library, I can get away with the lowest brightness setting, and will only use internet to browse flash-free forums and check my email. In that case, any idea how long I might be able to squeeze out of the 11"? Thanks!

I would say your 4 to 5 hours would be doable. I had seen 4h 20m to 4h 40m consistant battery life with the 11" MBA set at 75% brightness at the office using 90% web/email/forums and a few video's from ESPN, Weather channel, news clips. Maybe 20 mins of video in total. Flash was installed but using Safari with the Clicktoflash extension to block everything but what I clicked on.

Using it at home with 25% brightness while couch surfing but probably using Youtube a fair bit, would see 5h to 5h 30m. Considering it's size, fairly impressive battery life.

 

[Lord Appleseed]

Why, for Christ's sake, would anyone work with LOWEST Brightness?
It's way too dark, colors look crappy and the experience of Internet, Videos and Pictures in general is drained.

 

[Over Achiever]

Why, for Christ's sake, would anyone work with LOWEST Brightness?
It's way too dark, colors look crappy and the experience of Internet, Videos and Pictures in general is drained.

It all depends on your ambient light. I can use 2 bars comfortably in a dark room, and 6-8 bars in a lighted room provided sunlight isn't directly behind me or anything. To each their own!

 

[PBG4 Dude]

It all depends on your ambient light. I can use 2 bars comfortably in a dark room, and 6-8 bars in a lighted room provided sunlight isn't directly behind me or anything. To each their own!

+1

I personally prefer a dimmer screen as it doesn't dry my eyes out as fast as a bright screen.

 

[Kenrik]

I got 4:25 min with Full brightness with very light internet usage.
(timed with a stopwatch app)

 

[Lostanddamned]

Why, for Christ's sake, would anyone work with LOWEST Brightness?
It's way too dark, colors look crappy and the experience of Internet, Videos and Pictures in general is drained.

To extend battery life as stated in the thread?

Low brightness, limited wifi use and so on, my MacBook (the aluminium unibody from 08) can comfortably manage 4.5 hours and then maybe 20 more minutes with wifi off and waiting for it to die.

When taking notes at uni I often switch the brightness right off as I'm not looking at the screen anyway.