Battery problem .

[webpro9]

By 'extended period of time' we would be looking at six months on the outside. Doubtful anyone is going to be without the laptop/tablet for that length of time.

I run mine 24x7, which means it is always powered on which means it can drain the battery. Ergo, run it down semi-regularly.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1490

[deepsand]

#1 rule of thumb if you can: don't buy replacement batteries on the cheap. Get from original manufacturer if you can. Avoid ebay, etc.

Sad fact it that these days you're buying a pig in a poke. Once upon a time batteries/battery packs bore a batch code which denoted the production date. Haven't seen one of those in years.

#2 rule of thumb: don't partially discharge batteries frequently.

#3 rule of thumb: train your battery by draining it fully at least somewhat regularly. This helps the system know how long the battery can last. Let your laptop totally run the battery down, and do NOT let it go into standby.

These have never been general rules, but applicable only to specific battery chemistries and configurations. And, even for those where such had once been applicable, current power management circuitries serve to mitigate the need for such in many devices.

[froz]

Empty the CD/DVD drives..Even if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge..

[deepsand]

Empty the CD/DVD drives..Even if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge..

I've yet to see an optical drive that ran continuously simply because it was loaded.

[Sweetness2362]

Empty the CD/DVD drives..Even if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge..

Have to say I have never seen that but I agree with the earlier posts, I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab and it actually states to periodically run down the battery

[weegillis]

'RUN DOWN' does not necessarily mean drain completely, just let it get to the point where the laptop starts warning you power is low.

[Keimos]

RUN DOWN does mean let it go until laptop goes to sleep and beyond, but not totally dead.

When the battery reaches "empty", the computer is forced into sleep mode. The battery actually holds a reserve beyond "empty", to maintain the computer in sleep for a period of time. Once the battery is truly exhausted, the computer is forced to shut down. At this point, any open files could be lost. Therefore, it is important that you find an electrical outlet and connect the adapter before the forced shutdown occurs.

If in doubt test you mobile phone, if you let it discharge until it switches off then charge it you will get longer use than previously where you partially discharged and recharged.

Unfortunately battery technology does come at a price for good quality.

However, whatever quality you get buy, the average life span of any laptop battery is 12 - 24 months depending on use, most laptop batteries life will start to diminish after 12 months.

[deepsand]

Unfortunately battery technology does come at a price for good quality.

Since the technology is dictated by the chemistry, which dictates the constituents, which dictates the input prices, there is no correlation between price and good or bad technology.

A "low" tech battery well constructed from high grade components might easily be the equal of or better than a "high" tech one shoddily crafted from inferior grade inputs.

Price simply is not a reliable indicator of quality, reliability, or usefulness.

[deepsand]

... I agree with the earlier posts, I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab and it actually states to periodically run down the battery.

While that may be the case for your particular battery chemistry and power control & management circuitry, as was earlier noted, that is certainly not the case for all.

[froz]

Although placing a laptop in standby mode saves some power and you can instantly resume where you left off, it doesn’t save anywhere as much power as the hibernate function does..Hibernating a PC will actually save your PC’s state as it is, and completely shut itself down..