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Real world MacBook battery life?

C

coupdetat

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 11, 2008
451
0
I'm looking for the notebook, either Windows or Mac, that has the absolute longest battery life. I don't care about performance (I use a G4), but I just really need something that will run a long time away from an outlet. My school library (UConn) for some reason has a VERY limited number of power outlets... someone really dropped the ball when designing that part.

Anyways. The problem is that I love Macs, but the reports of MacBook battery life I've heard are always really variable, anywhere from 3-6 hours. I rarely use WiFi in the library since I'm usually just typing a paper. With low processor usage, wireless off, what kind of battery life do you guys get?

Right now, my choice is between a MacBook and a Sony G2, but battery life reports from the Sony are even MORE confusing. Some say 5 hours, some say 10, and no one ever states what battery they're using!
 
Eidorian said:
4-5 hours on my MacBook using the wireless and with the lowest backlight brightness.
Click to expand...

Same here, backlight on the lowest, wifi on, 5 tabs open in firefox, and adium open. 4:30 est time and it is set on "best performance."


If you get coolbook and you clock your processor down a little, you could prolly squeeze out an extra 45 min out of your batter, but I do not see how you would need all 5 hours of battery. Are you going to be sitting in the library ALL day?
 
Thanks! I think I'll just opt for a new battery for my PB G4 since I can get 4.5 hours just on that. Maybe the updated MacBooks will have something interesting!

And yes, I spend 10+ hours at the library sometimes :) It's not hard to do when you are incredibly slow at comprehending classes!
 
Airport and 5 Brightness - 3 - 4 hours!
Airport and 1 brightness - 4 - 5 hours
No Airport and 1 brightness - 5 - 6+ hours
Airport full brightness and Ripping DVD with iTunes playing music: >1 hour
 
I've got a question about my mb's battery life

is this normal?

i have a penryn blackbook...bought in march

I'll have airport on, and bluetooth on with brightness up half way as I stream HD episodes of LOST off of ABC's website

by 1.5 hours im down to 45% battery

is this about right?

i hardly every have my mb running on its battery, as i use it as a desktop with external monitor/mouse/keyboard 90% of the time
 
actorkid said:
I've got a question about my mb's battery life

is this normal?

i have a penryn blackbook...bought in march

I'll have airport on, and bluetooth on with brightness up half way as I stream HD episodes of LOST off of ABC's website

by 1.5 hours im down to 45% battery

is this about right?

i hardly every have my mb running on its battery, as i use it as a desktop with external monitor/mouse/keyboard 90% of the time
Click to expand...
Generally normal.

I know people mentioned about their 4,5,6,7 hr battery life, but unless you have to, those are not really comfortable way of using laptop. I mean, lowest to 1/3 screen brightness, no Wi-Fi, no BT, no video play.... conserve battery is fine, but don't be too focused on that unless you have to.
 
actorkid said:
I've got a question about my mb's battery life

is this normal?

i have a penryn blackbook...bought in march

I'll have airport on, and bluetooth on with brightness up half way as I stream HD episodes of LOST off of ABC's website

by 1.5 hours im down to 45% battery

is this about right?

i hardly every have my mb running on its battery, as i use it as a desktop with external monitor/mouse/keyboard 90% of the time
Click to expand...

Are the ABC streams Flash? That will drain your battery really fast, my laptop fans are always on max when Flash is doing anything.
 
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