OT: Do you replace your laptop battery ?

30 comments

• san_jose_guy

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  3 years ago

  I'm not sure if it will always continue to work with the shot battery, even if plugged in.
  
  Laptops do have more collateral costs than desktops.
  
  SJG
  
  Vanilla Fudge
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJO47d2…
• san_jose_guy

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  3 years ago

  A battery cell could short out, then I don't see how it could work.
  
  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
• Mate27

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  3 years ago

  Probably not the answer you want me to tell you, but for many reasons it’s better if you buy a brand new laptop. Start fresh with something you can Taylor to your needs and yiu won’t have to worry about for another 6 years. You’re eventually going to need an upgrade anyway. This is one area to be better in taking care of sooner rather than later.
• joker44

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  3 years ago

  Have an even older laptop that's now plug-in only. useful only as local backup. too old to function well
  
  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?
• Papi_Chulo

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  3 years ago

  My current laptop is functioning well for my needs while it's plugged-in - so kinda don't wanna invest in a new-one and have to still be on the replace-battery-cycle - I don't think I'll gain much by replacing my current laptop since I don't really need blistering performance and my current-one suits my needs for now.
• san_jose_guy

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  3 years ago

  So far Chairman Bill has always been able to make us buy new computers by making Windows use more and more memory. Maybe this has passed, not sure.
  
  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…
• RockAllNight

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  3 years ago

  What does this discussion have to do with strip clubs?
• Papi_Chulo

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  3 years ago

  ^ I use my laptop to bestow my wisdom on the PL-masses
• san_jose_guy

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  3 years ago

  RockAllNight, Papi is consistently one of the most reasonable and level headed people here. We need that.
  
  SJG
  
  X - Burning House of Love
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kbDuaio…
  
  NewsHour
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5iGGLJM…
• joker44

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  3 years ago

  another thought - make sure your laptop's charging circuitry is working correctly, otherwise a new batt could be toast
  
  search online for laptop battery apps some of which might show charger probs.
• Mate27

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  3 years ago

  and SJG, do you believe you’re one of the most reasonable and level headed people here? Do we need you, too?
• Huntsman

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  3 years ago

  I agree with the idea of just getting a new laptop. Yes, it’s more expensive than replacing the battery but not tremendously so. Plus, putting a new battery in a six year old laptop does not mean you’ll get six more years of good use out of it. I’m pretty sure you’ll find yourself shopping for a new laptop for other reasons sooner rather than later. I can see the value in repairing an old car and keeping it going. In my experience, computers are not analogous in terms of hanging on to.
  
  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.
• san_jose_guy

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  3 years ago

  Meat, I am by far one of those with the greatest depth and breadth of knowledge, and so what I add is beyond any measure.
  
  :) :) :)
  
  SJG
• twentyfive

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  3 years ago

  ^ yet no one sees that, to what do you attribute that to ?
• Dolfan

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  3 years ago

  I've replaced the battery in a few, but never more than one replacement in the same laptop. Usually by that time I'm close to ready for a new one. My current laptop doesn't have a user replaceable battery, so when it dies either I'll plug in or replace. When I want to be portable nowadays, I usually just use a tablet anyway.
• TheeOSU

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  3 years ago

  ^
  
  
  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.
• Subraman

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  3 years ago

  I've never replaced the batteries in a laptop, but my main laptop is supplied by my company, and they replace the whole damn thing every 2-3 years. Which probably gives some insight on how long they think it's cost-effective to keep a laptop. Now that I don't travel often, I don't have a problem leaving the laptop charged in anyway.
  
  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.
• shailynn

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  3 years ago

  1. Check eBay for a replacement battery - maybe cheaper there.
  
  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.
• SanchoRG

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  3 years ago

  I replace my laptops every 2 years or so. Non mac user. I just go cheap Acer or HP for like $400, then max the RAM & put in/upgrade SSD for another $400 or so. I don't do any gaming at all tho, just remote access, programming or web browsing
• Subraman

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  3 years ago

  Yeah, for work I need something more powerful but my company replaces those every couple of years. For my personal use, I don't do anything that I need more than a $350 (or less) chromebook for, so not painful at all to replace
• Papi_Chulo

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  3 years ago

  "... make sure your laptop's charging circuitry is working correctly ..."
  
  The battery indicator shows that it charges to 100% when plugged-in but that "100%" only lasts about 10-minutes if I unplug.
• Papi_Chulo

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  3 years ago

  I thought EV batteries were based on the same tech as laptop batteries? I don't see why laptop batteries only last 2 or 3 years while EV batteries seem to last a lot longer as well as cellphone batteries - one wonders if they are "not putting their best effort" into laptop batteries - translation - they can sell more laptops if batteries don't last longer???
• Subraman

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  3 years ago

  Yes, all lithium based batteries, most lithium iron or variations -- lithium phosphate, etc. I imagine that EVs have outrageously sophisticated charge management that protects against the things that prematurely age batteries, such as: charging to 100%, leaving it at 100% for long periods, discharging very low, etc. Phone batteries almost always are down to a fraction of their initial capacity after 2 years, and definitely after 3, just like laptops
• Subraman

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  3 years ago

  ah, just looked it up, Teslas older models have nickel cobalt aluminum based batteries, so completely different chemistry! They've just changed to a brand new lithium iron phosphate, so still different chemistry than laptops etc
• MackTruck

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  3 years ago

  Mine dont tale batterys. I got a type riter
• rickthelion

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  3 years ago

  Oh puhleez… replacing batteries. My laptops and iPads don’t last that long. I’ve got these deadly lion claws and if I start typing too fast I can easily destroy an electronic device. Such is the life of a frickin’ lion.
  
  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!!!
• georgmicrodong

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  3 years ago

  If your current laptop meets your needs, it’s a waste of time and money to replace it. If the absence of the battery won’t inconvenience you, then there’s not much point in replacing that either.
  
  
• SanchoRG

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  3 years ago

  I’ve never replaced a laptop cause it stopped working. Tech moves so fast that even shitty entry level model computers beat the tits off a 2 year old model that cost 2x as much
• skibum609

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  3 years ago

  I replace my laptop every 3-4 years and have never had to change a battery
• san_jose_guy

  •

  3 years ago

  Papi, I don't know if your laptop could run and be safe, while plugged in with no battery.
  
  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…