:^/ If I understand the matter correctly, newer Dell laptops look for copywritten proprietary silicon chips on the battery when charging. If it isn't there, the laptop refuses to charge the battery. This is Dell's way of enforcing a de-facto monopoly on batteries; other manufacturers are allowed to make them, but the batteries aren't allowed to work. Allegedly this it to protect the consumer from bad batteries, but if the appropriate silicon chips on the battery aren't licensed to other manufacturers, it's just a lock-out scheme.
Mr._Pseudonym
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315 Posts
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February 22nd, 2009 23:00
:^/ If I understand the matter correctly, newer Dell laptops look for copywritten proprietary silicon chips on the battery when charging. If it isn't there, the laptop refuses to charge the battery. This is Dell's way of enforcing a de-facto monopoly on batteries; other manufacturers are allowed to make them, but the batteries aren't allowed to work. Allegedly this it to protect the consumer from bad batteries, but if the appropriate silicon chips on the battery aren't licensed to other manufacturers, it's just a lock-out scheme.