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Question

Dell E5530 laptop (Q)

Feb 8, 2013 11:48AM PST

Hi.
I am planning to be in Asia for 8 months and looking to purchase a new laptop. Specifically Dell E5530.
I am a desktop user so this is my first laptop.

My goal is to have 6 hours of battery life available, before recharging.
Activities include: web surfing, reading /writing on social networks play music videos, and once a week watch a movie.
,
I did a trial run build on Dell. website for E5530 laptop, .
..
These are some of my specs:
i7-3520M Processor 2.9GHz, Win 8 pro, 4G Ram 1600mhz, 320GB 7200rpm Hard Drive, 9 cell battery.

Given that I selected I7 processor and win 8, will my 9 cell battery be drain significantly per session?
Should I purchase a 9 cell slice battery to bring with me?

Based on my web activities (stated above), what would be your best guesstimate of battery life having one 9 cell battery?

Thanks.
TC.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
To hit 6 hours you'll need 12 hours.
Feb 8, 2013 11:51AM PST

Hit the reviews and see how many hours they get. If you've been around a while you learn to get double the battery hours you are wanting. Not many laptops get that many hours on a charge and since it's a 300 cycle battery in a year of such use you'll be getting a new battery. It seems new laptop owners learn this after they burn through their first battery. The lesson is you plug in when possible.
Bob

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To hit 6 hours you'll need 12 hours.
Feb 8, 2013 8:06PM PST

Thanks Bob.

Didn't find anything in Cnet review regarding this Laptop model.
Did read reviews/comments from the Dell website stating this notebook should get about 7-8 hours.
The hotel I will be staying has free WIFI in the lobby. No ac plug-in possible.
Will probably signup for a pay-as-you-go internet plan to use the ac outlet in the my room when necessary.

Thanks.
Tom

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We don't need that review.
Feb 9, 2013 12:36AM PST

Nothing has changed to get you better than the average "take the maker's hours and halve it" to get what you'll see in the real world.

Our team has been in Asia many times (100's?) and never ran into a place or situation where there is no power where there is WiFi. It appears this may be your first laptop so maybe you'll not listen to others about running off battery as to time and cost. Sure, we'll go a few hours during a demo but back on power when we see the plug.

Bob

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Answer
Divide what the mfg says by 2 for real world
Feb 9, 2013 12:19AM PST

If the manufacturer says you'll get 7 hours battery life, in the real world you'll probably see 3.5 hrs. That 7200 rpm hard drive will use more power than a 5400 one, the I7 may use more than an I5 or I3, and the bigger your screen size, the more power it'll use. Videos and movies really drain the battery too because they have to put up over a dozen pictures (24 for high quality) on the screen along with sound every second. I have a Toshiba laptop with 5400 rpm hard drive, I5 chip, and 15" screen. Toshiba said "up to 5 hours battery life". When it was brand new I might've gotten 4 hours with very light use, but now I'm lucky to get 3 after a year. I keep it plugged in 90% of the time. The 9 cell batteries will last longer than the 6 ones, but if you want 6 hours on the battery, you should definitely have a 2nd battery.

Good luck.