Leave laptop battery in even if I don't use it?

[Jericho]

Here's an often asked question, but I was hoping for the latest opinions from you most knowledgeable computer people. :D

I have a DELL INSPIRON 1525 laptop computer that I use hours every day. I plug it in 95% or more of the time. Should I just remove the battery and store it or keep it in the laptop? I hear that this will prolong it's life, and I also hear that it doesn't make much difference. Again, I have this thing plugged in the vast majority of the time.

Also, side question. Does the battery itself put off much heat? When I play online games, my poor computer gets a bit too warm (I need a better cooling pad) and the battery area seems warmest to the touch. I wonder if the battery itself is getting a good heating up, and this might be another reason to remove it?

Thanks for any replies and advice, including how I might store it.

Jericho

[YODA74]

Many people have questions about whether or not it is safe and sensible to leave your laptop plugged in for long periods of time--even days or weeks. The truth of the matter is that leaving a laptop plugged in will not damage its internal components, but if the battery is installed, it will gradually erode its capacity to hold a charge over a long period of time.
It's an incorrect assumption that a laptop battery should be fully run down before subjecting it to a charge. This has no effect on preserving the laptop battery's life as long as possible. The laptop battery only erodes from changes in its charge level either up or down. It does not matter which direction this is in, or how much it does.

[PrntRhd]

A recent article about Lithium batteries to add to the wise info from Yoda74:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/02/ask-ars-what-is-the-best-way-to-use-an-li-ion-battery.ars

[mod81]

I would suggest you disconnect your battery if your running the laptop mostly from AC adapter. I leave my laptop plugged into the mains most the time and now the battery on my Dell barely lasts 2 mins before i have to plug it back into the AC power

[lobanw]

Definitely one of the oldest asked questions when it comes to laptops and while many people will tell you to take the battery out every time you do not use it, others will suggest it doesn't harm it. All I know is that I have mine plugged in about 80% and I leave my battery in. I have an HP Pavillion Dv6000 special edition and have been using it for over 4 years and never had any issues :)