How can you get most out of your battery ?

[Thezine]

Hello all,

I just bought a new MBA Rev. B 1.6Ghz 120Hdd and I am new to the MBA.
I don't know about you guys but my battery just take at most 2:20 hrs and I don't understand what drain it so much . I am a long time user of macrumors forums and many of you guys have macbook airs that take more than 4 hrs.

I am using bluetooth and wifi and half dimmed screen, usual usage is Web Surfing, and working on office documents.

How can I figure if it's a problem coming from the hardware or my mac os doesn't show me the proper information about the time remaining ?

Thanks in advance for your advice .

 

[drummerlondonw3]

I owuld suggest a full charge and discharge to calibrate. Although technically not necassary it would be the first thing I would look at if you're trying to track something down.

Also worth noting is that a lot of Air owners, myself included, have undervolted which does give some gains in battery life

 

[Thezine]

Thank you for your answer.

You know I feel bad that it barely making it to 2 hours with only 5 battery cycles.

I will try to calibrate ..

Thanks.

 

[drummerlondonw3]

also install an app called coconut battery which will tell you the health of your battery, could be the quick answer

Good luck

 

[kellen]

Turn brightness down as much as you can. Plus in the battery settings put it on better life. Eliminate background apps as much as you can.

 

[Thezine]

I don't find them in the "energy saver" section of "system preferences" ?

Any idea how can I activate those profiles ?

Thank you very much.

 

[alphaod]

My best advice is to use the computer like a laptop computer and don't leave it plugged in all the time.

 

[ayeying]

Yeah. Just use it. I'm at 126 cycles on my battery and I got this system on June 11ish. Wow. Not even 2 months... I amaze myself lol

 

[kellen]

I don't find them in the "energy saver" section of "system preferences" ?

Any idea how can I activate those profiles ?

Thank you very much.

Hmm, my macbook pro has different energy settings if you go into the settings and power settings. Perhaps they are always enabled for the MBA? Try clicking on the battery in the upper right, should give you different choices on how to run.

 

[ayeying]

Hmm, my macbook pro has different energy settings if you go into the settings and power settings. Perhaps they are always enabled for the MBA? Try clicking on the battery in the upper right, should give you different choices on how to run.

Those were on and off after some leopard update. I don't have it on my Rev C but I had it on my Rev A

 

[zedsdead]

I don't find them in the "energy saver" section of "system preferences" ?

Any idea how can I activate those profiles ?

Thank you very much.

That's because those settings exist only on the Macbook pro's that have two graphics cards, thus enabling a switch between the integrated and dedicated cards.

The Air just uses the integrated graphics, so no switch is possible.

 

[kellen]

That's because those settings exist only on the Macbook pro's that have two graphics cards, thus enabling a switch between the integrated and dedicated cards.

The Air just uses the integrated graphics, so no switch is possible.

Mines the early 2008, only the 8600 GT. Has the switch.

Its probably always on longer battery life.