Comment 2 for bug 59695

> I can confirm this behavior with my T43
Thanks for confirming. So now we'll have to determine sane default values.
I did some very unscientific tests using the command

smartctl -d ata -a /dev/sda | grep 193; hdparm -B 180 /dev/sda; sleep 600; \
smartctl -d ata -a /dev/sda | grep 193; hdparm -B 255 /dev/sda

and continuing to work normally. After 10 minutes I checked the output.

Here are some values:
-B 128 -> 23 cycles in 10 minutes
-B 160 -> 29 in 10'
-B 180 -> 0 in 10'
-B 196 -> 0 in 10'
-B 200 -> 0 in 10'

So even -B 160 leads to 3 cycles per minute (180 per hour), leading to a
lifespan of 600,000/180/24=139 days (of continuous battery powered use).
Note that only a few years ago 300,000 load/unload cycles was a common value.

What is remarkable is the sharp drop between 180 and 196. Could somebody else
report some values for his system?

Does anyone know how the -B parameter is interpreted or is that left up to the
device?