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'7 hour battery'

C1raider said:
Picked up the new 13in today, fully charged it, while using wifi and 60%-90% brightness, I changed it a few times adjusting for ambient light conditions, I received just under 4 hours of battery life. I was using safari, youtube, downloaded a few movies, added some songs to itunes (didn't listen to them), installed a few programs, adjusted system settings, made a call on skype. I don't know what everyone here calls "normal usage" but I would call my actions "normal" for me at least. Sitting in a coffee shop writing an email on a barely lit screen with NOTHING else going on, i.e. no other applications in use, is NOT normal for me.

Im seriously wondering how much of a performance boost this new i5 gives....???
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Use it a few times and report back to us. Battery life is always shorter the first time you use it.

And I'm serious about reporting back, I do want to know what people will be getting with the new laptop (not considering buying one. Just curious if the battery life is better, same, or worse than my 2010). But I can't really use that info and be fair as new batteries do need a charge or two before they get full strength so to speak.
 
I EASILY get 9 hours out of my 2010 13" MBP when just surfing the web with brightness either halfway or just a little below halfway. I went through this whole thread and i didn't see anyone mention the fine print at the bottom. They may claim to have a new test, but the description of their testing sounds the same.

"The wireless web test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing 25 popular websites with display brightness set to 50%. Battery life varies by use and configuration. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information."

Sounds like the same test to me.
With wifi off and brightness higher, i still get about 10+ hours of battery life.
The only time i notice my battery life drop is if I'm on youtube or watching movies. If the test is strictly web browsing at 50% brightness, 7 hours is easily achieved with my 2010 MBP. The question is are they browsing 25 pages simultaneously, or do they mean 25 chosen pages to run the test on? I usually have about 4 or 5 tabs open when browsing the web.
 
juicedropsdeuce said:
.
No wonder Steve took a break. I wouldn't want to be around for this lackluster update. Throw in some new chips, lower the battery life, and add a port that can't even be used yet. Way to go Cook! :rolleyes:
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Do you have any idea how long product cycles take? Steve was definitely involved in this one...
 
juicedropsdeuce said:
.
No wonder Steve took a break. I wouldn't want to be around for this lackluster update. Throw in some new chips, lower the battery life, and add a port that can't even be used yet. Way to go Cook! :rolleyes:
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Jobs was around when this was designed.

Also, the MacBook, which didn't change, also has a lower battery life than it did yesterday.

http://www.apple.com/macbook/

The hating on the Thunderbolt is over the top. If Apple doesn't adopt a new technology (USB 3.0 or BluRay), it gets slammed. This time, Apple DOES adopt a new technology on the first day it is released, and it gets slammed.

No peripheral manufacturer would make any Thunderbolt devices unless they knew there were computers that could use it. In the meantime, it doubles as the Mini DisplayPort (meaning it takes up no more room and uses up no more port space). It seems to me to be the best of both worlds. It's useful now, and offers potential later.
 
C1raider said:
Picked up the new 13in today, fully charged it, while using wifi and 60%-90% brightness, I changed it a few times adjusting for ambient light conditions, I received just under 4 hours of battery life. I was using safari, youtube, downloaded a few movies, added some songs to itunes (didn't listen to them), installed a few programs, adjusted system settings, made a call on skype. I don't know what everyone here calls "normal usage" but I would call my actions "normal" for me at least. Sitting in a coffee shop writing an email on a barely lit screen with NOTHING else going on, i.e. no other applications in use, is NOT normal for me.

Im seriously wondering how much of a performance boost this new i5 gives....???
Click to expand...

So 4hrs is kind of low? or what do you think ? and what were u using before?
 
c0mplex said:
Sounds like the same test to me.
With wifi off and brightness higher, i still get about 10+ hours of battery life.
The only time i notice my battery life drop is if I'm on youtube or watching movies. If the test is strictly web browsing at 50% brightness, 7 hours is easily achieved with my 2010 MBP. The question is are they browsing 25 pages simultaneously, or do they mean 25 chosen pages to run the test on? I usually have about 4 or 5 tabs open when browsing the web.
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Yes, but as I pointed out, do we know what they used?

In the old tests it may be that the 10 hours was the max they reached. While the new tests they may average out their test results (which would make it lower) to come up with a more reasonable figure. Though if that is true they must have gotten a lot of much less than 7 hours as well results.

Or they may have had the computer more idle in the old test with those programs open and be more constantly using the computer in the new tests (I notice my computer predictions on battery life left varies depending on if I'm just reading something vs. actively using the computer).

Even doing the same programs, there are ways the new test could be more stringent.

Now, here's a question. Who here has a new MBA and how accurate have you found Apple's predictions with their new tests to actually fit the MBA?
 
KPOM said:
Also, the MacBook, which didn't change, also has a lower battery life than it did yesterday.
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That's what I noticed. There is nothing to indicate that the (white) Macbook has been upgraded or changed at all, yet the battery that was rated for "10 hours" last week, is rated for "7 hours" now.

This makes it seem very reasonable to infer that the battery has not changed in the MBP either (at least the 13"), and that today's "7 hour" battery is the same as yesterday's "10 hour" battery. Just a new rating method (as Apple mentions).
 
Most I have ever gotten out of 2010 MBP 13" is 6 1/2 hours. That is with brightness at 80%, bluetooth and airport both ON, and doing moderate typing and web surfing, while watching no more than a couple of youtube videos. Some people say they have gotten 10 hours or more on last years 13". I never really came close. To me I would rather use my computer like I normally do without having to turn a lot of features off, or lower my brightness. I've really never found the battery life to be a major issue. Though I suppose for those in college or school it could be a big issue.
 
Apple OC said:
I never get even 7 hours on my 10 hour battery ... but I am still OK with it :cool:
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splashnader said:
Most I have ever gotten out of 2010 MBP 13" is 6 1/2 hours. That is with brightness at 80%, bluetooth and airport both ON, and doing moderate typing and web surfing, while watching no more than a couple of youtube videos. Some people say they have gotten 10 hours or more on last years 13". I never really came close. To me I would rather use my computer like I normally do without having to turn a lot of features off, or lower my brightness. I've really never found the battery life to be a major issue. Though I suppose for those in college or school it could be a big issue.
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This seems odd to me. I get about 7.5 hours on the 2010. that's with wifi on, brightness to half, backlit keyboard on lowest (when it allows me to have it on, I just think it looks better with it on), bluetooth off (when I remember as I only need it for my magic mouse when I'm using it as a desktop where it is plugged in but it doesn't seem to seriously impact battery life to tell the truth), safari, MS Word, ssh, calculater, sudoko game.

Now, if I use Firefox that battery life goes down by 2 or more hours. So I admit I do change my habits when I'm on battery vs. power (But I don't need Firefox on when on battery so it's not impacting me too much).
 
FWIW apple states in the fine print that the 7 hour battery time on the 2011 13" was tested using the higher-end core i7 configuration, which probably sucks up more power than the base i5.
 
splashnader said:
Most I have ever gotten out of 2010 MBP 13" is 6 1/2 hours. That is with brightness at 80%, bluetooth and airport both ON, and doing moderate typing and web surfing, while watching no more than a couple of youtube videos. Some people say they have gotten 10 hours or more on last years 13". I never really came close. To me I would rather use my computer like I normally do without having to turn a lot of features off, or lower my brightness. I've really never found the battery life to be a major issue. Though I suppose for those in college or school it could be a big issue.
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thats a given brightness should not exceed 50% if you want any sort of life from battery but if you need 80% then theres not much of a choice there. Any sort of videos, streaming of otherwise will drain battery immensely. But I am sure you already know that. So yeah 6 hours+ seems about right.
 
iShater said:
As other threads have noted, they are using the newer battery tests, which are supposed to be more indicative of close-to-real-life.
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hmm I don't think you right...we talking about a kick azz refresh with QuadCore power hungry CPU ( the fast power mobil Quad Core on the market with a BUILT IN GPU faster then nVIDIA 320 M), 1Gb AMD Redion:cool::cool:, DDR3 Memory @ 1333 Mz...sound like a big breakfast for all the family.
 
tigress666 said:
This seems odd to me. I get about 7.5 hours on the 2010. that's with wifi on, brightness to half, backlit keyboard on lowest (when it allows me to have it on, I just think it looks better with it on), bluetooth off (when I remember as I only need it for my magic mouse when I'm using it as a desktop where it is plugged in but it doesn't seem to seriously impact battery life to tell the truth), safari, MS Word, ssh, calculater, sudoko game.

Now, if I use Firefox that battery life goes down by 2 or more hours. So I admit I do change my habits when I'm on battery vs. power (But I don't need Firefox on when on battery so it's not impacting me too much).
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U mean to say firefox drains more than whatever else u use wifi for?

I use Chrome mostly. I mostly use my mac in my room so usually 50% brightness is enuff, And backlit It depends if I remember but usually its more than 50% but I am going to try having it down. But for the fun of it I am gonna try n see how long i can stretch with some reasonable use.
 
jdaniel said:
U mean to say firefox drains more than whatever else u use wifi for?

I use Chrome mostly. I mostly use my mac in my room so usually 50% brightness is enuff, And backlit It depends if I remember but usually its more than 50% but I am going to try having it down. But for the fun of it I am gonna try n see how long i can stretch with some reasonable use.
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Firefox is a frikkin power hog. If it didn't have a few features (some kinda frivolous admittedly) that I really like that I haven't seen in Safari, I'd just switch to Safari as Safari uses less power and seems to run smoother (Firefox always ends up beachballing right after I start up).
 
VictoriaStudent said:
speaking of non relevancy.

"LOL I bet the battery life is just not as good as previous year's."

too true. Apple states so. Unless, of course, you are erroneously suggesting that Apple has somehow gone backwards in terms of battery technology?


Additionally, what does Apple say to a prior customer such as myself? They really don't have to say much.

My 13" MBP actually easily gets 10 hours battery life with wireless and low-brightness settings. W/o wireless, and not too frequently saving (in Pages) - I get more like 12-13 hours. Pretty impressive. However, with frequent saves, higher brightness and wireless...it manages around 7 hours. Sounds like Apple is doing a good job of offering consumers more realistic expectations - especially built around the new, higher-draw chips.

/thread
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...don't step in the BS with :apple: new battery technology test...
 
tigress666 said:
Firefox is a frikkin power hog. If it didn't have a few features (some kinda frivolous admittedly) that I really like that I haven't seen in Safari, I'd just switch to Safari as Safari uses less power and seems to run smoother (Firefox always ends up beachballing right after I start up).
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Hmmmm really maybe you have tons of plugins.. :) I have the basic and sometimes i open it bcoz chrome doesnt work for one or 2 pages and it is fine, no beachball, dont know about battery tho dont use it enuff... but noted.. LOL wont use firefox when I am stranded outside.
 
FWIW, I administer 3x current gen 13" MacBook Airs and 2x now previous gen 13" MacBook Pros.

The Airs hit or exceed their stated battery time using the more rigorous, real-life tests.

The Pros change quite a bit depending on use, from 13 hours stated on screen with not much going on (writing a doc in text edit, for example, with half-lit screens, wifi off), to 2 hours using Skype video group calling for remote meetings. The displayed battery life on the pros jumps all over the place, the Airs drain pretty consistently.

I'd expect the new MBPs to still be fairly inconsistent in what they're displaying, mainly due to the extra power needed to use HDDs versus SSDs in the Airs, but I would expect them to get the time stated under normal use (i.e 7 hours or more).

And note, downloading movies, whether torrent or iTunes, is not a normal productivity-based, or browsing task. That's processor, drive and wi-fi intensive so will easily chew battery fast.
 
MacbookSwitcher said:
Agreed.

My current MBP is broken so I have no choice but to upgrade...but a higher price for a modest upgrade with lower battery life is a bit disappointing.
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ITS NOT LOWER! Jesus Christ. They changed the way the battery is evaluated. the 2010 MBP's would be lower as well if they tested it the same way they're doing now.
 
NT1440 said:
Do you have any idea how long product cycles take? Steve was definitely involved in this one...
Click to expand...

But this isn't Light Peak. This is one just uses copper. So more than likely a Rev 2 will come which will be called Light Peak.

So I'm not so sure about it lasting very long.
 
vsighi said:
hmm I don't think you right...we talking about a kick azz refresh with QuadCore power hungry CPU ( the fast power mobil Quad Core on the market with a BUILT IN GPU faster then nVIDIA 320 M), 1Gb AMD Redion:cool::cool:, DDR3 Memory @ 1333 Mz...sound like a big breakfast for all the family.
Click to expand...

In idle or low powered usage, the Quad core is actually good in conserving power.

If you max all 4 cores, then it will drain the battery really fast ofcourse.
 
is there a program or something that I can use in order to measure how long my battery has lasted. When I measured it, I simply used the laptop from full charge to empty; just wondering if there was some sort of timer. Coconutbattery gives you a lot of info but not how long your battery ACTUALLY lasted since its last recharge.

For a macbook pro
 
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