How long do you get out of your battery?
For the past few weeks I've been planning on getting a Mac notebook. I was originally set on the idea of an iBook but I'm tired of waiting! So this evening I sat down and analysed the iBook vs. PowerBook situation, comparing features, prices and price differences (taking into account education discount).
Basically I've come to the conclusion that for the price, I'd like a 15" PowerBook with combo drive. However I'm a little concerned about the battery life. The Apple web site reports 6 hours for the iBook (12 and 14-inch), 5 hours for the 12-inch PowerBook and 4.5 hours for the 15-inch PowerBook.
Now, I know it does depend a lot on what you do with the machine. However I've seen reports (on various different forums) of people getting about 2 hours out of their PowerBook and hence my posting.
How long do you get out of your PowerBook 15" and what are you doing to achieve such results?
How long do you get out of other 'Books from Mac and what is your configuration?
Portability is not a big factor with this purchase, but battery life is. I can analyse spec vs. price by myself on paper, but you cannot really analyse battery life!
Thoughts?
Cheers
Alasdair
iMac G5 17"/1.8GHz/1GB/80GB/SD/BT/WIRELESS KB+MSE/TIGER
Basically I've come to the conclusion that for the price, I'd like a 15" PowerBook with combo drive. However I'm a little concerned about the battery life. The Apple web site reports 6 hours for the iBook (12 and 14-inch), 5 hours for the 12-inch PowerBook and 4.5 hours for the 15-inch PowerBook.
Now, I know it does depend a lot on what you do with the machine. However I've seen reports (on various different forums) of people getting about 2 hours out of their PowerBook and hence my posting.
How long do you get out of your PowerBook 15" and what are you doing to achieve such results?
How long do you get out of other 'Books from Mac and what is your configuration?
Portability is not a big factor with this purchase, but battery life is. I can analyse spec vs. price by myself on paper, but you cannot really analyse battery life!
Thoughts?
Cheers
Alasdair
iMac G5 17"/1.8GHz/1GB/80GB/SD/BT/WIRELESS KB+MSE/TIGER
Comments
Cheers :-)
Originally posted by segovius
2 - 2.5 max on 15" AI PB. Slight improvement with Tiger but not much. I'd say two in normal surfing etc.
Yeah. I have been getting about 2.5 on my new 15". I thought there was something wrong with it but apparently that is the norm. I am using the default settings.
I also have a first generation TiBook (mostly used by my wife). I bought a NewerTech battery for it and now it gets about 3-3.5 hours. I don't know how much of that difference is the battery vs the machine.
Originally posted by JBL
I also have a first generation TiBook (mostly used by my wife). I bought a NewerTech battery for it and now it gets about 3-3.5 hours. I don't know how much of that difference is the battery vs the machine.
the battery i got for my powerbook is from newer tech, and im getting roughly 3.5-3.75hrs w/ it
Originally posted by Wingnut
My 12" iBook goes about 4 hours on normal use with screen close to max brightness.
Same here on my iBook G4 1GHz, although it was slightly more when the battery was fresh... no complaints on the battery life but I wouldn't want to sacrifice too much.
Hopefully when we get Intel CPUs in Powerbooks and iBooks, the battery life will be substantially improved. I'd be quite happy with 8 hours
With my old 1Ghz iBook i would get close to 5 hrs with full brightness and airport on doing the same stuff.
The iBook had 768Mb and the PB has 1Gb RAM so I suppose that helps in terms of keeping the disc activity down and saving power.
I'm not sure if Tiger or Panther has better battery life. I do like Tiger's quick powersaving pull-down list next to the clock.
Originally posted by Wingnut
The iBook's G4 has to use next to no energy, since it appears to be passively cooled.
My iBook G4 1GHz has a fan... surely your iBook does as well.
Originally posted by AlasdairM
Do you guys all use Reduced CPU performance to get these times?
nope... my screen is on max brightness, and im usually just surfing and ichat, sometimes i do like MS apple word stuff.. some photo-shop./.. but i usually save that fun for my vicki (my imac)
all i do on my ibook is surf the net, chat, write papers/programs, and other basic stuff like that.
Hehehe, ty for all the responses
Originally posted by AlasdairM
I think I'll opt for the 12" PowerBook with SuperDrive ;-D
Hehehe, ty for all the responses
de nada... have fun w/ it
stupid batteries die after 10 months. Had to get a replacement....
(you may now start the "not with me" testimonials. but in anycase it's me, not you; big difference there)