Using the Macbook Aluminum for First Time: Battery

Hey, I was just wondering what is recommended these days for batteries on the first use. I just got the new Macbook and am wondering if after it fully charges whether I should let it completely run out and then fully charge or if this is no longer necessary, or even harmful these days.

Thanks!

 

Seems most people and Apple still recommend charging it fully the first time, letting it "cool" for 2 hours (can still use the computer) then running it down. It helps calibrate not the battery but the "fuel gauge".

After that you'll want to calibrate it every so often. The best way to keep the battery healthy is to just use it. Don't run it down dead all the time. As Apple says, "keep the juices flowing". Just use it and charge it at every opportunity after use.

Edit: the worst thing people do is get afraid of using their battery out of fear of ending its life early. But in the end that fear means an unused battery which loses its overall capacity faster than one that gets used. So just use it. Don't be afraid to do your light stuff on the couch while watching TV

 

Sounds good. Thanks!

I know it's a bit OT, but do you happen to have a preference for web browsers? Firefox was always my browser of choice with Windows, but how does this new Safari 3 compare?

 

I use Firefox still. Safari 3 is nice. It opens instantly after a fresh boot, where Firefox takes a few seconds.

But Firefox is a lot faster at rendering pages.

I remember when FF3 came out not too long ago. I upgraded and started browsing and the pages were showing up so fast it was like getting broadband for the first time all over again! haha.

Plus there are still a handful of pages that aren't compatible with Safari.

On top of that, for some stupid reason Apple still refuses to make command+enter (control+enter in Windows) fill in the URL. So you can't just type in cnn and hit command and enter and have it fill in the rest of the URL. That alone keeps me away from Safari.

Edit: Just did my own little "scientific" test

I went to cnn.com in FF3 and Safari 3. Both have latest updates. Safari took 5 seconds to render the page (loaded it twice just to make sure) and Firefox 3 took 1 second twice. Cleared caches and all of that with both.

Came over here to notebookreview.com. Safari took 6 seconds both times and FF took about 2.5 seconds.

Digg.com loaded up almost instantly on FF and in 4 seconds on Safari.

Like I said, all times all user data was cleared.

I have a 10Mbps connection through Charter as well.

Second edit: 7.5 seconds for arstechnica.com to load up in Safari, 3 in Firefox.

 

i do suggest that you read the manual that came with your notebook. it is a short read and provide very useful information.

 

Or look up on Apple website

 

Congratulations SDYanksFan for purchasing new macbook. Hope that you will like it. I also bought one after using windows laptops for 20 yrs . I am in learning process of OSX computer and sometime get confused.For a better battery life you need to keep using battery on regular base.And you dont need to discharge battery completely before it charge,Charge it when it is around 25% left.

 

Good advice, I remember there is some special instruction for the first time use that isn't on the website.

 

Hmm, did I miss something in particular? I read through it, but didn't take not of anything special I should be doing on the first use.

On Apple's website, I found what SauronMos was recommending I do with the battery, and I did so. I left it on with the screen saver running overnight and when I woke up, it seemed to have completely died out. I'm now fulling charging the battery.

Anything else I should be doing with the battery or anything else?

P.S. Some of you in this thread are responsible for me getting the new Macbook. I can't thank you enough, this thing is incredible. I was so close to grabbing another PC. Granted it's only been a day, I am certain I will not ever be going back to Windows except where work requires it.

And after all the LCD and benchmark debates, whoever was actually right, I don't know, but the display looks amazing and the performance has been excellent thus far.

 

Maybe the manual for Europe is different. I think the advice was to leave it charging longer, can't remember how long.

Glad you like it

 

Ahh okay, well on the US Apple website, it said exactly what Sauron recommended -- let it continue charging for 2+ hours before unplugging it. It was fully charged for a good 4+ hours before I unplugged it, so I'm sure it'll be fine. Thanks