The downside is that the batteries are now dead, after only 2 years usage. According to Dell that is good going, about 500 recharges I estimate, but Dell reckon 300 is average. I was expecting closer to 1000 based on ordinary rechargeable batteries! That doesn't work out cheap at 77ukp +P&P +VAT.
Did you have the batteries plugged in while you ran the laptop on mains power? that tends to kill them fairly quickly. Of course that is not as bad as the original sony laptop battery on my Vaio I had, which died after about 35 charge cycles.
Adam
** Adam Bower adam@drakken.com [2003-06-04 13:11]:
The downside is that the batteries are now dead, after only 2 years usage. According to Dell that is good going, about 500 recharges I estimate, but Dell reckon 300 is average. I was expecting closer to 1000 based on ordinary rechargeable batteries! That doesn't work out cheap at 77ukp +P&P +VAT.
Did you have the batteries plugged in while you ran the laptop on mains power? that tends to kill them fairly quickly. Of course that is not as bad as the original sony laptop battery on my Vaio I had, which died after about 35 charge cycles.
** end quote [Adam Bower]
I did to some extent, possibly more than I should have as I kept forgetting to unplug when I was charged. Dell seem to think that's not a problem though, but then cordless phone manufacturers claim 2 years life on their batteries and charge 4 times the price for them, when if you use them properly and discharge fully they don't suffer from memory effect. You may also be able to use ordinary rechargeable batteries if you are lucky. I've just replaced my AA ones with standard NiMH batteries for 8 quid for four instead of 10 quid for two NiCad ones (that's the official phone ones).
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Adam Bower -
Paul Tansom