For many of you, the answer to this question is yes. Indeed, I see a definite prevalence of sleek folding computers. However, I also see a mistake being made quite often which can only be detrimental to...your battery. Since the early '90s, laptop computers have been using what's known as a Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) or, more recently, Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery pack of anywhere from three to nine cells. Unlike Nickel-Cadmium and its successor, Nickel-Metal Hydride, Li-ion has no "memory", meaning you don't have to worry about the charge degrading because you didn't charge it fully (this is a common problem with cell phones, some of which still use NiMH). However, no system of power storage and delivery is perfect. the limitation of Lithium batteries is that they can only be charged a certain number of times. This shouldn't be a problem, save for the fact that it's not widely publicized information. To ensure you achieve maximum use out of your laptop battery or batteries always take them out of your laptop if you're going to be leaving plugged in (obviously, if they need charged, you'll need them to be plugged in). If you don't take your laptop anywhere, it's usually a simple matter to take the battery out. The reason this happens is that laptops draw power from the battery first and then the AC power source. It sips a bit of power from the battery and is then recharged. You've lost one charge cycle from your battery. Repeat ad infinitum until you've slowly killed you battery and have to buy another one.

For those that just want the bottom line: Take your laptop battery out when it doesn't need charged and it will live a long and healthy life

or just get a PC

unless of course you don't intend on doing anything but running a word processor, because thats about all laptops are pretty much useful...

No...laptops can do just about anything a PC can do. It's not like it used to be and, regardless of how useful you consider them to be, many people have them. Not everyone wants their computer to take up that much room and not everyone knows how to build a computer for $500. And for reference, my 2 GHz Pentium Ms based on the Dothan core is equivalent to about an FX-53 in gaming performance.