[wunderkind]

When I bought my PB 12" last December its battery capacity was 4349 (from running ioreg -l | grep -i IOBatteryInfo in Terminal).

After Battery Update it went DOWN to 4200.

Three weeks ago I found that it was again DOWN - to 4099.

And now it's even LESS - 4079.

This correlates with decrease in estimated battery life over last few months - from 4:20 at most to always less than 4 hours now.

Is this dramatic decrease in battery capacity in first 5 months is "normal"?

Or are these early signs of battery demise? Thanks.

[phantomo]

Here is my story:

Got my PB in October 10, 2003
Calibrated the battery like Apple told me to.
Before Battery Update 1.1 39xxmAh
After Battery Update 1.1 4200mAh
2 months ago 3984mAh
yesterday 3723mAh
recalibrated last night
now 3926mAh

I am giving up hope and started saving for a new battery for 1 year later.

[brapper]

batteries are hit or miss.
you can get a great one or a sh*tty one.
apple won't care either way.

[SEkker]

Does anyone know how bad a battery has to get to qualify for an AppleCare replacement?

[wunderkind]

Originally posted by SEkker:
Does anyone know how bad a battery has to get to qualify for an AppleCare replacement?

I've just read Apple One-Year Limited Warranty. In fact, there's no warranty coverage for batteries "unless damage has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship". AppleCare has basically the same provision.

However, Apple did replace a battery in my 6 month (previously owned) iBook when it malfunctioned. It was charging all right, but LEDs on a battery when I press battery indicator button blinked three times instead of staying on and showing charge.

It appears Apple decided that these sudden bizarre symptoms of the 6-month old battery were defects in workmanship.

[dwood]

wait wait wait.... are you telling me the batteries life decreases the more you use it???? who ever would've thunk it

[saranwarp]

Originally posted by dwood:
wait wait wait.... are you telling me the batteries life decreases the more you use it???? who ever would've thunk it

[wunderkind]

I did not notice the same decrease in actual battery life with my two previously owned iBooks (500 and 700). It hardly changed in more than a year that I owned them.

Here, with the PB, I lost 20-30 min. of battery life in the first 5 months. And thought that it is not normal based on my previous experience.

[SEkker]

I, too, have been wondering if there is something different about the chemistry of the latest PB batteries. Compared to a Lombard, Pismo, a series of TiPBs, and other PBs I've worked with over the last 4+ years, a colleague's PB12 and my PB17 battery have more rapidly lost their full charge capacity.

Of course, we may be really using these machines more -- this is by far my favorite PB ever !

[wunderkind]

Follow up.

I did a slow drain calibration of the battery described HERE.

Battery capacity went up from 4079 (before calibration) to 4131. It seems that this did "extend" the battery life. Now at 54% charge predicted battery life is 2:02 (AirPort on, reduced processor speed, <50% screen brightness).

[phantomo]

Yup, my last calibration was done using the slow method and that's how I got 3926 from 3723mAh. Hopefully, this capacity will stay for a little longer

[Athens]

Originally posted by dwood:
wait wait wait.... are you telling me the batteries life decreases the more you use it???? who ever would've thunk it

Yup, im shock you didn't know that *snark*

[alligator]

Lithium batteries do not last forever. Eventually you will need to buy a replacement. Just look at the people upset about their iPod battery. Still, I'd take a lithium battery any day over a NiCd or NiMh. Faster charging and longer life - with no memory effect.

The only thing I can't wait for is a small laptop fuel cell. 1+ month of use on a single fuel cell before refilling. Fantastic!