OT: Do you replace your laptop battery ?
Papi_Chulo
Miami, FL (or the nearest big-booty club)
My current laptop is about to turn 6-years-old in a month - I replaced the battery ~3 years in (name brand battery from the manufacturer) and the replacement lasted maybe another ~3-years and it’s currently toast (does not maintain any charge and have to have the laptop continuously plugged-in).
I don’t feel like spending another $100+ for a battery since these days I’m only using the laptop in places where I plug-in.
Do you guys keep replacing your laptop batteries or did you give up and just plug-in all the time?
I don’t feel like spending another $100+ for a battery since these days I’m only using the laptop in places where I plug-in.
Do you guys keep replacing your laptop batteries or did you give up and just plug-in all the time?
30 comments
Laptops do have more collateral costs than desktops.
SJG
Vanilla Fudge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJO47d2…
Rechargeable batteries tend to self destruct when they are allowed to sit uncharged. And then when they don't hold a charge, this is inevitable.
There might though be forums where there are people who would have direct experience with this.
Let us know if you find one, because such info is valuable.
SJG
Replace batt on 6y/o laptop becomes should you replace the LAPTOP for upgraded performance?
If meets UR needs then check Amazon for replacements @ lower cost. Quality?
If a battery cell shorts, I don't think the machine will be able to work, even when plugged in.
SJG
PBS Newshour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5iGGLJM…
SJG
X - Burning House of Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kbDuaio…
NewsHour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5iGGLJM…
search online for laptop battery apps some of which might show charger probs.
Also, the cost if a laptop is about the same as a typical club visit. It’s not that expensive to have a good, working laptop.
:) :) :)
SJG
Same here, my battery is shit and sealed inside although I've considered taking it apart and trying to replace it although I'll probably eventually spring for a new laptop.
Li Ion batteries definitely have a limited lifespan. The things to keep in mind are that this is dangerous technology -- these batteries "venting with flame" are no joke. And you should assume a li ion battery that can't take a charge may be damaged internally; hopefully the laptop manufacturer designed a rock solid power system that prevents the worst happening, but given we've seen Apple and Dell laptops catch fire, we know it's not always possible. In addition, if the laptop is old enough that it's not getting security updates anymore, your financials and the like are all at risk. Nothing might ever happen to you, there's loads of laptops out there with old batteries that are multiple security updates out-of-date, and disasters are rare (at least for battery catastrophes; not so rare for those who don't keep their security patches up to date).
TL;DR: this isn't something I tend to be thrifty on. I want batteries that are healthy enough to hold at least a basic charge. I need my computer to be absolutely up to date on OS security patches.
2. You can get some really nice laptops at WalMart right now. I just bought my dad one last month, had a Ryzen 5 chip, 256gb solid state drive and 8mb of RAM and a 15.6” display for around $440. I was shocked on the price because the Ryzen is a really good chip.
The battery indicator shows that it charges to 100% when plugged-in but that "100%" only lasts about 10-minutes if I unplug.
OTOH, when I destroy my old laptop I just go to the Apple store and say “hey wildebeest, gimme a new MacBook or you’re gonna be sorry…ROAR!!!” Then rick gets a new laptop. ROAR!!!
That would eliminate the need to worry about a cell shorting.
In my view, laptops are subjected to more environmental assaults, and they are very tightly wrapped and so they are hard to repair.
There is also a hard disk failure issue. With the fan, the hard disk is the only moving part.
I had one fail and had to replace it. I got one, SATA interface, from a surplus store, and it was much larger than the original one. It worked out.
But 6 years in my view is already a long time. If you get the new machine you alleviate this problem.
Especially if you take the laptop and use it different places, the risks to it are high. I feel that if you do this you are having to accept that kind of cost into your budget as being an expendable.
SJG
X Burning House of Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kbDuaio…