Comments on: Maccast 2009.11.01

By: Jerry Krinock

Jerry Krinock — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:45:26 +0000

A careful reading of the material at http://www.apple.com/batteries/ says that a scheduled monthly deep discharge is not necessary for lithium-ion batteries. Further, it is not recommended unless the battery experiences less than one cycle per month, which means that it’s on the shelf, in storage. Also, a “cycle” for lithium-ion batteries does not have to be deep. If you discharge it to 50% one day, then recharge, then discharge to 50% the next day, that counts as one cycle because 50+50=100%.

The old monthly deep-discharge routine was recommended for the old nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal-hydride batteries.

To minimize expensive battery replacements, for iPods that are used regularly, just put them on the charger every night. For laptop computers, use AC power whenever available.

Re-read http://www.apple.com/batteries/

By: Edward Wade

Edward Wade — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:07:05 +0000

Love the show. I’ve learned so much from your podcast! Thanks a lot for how you help the Mac community. In your last show you mentioned it may be difficult to hook up a bluray device to the new iMacs. I think it is relatively simple at least w the 27″ iMac that accepts input from its mini Display Port by using a $9.95 MiniDisplay Port to HDMI adapter from monoprice. Apple’s website says the 27″ iMac will accept inputs via its Mini Display Port
“The Mini DisplayPort lets you connect an external display, including the Apple LED Cinema Display, to your iMac. On the 27-inch iMac, the same port offers input, too. So you can connect any external source that has DisplayPort output — including a MacBook or MacBook Pro — and use your iMac as a display.”
See http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2
for the adapter.

By: iconjohn

iconjohn — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:02:17 +0000

Adam, I think I remember Macbreak talking about maintaining laptop batteries on a Mac and that there were very different opinions. I even think I remember that they were joking that Apples suggestions were in error, just so you could wear down the batteries quicker.

I have a Powerbook with 2 batteries and MBP with 1. I’m not a heavy user of either and always use ac power. With the Powerbooks, I alternate batteries and leave them topped off before I shut down and same for MBP.
But I took your advice and drained one of the PB’s batteries down to 3%, will recharge and do same for MBP.
JC