Tech Table
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
June 3, 2014
Justin: Welcome to MPA’s Tech Table. I’m Justin.
Diana: And I’m Diana.
Justin: And we’re your hosts. We’ll be serving up a heaping spoonful of all things tech.
Diana: We promise it will be easy to digest. Well hi there Justin.
Justin: Hello Diana, it’s Tuesday. Tech Tuesday at the Tech Table.
Diana: We give tech tips on Tuesday.
Justin: Wow, that’s a mouthful but it’s true.
Diana: (laughter)
Justin: We want to talk about the proper care of your laptop batteries.
Diana: Yes or just in general lithium ion batteries.
Justin: Alright.
Diana: Yes, fancy words.
Justin: Is that what kind of battery is in your laptop. I don’t even know these things.
Diana: That’s what our tech guys tell me.
Justin: Well that’s exciting.
Diana: Yeah.
Justin: I remember when we used to have AC adapters, like those big heavy things. Now we have Macs, we just double the core, we just, and it’s magnetic how it hooks onto the Mac book Air.
Diana: Yeah. Pretty fancy.
Justin: It’s very fancy. I totally forgot about laptop batteries to tell you the truth. (laughter) Anyways, so many people do have to deal with laptop batteries and we order a lot of replacement laptop batteries I know. So these are some helpful tips.
Diana: Yes, so if your laptop is going to be plugged into a C-power for an extended period of time and the battery is already charged, remove the battery for a longer battery life.
Justin: Oh that’s a good (inaudible),
Diana: Yeah actually run it without the battery.
Justin: Right, you know, one thing, this is important this is the next tip, always use your laptop on a hard surface. It’s essential for proper cooling. I tell people this all the time, batteries don’t like to be hot, your computer doesn’t like to be hot, it runs harder, you know, so use it on a hard surface. I know a lot of people like to, you know, curl up with their laptops so to speak, and use it with a blanket or a soft surface, you know, your lap even underneath it. It does not like that.
Diana: Yes, that is true and it’s hard to, you know, remember that but sometimes you just set it down on the couch or your bed…
Justin: Right.
Diana: and yep just put it there on your desk instead.
Justin: Exactly. The other thing that I think applies that’s regarding cooling and heating would be that you should not leave your pet or child in a car on a hot day so why would you leave your laptop in a car on a hot day? You know, and it’s true, it’s not good for these electronics. You remember the days back when they used to tell us when things were on CD?
Diana: Yes.
Justin: You know, back in the roaring twenties, back when I was in my roaring twenties. But, know, you know, they used to say they used to say don’t leave a CD, you know, in the car it’s not good for it. Well you know it’s really not good for anything to be in the hot car especially your lap top. What else do you go Diana?
Diana: So when you do run the laptop off of the battery try to use the entire charge of the battery before recharging it. I’m terrible about this.
Justin: Yeah I’m not, I run that sucker down.
Diana: Yes.
Justin: I’d run it almost down until it tells me that your computer is going to die if you don’t plug it in and then I still I chance. I like to live on the edge.
Diana: So let it run, let it run until it’s just about dead. The reason for that is that lithium ion batteries are only meant to be recharged a limited number of times.
Justin: Right.
Diana: So.
Justin: Interesting. Hmm. So when you’re ready to charge the battery try to do so with the laptop off, like overnight, that’s what I suggest.
Diana: Yeah, that’s a good time.
Justin: You know that way you’re not working it and its less heat than as well.
Diana: Yes and just a couple more things. If it’s not going to be used for an extended period of time, like three to six months.
Justin: Wow that’s a long time.
Diana: Yeah, remember to recharge the battery. Batteries will discharge while not being used. So just remember to recharge it when turning it back on.
Justin: Right, and in general remember the life expectancy of these things are not forever. Two to four years, and you know I would say even two years, really. Take care of things and treat them well and they’ll last longer.
Diana: Treat them nicely.
Justin: Until next time.
Diana: Take care.
Justin: Tech table is brought to you by MPA of Bloomfield, Iowa and God’s country radio. You can visit online at askmpa.com.
Diana: If you have questions or comments please send them to questions@askmpa.com, that’s questions@askmpa.com.
Justin: And thanks for listening.
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