Mobile Device Batteries — Make Mine Removable
As mobile enthusiasts, we’ve had the “integrated vs. removable battery” debate before. I have the last unibody MacBook model with a removable battery and I’d be hard pressed to go with an integrated battery. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I originally passed on the MacBook Air. I’d always opt to carry a second battery over an AC adapter because of the freedom of location it provides. I’ve witnessed some pushing and shoving over outlets at a Starbucks in the past, and at 120 pounds, I’m just not equipped for a steel-cage death match to top off my battery.
Web Worker Daily has rekindled the debate and makes a valid point when looking at the statistics:
“The reality is that only a small percentage of notebook users do purchase and use extra batteries. Apple seems committed to this path, and Dell is also trying the concept out. Others may follow.”
In fact, a recent owner survey of netbooks — one of the most mobile forms of desktop computing today, in my opinion — shows that 60% of those surveyed don’t even take their netbook out of the home. There’s not a huge demand for removable batteries in a case like that. Clearly, I’m in the minority as I tend to purchase a second battery with every new device. Not only does that meet my mobile power needs, but it allows me to rotate the batteries on a regular basis to wear them down in a consistent manner.
Although computer manufacturers are focusing more on power efficiency these days, battery technology hasn’t changed all that much. For that reason, I hope the industry doesn’t continue a march towards fully integrated batteries any time soon.
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the non-removable batteries are probably why external battery packs of all shapes, sizes and capacities are on the rise. Most of them with a usb out for smaller stuff, and some with a output that can deliver enough to get, or keep, a laptop going.
hell, look at the number of battery “jackets” there is for the iphone…
Kevin, how do you keep your spare batteries charged? Just curious if there other methods besides the obvious swapping out batteries when re-charging at home.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a better solution other than the obvious swap and charge. Maybe there’s an accessory opportunity right there for a device maker! :)
Well, in fact, if it were up to me, I would have not only removable batteries, but removable keyboard (I miss you, TC1100), and removable whatever-else-that-could-be-removed…
On these devices with internal batteries, what happens when the battery dies? Do you have to pay the expense of having to ship the item back to the manufacturer for them to replace the battery? Out of all the laptops and cell phones I have had over the years the only thing I have ever had to replace is the battery after a couple years of use. This summer during a big project my laptop battery died, so i simply kept it plugged in while i waited the 2 days for the replacement battery to come in. With internal batteries wouldn’t one be forced to work without the device in question for as long as it takes the manufacturer to replace the battery?
Yes, you would have to take or send the device back to the manufacturer or service center. Maybe they would give you a refurb’ed device right away, but what about your data?
I have a spare battery for my laptop. I do not have a spare battery for my netbook, yet. My netbook’s battery lasts for 6 hrs. But, the option to just buy a spare battery, or to purchase a replacement battery when the original dies, is a great sense of freedom gives me peace of mind.
I approach the second battery decision this way: between the A/C adapter and a second battery, I’d rather buy and carry the battery. I’m the first to admit that I usually don’t need the second battery, but it’s as much a peace of mind thing as anything.
I really don’t understand carrying a second battery “just in case” surely a power adapter is lighter? I wonder how many people have actually had a battery fail out of warranty? I look a three year warranty with my Macbook Air and expect to sell it before the end of the warranty period, so will never need to consider a replacement battery at my cost.
I don’t have any data on my laptop that isn’t either in sync, or already in the cloud, at most I’d loose a days work, but usually I’m in sync whenever I’m online, and all my email is in the cloud as well.
A second battery frees the need to find an outlet when the juice runs dry on the first battery. A second battery in the bag is no more trouble to carry than an adapter.
Usually old batteries don’t die, they just fade away. Even when cycled from fully charged to almost empty with mobile use, a battery loses half its ability to hold charge after a few years. If a battery is kept plugged in it goes through smaller and charge cycles and does so very frequently so it fades even faster.
Sealed batteries seem to me like planned obsolescence. The worst of the problem hits after a few years, and then the company tells you to buy a new computer.
—Standard Non-replacement parts—
I purchased an HP laptop about 6 years ago.
It had a screaming 1 hr 20 min life.
After 6 months, it would last for 20 minutes.
At the time, tha replacement battery cost $300
I saved up the $300 and 2 months later, was ready to order another…guess what, they discontinued manufacturer
of said battery!!
Now it won’t hold more than a 3 minute charge, so is
a desktop must-be-plugged-in paper weight
I wish someone would come out with a external
one size fits all battery power pack that
didn’t cost or weigh more than a new computer.
I am all for removable batteries.
If the laptop makers keep heading in this direction, someone will start a laptop battery replacement service similar to the battery recell services that are available now. (My Apple Newton Thanks You)
My question is, what are the advantages to the comsumer for a non removable laptop battery. Doesn’t Apple advertise non-removable = bigger battery = longer time between charges? If I only get an extra few minutes of run time, I’ll take the removable battery. If a non removable battery gives me an extra hour, I would consider it.
I believe it’s a good hour extra on the integrated battery macbooks/macbook pros.