3hours of normal online usage

from a macbook pro (spec below)

is this normal?

basically opening powerpoint, msn and webpage

minimal download

 

i get just over 4 hours

 

I get ~4.5 hours

 

You left out some other items before one could guess if normal or not...like your power consumption settings...screen brightness, etc.

 

screen: 1 or 2 nodes in brightness

power consumption setting: battery and saving mode

cycle of my battery: <20
power: ~99%

coconut shows i am at least 98% from the best situation

 

Edit...gah, sorry, I see you have a previous model...I am on the late 2008 model which means we would have different power management...so disregard the below, except maybe looking for a program to test your battery.

That does seem a tad off then if all you're getting is 3 hours...I didn't time it, but I'm pretty sure I played WoW on battery for a LONG time once, 2-3 hours, and that certainly uses more than you did here.

I am not sure if there are battery testing programs out there (haven't had to look for one), but seems it should be a testable issue.

 

that seems a bit on the low side even if you're using a previous gen mbp.

 

does the 512 mb 8600gt suck more juice than the 256 mb versions? maybe thats playing a factor somehow.

remember, the new macbooks have the option of switching between integrated/dedicated gfx so all the late '08 should have much better battery lives and its unrealistic to compare the old and new gens.

 

I think you mean the MBP. . Yeah I agree that they should have better battery life because of the switching between the energy hog (9600) and the energy saver (9400)

 

i can only reach 4hours if wifi is turned off some time early

 

I am getting 4:30 with just Wifi, FF, Mail, iChat, and Twitteriffic running, with an external monitor and screen at half brightness. Not too shabby.

 

it is giving me 4hourish now

i left the battery out of the body for 2days and using it again.