Q: Protocol for seldom used new Mac book pro
I purchased my Mac Book pro in February 2015 as a back up for traveling, yet I am finding that I am only traveling a few times a year.
I am wondering if there is anything special I should be doing to make sure it stays "fresh out of the box" when I need it. Should I use it once a week? Should I shut it down and keep it in a cool place? Just wondering if there are any protocols for making sure I am not damaging it somehow through lack of use.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Karen
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)
Posted on May 31, 2015 2:26 PM
The following link has the suggestion from Apple quoted below regarding the battery: https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/
If you want to store your device long term, two key factors will affect the overall health of your battery: the environmental temperature and the percentage of charge on the battery when it’s powered down for storage. Therefore, we recommend the following:
- Do not fully charge or fully discharge your device’s battery — charge it to around 50%. If you store a device when its battery is fully discharged, the battery could fall into a deep discharge state, which renders it incapable of holding a charge. Conversely, if you store it fully charged for an extended period of time, the battery may lose some capacity, leading to shorter battery life.
- Power down the device to avoid additional battery use.
- Place your device in a cool, moisture-free environment that’s less than 90° F (32° C).
- If you plan to store your device for longer than six months, charge it to 50% every six months.
Depending on how long you store your device, it may be in a low-battery state when you remove it from long-term storage. After it’s removed from storage, it may require 20 minutes of charging with the original adapter before you can use it.
Posted on May 31, 2015 2:31 PM