Overall Battery Power

[Holofoil]

I just got a new laptop, and I'm not sure what exactly ruins batteries.

What should I do:

Charge it fully, take the cable out, use it until it runs out, then recharge it fully.

Or

Leave the cable in all the time when I'm using it at home.

I don't want the battery to get screwed up.

[Recursion]

"Charge it fully, take the cable out, use it until it runs out, then recharge it fully."

If its never discharged then its life is decreased dramatically, but most batteries start to die after a certain number of charges, but either way, charge, discharge, charge etc.. is best.

You will have to get another after about a year and a half anyway.

[Plank]

I take the battery out and just keep the cable plugged in because it's on my desk most of the time.

[Recursion]

Thats just as bad as leaving it plugged in you know.

[Plank]

:O why? :(

[Recursion]

Something to do with the chemicals/metal inside the batteries.

"Lithium-ion batteries need to be used for maximum performance. If you don’t use your device often, be sure to complete a charge cycle at least once a month."

Apple have a good article on it that I just found on Google. http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

[Technologic]

It's better to run it flat as possible, then recharge it

[Recursion]

Same for any rechargable battery too :P