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Learning to USE the new MBP battery!

G

Germwise

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 2, 2009
148
15
So I just bought a new 13" MBP.

I'm very happy with it. Usually when I get a laptop. I baby the battery. For some reason I never really like to use it whilst not plugged in. I feel as if I'm ruining the battery.

So of course when I am outside where a plug is not available I don't worry, but I never just lay on the couch with my laptops for the sake of extending the battery life.

Now though it seems as though with the new 1000 cycle batteries, I shouldn't have to worry about this at all as it is likely that 3-4 cycles a week would leave me with a working battery towards then end of the useful life of the computer.


How can I break myself from this habit and just use my laptop as a laptop guilt-free?

Should I still plug it in whenever possible? What are your thoughts?
 
you will actually get less runtime out the battery if you always have it on ac. I don't know about the lifespan but both of my laptops were on ac 99% of the time and now the batteries only last about 1/2 the time.
 
Wrong forum btw. But yes, just use it how you wish. It won't last forever. If you're scared of using your laptop you need help.
 
I say don't worry about it. If it, by chance, doesn't last 5 years, it only costs $129 for a new one, installed.
 
Just run it down each time before plugging it in. Make sure you get the use of a full battery cycle. I wonder how expensive it will be to buy a new battery when these finally go?
 
NinjaHERO said:
Just run it down each time before plugging it in. Make sure you get the use of a full battery cycle. I wonder how expensive it will be to buy a new battery when these finally go?
Click to expand...

There's no need to run it down every time. Li-Ion has virtually no memory effect like the NiCad cells of old. Apple even recommends just calibrating it every month or two.

$129 for a new one btw.
 
gamer2502 said:
if it helps you any to know this i have about 200 charge cycle on my original aluminum macbook and i still have a 99% battery health:apple:
Click to expand...

Same here.. Almost a cycle a day if not more sometimes...

(this is my second battery but the first was defective on arrival)
 
steve knight said:
you will actually get less runtime out the battery if you always have it on ac. I don't know about the lifespan but both of my laptops were on ac 99% of the time and now the batteries only last about 1/2 the time.
Click to expand...

Yup - I'm the same why, and my battery reports 44% health. :( It'll actually be better off if you run it down more often.

Although, I've heard that the new internal batteries have a better charge controller, so leaving it on AC will not negatively effect it? Any truth to this?
 
They're supposed to have better over-charge protection and smart-cell charging so it only charges the cells that need it instead of the whole battery I think.
 
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