How often should I use the battery on my MacBook (which I exclusively use as desktop)? Since getting my mb-pro 3 years ago, I've only used it as a desktop. A few times, the battery has kicked-in for a few hours while the power was out. Someday, I might want to task it as a laptop. For the sake of the battery :  


  Should I be unplugging my mb from the wall just to use the battery?
  For how long should I run on battery?
  How often should I do this?
Taken from https://web.archive.org/web/20110521104819/http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html


  Standard Maintenance
  For proper maintenance of a lithium-based
  battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving
  occasionally. Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged
  in all the time. An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her
  notebook on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This
  keeps the battery juices flowing. If on the other hand, you use a
  desktop computer at work, and save a notebook for infrequent travel,
  Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once
  per month. Need a reminder? Add an event to your desktop’s iCal. When
  your battery no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs, you
  may choose to replace it. If your notebook came with a built-in
  battery, you should have the battery replaced only by an Apple
  Authorized Service Provider.