Does anyone use this type of setup?

[MacGruber]

Just curious, I've considered using this as a setup to replace my monster sized tower:

A laptop with HDMI out. This HDMI would then feed my large widescreen monitor. Plug in a keyboard mouse and keep the laptop lid closed most times and use it as a "small" desktop computer that can then go mobile.

It seems to be what I want... a home computer with a nice sized screen and flexibility of taking it with me on the go... without even having to get a 17" laptop for home use.

Is there a downside I'm not considering?

[sclitheroe]

You'll kill the battery in fairly short order if it's going to spend most of it's life plugged into AC power - don't expect the battery to last anywhere near the rated number of charge cycles, nor to retain rated full charge capacity over its lifespan the way a normally used laptop would.

You'd want to cycle the battery a couple times a month, which realistically probably means running on battery say once a week and draining to say 30% capacity each time (that would put about 3 cycles on the battery a month). Going below 30% puts more strain on the battery than you want - 30% is a good number. I think 3 cycles a month is still on the low side for optimum health, but its better than nothing.

[MacGruber]

hmmm. well what if i ran it without the battery in? can you do that with laptops?

[Hemi-Cuda]

yes as long as the laptop is plugged in it should run with no battery plugged in (at least all the ones i've used do)

but why not just buy a docking station if you intend on using a laptop as a desktop replacement? that way instead of unplugging all the cords (usb, video, audio, ethernet, etc) every time you want to take it somewhere, you just press an eject button and be gone

[Hack&Lube]

Drain the battery to about 50%. Put in a cool dry place. Leave laptop plugged in forever.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Drain the battery to about 50%. Put in a cool dry place. Leave laptop plugged in forever.

Yup. After ensuring, though, that the machine can run at full rated speed without a battery installed...something those fruity ones can't do (not that it matters anymore since the battery isn't removable, but anyways, it could very well apply to other vendors, who knows).

ThinkPads actually have a feature that allows you to customize the "don't charge above" and "start charging below" percentages, so that you can keep the battery at say 40-50% indefinitely. This would allow you to leave the battery installed.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Yup. After ensuring, though, that the machine can run at full rated speed without a battery installed...something those fruity ones can't do (not that it matters anymore since the battery isn't removable, but anyways, it could very well apply to other vendors, who knows).

ThinkPads actually have a feature that allows you to customize the "don't charge above" and "start charging below" percentages, so that you can keep the battery at say 40-50% indefinitely. This would allow you to leave the battery installed.

Yeah, the battery management on Thinkpads is brilliant. Helps all those business users who don't know how to use technology and leave their laptops plugged into their docking stations or plugged in on their desks 24/7. Especially when most Thinkpads get resold after business lease expires.

Those "fruity" ones () can't run at full speed without a battery plugged in? Why is that? My own laptop can't run at full speed without the AC being plugged in.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

yes as long as the laptop is plugged in it should run with no battery plugged in (at least all the ones i've used do)

but why not just buy a docking station if you intend on using a laptop as a desktop replacement? that way instead of unplugging all the cords (usb, video, audio, ethernet, etc) every time you want to take it somewhere, you just press an eject button and be gone

Plus one for this, I run my set-ups of that nature with a docking station, easiest/simplest solution to most things.