Laptop World

Which Apple Laptop Gets the Longest Battery Life?

2011-05-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

When you're looking to buy a laptop, battery life is going to affect your decision significantly. You have to think about what type of use you are dealing with and how often you will be using the laptop to determine which battery is going to be best. Apple laptops are certainly not designed with the best battery life, by any means, but they can provide sufficient performance for many people and that makes up for it. The actual results vary depending on how the laptop is used and what type of specifications it has, but there are some general rules to help you determine which laptops will get the best battery life.

Apple laptops are designed for performance. With that being said, the best laptop for battery life seems to be the MacBook in the 12" or 13" version. While there are many variables involved, the smaller screen and lower specifications seem to take up less battery life. These laptops have been known to get 4-5 hours of life depending on their use. Of course, if you have a larger screen and are doing fewer things or simply browsing the internet, for example, you might still get good battery life out of your Apple laptop.

In Apple history, the G3 Prismo that had the dual-battery option had the longest battery life, providing 5-6 hours of regular use in most every situation. Today's laptops from Apple are feature-rich and designed to get things done, however, so battery life is not an optimal feature like it is in some PCs that you find on the market today. Models like the Toshiba Satellite series can easily get up to 8 hours of battery life depending on use, and you will never find an Apple that comes close to that with a single charge.

All told, the smaller screen and more basic specifications are going to be best for an Apple laptop to hold a charge. Of course, the use of the laptop will affect the battery life, as well. Two people could have the exact same computer and get completely different results from their battery life simply because they use the computers differently. Take the time to think about your usage, the type of laptop you prefer, and the specifications of the laptop to help you get a better idea of how long your Apple laptop will last before you make a purchase.

Laptop Lithium Battery Tips

2011-04-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Lithium ion batteries for laptops are not cheap. You can easily drop $100 or more on these batteries when you have to replace them. Of course, there are ways that you can protect your battery and keep it healthy so that you can get more life from your computer. Everyone has different opinions or has heard different things, but here are some serious laptop lithium battery tips that can help you get more for your money when it comes to your battery life:

- First and foremost, always fully drain and charge your laptop battery when you first purchase a new computer. Once it is fully charged, you can enjoy your new computer thoroughly.

- Change your power settings. Most people don't even realize that their laptop has eco-friendly power settings. If you turn down the brightness, set up shut-off timers, and let the computer go to sleep when it is inactive, you will save your battery life. If you are in a meeting or class where you need maximum power, use it. If you're browsing Facebook on your couch, reduce your power settings to save your battery.

- The first year will be the best year of your lithium ion battery's life. That isn't to say that the battery won't be good after the first year, but you should expect to see a little decline because the battery does get tired with age. Keeping it in good health will give it a longer life.

- Use your battery. If you want to get the most out of your battery, you have to use it. Keeping your computer plugged in all the time is going to cause your battery to get old before its time because of lack of use. It's like people: those who don't get exercise aren't as strong and healthy as those who are out and about and staying active. If you don't use it, you lose it, and so do laptop batteries.

These laptop lithium battery tips should help you maintain the life of your battery for longer. There are so many different things to consider when it comes to getting the most from your laptop batteries, but these tips are going to be the most important. Make sure that you know how to take care of your laptop and its battery so that you're not spending $100 or more every year to replace the battery when you shouldn't have to.

Extended Capacity Battery for Dell

2011-03-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

When it comes to getting the most from your computer, having a larger battery can give you more performance and a better experience than you might expect. While most computers come with a 4-6 cell lithium ion battery, Dell is now selling 9-cell batteries that are designed for longer use than any battery before it. If you are searching for an extended capacity battery for Dell laptops, you do have a couple of different options. The OEM battery from dell is the first option, and is rated at 81wh, which is quite a feat compared to traditional batteries. Of course, there is also the generic 85wh battery that gives a little more power if you are willing to risk a generic manufacturer.

It's not that generic batteries are bad. In fact, you can often get better deals on an extended capacity battery for Dell laptops when you buy generic. However, these batteries are NOT manufactured by Dell and are designed to be mass-produced which is why the price is so much cheaper. The quality might be fine, but there are generally more flaws and issues with these batteries than if you buy OEM. Make sure that if you are willing to buy generic, you are prepared for anything that might occur.

Issues with batteries are generally rare, as long as you are shopping with a trusted retailer who knows their laptop batteries well. An extended capacity battery for Dell is a great investment because you can get far more use out of your battery than you might with a traditional size battery. For a computer that used to get 2-3 hours on a charge, an extended battery might increase that to 4-5 hours, which is quite an improvement. Some extended capacity batteries even claim to last up to 6 hours or more, which can be a great investment for many people.

Buying batteries is a lot of work. However, if you want an extended capacity battery for Dell laptops, you have to weigh your options. Dell does manufacture 9-cell batteries for extended use now, and there are also generic products on the market to choose from if you want to save money or get a better selection. Ultimately, the decision will be yours to make. However, you should be aware of the options that you have and know the difference between generic and OEM batteries so that you can get exactly what you need.

Charge Your Laptop Battery Right

2011-03-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

Laptop batteries are very particular about the way that they are treated. If you treat them well, you should have no trouble getting a long life from them. However, if you don't charge your battery correctly or if you don't know how to take care of it, it will die long before its time and force you to pay a lot of money to replace it. In order to charge your laptop battery right, you have to start from the first time that you purchase your computer and turn it on. Anyone who buys a laptop should know to turn the computer on and let the battery die completely before charging.

Letting the computer drain itself until the machine actually shuts off will drain the battery completely and get rid of any residual charge so that you can get a fuller charge in the first place. The reason that this is important is because of how batteries work. A battery charges itself and maintains a charge based on what it remembers. If you charge your battery from half-full all the time, it will only remember how to be half-full. Therefore, the battery life will wear down faster than if you get a full charge every time. Once you have an initial full charge, you can begin using your machine.

While some people prefer to leave their laptop plugged in at all times, this isn't always the best solution. For example, if you get into the habit of taking your laptop here and there and always plugging it back in as soon as you are done, you'll do a lot of partial charging, which will wear out the battery a lot faster. However, if you always let it run down completely, or at least 90% of the way before you charge it, it will retain a much better battery life.

If you do leave your laptop on the charger all the time, you've got nothing to worry about. Your computer will be running off of the AC power, allowing your battery to remain full and rest in case you ever need it. For a lot of people, laptops are used on the go and proper charging is a must. However, for those who are buying desktop replacements, use through the AC adapter might be the best solution. Whatever you do, make sure that you don't get into the habit of partial charging if you want to get the most from your laptop battery.