Timothy Murphy wrote: > Tim wrote: > >> Standard advice for rechargeable batteries is to use them, you get your >> money's worth that way. If you don't make use of them, it's a waste. > > I'm not sure what this means. > Surely most people will use a laptop > (or indeed any device with a rechargeable battery) > if they have one? > What else would you do with it? > > What I find amazing about this endless discussion > is that it must be the simplest thing in the world > for a lab to work out which usage gives the longest life. > On the other hand, it is difficult for a person with one > or even a few laptops to run an experiment on these lines. > I know several people that use their laptop as if it were a desktop machine. They have not been unplugged, except when moved for cleaning, for a couple of years. Battery life after a year or so of this is about 5 minutes. Compare this to the same age/model laptop that goes through charge/discharge cycles, even partial charge/discharge, and is not left plugged in all the time. Most of these still have at least 80% battery life. (Personal experience - YMMV.) It is tempting to tell these people to remove the battery, and store it somewhere, but I am not sure if they are needed for power regulation, and some laptops require the weight or the battery for stability... (I vaguely recall reading something about not changing the battery with the laptop in operation, but I forget what laptop that was...) Mikkel -- Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!
