Thinkpad Battery Usage

[SCURaja]

Hey All-

I have a pretty fundamental question regarding battery usage. I have read the forums and have found many topics on maximizing battery usage, but my question is pretty much just using the laptop daily.

I either use my laptop at home or at work and I would like to maximize my battery life. Currently, I have been using my laptop on battery all the time, until the system tells me to plug it in.. normally when I'm below 5%. After my laptop is fully charged, I then repeat the process. Is this what everyone else is doing? Or do people plug in the laptop everytime there's power available and use the batter only when you really don't have an outlet? I have also read that its bad to completely drain your battery, as you put more strain on it.. So I am quite confused..

I know i have a lithium-ion battery, but I use my cell phone as an example.. when i first got it..which was about a year ago. the battery would last at least three days before recharging..now i have to charge it daily.

I've had my laptop for two weeks now.. and this is my info:
Full Charge Capacity: 48.16 Wh
Cycle Count: 11

thanks

[redsb3]

This is all you will ever want to know about Li-on batteries:

www.batteryuniversity.com

[RCube]

You shouldn't run your battery down like that all the time. Li-ion likes to be topped out. Plug it in whenever you can.