Lock computer?

[Sunnz]

Well I usually put it in my backpack and I walk around the school, alot... however I do turn it off when I am about to go home since it would be a 20~30 drive...

In my case, I usually shut it down when it is about 10% battery, and is usually the time I go home... sounds ok?

BTW, as soon as I went home, I plug it back to the adaptor, and I always leave it plugged in when at home even if it is on green for days... would that consider as bad for a Mac? I have heard from PC friends that they remove the battery when using their laptop at home to save battery life... is that true? Does it apply to Macs?

[Bluefish]

I think that whatever you do with a battery, the lifetime of it will keep reducing. If you store it in a locker, it will reduce, and if you use it all the days it will reduce.
I have my adaptor plugged in almost ever, exept for when i sit in the sofa or are wardriving in the city. I havn't noticed any problems..

[ora]

...edited out bad advice... seems its ok to run plugged in

[lurk]

Actually cycling the battery as you are describing is what will burn the battery up and leaving it plugged in is totally OK. Now in the old days batteries did not have the voltage regulation circuitry that modern Li-polymer batteries have what you say was true, but not today. In fact if you tried to use that old style regimen for charging a modern battery it would burst into flame. That is the real reason for the voltage regulation in newer batteries, the nice side effect is that you don't have to worry about running with the "green" light on whatsoever.

[Sunnz]

By old, how 'old' did you mean? 5 years? Or 30 years? My friend's laptop is about 4~5 years old... it is a PC too.

[lurk]

Old also varies by expense, but NiCad batteries were the worst in this respect. Newer means Lithium-Ion and Lithium polymer batteries. In between these is NiMH which has less memory problems but still is not wonderful. It will say what it is on the side of the battery.