charging the MBA battery for the first time...

[Chuchichan]

What's the best thing to do with the MBA out of the box? Should I use it and drain the battery to zero or not even turn it on and just charge it?

I want to treat it nicely from day one ...


Also, on the same topic of treating it nicely, do you recommend a screen or keyboard protector? I had a keyboard protector on my PowerBook G4 (iskin). While it kept the keyboard nice and clean, I suppose it didn't give me the best experience I could have had with the keyboard itself. I now realize that I can't really read the keys because the protector is so dirty.

 

[Ben32]

Hi,

I Plugged it in, and turned it on. Proceed with install and then leaved it charging for the night. (I installed coconut battery and saved the battery info).
I did a full calibration the first time (till extinction). My advice, don't worry too much, but use it on battery and try do complete cycles (wait for the OSX alert) to charge it. I've had the MBA for weeks and my full charge capacity has never been so high. See attached pic
No screen protection, but i always replace the sheet of paper from apple, before closing the screen.

 

[Chuchichan]

Hi,

I Plugged it in, and turned it on. Proceed with install and then leaved it charging for the night. (I installed coconut battery and saved the battery info).
I did a full calibration the first time (till extinction). My advice, don't worry too much, but use it on battery and try do complete cycles (wait for the OSX alert) to charge it. I've had the MBA for weeks and my full charge capacity has never been so high. See attached pic

Not sure exactly what you mean. How do you do a calibration?

Basically, if it's at home should I just use it while plugged in? Or better to use it on battery all the time?

 

[Ben32]

Not sure exactly what you mean. How do you do a calibration?

Basically, if it's at home should I just use it while plugged in? Or better to use it on battery all the time?

To calibrate the battery just charge it full then unpplug it and let the battery run out of juice till the computer turns off.
You can use it at home while plugged, off course, but I think its better to stimulate the battery. I have other computers so i might use it less than if it was my only one. Since I got it, I allways ran on battery when full.

 

[Chuchichan]

To calibrate the battery just charge it full then unpplug it and let the battery run out of juice till the computer turns off.
You can use it at home while plugged, off course, but I think its better to stimulate the battery. I have other computers so i might use it less than if it was my only one. Since I got it, I allways ran on battery when full.

I see what you mean. Thanks. So, just to confirm, out of the box, I should plug it in and let it charge to full. After that, run it off battery and let it drain?

Sorry to ask so many times, I just want to treat it well...thanks.

 

[Pipper99]

This link will tell you how to calibrate the battery.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1490

 

[Jefe's MacAir]

Lithium ion batteries, which I'm pretty sure the MB use, have no memory effect. In fact it's best to keep lithium ion batteries topped off. Allowing them to fully discharge causes more harm then good.
Lithium ion batteries have charge life cycles. Meaning if your battery has 1000 total charge life cycles you can fully deplete and recharge your battery 1000 times. If you only use 50% of the battery and recharge it will take 2000 times. etc.

When the battery is not needed it's best to keep you MB plugged in.

Read the owners manual. It's all there for you in print.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/

 

[Hellishness]

Lithium ion batteries, which I'm pretty sure the MB use, have no memory effect. In fact it's best to keep lithium ion batteries topped off. Allowing them to fully discharge causes more harm then good.
Lithium ion batteries have charge life cycles. Meaning if your battery has 1000 total charge life cycles you can fully deplete and recharge your battery 1000 times. If you only use 50% of the battery and recharge it will take 2000 times. etc.

When the battery is not needed it's best to keep you MB plugged in.

Read the owners manual. It's all there for you in print.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/

Listen to this guy. From experience: my MBP, after 2-3 weeks was already at around 96-97% battery health. I basically charged it, and used it on battery...my use was probably like 60/40 battery/power. my MBA: after two weeks, 100%. I use it on the charger when I use it, but DO NOT leave it plugged in unused when it's charged. I think that this is the main thing that kills your battery. I use it on battery when I'm out of the house, but that's nothing compared to my at home usage.