I usually carry a MacBook Pro 15 unibody, one generation back, with an extra battery. I intentionally did not upgrade to the new version of the MBP 15 because I enjoyed the luxury of carrying additional batteries should I need them. Even in the best, yet practical situations, I could wring 3′ish hours per battery – just enough to cover a transcontinental flight.
The problem is that I have to dim the screen and turn off bluetooth and wifi in order to ensure longevity. I enjoy the brightness and it helps especially when writing for long periods of time, but the caveat with doing so is that I have to give up a significant fraction of juice.
I recently ran an experiment where I took my MacBook Air on a flight from New York to San Francisco and even though Apple claims up to 5 hours of battery life, I was left roughly with 1.5 hours of down time. The notebook didn’t make it, even though everything was tuned for maximum life.
I’m scheduled to travel to Europe soon and as most airlines have yet to include power outlets in economy, I did some research into power alternatives for both the MBP and the Air. I’m in the throes of writing my next book and I need all the power I can get!
After hours of thorough investigation and analysis, I decided to give HyperMac a shot.
HyperMac is an external battery specifically for MacBooks and also provides a USB port to power to power a variety of other devices, in my case, a power hungry iPhone 3gs.
My initial attraction to HyperMac was its design quality and focus. It’s specifically engineered for people just like me who need up time due to extensive travel or in-field activity. The secondary factor for selecting the HyperMac is its aesthetics and construction. It’s gorgeous and of course complements the lines of any aluminum MacBook.
The company offers four different models depending on power consumption needs and behavior, including the MBP-60, the MBP-100, MBP-150 and MBP-222. Prices range from $199.95 to $499.95.
I opted for the MBP-100, which boasts a capacity of 100-watts per hour.
The MBP-100 can power a MacBook Air for up to 16.7 hours of wireless productivity and up to 15 for the MacBook Pro 15. However, for those power users who require ultimate life, the MBP-222 can provide up to 31.5 hours and 27.2 hours of wireless productivity on the MacBook Air and 15-inch Pro respectively.
Weight isn’t an insignificant issue however. The MBP-100 weighs in at 1.6 pounds, The MBP-222 checks in at 4.7 pounds and the smaller MBP-60 weighs only .8 pounds. When carrying a bag of gear while making the rounds, every ounce starts to add up. But there’s a reason that these HyperMacs aren’t lighter…they’re constructed of aluminum yes, but they also feature high-end military-grade lithium batteries that are rechargeable up to 1000 times and ship with a one year warranty.
My usage experience differed however, simply because I choose a higher brightness than used in most battery life tests.
In the end, I am extremely pleased with the performance of the MBP-100. In fact, I may actually purchase a MBP-060 in addition when I need to save the weight and only require up to 11.8 hours of wireless computing.
I also enjoy the freedom from being tethered to power outlets wherever I travel. Now I can pick a table instead of a floor seat, a view over a corner, and also set up shop anywhere I please instead of waiting for those individuals who consume all the available outlet to power every device they own.
The other benefit I should add, is that for those new MacBook users that don’t have the luxury of replacing internal batteries, the HyperMac is your portable power and charging station and backup battery all in one.
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