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Battery needs to be replaced every year?!?!
Okay. I am soo fed up with Dell! They recently told me that a battery is a "consumable product," meaning basically that, based on the time it took this battery to die, I will have to replace my battery at least once a year. I have NEVER, EVER heard of ANYONE having to replace their laptop battery. I understand if you don't plug it in and keep it charged, it will die...but I always kept it plugged in. They then proceeded to compare it to a cell phone battery which I told them I have never had to replace a cell phone battery (nor has anyone I know) because it gets charged!!! I know one thing for sure, I will never get another Dell product and as soon as I can, I will get something else (alhtough for the time being I am stuck with this piece! because I am in college and cannot afford to buy another laptop...this one should've lasted me a long time). Has anyone ever had their battery die? Has anyone ever replaced their battery every year? or at all?
ejn63
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87.5K Posts
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August 20th, 2005 18:00
I've got two 5-year old batteries from an Inspiron 5000e that still work acceptably, but I've seen a lot newer systems with batteries that failed at just over a year - and not just from Dell -- from Apple, Sony, Toshiba, and Gateway. My suspicion is that the newer systems run quite a bit hotter - heat being the #3 killer of lithium batteries (behind deep discharges and aging), which kills the batteries.
Batteries are considered consumables by ALL notebook manufacturers.
NemesisDB
7.9K Posts
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August 20th, 2005 18:00
With heavy use you can expect the battery to last about a year -- it will likely last longer but you'll probably find the amount of time you can use it diminishing. I've had mine for 3 years now -- it certainly still works but it only lasts reliably for around 90 minutes (much less than when I first got it). I'd also add that I've almost never used mine.
Dell isn't trying to cheat you -- that's just about the best lithium batteries can do right now. Unless it completely discharges or otherwise fails, it should last past a year (with less run time). Never completely discharge the battery.
Most computer makers give a 1 year warranty on batteries -- it's pretty much standard
parkerti
610 Posts
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August 20th, 2005 19:00
Message Edited by parkerti on 08-20-2005 05:00 PM
Message Edited by parkerti on 08-20-2005 05:01 PM
Mary G
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August 20th, 2005 19:00
HMKrieps
713 Posts
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August 20th, 2005 21:00
From my experience, a Lithium battery should be usable 2 to 3 years (you will be noticing a significant capacity drop after 2 years). If you have to change it every year, there is something wrong, unless you use the battery very often.
thematrix1
3 Posts
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August 20th, 2005 21:00
SkepticalCustom
5 Posts
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August 20th, 2005 23:00
scottatah
658 Posts
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August 21st, 2005 06:00
Loki74
6 Posts
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August 22nd, 2005 04:00
Check these guys out...
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm
The reading sometimes gets a little thick, but this should help maximize everyone's battery.
Loki
RajeevAsthana
9 Posts
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August 22nd, 2005 09:00
Loki74
6 Posts
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August 23rd, 2005 00:00
Well, for my laptop (6000), it seems to be in the $180 range from Dell. I would go to eBay and get one there for about half price... has anyone done this, and are those batteries good? I would recommend one thing - check the production date. Remember, L-Ion batteries start to die the moment they're made.
Loki
Miromc
72 Posts
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August 29th, 2005 06:00