Cannot find an "official" advice for caring of MBA batteries

Oh, for Heaven's sakes. The web pages that you linked to make it clear that lithium-ion batteries--and particularly the lithium-ion batteries used in the MacBook Air--are pretty much worry-free. You do not have to worry about charging/discharging cycles. You have taken Apple's advice and turned it completely around and are now complaining about the lack of advice on charge/discharge cycles.

Now understand this. You question is about something that should be of no concern to you. You do not have to buy a hand crank starter for a Chevrolet Volt. You do not have to be concerned about charge/discharge cycles on your MacBook Air.

As I told you in my previous post and as Apple told you on its website, the batteries are worry-free because they are lithium-ion batteries. The behavior that you are describing is the behavior of nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries. MBA batteries are not NiCads, they are lithium-ion--a very different technology. You didn't find affirmation from Apple because you didn't [or refuse to] understand the blackletter of the text on Apple's website.

Apple cannot account for every bit of nonsense that you have heard or choose to believe. What Apple can do is to establish a web page that explains the advantages of the technology. Apple has done that. You are aware of the web page. Unfortunately, you have so far chosen to cling to "what I heard." You are, however, free to change your mind at any time.

Apple doesn't say you can use your battery however you want without shortening its life. It doesn't say that anywhere. I've had more than a few notebooks with Li-ion batteries and certainly they do lose their ability to hold charge quite a bit, sometimes after quite a short period of time (say six months). I don't know if Apple Li-polymer batteries are of higher quality or not, but they seem to maintain their capacity for a longer period of time.

There are many people on these forums who have posted the number of charging cycles they've gone through and the remaining capacity of their battery, so I guess this obviously proves you wrong and shows you to be wrongly critical of the original poster.

The solution is to minimize the number of full charging cycles and to also read this:

"For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, its important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time. An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her notebook on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing. If on the other hand, you use a desktop computer at work, and save a notebook for infrequent travel, Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month. Need a reminder? Add an event to your desktops iCal. When your battery no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs, you may choose to replace it. If your notebook came with a built-in battery, you should have the battery replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider."

Also, download the Coconut Battery app, which gives you details about the state of your battery. No doubt you'll see how your battery is doing and perhaps you can change your charging habits accordingly.

I have no idea what motivated you to jump into this discussion, but several things jump out at me:

Shortened battery life has a cause. Apple gives you the cause and states that its lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from it.


If you have no experience with Apple lithium-ion batteries, then what gives yo the authority to talk about their lifespan?


Which people? How many of them? How do they prove me wrong?


Well, duh! Apple's lithium-ion batteries have a lifespan that is defined in terms of charging cycles. Of course, you will extend its life if you use fewer charging cycles


It is improper to post a quote without attribution. Let us be clear--this is not an Apple directive. Do not imply that it is.


The Coconut Battery app will do no harm. However, it is not necessary. As it happens, just today I had a conversation with one of my firm's PC people. He has come into possession of a MacBook Pro from a former employee. This died-in-the-wool Windows user is blown-away by the battery life of the Apple laptop compared to the Dells of his experience.

Newbie, one of these days you may learn what my PC using friend has already learned. Apple makes kit that you rarely have to worry about.

I own a new MBP 13 inch 2011 and recalibrate it once a month and have it charged in the rest of the time and Apple Support said that is the right way.The battery will last much longer that way.Many people who own the MBA I know do it this way.