Even the basic MacBook model comes with an extended-life battery that can power your computer for up to seven hours. Other models have even longer-lasting batteries. The technology that Apple uses in its MacBook computers is called lithium-ion. Lithium-ion batteries offer the best performance and hold charges longer than the old nickel-based batteries that used to be common in laptops. Lithium batteries are lighter than nickel batteries, helping to keep the weight down on your super-slim MacBook computer. Also, they pack more power into a smaller space.
With the old nickelbased batteries, you had to completely discharge and then recharge the battery to get maximum power, and over time these batteries would hold less and less of a charge until they finally needed to be replaced. That's not to say that your laptop battery will last forever, but with proper care, it will far outlast a nickel-based laptop battery.
Battery life span is measured in charge cycles, and your MacBook battery, depending on the model, is designed to hold up to 80 percent of its charge after 750–1000 charge cycles. But what does that mean? A charge cycle is completed when you use 100 percent of your battery power and then fully recharge it. That completes a single cycle.
For example, if you use your laptop down to 50 percent battery power one afternoon and recharge it fully, a charge cycle will not be complete until you've used and recharged another 50 percent of the battery life during a different session.
Likewise, you can use 25 percent of your battery power on one day, recharge it, and then use 75 percent battery power on another day and recharge it to complete a single cycle. Supposing that you frequently use battery power and run your computer's battery down and recharge it every day, your battery should maintain its life for at least two to three years.
There's a difference between battery life and battery life span. Your MacBook's battery life is how long your MacBook can operate using only battery power before it needs to be recharged, whereas the battery life span is how long your battery will last before it needs to be replaced.
Although your computer goes to sleep when the battery is exhausted, there's still some power left to keep it in sleep mode. Once the battery is completely drained, the computer will shut down, but not before saving its current state so you can resume from exactly where you left off once you've switched to AC power or recharged the battery.
If you look in the upper-right corner of your display, you'll see a battery icon near the time and date. You can click this icon to see the condition of your battery and how much computing time you have left before you need to recharge it. You can also change the settings so that instead of the icon, your taskbar will show the computing time you have left or the percentage of power remaining.
Your MacBook will let you know when it is running low on battery power so you can save your work before it goes to sleep. Still, it's a good idea to keep an eye on how much time you have remaining so this warning doesn't come as a complete surprise.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Andrew Deloney at 11012010
1. Using your brand new MacBook for the very first time
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