Question on the 300-400 charge cycles

[Dermot81]

As I understand it, a charge cycle constitutes a full 0 to 100 charge of the battery. Hence, if you charge your iPhone at 50% power, it counts as half of a charge cycle. So assuming I use 50% of the battery per day, the iPhone battery will last me two years. Seems consistent with other rechargeable devices, and I'll probably upgrade to iPhone v2 before then anyway.

Anyway, my question is this. If I leave my iPhone connected and charging on a wall outlet, when I'm at work/home/etc, does this reduce the longevity of the battery (i.e. somehow constitute as a charge cycle)?

 

[dagomike]

I would probably count on having a charger at home, a charger at work, and a charger in the car, then just charge it when it runs low. Based on previous devices, charging every night ~50% might not be the same as charging it every other day. The good news is it appears regular iPod chargers will work, so we all should have plenty.

I've got a laptop that I keep plugged in all the time and use as a desktop. The battery is for crap now. Again, unless I hear something compelling, I plan to charge as needed, period.

 

[Grimace]

As I understand it, a charge cycle constitutes a full 0 to 100 charge of the battery. Hence, if you charge your iPhone at 50% power, it counts as half of a charge cycle. So assuming I use 50% of the battery per day, the iPhone battery will last me two years. Seems consistent with other rechargeable devices, and I'll probably upgrade to iPhone v2 before then anyway.

Anyway, my question is this. If I leave my iPhone connected and charging on a wall outlet, when I'm at work/home/etc, does this reduce the longevity of the battery (i.e. somehow constitute as a charge cycle)?

Actually, I think that a charge cycle is not 0-100%, my understanding was that it was X-100%. Leaving it plugged in all the time does reduce capacity until you run it down to 0%. Anyone who has had a laptop plugged in 24/7 will tell you that after a week or two, the capacity is 99%...then 98%...even though it hasn't been unplugged.

My powerbook lasts 30min now on a charge b/c it was plugged in all it's life. My friend's that wasn't always plugged in (we have similar useage patterns) is around 45 minutes.

Just sayin. Don't leave it plugged in all the time. This battery is going to be Apple's big pain in the $&%#$ come 9 months from now...