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Socoder -> Question of the Day -> QOTD: Laptop longevity? |
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| Mon, 10 Sep 2007, 15:34 | |
spinal
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I have just been given a laptop and I have been wondering how to keep in good shape for as long as possible. I have heard that laptop batteries done like being charged when there not fully discharged and will eventualy fail because of this. So I would like people opinions - Q. Is it better to keep the laptop plugged in most of the time (presumable keeping the battery fully chagred), or letting it discharge when it full and only plug it in when its low? -=-=- Check out my excellent homepage! 
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| Mon, 10 Sep 2007, 16:04 | |
Jayenkai
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I've never owned a laptop! I'm pretty sure it would be possible, but you never know, things can be awkward.. But if you want to preserve battery life, how about physically removing the battery from the system whenever you're plugged in? Keep it fully charged, and sat to the side, for when you're about to up+go, but otherwise leave it just plugged in without the battery. Again, though, not sure if Laptops will happily let you do that, now how long it would last if you keep putting the battery in and out all the time! -=-=- ''Load, Next List!''
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| Mon, 10 Sep 2007, 16:11 | |
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spinal
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From what I have read on various sales sites, most laptop batteries should last a few years under 'normal conditions' whatever they might be. As with my last laptop, I will be doing most of my coding on it so it will be switched on for 4-6 hours a day. My last laptop was also given to me, the reason for that, was the battery had completely died and they cost a fiar amount for new ones, it seems if you let them drop below a certian amount of juice, they refuse to charge again, even though the cells them selves are perfectly fine. Anyway, this one works fine and is only about a year old, so the battery works fine for a couple of hours on a full chagre (depending on how much I use the dvd drive).
-=-=- Check out my excellent homepage!
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| Mon, 10 Sep 2007, 17:36 | |
blanko1324
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I just don't worry 'bout mine honestly. $60 per two-or-so years for a new battery ain't that bad, is it?
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| Mon, 10 Sep 2007, 17:51 | |
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spinal
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the battery for my last laptop was arount £70, so thats about $141, I didn't like that idea. I haven't checked the price of the current one yet, no need just now.
-=-=- Check out my excellent homepage!
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| Mon, 10 Sep 2007, 18:43 | |
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hyruleknight |
it takes batteries a long while to degrade, it is unavoidable and once a battery is fully charged most laptops switch to the charger to power it once the battery is full. i know all the ones i have had are like that, hell i was able to take the battery out on one of them and it still ran(battery held zero charge anyway) but i don't advise it what really kills batteries is overcharging -=-=- i like green haired girls... |
| Tue, 11 Sep 2007, 01:07 | |
JL235
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Our three laptops are plugged in constantly and we've had them for years. When they have been unplugged from the mains they still work fine.
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| Tue, 11 Sep 2007, 06:26 | |
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spinal
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Is, it being a fairly new laptop, it should be fine to just leave it plugged in most of the time?
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| Tue, 11 Sep 2007, 07:54 | |
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mike_g |
I think so. I never had a problem with my laptop battery until I went to australia for a year and left it behind. When I got back it was completely dead. Which could have had something to do with not charging it at all.
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| Tue, 11 Sep 2007, 08:07 | |
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JL235
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Try putting it in the freezer for 24 hours. I've heard batteries have internal memory of their maximum charge, and that freezing it wipes it away allowing it to have a greater charge. Might help for dead batteries too.
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| Tue, 11 Sep 2007, 14:31 | |
Forklift_Fred
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My video camera's battery was killed by leaving it half charged for a long period. It now only runs for half the time (though I've since bought a new camera with different batteries so it doesn't matter) Any rechargeable will be similar. If you run it from the battery then it will need a full discharge occasionally or it's running time will gradually get shorter over time. Best/easiest way to do this is boot to BIOS Setup and just let it run down. If you run it from the mains all the time then what does it matter? 
-=-=- Come rain or shine... |
| Tue, 11 Sep 2007, 16:18 | |
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spinal
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IT matters that I like to carry it into a different room without shutting down. Do you really drive a forklift? -=-=- Check out my excellent homepage!
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| Thu, 13 Sep 2007, 13:44 | |
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Forklift_Fred
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Yes. Yes I do  Though I spend a lot of time at my desk resolving stock issues these days. Mind you, the character came before the job... Very scary 
-=-=- Come rain or shine... |
| Thu, 13 Sep 2007, 16:06 | |
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spinal
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I havent been on a reach for a few years, i remember getting a stiff neck from the sideways seat a lot. Much better that those pedestrian stacker thingys we have now though.
-=-=- Check out my excellent homepage!
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| Thu, 13 Sep 2007, 16:20 | |
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Forklift_Fred
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At the risk of going too far off topic... We have two reach trucks. The older of the two has the steering wheel on the right so you are twisted one way to steer and the other to see where you are going. The newer one has a nice arm rest that comes down on the left with a dinky wheel on the end... pure luxury visibility of the forks is a lot better too. -=-=- Come rain or shine... |
| Thu, 13 Sep 2007, 17:01 | |
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spinal
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this is close to the models we had, not exact though. That was a few years ago. Anyhow, the laptop's doing fine. -=-=- Check out my excellent homepage!
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| Thu, 13 Sep 2007, 18:36 | |
power mousey
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Ya know Spinal... and others too. in talking about laptops and longevity of them...and especially about the batteries. Well, my brother Mark and his wife Tracy just bought a new laptop. I think its a Dell. So now, they have both a Dell laptop and also one of the newer and powerful HP desktops to do their computing work and other stuff on. Mark and Tracy and also my sister Diane also use a laptop at work. My mom is going to get a laptop soon..I think. Also, my brother Wes...the computer powerhouse of the family..has 2 laptops himself and also a Desktop too. One of the laptops is a Mac type and the other is a WIndows Pc of some model. I guess I'm the black sheep of the family...being without one. So, I guess I better save up and buy one. I really enjoyed reading this topic and especially about the batteries. And I want and will read up other information and articles about the ins and outs of laptops. Thank you. oh yeah...my brother is going to give me his other HP computer. And this one has 512mb of system memory, 80 gig hard drive and also a very good Nvidia 3d graphics card. Yay!! cheers power mousey |
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