MacMost: Power and Batteries

Many MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air owners want to know how to properly use and maintain their batteries. But there is a lot of bad information online. Learn what to expect from your MacBook's battery, what you should and shouldn't do to prolong battery life, how to tell if there is a problem, how to get a replacement and how much it may cost.

Is your MacBook battery draining at night? This is probably due to a piece of software on your Mac that is misbehaving and waking it while it should be sleeping. There are several ways to figure out which could be the culprit. You can use various tools to compile a list of suspects and then quit those before putting your MacBook to sleep to test them. You can also try things like reseting parts of the system and trying safe mode. You may be able to figure out the problem on your own, or you may need to take it to an expert.

MacBook users miss the old MagSafe power adapters. Third-party products offer an alternative in the age of USB-C power cables. You insert one part into your MacBook and leave it there, and the other part connects to it magnetically. However, since they stick out somewhat, people are afraid that they could inadvertently damage their MacBooks if they catch that edge on something. I take a look at three popular magnetic power adapters for the MacBook and MacBook Pro and compare them.

On many recent MacBook models you will get an audible chime when you plug the machine into power. But if you have one of the models where this is not on by default, you can use a Terminal command to turn it on. If you'd rather not hear this sound when you plug in your MacBook, you can also disable it.

Next to a back drive, a UPS is the most important accessory you need if you own an iMac, Mac mini or Mac Pro. Essentially a power strip with a battery, a UPS will keep your Mac running if you have a power outage or even a split-second power interruption. Then you can shut down your Mac gracefully and not lose any work. Most UPSes today come with a USB connection that you can connect to your Mac. Then you get a new section in System Preferences where you can set your Mac to shut down on its own if power is out and the battery is in use.

Behind the front page of the Apple web site are some useful, interesting and entertaining pages. You can get PDF user manuals for your devices, submit feedback, find local user groups, view the status of Apple services, buy refurbished Macs, get Apple certification, apply for jobs, watch movie trailers and much more.

When taking your US Apple products to Europe, you only need to bring a simple and cheap plug adapter. The power adapters that come with MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and iPods are all universal adapters that work with 100V to 220V. There is no need for an expensive and heavy power converter.

In this special episode, learn to now stress about your MacBook or iOS device battery. It may not be worth it to expend a lot of time and stress to extend your battery's life by only a little bit.

An Uninterruptible Power Supply is a great accessory for your Mac. It provides surge protection, protection against momentary power outages and gives you a chance to save your work if a longer power outage occurs.

In this MacWorld Expo special take a look at the Solio line of solar powered batteries. They can be used to charge your iPod or iPhone.