I just purchased mid-2012 macbook pro running OS X 10.8.2 someone advised me to fully charge then fully discharge before recharge to get the best life out of battery. just looking for confirmation of that advice.

BAD ADVICE! I keep my MBP connected to AC as much as possible. If I have not used it with the battery foe a month or two, I will let it discharge to a level of about 40%. There certainly are situations where one will have to rely on only the battery. However, when you get the warning that the battery is low, I strongly suggest that the session be terminated until the battery can be replenished.

The answer to you last question, YES.

Look at these two Apple support articles for battery information.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1446

Ciao.

Right BAD ADVICE.

Plug it in and use it. Keep it plugged in until you NEED it on battery only then plug it back in.

Apple - Batteries - Notebooks

You are most welcome. That is how we spend (waste?) our spare time.

The best 2013 to you.

Ciao.