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MacBook Pro and constant mains power

R

Rugbydman

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 10, 2009
307
30
Staffordshire, UK
hi all

My iMac has died and my MacBook is old with a failing battery

I don’t know whether to replace my iMac and or my my MacBook

My question is I know a MacBook and external screen is capable of replacing the iMac and I’d look at using a henge dock and wireless keyboard/mouse.
Would having the MacBook plugged into the mains a lot of the time have a negative effect on the battery?

Thanks

Darren
 
Rugbydman said:
hi all

My iMac has died and my MacBook is old with a failing battery

I don’t know whether to replace my iMac and or my my MacBook

My question is I know a MacBook and external screen is capable of replacing the iMac and I’d look at using a henge dock and wireless keyboard/mouse.
Would having the MacBook plugged into the mains a lot of the time have a negative effect on the battery?

Thanks

Darren
Click to expand...

If the battery on the MacBook is failing, then there's every chance the processor will be throttled to help cope with the reduced power supply capacity due to the failing battery. It is probably worth looking into replacing the battery at the very least.

How old is the MacBook? If nothing else, it will serve as a power backup in case the lights go out, and you'll have a chance to save your work and avoid data corruption on your hard disk, due to the power supply being interrupted at the worst possible moment.
 
It’s from 2009
I should of been clearer I would be buying a New MacBook Pro my question should be would having it plugged in most of the time and connected to external screen be detrimental to the new MacBooks battery
 
Rugbydman said:
It’s from 2009
I should of been clearer I would be buying a New MacBook Pro my question should be would having it plugged in most of the time and connected to external screen be detrimental to the new MacBooks battery
Click to expand...

My apologies.

I believe it is important to use the battery sometimes to keep the ions moving around, but generally use it how you wish.

Apple's official advice about battery usage is here - https://www.apple.com/uk/batteries/
 
I have a late 2011 MacBook Pro (the last of the 17-inchers, maxed out with SSD, I'll keep it until it breaks or no longer runs current software). It stays plugged in when I don't have to take it anywhere, usually four days straight every week and sometimes several weeks at a time. It has its original battery. iStat Pro reports battery health is 89%. Unless battery technology has gotten a lot worse in the past six years, I'd say you needn't worry.
 
Thanks.....so it seems i don't need to be worried about the battery.
will a new macbook pro with external screen fully replace an iMac?
has anyone used a henge dock?
 
I Just had to replace the battery on my late 2013 that is used 99% in clamshell mode. I got it in Nov 2013. I only had 83 battery cycles but it had started to swell. My battery health looked fine.
 
Doug Hope said:
I Just had to replace the battery on my late 2013 that is used 99% in clamshell mode. I got it in Nov 2013. I only had 83 battery cycles but it had started to swell. My battery health looked fine.
Click to expand...

So using in clamshell mode caused the problem with the battery or is it just age
 
I Honestly don't know and apple weren't willing to comment on. My wife 's late 2013 was bought a year later so I guess I'll know in a years time
 
Ok so now I’m leaning towards not buying a new iMac and MacBook Pro
Just a new MacBook Pro and monitor
Now I hear there will be a MacBook Pro refresh or redesign?
And apple will release a new monitor this year?
 
Rugbydman said:
Ok so now I’m leaning towards not buying a new iMac and MacBook Pro
Just a new MacBook Pro and monitor
Now I hear there will be a MacBook Pro refresh or redesign?
And apple will release a new monitor this year?
Click to expand...

I use a MBP with the LG 5K monitor as a hub and am very pleased with this setup.

I'd say odds are high you will see updated MBP's this fall with newer Intel chipsets. I think the improvements will be incremental and not worth waiting for if you need a computer now.

There has ben talk about a new Apple monitor that would match up with the new Mac Pro coming, but who knows if that monitor would work with the Mac laptops. We just don't know yet.
 
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Weaselboy said:
I use a MBP with the LG 5K monitor as a hub and am very pleased with this setup.

I'd say odds are high you will see updated MBP's this fall with newer Intel chipsets. I think the improvements will be incremental and not worth waiting for if you need a computer now.

There has ben talk about a new Apple monitor that would match up with the new Mac Pro coming, but who knows if that monitor would work with the Mac laptops. We just don't know yet.
Click to expand...

What about the 32gb ram rumour
 
Rugbydman said:
Ok so now I’m leaning towards not buying a new iMac and MacBook Pro
Just a new MacBook Pro and monitor
Now I hear there will be a MacBook Pro refresh or redesign?
And apple will release a new monitor this year?
Click to expand...
Seems like the 2017 Macbook Pro + one of the LG displays (4k or 5k - both on Apple's site) is the way to go.

RE: waiting for a 2018 model, it has been argued the specs will have a fractional increase. An increase that 90% of us would not really benefit from. Same goes for a jump in 16Gb to 32Gb. Most of us just aren't doing tasks that warrant such power.

The biggest driver for 'waiting' is to avoid any issues (i.e. keyboard) attributed to the 2017 models, but this can easily be covered off with AppleCare I suppose.
 
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