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$\"Gravatar\"$ I bought a 15\" macbook Pro 2 years ago next month, and after 196 cycles i'm down to 17% health (according to the iStat pro widget). I get about 15 minutes of power on battery before it cuts out with no warning (doesn't go into standby, just shuts off). I'm in Ireland, what would be my best way of trying to get the free replacement you mention in the article? I certainly don't fancy paying the €139 they're asking for on the Irish store...
skel | 11.26.08 - 1:19 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Another tip which is fantastic for times when you need extra long battery life (like long flights): Log out of your account and then log back in but after entering your credentials, hold down the shift button when clicking the log in button.

This does a \"quick startup\" which avoids opening ANY non-OS startup apps or, most importantly, hidden processes. These hidden processes often chew up your battery life at a rate that you won't believe.

Using this method along with dimming the screen to the lowest possible setting viewable can often double your battery life for any one charge.
Jay Allen | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 7:40 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ @Skel

Try calling Apple on the number listed here:
http://www.apple.com/support/con...e_contacts.html

As your laptop is a couple of years old I don't know if they will replace the battery for free, but it is worth asking. Tell them the number of cycles and the amount of time before the battery runs down.

I know that at least some batteries in the past have been defective and have had their warranty extended to two years, so call as soon as possible!
Matt | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 10:18 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ The best way to get the most out of your battery is to not be one of the people that buys a laptop and never uses it when it's unplugged. the battery NEEDS to be cycled. if you only use it while it's plugged in, the battery will eventually lose it's full and zero points and will not be able to hold a charge. A well maintained battery can get 500 cycles and still retain a decent charge.

also, do this.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/n.../notebooks.html
Kirt | 11.26.08 - 6:18 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I was advised that around 11 months after purchase I should go into the Apple Store and complain about the battery to get it replaced \"just in case\".
chris | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 6:32 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ The best way to get the most out of your battery is to not be one of the people that buys a laptop and never uses it when it's unplugged. the battery NEEDS to be cycled.

..................

http://engineering-sciences.blogspot.com
rony | Homepage | 12.29.08 - 7:44 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Hi
I've got the latest macbook pro, using leopard, but in system preferences, the option to change between \"better battery life\" and \"higher performance\" aren't separated into battery/power adapter categories. I need the long battery life, but I also need good graphics for when I play games like unreal tournament.
I was wondering if you knew of any tweaks or other software that could fix this problem.
Thanks
Steve | 12.31.08 - 1:22 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ \"This is because it is important to keep the electrons inside moving occasionally.\"

Believe me - they're moving all the time.

Li-Ion Batteries naturally age with time, even if you don't use them. They don't have the 'memory' of old Ni-hydride batteries.
Tom H | Homepage | 02.09.09 - 8:37 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Ive had my macbook for over a year now, done 187 cycles and is still at 95% health.

All i ever do is charge it right up, run it right down and have low brightness and better battery life config'd.

Works a treat.
Bud | 03.16.09 - 11:57 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I am using an IBM T60 and after 485 cycles, my battery still holds 73.69Wh of its original 84.24Wh, or 87%. I thought this was pretty good going ... I got the battery from eBay and am sure it was counterfeit.
Patrick | 05.14.09 - 12:31 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I have a 2002 Powerbook G4 on which I have just installed (upgrade) Leopard. I thought the battery was completely dead when it was running 10.4 because it would only hold charge for about 10mins. Since installing Leopard 3 days ago, the battery has suddenly become normal: 7 hours between full charge and discharge with intermittent internet use. This simply did not happen with 10.4. So I looked up the battery characteristics: Full charge capacity 4230mAh, Charge remaining 4217mAh, cycle count 746. I have always fully charged and the discharged the battery - that's how I use the laptop. It's not uncommon for me to cycle through charge:discharge 3 times in one day.
My 2007 Macbbook Pro is being used the same way: Full charge capacity 3948, charge remaining 3873, cycle count 335.
There obviously is some advantage in having decent software management for any battery (the difference in my PBG4 between 10.4 and 10.5 seems to indicate this) and I do wonder if laptop batteries actually die in the sense that we think.
Ray | 06.14.09 - 8:21 pm | #

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