Dell Latitude D520 battery life? +

Dell replaced my Latitude D505 simply cause they didn't have enough spareparts, so they gave me a Latitude D520 instead, can't complan when it's a newer laptop. Except that it's ugly, poor display, dvd driver sounds like it's chopping meat, it feels more plastic, it's a soft vibration that is felt all the
time (is that normal??). On the plus-side the keyboard is better, I got prolonged guarantee, and according all reviews the battery-life time should be real good. Except that it's not. I've charged it and tested several times, put it to download a file from internet, it's been on real low enerby, screen even going black. It lasts tops 2 hours 35 minutes.
The battery is 6 cell 56kw M9014. Is it normal? It's fine with me if it is, but the battery in my D505 (also 6 cell, 53kw), lasted longer.

I have a paranoid feeling Dell just took some parts and threw together, cause it took 3 months (yes you read right!) to replace it cause they had to wait for parts for the D520. Maybe it's an old battery.

Linda

 

bump, can anyone help?

Just checked the extra battery btw that was included, squeezed out 2 hours 55 minutes from it.

 

Somebody with experience, please...

 

gee, thanks everybody...

 

Sorry, this laptop is really rare, not many owners at all. I am a very experienced Dell user, had a ton of D505s as well in a business environment, then D600s, D610s, D820s and now D830s. The D520 uses a similar if not the same chassis as the D820 and D830, so if you have the 9 cell battery I'd expect 4 hours of general usage or 3 hours of heavier more CPU intensive usage. So with a 6 cell like yours, 3 hours average sounds just about right. That is about what I got from my old D505s, D600s and D610s with 6 cell 53Whr batteries anyways.