Travel Technology - How to get most use from laptop battery?

Have new laptop (IBM T-42) thus new battery. Are there ways to improve longevity, or at least not inadvertently lower it's life span?

Currently am using it about 4 hours a day, and plugging in when it hits about 17% charge left. Would it be better to use it plugged in ALL the time when possible?

Most modern laptops have intelligent chargers which will "trickle-charge" the battery to keep it topped off without overcharging it.

I imagine you have a Lithium-Ion battery so running it down before recharging it is not a bad idea. LiIons do not suffer from "battery memory" like the old Nickel-Cadnium (NiCad) ones did, but they also have a somewhat more limited number of charging cycles (though still measured in the hundreds), so I tend not to like to run mine down half-way or so and charge them back up.

Have new laptop (IBM T-42) thus new battery. Are there ways to improve longevity, or at least not inadvertently lower it's life span?

Currently am using it about 4 hours a day, and plugging in when it hits about 17% charge left. Would it be better to use it plugged in ALL the time when possible?

Follow manufacturer's hidden instructions and re-calibrate the battery about every 30-days. But yes, use outlet power when possible, especialy on the road, why run up your electric bill? A back-up battery might be a good investment as well. ^

Follow manufacturer's hidden instructions and re-calibrate the battery about every 30-days. But yes, use outlet power when possible, especialy on the road, why run up your electric bill? A back-up battery might be a good investment as well. ^
Thanks.

Hidden instructions? Please, tell me more.

So the battery does have a limited number of charges, and if I leave the laptop plugged in most of the time, not using the battery, it will last longer?

Should I remove the battery when using the laptop for weeks at a time at home?

(Am at 70% now, going to get AC adaptor.)

Thanks.

Hidden instructions? Please, tell me more.

So the battery does have a limited number of charges, and if I leave the laptop plugged in most of the time, not using the battery, it will last longer?

Should I remove the battery when using the laptop for weeks at a time at home?

(Am at 70% now, going to get AC adaptor.)

I can not and will not respond on behalf of SEA_tigger, but as far as the hidden instructions...

The small pamphlet that came with my Averatec 3225 did not mention anything about it. But I checked buyer's comments at Circuit City and Best Buy. Those commentaries suggested the idea, and I had to download an Owner's Manual PDF from averatec.com. I found the "How & Why" there...

My laptop's AC/DC goes through the battery, hence I can't disconnect it and use the machine. But my battery is always at 100%. On the rare occasion that I have to go absolute WiFi, I have ample time. (I would not try to burn a CD or watch a DVD.) Good luck and good fun!

OJ

It's best to use a lithium-ion battery as little as possible (plug in when possible). In most cases, the deeper you discharge the battery, the more you use the 'charge lifetime' of the battery. From what I've read, discharging below 20% is worse for the battery.

On the Thinkpad, there is a screen called 'Improve Battery Health' when you click on the battery icon in your taskbar. You can specify a lower charge threshold (so it doesn't charge too often). There is also a Battery Reconditioning screen when your battery capacity drops. Clicking on the Help button on the Improve Battery Health screen shows some IBM-recommended tips

But plan on replacing the battery in 2 years (factor that into the overall cost of owning the laptop).

I spend most of the time with my thinkpad (T40) at the desk, so I take my battery out and leave it plugged in. I've read that if you do it, to leave some charge in the battery (about 40%) and put the battery in a cool place (even the fridge) for max effect. I only have a few charge cycles on my battery but my charge capacity hasn't changed at all. My battery before this, I left in while the laptop was plugged in and I lost about 30% in about a year.

... but were afraid to ask can be found here (http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm).