Extending battery life

[TheFallGuy]

Okay, I think this falls into this forum.

I want to be able to extend the use of my PowerBook (2yr old) while I am traveling. Going into the settings I changed it so I could get "maximum battery life possible". But even then I do not get very long with my battery - maybe an hour or so before the laptop is done. The only app I'm running is MS Word - I have my iPod so I don't have to listen to music using the computer. I dim the monitor as much as I can stand and I turn off the noise and keyboard backlighting.

Is there anything else that I can do to extend the battery life while travelling? (I'm mainly plugged in - but the occasional commute has me wanting longer battery life.) Or will I need to purchase a new battery?

If I need to purchase a new battery, what are the recommendations or availability in types of batteries and where I can purchase them?

 

[xfiftyfour]

Okay, I think this falls into this forum.

I want to be able to extend the use of my PowerBook (2yr old) while I am traveling. Going into the settings I changed it so I could get "maximum battery life possible". But even then I do not get very long with my battery - maybe an hour or so before the laptop is done. The only app I'm running is MS Word - I have my iPod so I don't have to listen to music using the computer. I dim the monitor as much as I can stand and I turn off the noise and keyboard backlighting.

Is there anything else that I can do to extend the battery life while travelling? (I'm mainly plugged in - but the occasional commute has me wanting longer battery life.) Or will I need to purchase a new battery?

If I need to purchase a new battery, what are the recommendations or availability in types of batteries and where I can purchase them?

i mean, the obvious battery-saving techniques are out there: lower screen brightness, turn bluetooth and wireless off if/when possible, shut down rather than sleep when you can, since batteries drain a little while sleeping....

but other than that, i'd say if you really need more battery life while traveling, i'd suggest getting a new battery.

btw, do you have coconutbattery? perhaps take a peak at your load-cycles and the current capacity (versus the original capacity) and see how your battery is doing..

 

[TheFallGuy]

i mean, the obvious battery-saving techniques are out there: lower screen brightness, turn bluetooth and wireless off if/when possible, shut down rather than sleep when you can, since batteries drain a little while sleeping....

but other than that, i'd say if you really need more battery life while traveling, i'd suggest getting a new battery.

btw, do you have coconutbattery? perhaps take a peak at your load-cycles and the current capacity (versus the original capacity) and see how your battery is doing..

Thanks. I'll take a look at the coconutbattery thing and see how badly my battery is drained.

 

[TheFallGuy]

Okay, the battery's dead, jim. (Getting there)

Any suggestions on an inexpensive place to get one?

 

[xfiftyfour]

Okay, the battery's dead, jim. (Getting there)

Any suggestions on an inexpensive place to get one?

Not that I know of, unfortunately. Batteries are the type of thing I won't buy from eBay (even if they say brand new - I'm just too wary), and I think most retail places selling brand new apple batteries will all be around the same ballpark (~$130). If you have any way of getting an edu discount, that saves you some (~$15).

Sorry, perhaps someone else knows of some cheaper places?

 

[obrien234]

try www.dealmac.com they always have awesome deals on Mac stuff

 

[dextertangocci]

Sorry if I'm being stupid, but don't you get new batteries from Apple?

 

[xfiftyfour]

Sorry if I'm being stupid, but don't you get new batteries from Apple?

yeah, but i think he was hoping there were other retailers that perhaps had better deals, or maybe a rebate or something (like amazon does with the macbooks, etc).

when it comes to saving money, it's always worth asking!

 

[jvan]

if the capacity of your battery goes to as low as 50%, will apple replace it for you?

 

[dextertangocci]

if the capacity of your battery goes to as low as 50%, will apple replace it for you?

I'm sure they would, if it's still under Applecare, and it hasn't been excessively used, meaning there would have to be something wrong with it.

 

[Angrist]

I wouldn't buy a replacement battery from Apple.

NewerTechnology sells higher capacity replacements for about the same price as Apple. In my travels around "teh intarweb" they get good reviews and recommendations. However, I can't vouch for their quality personally.

My Pbook is in similar shape, battery charge only lasts ~45min when unplugged and web-browsing. I'll be ordering a replacement through Other World Computing before heading back to school in Sept.


As far as getting a new battery for free ... my brother has an iBook in the same situation, still under Applecare, and they consider the battery condition "normal wear".

 

[xfiftyfour]

if the capacity of your battery goes to as low as 50%, will apple replace it for you?

i doubt it, unless perhaps it went to 50% capacity in the first 2 weeks.

but no, seriously, batteries aren't meant (especially apple's batteries) to last the lifetime of the computer by any means. so if you've had one for 2 years and notice it's dying on ya, that's not unusual, nor will apple feel responsible for replacing it.

 

[flyfish29]

Just make sure you don't get just any old replacement battery- buy from a reliable source and a reliable brand. There are so many junk batteries out there for electronics and you read in the news about all the batteries that explode- usually (not all) of them are either cheap replacements or a conterfit of a brandname battery. I would go apple, but I have to say the Newer stuff loooks nice too. My wife's iBook battery is failing and is about the same age- a 100% charge takes her 25 minutes to drain using wireless and safari and mail. Two months ago it lasted 1.5 hours running a DVD. Days are numbered!!!

 

[GreeneGirl7]

I read somewhere on the Apple site that they will replace the battery within the first year if it goes down to under 50% capacity, especially if you have average or less than average number of load cycles.