What kind of battery life you guys getting with your MBAs? Seeing pretty widely different real-life use posts.

My wife is getting 3-7 hrs on her 13" MBA, depending on what is running. Pretty much it's Flash that kills the battery in her case; she sometimes lets the kids play some online video games. Once or twice, some program got going and caused a rapid drain - once it was photo booth, another time we never figured it out. Each time, a reboot resolved it.

Edited August 31, 201114 yr by jvlgato

Seeing reports as low as of 11" 3 hours and 13" 3.75. Figured it was Flash most of the time. Seems Grubers suggestion of non-install on system and use Chrome (which has embedded Flash) when necessary is best bet.

Huh. Maybe I'll install Chrome on hers and see what happens. I know that the battery meter has a 'time remaining' option, and when I close a browser that is actively running Flash, the battery meter recalculates, and adds about an hour and a half.

I'm always very careful when running flash and try to minimize it. That generally gives me 5-6 hours most of the time. Prev. gen. 11" MBA.

What kind of battery life you guys getting with your MBAs? Seeing pretty widely different real-life use posts.

13 inch - between 3 and 7 depending on what im doing. Average seems to be around 4-5

my experience matches Jim's

Make sure you've updated Flash. Adobe now includes a System Preference Pane for it which has auto updates. Why they didn't do this years ago is beyond me, but old versions of Flash are usually the cause of the problem.

The other thing you can do is install the Click2Flash extension so that Flash only loads when it is clicked on.

Yes, please.

If you're looking for a sexy MBA cover: BookBook for Air - http://ow.ly/1wZWJi 

Course adds bulk.

Edited September 12, 201114 yr by blessingx

1Password is half-off through the App Store ($20, but beware, the App Store version requires 10.7 to install.

I like 1Password - too bad I already own it.

I could use a password app. Is 1 Password the one to get?

Oh, and gas face for 10.7 only pricing.

I think so.

It's the one.

Edited September 14, 201114 yr by blessingx

large cafe bag from tom bihn? The medium works great for the ipad and 11" mba.

I just checked, and I can fit a 13" macbook white in my medium cafe bag, so I think the 13" mba should fit great in it.

Fun lunchtime reading...

Apple is Worth More Than

I'm looking for a good chat program for OS X that will allow me to chat with my woman who uses google chat at work. Google Chat apparently doesn't work on Macs, so suggestions welcome. iChat can be made to work I think, but I kind of hate iChat (anyone else feel the same?). Also, an alternative to google chat on windows would be appreciated.

adium works for google chat, but I use ichat

ok, thanks Dan. I'll try it again.

Anyone see the specs on the Thunderbolt Monitor? It looks pretty awesome. Even the audio seems highly decent.

EDIT: From ifixit via MR:

Both sides of the logic board are packed with enough chips that it’s hard to believe there’s no computer inside this display. Standouts include:

- Pericom PI7C9X440SL PCIe-to-USB 2.0 host controller

- L129NB11 EFL, which looks to be the Thunderbolt port controller

- Analog Devices ADAV4601 audio processor

- NXP LPC2144 USB 2.0 microcontroller

- Delta LFE9249 10/100/1000 Base-T LAN filter

- SMSC USB2517-JZX USB 2.0 hub controller

- Maxim MAX9736B Mono/Stereo high-power Class D amplifier

- LSI L-FW643E-2 open host controller interface

- Broadcom BCM57761 Gigabit ethernet controller

- Supertex HV9982 3-channel switch-mode LED driver IC

The display also includes an integrated 49-watt, 2.1-speaker sound system with a small 1-inch subwoofer, as well as a 720p FaceTime camera and integrated microphone.

We are going Mac shopping this coming weekend so I refuse to read this thread any further................

Just spend the extra $450 and get the 27" imac, it does everything the tbolt display does, and it's a computer

I do want that big iMac. But I also want an MBA.

I WANT IT ALL.

I'm looking for a good chat program for OS X that will allow me to chat with my woman who uses google chat at work. Google Chat apparently doesn't work on Macs, so suggestions welcome. iChat can be made to work I think, but I kind of hate iChat (anyone else feel the same?). Also, an alternative to google chat on windows would be appreciated.

I thought the standalone Google Chat development (on any platform) was discontinued years ago? Anyway, wouldn't the easiest solution just be to sign into gmail and turn on chat?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/ifixit-busts-apples-thunderbolt-display-wide-open-no-creamy-ce/

Most already knew this, but it might be a good read to others, especially the 'source link'

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple-Thunderbolt-Display-Teardown/6525/1