[Gingerstar]

Does leaving the laptop charged up continuously (plugged in) extend the battery life of a laptop computer. Or should it be fully discharged and then fully charged each time?

[Linwood]

Originally Posted by Gingerstar

Does leaving the laptop charged up continuously (plugged in) extend the battery life of a laptop computer. Or should it be fully discharged and then fully charged each time?

No, in fact it causes a battery to have a shortened life span =- typically laptop batteries only last 15 to 18 months with daily uses and good recharge practice -
I ran a laptop Program at a large University and saw nearly everything that can happen to a laptop -
most vendors only warrant batteries for one year,
cheers

[Gingerstar]

Do you mean to say that to leave it plugged in continuously shortens the battery life??

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Gingerstar

Do you mean to say that to leave it plugged in continuously shortens the battery life??

Apparently so.

Batteries need to be cycled; charged and discharged --- but not totally discharged.

Most batteries are rated for a certain number of cycles in their lifetime.

I was confined to a rehab facility for a few months and kept my cell phone plugged in all the time. I had to buy a new battery much sooner than usual.

The salesperson at the store said the shorter life was from keeping it plugged into the charger all the time.