Stupid newbie question about laptops

beserk

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

UK

W/

When using at home on my desk i often charge the battery till full (whilst using the laptop) then take it out of the AC and use up the battery till its at about 10% and repeat the process until im done using it....is this how youre meant to use laptops? or should i just live it in the plug when at home even if the batterys full?

Martin Firestorm

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Louisiana

E/Me

I just leave mine plugged in when I'm using it. If I need to put it up for some reason (I don't keep it on a desk or anywhere in particular), I unplug it but then plug it back it when I use it again. There's no need to constantly drain your battery dowm, no matter what anyone tells you. You might get some more life out of it that way, but mine is over 3 years old and still has all the life I need from it those times when I do run the comp off the battery.

beserk

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

UK

W/

Guys since i hardly ever move my laptop out of the room and always on ac usually, should i take out the battery whilst ac is in????? i read on several sites this is better????

kazi_saki

kazi_saki

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2008

Somewhere between GW and GW2

Shaved Wookies [HoT]

N/

In the long run it seems like it. My old laptop's battery got screwed because I kept leaving it plugged overnight w/ the battery in it for most of the year. When I did want to use it without plugging it, the battery life became lower. From an hour it became 20 minutes. This was an old laptop btw, I didn't that that risk w/ my new one so I wouldn't know if the newer laptops are different

lord_shar

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

Modern laptops use Li-ion batteries that work best when kept at full charge all the time. They do not suffer from battery memory like older NiCad batteries, hence it is fine to leave them plugged in and charging all the time. Unlike NiCad, Li-on charge capacity diminishes if you let them fully discharge. So, just keep them charging whenever possible...

Wrath Of Dragons

Wrath Of Dragons

Burninate Stuff

Join Date: Aug 2005

New Mexico

E/Mo

When I got my laptop, battery life was ~2hrs
now, 2 years on the battery later (plugged in about 90% of the time, basically a desktop) i get about 1.5 hrs

lord_shar

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrath Of Dragons
When I got my laptop, battery life was ~2hrs
now, 2 years on the battery later (plugged in about 90% of the time, basically a desktop) i get about 1.5 hrs
Unfortunately, also Li-on batteries do lose capacity over time as they age. On the plus side, they will soon be increasing to 1000% current capacities (yes, 2-day battery up-times for laptops) thanks to upcoming nanowire technology.