Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Return to Computer Audio Asylum

MacBook Pro run off battery

70.181.200.118
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 09:19:54
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 2002
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Norm reminded me to try my MacBook Pro run off the battery. Tha MacBook Pro was plugged into a PS Audio Duet (prevents retrograde contamination) which was plugged into a Shunyata V-Ray II. The sound was similar when the computer was plugged into a dedicated PS Audio Premier Power Plant.

Running the computer off the battery resulted in a clearer more open sounding midrange. The mid bass seemed to be better controlled hence a clearer midrange. Thank goodness the new Mac batteries run a long time.

Day to Day Usage Laptop w/no battery, posted on November 7, 2009 at 12:17:50
Dynaudio_Rules
Audiophile

Posts: 5603
Location: Georgia
Joined: April 1, 2005
 If you dont use your laptop for audio you might want to run it without a battery...it seems to run much much cooler. Which will not only prolong the life of the computer but the battery as well.



Scrutiny Strengthens The Truth and Breaks Down Lies 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
RE: Day to Day Usage Laptop w/no battery, posted on November 7, 2009 at 14:22:12
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 3058
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
Contributor
  Since: February 24, 2009
 Probably not a good idea where I live, unless plugged into a UPS. We get several power outages each month, usually brief but sometimes for a few hours.



Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

RE: Day to Day Usage Laptop w/no battery, posted on November 8, 2009 at 09:37:58
Dynaudio_Rules
Audiophile

Posts: 5603
Location: Georgia
Joined: April 1, 2005
 Sounds like were I previously lived, we had power outages several times each season. Imagine living in Michigan 5F is the high for the day and you have no power for 2 days...needless to say almost everyone had generators.



Scrutiny Strengthens The Truth and Breaks Down Lies 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
Agree 100%. I didn't do it before but I do now....., posted on November 7, 2009 at 13:35:12
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 11769
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Very true. I now run my MacBook Pro with the battery removed while I work at my desk... which is most of the time. The laptop runs cooler as does the battery and it's not being constantly topped off.

I only insert the battery and top it off if I'm taking the laptop portable. However, I don't think this is easily done with the latest generation MacBook Pro that has the battery embedded inside the laptop with no way to remove it except to disassemble the laptop case.

I learned the hard way. I was on a business trip and noticed that my MacBook Pro battery was useless - as in totally dead, won't hold a charge for even 5 minutes. I had to find AC outlets if I wanted to work.

Apple insisted that I try running the battery down as described in their conditioning document online. I tried it a couple times. The battery was a goner. They replaced my less than 1 year old battery under warranty.

(My Lenovo laptop battery is now about 2 years old and still going strong and I appreciate that it reminds me (with a little pop-up message) when the battery needs conditioning. And it does the charge / recharge conditioning automatically over several hours so I don't have to baby sit it). Just let it run it's course overnight and it's good.

RE: Agree 100%. I didn't do it before but I do now....., posted on November 7, 2009 at 13:38:01
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 2002
Joined: October 20, 2002
 The new Mac Book Pros with the non-servicable battery run much cooler than the older models in battery mode. My 17 inch MBP is dedicated for music.
RE: Agree 100%. I didn't do it before but I do now....., posted on November 8, 2009 at 08:05:28
ackcheng
Audiophile

Posts: 312
Joined: November 14, 2003
 Hi Mercman,

I am also considering spending some money for a dedicated Mac for music. However, I found that for the price of a MBP, I can buy a good Mac Pro with hard disk for storage as well. Can I ask you what tip your decision on getting a MBP instead of a Mac Pro?

RE: Agree 100%. I didn't do it before but I do now....., posted on November 8, 2009 at 08:41:30
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 2002
Joined: October 20, 2002
 How's it going Art?

There is nothing wrong with a Mac Pro, but it does have a large physical footprint and will be a bit noisy. Remember, you need a monitor and mouse. The MacBook Pro 17 I have is dead quiet, the monitor is set to turn off in 1 minute. It is obviously much smaller than a tower design.

I have an SSD for the OS; you could do the same with the MacPro and use the other 3 bays for music hard drives.

Other than this battery thing, I have no problem with the Mac Pro if you can find a good place for it in your setup.

I listened again this AM with the battery and with the external power setup, and the battery sounded better. What the hell, it's only a hobby!
RE: Agree 100%. I didn't do it before but I do now....., posted on November 8, 2009 at 08:49:18
ackcheng
Audiophile

Posts: 312
Joined: November 14, 2003
 Thanks for your feedback! The new house I am moving into will have a small room to hold all my equipment so I think I am Ok with the noise. I wonder when Steve Job will go into BlueRay, then I can use it to play movies too! The MBP is trully stunning!

They may have improved the charging design...., posted on November 7, 2009 at 13:46:04
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 11769
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 ...especially since they know the battery is housed inside the laptop now and not easily swapped out. I guess time will tell. I hope they thought it through carefully.

Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:11:47
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 11769
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 The previous gen MacBook Pro at least had user replaceable batteries. The current gen has the battery embedded inside the computer and I don't believe it is user replaceable.

If you run your MacBook Pro off the battery WHILE the charger is plugged in MOST OF THE TIME, you will kill that battery within about a year.

I had a MacBook Pro battery go totally useless in less than a year 'cuz I rarely used the laptop off the batteries alone. As much as I like the Macs, this is one area where other laptops including my Lenova (ex-IBM) has them beat.

The Lenovo will occasionally warn me that I have not exercised the battery. I press a couple buttons and it goes through a fully automated discharge / recharge cycle over several hours. The Mac battery will simply go tits up dead and useless and you'll have to buy another one.... Or in the case of the new MacBook Pro you'll probably have to send it in for service.

RE: Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 8, 2009 at 14:34:04
sxr71
Audiophile

Posts: 947
Joined: January 2, 2002
 In general Thinkpad vs. Mac is a foregone conclusion. I mean magnesium alloy and carbon fiber construction is after all better than what they use for Coke cans.

RE: Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:20:36
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 2002
Joined: October 20, 2002
 To make the Mac battery last longer, it should be occasionally run down until the computer shuts down. Leave it alone for 6 hours, then recharge. This resets the battery.

The battery should be used by itself periodically without being plugged in. If the charger is attached and plugged in, the computer doesn't run off the battery.

As for replacement, the battery is very easy to get to, but Apple makes you take it to their store. I don't think that they let you replace it yourself in the field. It would be very easy to do.

RE: Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 13:22:20
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 11769
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 "If the charger is attached and plugged in, the computer doesn't run off the battery."

But I believe the battery is still being topped off. At least this is the case with the previous gen (Intel) MacBook Pro that I have.

Another thing you can do is go to the Apple icon at the top left of the screen and click on About This Mac. Then click the More info... button. Now click on Power in the left column. It will show you battery charge remaining as well as "Full charge capacity (mAh)". Note the Full charge capacity with your brand new MacBook Pro battery. Now watch that Full charge capacity dwindle to a fraction of the new reading over time. It WILL dwindle down but you can try to minimize it with proper battery conditioning.... but don't expect the MacBook Pro to remind you to do this and it does not have an automated way to do it as some other laptops do.

I love the MacBook Pro but the battery needs to be monitored and babied to make it last. Otherwise be prepared to pay $100 + for another one.

I now use my MacBook Pro with the battery REMOVED while I use the laptop at my desk. I insert it to ensure it's properly charged before taking it portable. Otherwise the battery sits on the desk.

RE: Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 15:49:05
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 2002
Joined: October 20, 2002
 "But I believe the battery is still being topped off. At least this is the case with the previous gen (Intel) MacBook Pro that I have."

You are right Abe.

RE: Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:14:48
AudioDoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 669
Location: Minnesota
Joined: March 25, 2008
 Abe, the battery is user replaceable, but it takes a bit more work to get to it than the old ones did. I swear I also have seen aftermarket suppliers already offering replacements.

Happiness is a clean record, and warm tubes!
RE: Be careful with Mac batteries..., posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:23:45
Phelonious Ponk
Audiophile

Posts: 558
Location: NC
Joined: September 3, 2007
 I agree that this is a Mac weakness. I think the difficulty of replacing the battery (or even taking it to the Apple store) is a decent trade-off for the battery life and size/weight, but a run-out function would be useful sometimes. Fortunately, I run mine down on my own often enough. Can't say I hear a difference when playing music on the battery, though.

P

Page processed in 0.077 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ] [ Go Green ] [ Take5 ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]