Originally posted by: ScottyB
Do Macbooks really last hours like they advertise?
I am getting a bit sick of Windows and my Dell laptop and may get a Macbook next time around. Probably a year or two. I have had my Dell laptop about 1 year and have already replaced both the battery and the power cable once and they are starting to go out again.
Now I get about 1 - 1.5 hours on my battery with internet use or word processing. With a new battery it is about 1.5 - 2 hours. This is with a 14.4 inch screen. I would like to get back into some video projects, so that is part of the reason I want a Macbook.
I would like to do a 4 hour writing session without worrying about running out of power.
Ok, my mother's BlackBook (2nd gen, early Core 2 Duo) gets about 3-4 hours of life out of a single charge, and she uses it on battery very, very often.
My MacBook (1st gen) gets about 2-2.5 hours of battery, the battery is about 1.5 years old.
Anand has tested the new MacBook Pro and records 5.5-8 hours of battery life depending on use (5.5 heavy video watching, 8 light web browsing), and Walt Mossberg of the WSJ got similiar results. Others have tested the new ones and getton 3.5-4 hours of life, but based on anecdotal evidence from people that have purchased them here, and am therefore more inclined to believe Anand and Walt.
So, worst case, you are looking at your 4 hour target. Best case, double that. All on a battery that is designed to maintain at least 80% life after 5 years (assuming a linear loss then you would lose 4% total life per annum, so after 5 years you can still expect to get 5.5 hours or so of life out of the battery) and is allegedly good for $1000 charges.
The cost to replace the battery is $129, which includes shipping both ways. The cost for a new battery for the White MacBook, or older Unibody is... $129. So it is in no way more expensive should that come up.
And to be completely clear, the battery is not non-removable, it is simply non-user servicable. Meaning that when third party batteries (or even Apple branded ones) show up on the market, if you don't get it serviced by an Apple Tech, they will disregard the entire machine (if I recall their rules correctly). It is only held in place by 3 screws, not soldered, so replacing it is not a chore.
Also, Apple has been good thus far about rectifying errors, like when about 9 months worth of MacBooks and MacBook Pros all had bad cells. Both Tyranicus and myself received free replacement batteries that way. Apple will also replace the power adapter, in or out of warranty, if it starts to fray.
If you are looking for power+battery life, look no further than the MacBook Pros. There is, for example, the Acer TimeLine series, but they are significantly less powerful systems.