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This is completely dependent on the hardware and how well the OEM (in your case, Apple) optimized it. My Thinkpad used to get 2 weeks on standby (nowadays it just wakes up and hibernates after a while).

My Vaio Z got about a week of standby on a battery with about 30% charge left. I guess it really depends on the machine.

As others have noted this is perhaps more a hardware issue than software, but it does highlight the real advantage at the core of apple's business; a tight synergy of hardware and software.

Seen elsewhere with improved battery life of the iPhone vs android phones, for example.