Dell Latitude Battery Lifespan = Crap?

Actually this is my main concern regarding the entire E-series versus the Thinkpad. In all the guides that come with the computer (the technical one), it lists the battery life as only one year. It seems like Dell batteries (especially my D820) die almost exactly after a year (80->0 in a span of a month), whereas nobody on the Lenovo Thinkpad side seems to complain. Buying a battery sets you back $200 (15% of the original laptop cost in most cases), which is why I ask.

Or have they improved that from the D-series.

 

Define "die". My I8600 took ~3 years to go from 4:00 to 1:30. The second battery I bought off ebay (for $50) took 2 years to go from 5:00 to 2:30ish. They both still work, so I don't consider them dead, but I do realize the capacity has dropped significantly. Capacity drop is a fact of Lithium-ion batteries, whether you use them or not, so might as well use them.
As far as the E-series, I've had mine a few weeks, still getting 5 hours on an M2400. I may get another battery when I finish graduate school (2 years), but I highly doubt it'll be down to 45 minutes by then.

 

Quick Question - Have you used a Thinkpad? If yes, how would you rate the Dell Latitude's keypad with a TP keypad...would appreciate if you can answer this..Thanks

 

Depending on the model it's fairly close - although some people rate the feel better on Thinkpads.

I have had Dell (and Sony, Samsung, etc) batteries die within or beyond a year but where applicable I've had the extended warranty, and it has been covered. Others have ran for ages. I've never however had a similar situation with Dell to a number of Macbook Pro batteries where they've expanded while sitting on a stand, and deformed the laptop itself as well as a result, and for that I'm thankful.

A recent development I'm not fond of is the splitting of the main system and battery warranty. I think they should stop nickeling and diming and just roll in the two warranties together, increasing the cost but making it clear and concise about what is included. Otherwise it looks petty and cheap.

 

In my experience most notebook batteries lose about one third of their capacity within a year. some are a bit better and others are worse.

I paid for the extended battery warranty since it's less than the cost of a new battery and I would expect to need a replacement within two years. I wait to find out what Dell's trigger point is for replacement.

John

 

I haven't read the amount of battery complaints on the Latitudes that I have on the consumer brands.

I really am kind of peeved that battery technology hasn't gone anywhere at all in the past 5 years. Why are we not using Lithium-polymer yet? Larger capacity, and slightly longer life (which contiunues to improve as development continues).

eBay is my friend for batteries.

Greg

 

My D800 is over 6 years old and the main battery life is now under an hour, but for the first three years it was fine, the drop-off happened after that which isn't bad. I picked up a D-bay battery cheap off ebay rather than getting a new main battery.

 

I dunno, My D630's battery had to be replaced about 3 months after I got it. Luckily it was covered under warranty, but Dell's online customer reviews aren't too fond of the 9-Cell. Many say that it dies way too early.

My current battery gets about 5-hours, a bit less than what I used to get, but the battery meter still reports it as being "healthy" something that couldn't be said for the old one.