laptop owners POLL

marytini · February 2011

inspired by a debate between DH and I.

[Poll]

MrsC968 · February 2011

So my laptop isn't my primary computer now. In college it was and I left it plugged in. When I use it now at home I usually plug it in, but don't always. When we were on vacation I usually didn't until I needed to charge it.

marytini · February 2011

Th reason I ask is b/c I think that by having it plugged in all the time (and we move it from the coffee table to our laps), the connection from the cord to the compter is slowly getting worse. The cord is now loose in there and not very secure. We had this happen with our last laptop and eventually you couldn't move the computer without the cord falling out and eventually it wouldn't charge and therefore...dead computer. Our laptop now is 1.5yrs old and I am worried that soon we won't be able to charge it (even though it works fine) and will have to get a new one.

DH thinks that by letting the battery run low, then recharging, will cause the battery to die sooner and then we'll have to buy a new battery.

I think a new battery is cheaper than a new laptop.

MrsC968 · February 2011

marytini:
Th reason I ask is b/c I think that by having it plugged in all the time (and we move it from the coffee table to our laps), the connection from the cord to the compter is slowly getting worse. The cord is now loose in there and not very secure. We had this happen with our last laptop and eventually you couldn't move the computer without the cord falling out and eventually it wouldn't charge and therefore...dead computer. Our laptop now is 1.5yrs old and I am worried that soon we won't be able to charge it (even though it works fine) and will have to get a new one.

DH thinks that by letting the battery run low, then recharging, will cause the battery to die sooner and then we'll have to buy a new battery.

I think a new battery is cheaper than a new laptop.

You can buy a new power cable for the laptop. You don't need to buy a new laptop itself. The power cord for my current laptop, that I've had since 2005, died the other year and I just bought a new one. It was like $70.

crystal1026 · February 2011

I keep it plugged in all the time, when I keep it on/sleep mode, if I shut it down, unplug it. H unplugs it all the time. I don't know what the right answer to this? I've heard you should let cell phones die and then charge them, to maximize the life of the battery, don't if this applies to all electronics.

marytini · February 2011

MrsC968:
marytini:

Th reason I ask is b/c I think that by having it plugged in all the time (and we move it from the coffee table to our laps), the connection from the cord to the compter is slowly getting worse. The cord is now loose in there and not very secure. We had this happen with our last laptop and eventually you couldn't move the computer without the cord falling out and eventually it wouldn't charge and therefore...dead computer. Our laptop now is 1.5yrs old and I am worried that soon we won't be able to charge it (even though it works fine) and will have to get a new one.

DH thinks that by letting the battery run low, then recharging, will cause the battery to die sooner and then we'll have to buy a new battery.

I think a new battery is cheaper than a new laptop.

You can buy a new power cable for the laptop. You don't need to buy a new laptop itself. The power cord for my current laptop, that I've had since 2005, died the other year and I just bought a new one. It was like $70.

We got a new power cord, but that wasn't the problem. What ever the cord plugs into, inside the computer, the connection wasn't being made anymore between the two. The issue was inside the computer. And I think that is what is starting to happen with our current laptop. The cord sort of jiggles inside it's "socket" and isn't very secure. It used to be a tight fit, and now it isn't.

marytini · February 2011

crystal1026:
I keep it plugged in all the time, when I keep it on/sleep mode, if I shut it down, unplug it. H unplugs it all the time. I don't know what the right answer to this? I've heard you should let cell phones die and then charge them, to maximize the life of the battery, don't if this applies to all electronics.

This was my thinking also, with letting the battery run low before recharging.

MrsT2008 · February 2011

I have a laptop from work - for the most part I keep it plugged in all the time. I've had it for 2 years now and I think I need to replace the power cord soon, but otherwise I haven't had any problems

firewife9278 · February 2011

I keep mine in my case when I'm not using it. I have it plugged in the entire time it's in use though. DH has his plugged in on the desk in the office all the time.

Mrs.Keith2B · February 2011

I keep my personal laptop plugged in only when I'm not using it. I'll unplug it to use it, and sometimes I'll use it long enough to run the battery all the way down. I've only had it for about a year, but the battery seems to be fine.

My work laptop is plugged in all the time (docking station) and I've noticed the battery life isn't as long as it should be. It'll say I have 3 hours when it's fully charge, but it really only last about 1.5 hours.

SugarhillHnA · February 2011

I selected SS. I plug my laptop in each night before I go to bed. Sometimes it needs charging, sometimes it doesn't.

marytini · February 2011

FYI- I posted over on gadgets and tech. There are only a few replies so far, but I will keep checking. Here is the link in case anyone is interested

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/49777389.aspx

NineTwentyOhEight · February 2011

I had to vote SS because my laptop is so old that the battery is dead so it has to be plugged in all the time :-)

but generally, I think you're supposed to let batteries run down, then plug them in to charge. I know that is what they say about cell phones. But not sure if the same is true for batteries.

mesa81 · February 2011

Our laptop plug was super loose as well and wasn't charging anymore-- we just replaced the cord like Holly said ($14) and it works perfectly now. I wasn't sure that was the problem so I researched how to replace the plug and it's more complicated than we have skill for. Good luck!

Mrs. Megan · February 2011

My laptop is almost 4 years old, and the battery life is horrible. It'll die in 20 minutes or less if I have it unplugged and am simply browsing the web. So yeah, it's always plugged in.

CTri17 · February 2011

marytini:
Th reason I ask is b/c I think that by having it plugged in all the time (and we move it from the coffee table to our laps), the connection from the cord to the compter is slowly getting worse. The cord is now loose in there and not very secure. We had this happen with our last laptop and eventually you couldn't move the computer without the cord falling out and eventually it wouldn't charge and therefore...dead computer. Our laptop now is 1.5yrs old and I am worried that soon we won't be able to charge it (even though it works fine) and will have to get a new one.

DH thinks that by letting the battery run low, then recharging, will cause the battery to die sooner and then we'll have to buy a new battery.

I think a new battery is cheaper than a new laptop.

This happened to me, so I sent it away and got it fixed (in Chicago) it is all they do (replace where it goes in) I am a whole bunch more careful with it now. It was Linky and $100

marytini · February 2011

Thanks Christina. You rock! I am going to bookmark the website.

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