Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Buying Blackbook today - Final Few Q's

E

ElCambo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 2, 2007
177
0
Im buying the blackbook online today, since the free ipod deal is going once I get my rebate i will resell the ipod making it the same price as the white if the deal wasn't going. I have a few questions before I go ahead and order.

1) I am going to be using this as basically a desktop and it will be on my desk most of the time untill december when I leave for university where it will most likely become more mobile. Any tips on how to preserve maximum battery life, and tips for calibration.

2) I download torrents, and use RSS so it automatically downloads. What is the best torrent program for the mac (currently using utorrent for pc) and is it possible to shut the lid of my macbook for a few hours, and still have the torrents dlding?

3) What is the best program for MSN?

Thanks!
 
I think putting it to sleep instead of shutting it off would serve you best, both for battery life and for the life of the computer in general.

I'm currently using Tomato Torrent, which is in no way the best, but it seems to be the first one where I get the same speeds I used to get back when I downloaded torrents through Windows. It's very simple and it's the only torrent program that doesn't slow down the rest of my internet speed while downloading, which is amazing for me.

I use Adium as my MSN client, and there's God knows how many programs it supports. I currently have it set up to run both MSN and AIM. It's great.
 
If it is mainly used a desktop, I would take out the battery and leave the charger plugged in. That way, the battery wont lose its life from overcharging.
 
weeman said:
If it is mainly used a desktop, I would take out the battery and leave the charger plugged in. That way, the battery wont lose its life from overcharging.
Click to expand...
Funnily enough, if you do this the MacBook runs at 1GHz. Don't do it. The battery needs exercising and should be drained occasionally. If you let it sleep at night, unplug it and let the battery recharge in the morning. If you do that you can calibrate every two months. If not, then every month.

InsomniaX can keep it awake when the lid is closed.
 
Thanks, also any tips or things I should do when I first start using it?
 
flopticalcube said:
Funnily enough, if you do this the MacBook runs at 1GHz. Don't do it. The battery needs exercising and should be drained occasionally. If you let it sleep at night, unplug it and let the battery recharge in the morning. If you do that you can calibrate every two months. If not, then every month.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that.
 
As far as downloading torrent, i think transmission is the best software.
And for MSN.. sorry.. they are suck..
Adium seems to be the best.. but it lack of functions of msn, such as winks, nudge, webcam, and added icons..
Mercury messenger has webcam, but the nudge and winks doesnt work as nice as those in windows...
 
2) I download torrents, and use RSS so it automatically downloads. What is the best torrent program for the mac (currently using utorrent for pc) and is it possible to shut the lid of my macbook for a few hours, and still have the torrents dlding?
Click to expand...

I use Transmission and love it, it's very fast.

Normally when you close the lid, the Macbook will go into Sleep mode, but you can disable that by using InsomniaX, which is a program made specifically for what you want to do.
 
Battery info

Regarding battery longevity, if you really don't plan on using the battery much at all (like maybe < once per month?), take the battery out when it's at 40% and store it someplace cool.

But that being said, if you'll occasionally use the battery you might be better off just leaving it in and sometimes unplugging for some short sessions. The laptop Li-ion battery is better to be topped off (some use and then charge) and most of all don't let it discharge all the way down (unless you're recalibrating after a long period on non-use). And also note that Li-ion batteries start to die anyhow, starting from the time they were made.

More info here:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

P.S. I'm not sure about the MB running slower without a battery since I don't have the pleasure of owning one, but that doesn't sound right. Doesn't serve any purpose (much different than having it 1GHz when unplugged). Can anyone confirm?
 
weeman said:
If it is mainly used a desktop, I would take out the battery and leave the charger plugged in. That way, the battery wont lose its life from overcharging.
Click to expand...
If the battery is full charged and the power supply is plugged in, the MB will draw power directly from the power supply.
 
I find transmission is the best for Torrents speed-wise.

Your going to love your Blackbook I got mine a few weeks ago and I'm in <3
 
What program do I use to transfer my music from my ipod to my mac?
 
Got my black macbook today! Its simply amazing. I upgraded to 2gig myself and its superb. Love the beauty. Just installed Adium and Firefox. About to install a torrent program, and hopefully tonight I will perform the battery calibration.

Goodbye PC
Hello MAC
 
is there a way to quit out of conversations in adium.. like pressing esc.
 
I may go for transmission. I dld Xtorrent but it is saying if i dont pay within 1 hour it will cap my dld's to 10mbs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back