Battery and Macbook

What is the "right" or proper way to use the laptop in relation to the battery?
Like, should I charge it fully, unplug it, use it on battery power and wait til it's almost empty and plug it in?
On my previous notebook, the battery died sorta quickly and I want to make sure I can extend this for as long as possible.

Cheers

Please don't post threads twice... It takes up room and gets annoying quickly...

Apple recommends you reset it about once a month. The instructions are in a booklet you got with the laptop.