New MacBook Air

isofa

k18dan wrote: »

ever used a mac on a network?? nightmare! total nightmare

Yes, on their own and in a large mixed Mac and PC network here. Like everything, no major problems if it's set-up and maintained correctly.

novice-saver

isofa wrote: »

I have a 7 year old Mac PowerBook, that still holds it's charge well, the battery has never failed, and I get a good 2-3 hours out of it if I take it somewhere to write an article or comp up an image...

IMHO.

Life expectancy of a battery depends on its type and use.

I'd guess your PowerBook uses Nicads, and despite their bad press for memory effects (if misused) they last for years if cycled properly.

Li-ion batteries are pretty much dead by their third birthday, regardless of how careful you are with them - they hold virtually no charge by then.
That's fine if you use your laptop on a power lead, but not good in a mobile phone.

isofa

novice-saver wrote: »

IMHO.
Life expectancy of a battery depends on its type and use. I'd guess your PowerBook uses Nicads, and despite their bad press for memory effects (if misused) they last for years if cycled properly. Li-ion batteries are pretty much dead by their third birthday, regardless of how careful you are with them - they hold virtually no charge by then. That's fine if you use your laptop on a power lead, but not good in a mobile phone.

No - definitely not NiCads!

Have to disagree - out of my personal experience, goes completely against the figures stated.

My ancient Powerbook Pismo G3, has the original single Li-Ion battery, as all my laptops do. I've had older laptops, but never one with a Ni-Cad in my life! The laptop was purchased in 2000, used extensively for 3-4 years, and now is just used very occasionally, but it charges, holds a charge and works no problem at all.

Also I have a 4 year old Pentium Dell Latitude laptop again with a Li-ion battery, works perfectly, holds a good 3 hour charge no problem - so my experience is much better than the stated facts and figures.

I also have Sony Ericsson phones from several years ago which have been passed down the family and still charge well, all Li-Ion of course.

It's the number of charge cycles which is important, not the age of the li-ion battery, although I've never had a problem as yet...