MB Battery Question

[Hobodale]

I have had my MB for about a month and a half now and I use it mostly at home. I was wondering if it was bad for my battery because I leave it plugged in 95% the time. I read somewhere that you should take the battery out if you leave for macbook plugged in most of the time. Is this true?

 

[robbieduncan]

I just got a new battery from Apple yesterday (my MBP was shutting down after 5 minutes on battery). The Genius seemed happy that I used it on battery at least once or twice a week. He suggested I should let the battery drain totally and then charge it back up 100% once a month or so...

 

[WildCowboy]

There's no good reason to physically remove the battery if you use your Mac while it's plugged in. It is good policy, however, to calibrate your battery every month or so by running it down completely.

Linkety.

 

[jvan]

how many hours are your macbooks with the battery? apple claims 6 hours... so anyone got to six hours yet? i think i'm gonna try it on my macbook tonite.

 

[CNU182]

how many hours are your macbooks with the battery? apple claims 6 hours... so anyone got to six hours yet? i think i'm gonna try it on my macbook tonite.

negative, and i've been through two and haven't reached six yet.

 

[robbieduncan]

negative, and i've been through two and haven't reached six yet.

How are you testing? 6 hours is the maximum. This will only be acheivable with Airport and Bluetooth turned off, the screen at minimum brightness and nothing in the optical drive or plugged into the USB and Firewire ports.

 

[CNU182]

How are you testing? 6 hours is the maximum. This will only be acheivable with Airport and Bluetooth turned off, the screen at minimum brightness and nothing in the optical drive or plugged into the USB and Firewire ports.

oh pardon me. i normally run my macbook with the airport on/bluetooth off, and at full brightness

 

[twentyone]

I usually get around 4 hours. Airport on, Bluetooth off, screen at medium brightness.

 

[munkees]

Remember batteries will lose charge over time, the more cycle the battery goes though the less power it can hold. batteries will good for 1.5 - 2 years some getter better. This goes for cell phones, digital carmera as well

 

[jvan]

i asked this somewhere else, but no replies

if the battery capacity goes down to like 15% and it's still in warranty, will applecare give you a new one? or do we have to buy it?

 

[WildCowboy]

i asked this somewhere else, but no replies

if the battery capacity goes down to like 15% and it's still in warranty, will applecare give you a new one? or do we have to buy it?

It depends...if it happens in the first six months, it's almost certainly a defect of some sort and Apple will replace it. If it's at the very end of your three-year AppleCare term, they will likely consider that normal wear and tear and will not replace it for you.