I saw from MacRumors that Apple released MacOS 10.3.2 along with a battery update yesterday. I didn’t mind the OS update is a good thing, of course, as it included new ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers along with various bugfixes and security updates.
However, what really excited me was the battery update. Going by Apple’s description, it didn't seem like much at first — “The Battery Update enhances the performance of the battery to ensure that full capacity is available for your PowerBook or iBook”. But the forum comments attached to that posting give a different perspective:
AmigoMac: “I guess I won’t get it until my next flight … but hope it will help me a bit more… ;), it's reaching 3:00, full speed, and itunes on!”
coumerelli: “well, it’s later now and am SUPER thrilled to report that it looks like the battery has more than DOUBLED its life. I always look at the percentage (and compare to the ‘time’ the menubar gives me) and it’s now draining NEARLY as quickly. Hallelujah! woo-hoo! — That translates into 3.5 hours! Go Apple!”
I’ve already installed the battery update, though I haven’t had a chance to test it yet (I’m just running off wall-power at the moment). And the battery update isn’t even that big — just around 800k IIRC — though the OS update is over 30 MB. In any case, those power improvements look like good news for me, especially while I travel with my PowerBook over Christmas.
I put the battery update in last night but I haven’t run off battery yet to see how it affects it. Battery life on my 12″ isn’t spectacular anyway (usually around 2 hours but I leave my display brightness all the way I up which I know kills batteries), plus I never shut it down so even sleeping is drawing some power constantly when I travel with it.