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[bionic77]

My laptop is only 2 years old and already the battery life seems to be only a third of what it used to be. I have a Dell Inspiron 600m and when I first started using this laptop I could easily get 3-4 hours of use surfing the net and chatting on a wireless connection. Now the battery meter drops to 20% after about an hour.

Is this a normal life cycle for a laptop battery? I always assumed I would get at least 3 years out of the battery and I was hoping I might be able to get 5.

Anyone else having this problem with their laptop?

 

[enjoy bell woods]

If your battery is at 100% and your computer is plugged in, take the battery out. For whatever reason, batteries die faster when they're constantly charging.

 

[ocelittle]

Yeah, I have a Thinkpad T41 and it's a Centrino laptop, yet I only get 2 hours on it.

And it's pretty new (about 9 months old...damn...that is kinda old), but the battery life has always been this long.

It's ridiculous, these big ass laptops with widescreens and stuff are lasting 4 hours in class, mine has to be used sparingly.

 

[number386]

It's on the short side of normal. Did you use it alot unplugged, if you did around 500 times it's perfectly normal.

 

[pnjtony]

My GF's HP laptop is about a year and a half and the battery only lasts about 30 minutes or so now. I suspect it has something to do with keeping the battery in while charging.

 

[bionic77]

It's on the short side of normal. Did you use it alot unplugged, if you did around 500 times it's perfectly normal.

I used it a ton unplugged and I kept the battery in when it was 100%.

I am not in that bad shape because Dell gave me an extra battery for free, but I like to use both on a long plane trip to watch movies. It sucks how much replacement batteries cost too.

Edit: I wonder if I am going to kill my Ipod battery by always having it plugged into my car? At least a replacement battery for the Ipod is only $50 though. I can't believe Dell charges $150 for a replacement battery.

 

[number386]

I used it a ton unplugged and I kept the battery in when it was 100%.

It seems the battery was perfectly fine considering you used it a ton while unplugged, meaning you got a lot of use from the battery. Also modern laptops stop charging the battery at 95%-100% to prevent overcharges, so I dont think that's an issue.

 

[Fragamemnon]

Yeah, I have a Thinkpad T41 and it's a Centrino laptop, yet I only get 2 hours on it.

I have a T41 as well, and can go almost five hours without a refill.

Use the "slow CPU" setting when running on battery unless you really need the performance-I generally don't unless I'm doing a compile or running dump analysis. Ratchteing down the brightness really, really helps too.

 

[fart]

that's normal. batteries are consumables

 

[Tarazet]

....

<takes battery out>

 

[Wario64]

i think the reason why laptop batteries go to shit is because of the heat. so yeah, if you use it plugged in, take the battery out. it doesnt charge since it's using ac power, but long use will make the laptop hot, which wont be good for the battery

 

[ocelittle]

Hmm...I can't seem to find the SLOW CPU setting...

I see "Super Power Saver"

When running slow, how slow is it running? I still want to be able to watch DVD's or something...

Also, I got an extra battery when I got this and it stopped charging after awhile...like if I unplugged it it would drain quickly and now it's at 0, and I can't recharge it...

Anyone experience that?

I put it in my closet and told myself to call IBM, but never did.

 

[Great King Bowser]

Not sure if I'm supposed to take the battery out of my Inspiron 8600, one of the supporting feet is on the battery, so when I remove it the laptop is off balance.

I took that as an indication it wasn't necesarry.

Oh, and have you tried the app SpeedswitchXP? Google it.