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What's the best way to keep the battery good for as long as possible?
Lots of misinformation in this thread. You don't need to calibrate newer built-in batteries, as they come pre-calibrated. Just use it on battery when you need to and plug it in when you can. Just don't run on AC power all the time. This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
 
Lots of misinformation in this thread. You don't need to calibrate newer built-in batteries, as they come pre-calibrated. Just use it on battery when you need to and plug it in when you can. Just don't run on AC power all the time. This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:

I am amused by this post, as this link and everything contained in the post has been posted in this thread already.
 
Previously, I used to do the similar thing, OP - I'd use drain the battery to around 20% and top it up, then drain back down, etc. Also calibrated every now and then to keep the readings accurate.

There are a ton of information flying about regarding the how-to-manage-your-new-macbook's-battery and they don't all say the same things. I think the guy was generally right with respect to keeping it topped up with your daily usage. I read that with these new batteries, you should try to prevent the Macbook from reaching 0%. These new batteries are now designed not to need any calibration (draining down to 0 and back up) and can be topped up as much as you want it to. I understand that once the battery reaches 100%, the computer kicks into trickle charge mode where it lets the battery drain slightly and charges back again.

While Apple says that calibration isn't necessary with these new models, I'm still considering doing a calibration each month or so. I don't plan on being 'on the clock' for this like I have done in the past, but something I would do every now and then. Also I plan on keeping the computer plugged in for most of the time and use the battery when I'm on the move. That is not to say that you should keep the computer plugged in all the time. Unplug it every now and then just to keep your battery cells flowing, say around 50-60% and charge it back up.

Macrumors folks have convinced me not to worry about the battery now. At the end of the day, it's a relatively cheap part to replace if the battery drops dead. Especially with these new batteries, I don't think it's worth sweating over it now.
 
Sigh...yes, yes it wouldn't hit the hard literal 0%...

Right, which is the only 0% that damages your battery. You shouldn't go out of your way to avoid running it to the point where it sleeps, that has no detrimental effect (other than the increased wear it takes to get that far, but that's the same as running it down 25% 4 times).
 
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