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TheMotif

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 7, 2007
72
0
Next week, I'll be taking my MacBook Pro on a distant vacation to the Outer Banks, NC. I just wanted to know how long my battery would last just off of watching DVD rips, which is what I'll mainly be doing. I'm not exactly sold on a seventy-dollar car adapter, either.
 
You'll probably get a good 3 or 3 and a half hours. But don't watch movies and drive at the same time, that's not a good combo. ;)

EDIT:
Too late. Note to self: type actual post first, then edit with witty comment.
 
Next week, I'll be taking my MacBook Pro on a distant vacation to the Outer Banks, NC. I just wanted to know how long my battery would last just off of watching DVD rips, which is what I'll mainly be doing. I'm not exactly sold on a seventy-dollar car adapter, either.

I didn't get a close look at it, but wal mart had a portable laptop car adapter for $30.

I can't definitively answer your battery question, but I'd think 3-4 hours. Maybe.
 
its not going to last 15 hours :D

id say 2:30 depending on screen brightness, buy the car adapter, or a cheap power inverter, heck the thing only draws 85 watts get a 300watt inverter from walmart
 
Or you could buy another battery although together they won't cover the entire 15 hour trip.
 
its not going to last 15 hours :D

id say 2:30 depending on screen brightness, buy the car adapter, or a cheap power inverter, heck the thing only draws 85 watts get a 300watt inverter from walmart

Yeah, I read that the Kensington adapter isn't powerful enough. Does anyone have a link to a decent car adapter available through Walmart?

Isn't this a worthy buy? It doesn't specify how many watts, though, on the webpage.
 
looks like 180watts max, meaning peak draw, the constant draw needs to be above 100 where as that is prolly only about 75, it should say on the packageing, you dont want something thats going to be peaked out the whole time, thats not good. Id try to find a 300watt max one if i were you.
 
It seems there's a Xantrax 175-Watt Power Inverter at Radio Shack for $30.00. The MacBook Pro runs at 85 watts, right?
 
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-200-Watt-Inverter-VEC1045BD/dp/B000EJQIX0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3681152-4099245?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1185159618&sr=8-1
Just get something like this.

17.99 with free shipping
Amazon.com Product Description
The Black & Decker 200-Watt inverter converts your vehicle's 12-volt DC power into 115 AC power for your house. It comes with protection against high and low voltage shocks and an alarm for when your battery gets low. An automatic shutdown function keeps the battery from draining completely. A turbo cooling fan prevents overheating, and this inverter includes a cable set, battery clips, a DC accessory plug, and a 12-volt DC accessory outlet. It delivers up to 200 watts of continuous power with a maximum surge capacity of 400 watts. Black & Decker backs this inverter with a 2-year warranty.
 
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http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-200-Watt-Inverter-VEC1045BD/dp/B000EJQIX0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3681152-4099245?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1185159618&sr=8-1
Just get something like this.

17.99 with free shipping
Amazon.com Product Description
The Black & Decker 200-Watt inverter converts your vehicle's 12-volt DC power into 115 AC power for your house. It comes with protection against high and low voltage shocks and an alarm for when your battery gets low. An automatic shutdown function keeps the battery from draining completely. A turbo cooling fan prevents overheating, and this inverter includes a cable set, battery clips, a DC accessory plug, and a 12-volt DC accessory outlet. It delivers up to 200 watts of continuous power with a maximum surge capacity of 400 watts. Black & Decker backs this inverter with a 2-year warranty.

Okay, thanks.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Okay, thanks.

One thing though is that a review said to get the 200 watts of continuous power it has to be connected to the battery. However other reviews say it works great for laptops etc. I have no experience with this product, it just seems like a good option.
 
Next week, I'll be taking my MacBook Pro on a distant vacation to the Outer Banks, NC. I just wanted to know how long my battery would last just off of watching DVD rips, which is what I'll mainly be doing. I'm not exactly sold on a seventy-dollar car adapter, either.

Dood... Just go to radio shack and buy a power inverter. Just make sure it is up to snuff with the wattage of your adapter. i.e. if your MBP adapter is 85W make sure the inverter is rated to 85W. The great thing about an inverter is you can use it for anything... Mobile phones, Laptops, TV's, etc etc etc.

This is the one I use.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...origkw=inverter&kw=inverter&parentPage=search

B
 
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