Yet another battery ? and how to "Save As"

[CowboyTurbo]

1. My 15" PB is two weeks old, and Coconut battery reports that it has been cycled 11 times. It is also only at 98% of the original battery capacity. I have not used it extensively using functions that drain a lot of power. (multiple programs, dvd functions, etc.) Is this typical wear on the battery? I usually plug in the charger when I am doing things that tend to drain more battery, and leave it unplugged when just doing simple things (word processing, web surfing). I'll run on battery power until about 5% or so before re-charging fully until it goes "green" Is this a good technique to get the optimal use out of my battery?

2. When using MS-Word on a PC, I can press Alt, F, A to go to file and then "save as". Is there a combination of keys I can press on my PB to do the same? I know apple+S will auto save, but not the same thing as the "save as"

 

[dejo]

2. When using MS-Word on a PC, I can press Alt, F, A to go to file and then "save as". Is there a combination of keys I can press on my PB to do the same? I know apple+S will auto save, but not the same thing as the "save as"

Try shift+apple+S.

Edit: Sorry. No. Damn Word for not using this standard keyboard shortcut.

 

[stridey]

It's possible that it's customizable through the keyboard.prefpane. I'm not at my Mac right now, though, so I can't be sure.

Edit: to do it (if it's possible), System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse. Under the Keyboard Shortcuts tab, hit the plus button, and follow appropriate instructions.

 

[Warbrain]

It's possible that it's customizable through the keyboard.prefpane. I'm not at my Mac right now, though, so I can't be sure.

Edit: to do it (if it's possible), System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse. Under the Keyboard Shortcuts tab, hit the plus button, and follow appropriate instructions.

I just tried this since I was curious, but it didn't work for me. Could be that I haven't updated Word in a while.

 

[stridey]

I just tried this since I was curious, but it didn't work for me. Could be that I haven't updated Word in a while.

Honestly, I'm not really surprised if it's not possible. Microsoft apps simply don't play nice on Macs (nice = cocoa, in this case).

 

[TLRedhawke]

As for the battery question, since it's gone unaddressed, yes, that is pretty normal load for a battery. Personally (and this is what I tell all my customers), I will charge the battery fully, and discharge it fully. I don't do half charges, or part charges. I'll drain the battery until it sleeps, or until the battery status meter turns red, and then charge it up fully. If i'm going to be doing something intensive (AKA needing AC power, like burning a DVD), I'll plug it in, and remove the battery. This way, my charge cycle isn't affected. I'm very meticulous about this. If I'm in the recharge part of the cycle, and I have to move the machine (class has ended or such), I'll shut down the machine fully before unplugging it, and plug it back in before pressing the power button.

For the record, this is the Rev A 12" PowerBook in my sig. It's about 2.5 years old (average life span of a LIon battery is 18 months), and still rates a B+ in iBatt. Coconut Battery says it still has 98% capacity.

 

[grapes911]

I will charge the battery fully, and discharge it fully. I don't do half charges, or part charges. I'll drain the battery until it sleeps, or until the battery status meter turns red, and then charge it up fully.

This is overkill and won't noticeably prolong the life of the battery.

If i'm going to be doing something intensive (AKA needing AC power, like burning a DVD), I'll plug it in, and remove the battery. This way, my charge cycle isn't affected.

Again, overkill.

I'm in the recharge part of the cycle, and I have to move the machine (class has ended or such), I'll shut down the machine fully before unplugging it, and plug it back in before pressing the power button.

Being that you recalibrate your batter every time, this is not good for your battery monitor. Any time you run the battery all the way down, you are recalibrating the battery. Never unplug a recharging battery when you just fully discharged it, or your battery monitor will not be accurate.

 

[iMeowbot]

2. When using MS-Word on a PC, I can press Alt, F, A to go to file and then "save as". Is there a combination of keys I can press on my PB to do the same? I know apple+S will auto save, but not the same thing as the "save as"

It's F12 by default. Dashboard broke this.

 

[BlueRevolution]

it broke the key to preview a page in browser when running Dreamweaver too. Dreamweaver 8 has changed the key (to ^+F12), but I prefer to assign Exposé and Dashboard to the little-used F14-F16 and Help keys.

 

[swiftaw]

It's possible that it's customizable through the keyboard.prefpane. I'm not at my Mac right now, though, so I can't be sure.

Edit: to do it (if it's possible), System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse. Under the Keyboard Shortcuts tab, hit the plus button, and follow appropriate instructions.

In Word, go to Tools->Customize->Customize Keyboard.

Then you can assign an appropriate keystroke. As mentioned earlier, it is currently assigned to F12, but that is broken by Expose.

 

[CowboyTurbo]

ok, thanks for the info everybody. At the office now, will play around with the keyboard shortcuts when I get home.

This is overkill and won't noticeably prolong the life of the battery.

Again, overkill.

Being that you recalibrate your batter every time, this is not good for your battery monitor. Any time you run the battery all the way down, you are recalibrating the battery. Never unplug a recharging battery when you just fully discharged it, or your battery monitor will not be accurate.

grapes911, what is your typical battery usage like? (just wondering)

 

[stridey]

In Word, go to Tools->Customize->Customize Keyboard.

Then you can assign an appropriate keystroke. As mentioned earlier, it is currently assigned to F12, but that is broken by Expose.

God, that's obnoxious. Thanks for pointing it out though, cause that annoys me all the time.

 

[grapes911]

grapes911, what is your typical battery usage like? (just wondering)

As I said before, I use the AC adapter when I'm near an outlet and I use the battery when I'm not. I drain and recalibrate the battery about once every two months. Or are you looking for a different answer?

 

[CowboyTurbo]

As I said before, I use the AC adapter when I'm near an outlet and I use the battery when I'm not. I drain and recalibrate the battery about once every two months. Or are you looking for a different answer?

no, that's fine. but when you are near an outlet and use the AC adapter, do you unplug it when it's fully charged? or do you just keep it plugged in?

 

[Seasought]

no, that's fine. but when you are near an outlet and use the AC adapter, do you unplug it when it's fully charged? or do you just keep it plugged in?

This is something I'm curious about as well since I just had to swap out the battery that came with my PB for a new one (free under Applecare). I would hope these batteries wouldn't require such delicate use to prolong their charge lifespan over time.

 

[grapes911]

no, that's fine. but when you are near an outlet and use the AC adapter, do you unplug it when it's fully charged? or do you just keep it plugged in?

I just let it go. The battery/computer is supposed to be smart enough to stop drawing power when the battery is full. Once the battery dips some, then it grabs some power until the battery is once again full. The battery and computer where designed to handle this.

 

[Littleodie914]

Heeelp!

Hey guys, while we're talking about batteries, I'd like to ask a few questions concerning my iBook. I've had it for about 2 years now, and have performed about 900 or so load cycles. (Says coconut battery, not sure if that's accurate.) The original capacity was 4400mA, and now it's around 1400... Instead of getting 4-5 hours of battery life like I used to, I get around 1-1 1/2... I don't know a LOT about Li-Ion batteries, but is there any way to increase the capacity at all, even a little bit? I've re-calibrated, but it seems to be pretty solid. Additionally, does the drop increase exponentially? Like since it's down to about 30% of its orig. capacity, will it start dropping faster now? And what would you recommend if I were to consider purchasing a new battery, eBay, Apple, or a third-party dealer? Thanks!

 

[grapes911]

...is there any way to increase the capacity at all, even a little bit?

No.

I've re-calibrated, but it seems to be pretty solid.

This will only make the battery monitor more accurate. It does nothing to actually extend or rejuvenate life.

Additionally, does the drop increase exponentially? Like since it's down to about 30% of its orig. capacity, will it start dropping faster now?

I think the drop is pretty uniformed, but don't quote me.

And what would you recommend if I were to consider purchasing a new battery, eBay, Apple, or a third-party dealer? Thanks!

I'd buy it from apple just because I'd want to make sure it is right.

 

[TLRedhawke]

I'm aware that all my techniques are overkill, but that's the point for me really. I make it a point to take every step possible to keep this battery at its maximum life, and it's worked so far. There's absolutely nothing wrong with recalibrating the battery every time, since it really just means that I'm using it for the full duration of its life before plugging it in. Removing the battery when it's full, and I'm plugged in is definitely overkill, and any Apple technician will agree, but it develops good habits by doing it. That is, it makes the user distinguish between discharging the battery, charging the battery, and using the machine plugged in. By distinguishing these three, you can keep your cycle straight, because you learn to know whats stage you're in all the time. I may be overly anal about my battery use, but it's current lifespan is pretty solid proof that I'm doing something right.

 

[TLRedhawke]

Oh, and as for buying a replacement battery, go on price. Apple batteries are no more reliable than most reputable third parties. However, these third parties may actually have higher Milliampere ratings on their batteries than Apple, which means a longer life. Just do your homework, and get the best deal. A lot of Apple users are afraid to buy stuff from third parties, and it's senseless. Buy third party stuff wherever possible, so long as the company is fairly reputable. Let's be honest, Apple doesn't produce the cells in their batteries, but buys them from a third party. Why not skip the middle man?

 

[grapes911]

but it develops good habits by doing it.

I think it develops obsessive compulsive habits, but what do I know?

but it's current lifespan is pretty solid proof that I'm doing something right.

Not really. The average lithium-ion laptop battery, being used by the average user, has a average useful lifespan of 1.5 - 3 years. That is just an average. Some batteries will last less than a year, some will last 4 or 5.

If you are content with your methods, I am not suggesting you change them. The most important thing is that you are comfortable with you computer. After all, it is your computer. But these batteries are specifically designed to do exactly what you are trying to avoid.