Laptop Batteries
How to get affordable, reliable laptop computer batteries for your small business
By Courtney Ditzler, Freelance Writer
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.
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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
- 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.
