REALLY Apple?

Ok, is wrong with the last generation macbook pro batteries? I love my macbook pro to death, but seriously, 100 cycles and it's in and out of complete failure (btwn 68% and 85% health). And those things cost $120 to replace. I hope for Apple's own sake the new Macbook Pro batteries are better.

 

100 cycles is not a lot. A battery should last between 300 and 500 cycles. Have you tried to calibrate it?

Check your BIOS. There might be an option there that does the calibration. If you can't find any option you'll have to do it by hand. Charge your battery until 100%, and then remove the charger and use your laptop until the battery is completely flat. You might have to repeat this procedure a couple of times.

 

Macs use EFI, not BIOS, so it'll have to be done by hand.

You're supposed to do a calibration every month or so, and particularly right after you buy it. If you've never done one, you can try, but that's probably why you've lost so much battery capacity in the first place.

 

I also have the problem of a battery which is declining in power (not in an apple but a battery is a battery right?), so what does calibration mean? soz for the nub question.

 

iwantamac,

If its dropping that quickly at just around 100 cycles, it is most likely a defect (or calibration issue). Bring it to an Apple Store, and I am pretty sure they will replace it for free!

 

I have 188 cycles on my Macbook Pro battery (late 2008 model), and Im still have 93% health and still get around 3-4 with moderate-heavy usage.

So there is defintiely something wrong with your battery.

 

Now it's up to 88%. .

 

I believe that is still a bit low - it should be rated at 80% after 300 cycles if I remember correctly. Although that may be before the built-in battery days, so in fact yours should last even longer. Bring it in to the Apple Store !

 

I'd also suggest taking the battery to the Apple store to have it checked out/replaced. Apple is usually very accommodating when it comes to replacements. Make sure to schedule an appointment prior to visiting the Genius bar

 

im at 482 cycles and recently i'ts dropped from 95% to 87%. Im quite sad. Yours is definitely a defect.

 

Would they do it without a receipt though? I can't find mine.

 

wow, the computer keeps track of your cycles?

 

Yes. Using the program iStat is the easiest way to see it.

I'm currently at 225 cycles and 100% health. And I haven't calibrated in probably 6 months.

 

you can also use coconut battery avalable from macupdate to monitor battery status.

 

When you guys say "at 87%"... do you mean that when you charge it fully, it only holds up to 87% of battery instead of 100% then?

 

Yes, that's the idea - battery health is how good of a condition the battery is in, compared to its original/maximum state at 100% - so the idea that when you charge your battery to 100%, its actually only 87% of the total possible, but due to wear-and-tear, 87% is now 100%. That probably made no sense.

 

Yes. Your Mac's serial number gives them your warranty status. There's no receipt required.

If you're talking about a built-in battery, they'll be able to cover it. If your Mac has a removable battery, then some proof of purchase (from Apple only if you want the warranty) would be required.

 

Yeah, the new 100% charge is 87%. this is because it is lithium ion an degrades over time.

 

I can add that lithium ion degrades over time even when they are not used.

 

The System Profiler application in the Applications/Utilities will tell you the battery stats.

The battery on my Macbook has done 813 cycles and is still at 93% of the original capacity.

 

If you use your system mainly on the charger, you can preserve your battery by discharging it to 40% and taking it out of your system. Make sure you store the battery in a cool dark place.

Apple laptops will reduce the processor speed when you take out the battery. But you can override this (and get full performance) by running the pmset -c 3 command at the terminal.

 

unfortunately, li ion also degrades when stored/not being used.