I was doing some comparison shopping online, and I've noticed something: a lot of Windows notebooks have terrible battery life.
Look at Sony's lineup, for example. Most systems have 3.5 hours of juice. Tops. Even the CULV notebook gets 6, and the VAIO Z gets 7 but also costs about $2,000. And Sony isn't alone. How many Dell and HP notebooks leave people thankful to get 3 hours of battery life? I've known a few people whose batteries died in a year because it could hold so little of a charge that they burned through the useful lifespan that quickly while at school.
Meanwhile, over in Mac land, a $999 MacBook can last for 10 hours. You might be inclined to think it's the Core 2 Duo and integrated video, but even a maxed out 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Core i5 or i7 should get 8 or 9 in ideal conditions.
Yes, Apple is fudging it by using the extra space afforded by a non-removable battery, but there shouldn't be triple the battery life in the Mac for that reason alone. You get the distinct impression that a lot of PC makers are deliberately skimping on the quality of their batteries just to shave another $30 off the price.
Here's the rub: I want to have a full performance Windows notebook with good battery life. But I can't. And being able to swap the battery doesn't count; there's a big difference between running for 7 hours straight and having to stop what you're doing 3.5 hours in to replace a battery. I've had to cover keynote speeches where my notebook battery gave out right at the end, and that was with a Mac (not even the best); I can't flip my notebook upside-down to do 'surgery' in the middle of a live event.
Now if someone can show me a Windows notebook with a real processor and long battery life, I'll be impressed; I would love that. But right now, it seems like a Mac is the only way to go if you can't afford to be tied to an AC adapter the entire day.
Look at Sony's lineup, for example. Most systems have 3.5 hours of juice. Tops. Even the CULV notebook gets 6, and the VAIO Z gets 7 but also costs about $2,000. And Sony isn't alone. How many Dell and HP notebooks leave people thankful to get 3 hours of battery life? I've known a few people whose batteries died in a year because it could hold so little of a charge that they burned through the useful lifespan that quickly while at school.
Meanwhile, over in Mac land, a $999 MacBook can last for 10 hours. You might be inclined to think it's the Core 2 Duo and integrated video, but even a maxed out 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Core i5 or i7 should get 8 or 9 in ideal conditions.
Yes, Apple is fudging it by using the extra space afforded by a non-removable battery, but there shouldn't be triple the battery life in the Mac for that reason alone. You get the distinct impression that a lot of PC makers are deliberately skimping on the quality of their batteries just to shave another $30 off the price.
Here's the rub: I want to have a full performance Windows notebook with good battery life. But I can't. And being able to swap the battery doesn't count; there's a big difference between running for 7 hours straight and having to stop what you're doing 3.5 hours in to replace a battery. I've had to cover keynote speeches where my notebook battery gave out right at the end, and that was with a Mac (not even the best); I can't flip my notebook upside-down to do 'surgery' in the middle of a live event.
Now if someone can show me a Windows notebook with a real processor and long battery life, I'll be impressed; I would love that. But right now, it seems like a Mac is the only way to go if you can't afford to be tied to an AC adapter the entire day.