Several types of laptop batteries have evolved over the years. The first rechargeable batteries were the Nickel Cadmium Batteries (NiCd). The next step in battery evolution was the Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries, or NiHM. Both types of batteries are no longer in popular use due to a memory effect that required the notebook computer battery to be fully discharged before recharging for optimal output. The notebook battery currently in use is the Lithium-ion, or Li-ion type. This lap top battery is popular because of its lighter weight, rapid charging ability and environmental friendliness.

Older laptops may still have an old NiHM battery that can be upgraded to Li-ion. There are also smart batteries available that better manage battery energy and usage over time. The following resources will help you learn about different laptop batteries types and styles:

1. Find out what you need to know about older NiHM laptop batteries.
2. Read about the newest industry standard Li-ion laptop batteries.
3. Learn more about the power-saving features of the smart lap top computer battery.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how NiHM laptop batteries work, and how to find out if you can upgrade

You may have an older laptop that still uses a NiHM battery. If an Li-ion battery option is available for your laptop, it's usually a smart idea to take it. Li-ion batteries are lighter, and handle their charge better. Usually you can look up the model of your laptop on the manufacturer website to find out whether they have a newer Lithium-ion battery option. If you're stuck using NiHM laptop batteries, it's a good idea to know how they work and how best to care of them.

I recommend: Read issues and information about NiHM batteries at Computer Hope. eHow has a great article on extending the life of your laptop battery, with specific tips for NiHM batteries.

Find out everything you need to know about the popular Lithium-ion laptop batteries

Lithium-ion laptop batteries are lightweight and handle their charge better than the older NiHM or NiCd batteries. They only lose roughly 5 percent charge monthly, compared to around 30 percent in NiHM batteries. They can also handle more charge and discharge cycles than the older batteries.

I recommend: Read all about how Li-ion batteries work at HowStuffWorks. In addition, Isidor Buchmann has written a guide for Battery University that teaches you how to prolong the life of lithium-based batteries.

Learn about smart laptop computer batteries and why they are best for your notebook

Most smart battery technology is based on the SBS or Smart Battery System, an industry-standard for rechargeable battery technology. Smart laptop batteries report their own state, and are capable of self-calibration, vastly extending the life of the battery. This functionality is enabled by internal microprocessor circuits.

I recommend: HP has a great article called Understand Lithium-Ion and Smart Battery Technology. You can read detailed specs and other smart laptop batteries info on the Smart Battery Implementers Forum.

Laptop batteries are a must for using laptops away from a power source. Laptops are the perfect computer solution for businesspeople who travel frequently or those who split their work between the office and home. Despite major technological advancements in the computer industry, however, the notebook computer battery continues to prove problematic for many otherwise satisfied laptop users.

If you're tired of watching employers lose valuable work due to battery failure or don't enjoy attaching yourself to an outlet for the duration of your workday, it's time to find a remedy.

The Internet is replete with laptop battery info ranging from buying guides to tips, hacks and strategies for resurrecting lifeless power sources. Before delving into the exhaustive laptop batteries information, consider the following:

1. Whether to buy new batteries or use the ones you have more efficiently.
2. How to properly dispose of your used laptop batteries.
3. Battery life requirements for your business and associated restrictions based on the make, model and age of your laptop computers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Train employees to conserve laptop battery power

Changing laptop settings and altering other usage behavior can significantly prolong notebook battery life. A slight shift in corporate culture toward conservation, through proper training, is likely to save you time and money in the long run.

I recommend: Apple offers lifesaving laptop batteries info. Their recommendations, which generally apply to other brands like Dell, include avoiding battery storage in extreme temperatures, adjusting brightness to the lowest acceptable level and activating appropriate power saving settings. For Mac laptop computers, choose laptop settings in the Energy Saver Control Panel. If running Windows on a PC, select Portable/Laptop in the Control Panel's Power Schemes.

Resist the urge to buy refurbished notebook batteries

Buyer beware. Many computer retailers tout their inventory of heavily discounted, refurbished laptop batteries. Although this may appeal to your business's bottom line, customers generally do not get their money's worth.

I recommend: A so-called refurbished laptop computer battery is most often a used part, taken from another notebook and resold. Refurbishing laptop batteries requires intensive labor and carries significantly higher cost than most new batteries. Laptops for Less and Battery Values sell new laptop batteries for all major manufacturers at discount prices.

Go green and recycle used batteries

Many laptop batteries contain heavy metals like lead acid and mercury, which damage the environment if disposed of or handled improperly. Certain states, like Florida and Vermont, require businesses to recycle their used batteries. Demonstrate your businesses' dedication to the community and the earth through partnering with battery recycling organizations.

I recommend: Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, a non-profit organization, recycles several laptop battery types, including Lithium Ion and Nickel Cadmium. Simply register and provide relevant laptop batteries info to receive a kit to begin recycling. Several small computer retailers, such as Hollywood, FL based Impact Computers and Electronics, also do their part, recycling any used notebook battery shipped to them or dropped off by consumers.

Shop for laptop batteries online

There are several reputable companies that offer laptop batteries for sale.

I recommend: LaptopBatteries.com sells batteries for laptops by Dell, Toshiba, HP, IBM and Gateway, among others. JustLaptopBatteries, Batteries.com and AtBatt.com are online sellers of laptop computer batteries, as well as good sources of laptop battery information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Although business travelers often enjoy watching DVDs or listening to CDs through their laptop, these activities quickly drain battery life. Bring specialized media devices along and save your laptop for work-related activities.
• •  Fully discharge your notebook computer battery every few weeks to prevent the memory effect, or voltage depression. This laptop batteries information does not apply to Lithium Ion power sources.
• •  Buy extra laptop batteries to power your computer in a pinch. Consider external laptop batteries for longer life, especially useful on long business trips. These usually require their own charging devices and not all notebook computers can track their charge levels.

If you or your employees have laptops in the office, then you know that it is important to be familiar with laptop computer batteries. In order to keep productivity high, you will want to make sure that you have a quality notebook battery available for each computer. However, before you go shopping for new batteries, you should get an idea of laptop batteries pricing and costs. This will allow you to develop a budget and save some money on your lap top computer battery purchase.

You can find laptop batteries information and prices from a variety of online resources. Consider the following ideas about notebook computer battery pricing:

1. Find out pricing on external laptop batteries.
2. Get pricing on laptop batteries design specifically for your notebook.
3. Know the pricing of batteries with higher watt hours.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider an external lap top battery

If you want your computer to hold a charge for several hours, consider purchasing an external battery. An external battery can charge your laptop for up to 10 hours longer than a regular battery can. Prices are more reasonable today than they were even just a few years ago, so take advantage of the convenience of a longer charge. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $130 for an external battery, depending on your laptop.

I recommend: BatterySpace.com sells external batteries for $50 to $80, depending on your laptop. Prices at buy-laptop-battery.org range from $100 to $130 for an universal external charger that fits nearly every type of laptop.

Check out the pricing of laptop batteries made for your computer

Some batteries are model specific, so do your research on what battery you need before purchasing a replacement. Most Internet sites that sell replacement batteries list which laptop models they work with, so check compatibility when researching prices. Expect to pay anywhere from $80 to more than $150, depending on your laptop model.

I recommend: Dell features a battery specifically for Dell laptops for $140 to $150. Compaq batteries cost anywhere from $70 to $120 at UpgradeMaster.com.

Get pricing on higher wattage batteries when checking out laptop batteries info

If you want the battery with the longest life, look for batteries with higher watt hours (Whr). More watt hours will get you more hours of usage from a charged battery, allowing you to keep the laptop unplugged for much longer. You might spend anywhere from $120 to $200 on a battery with longer life.

I recommend: Just Laptop Batteries sells IBM and Lenovo high capacity batteries for $165 to $175. Find Dell batteries with a wattage of 85 Whr for $120 to $190 at portablecomponentsforall.com.

The original laptop batteries were made of nickel cadmium (NiCd). They were quickly replaced with NiHM or nickel metal hydride batteries. Both types of batteries suffered from a memory effect issue that required batteries to be fully discharged before recharging. Lithium-ion or li-ion batteries solved this problem, as well as being lighter weight and more environmentally friendly. Since li-ion batteries come with every laptop sold, familiarizing yourself with the terminology is important.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Lithium-ion, or li-ion

Lithium-ion batteries are often used in consumer electronics, including laptop batteries. They are powered by a lithium ion which moves between an anode and a cathode. Their popularity is due to their high energy density, rapid charging and slow loss of charge when not in use.

I recommend: Learn the inner workings of lithium-ion batteries at HowStuffWorks.

Energy density, or energy-to-weight ratio

Energy density or energy-to-weight ratio is a way of measuring the capacity of a battery. Lithium-ion batteries can hold 150 watt-hours of electricity per kilogram of battery. This is far superior to the older NiHM batteries, which could only hold a maximum of 100 watt-hours per kilogram.

I recommend: Compare the characteristics of different battery types, including their energy density, at AllAboutBatteries.com. Look up various scientific terms, including energy density, at Wolfram Research.

Milliampere-hours (mAh)

Although battery life can be measured in watt-hours, laptop battery life is more commonly measured in milliampere-hours or mAh. If a battery was a car, voltage would be how much gas is used, and mAh would tell the size of the gas tank.

I recommend: Learn what the mAh rating of your battery means at Starbatteries.com.

Cells

Laptop battery packs consist of multiple cells that are wired together in series. Each individual cell contributes to the overall volume of a battery.

I recommend: For the more adventurous, learn how to rebuild a li-ion battery from the cells up at Electronics-lab.com. The Panasonic website explains why li-ion cells aren't usually purchased directly from distributors.

Smart battery

A smart li-ion battery has self-discharge abilities granted by a voltage monitoring circuit. Without the circuit, a li-ion battery will experience a permanent loss of capacity. Lithium-ion batteries slowly decline in capacity over their lifetime of two or three years, but smart batteries extend that life.

I recommend: HP laptops use lithium-ion batteries with Smart battery technology.

Protection circuit

Lithium-ion batteries are capable of bursting into fire if overcharged or overheated and can be damaged if discharged below a certain voltage. Because of this, all li-ion batteries come with a protection circuit that shuts down the battery if it is discharged below or charged above certain limits.

I recommend: Learn more about protection circuits at BatteryUniversity.com. Battery Facts has a diagram of a typical protection circuit on their site.