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Question

PLEASE HELP!! laptop battery--what kind?/price differences?

by Jan 5, 2013 5:42AM PST

(I'm also posting this in the Computer Help forum, just in case you see it there too and wonder why I'm repeating myself...)

Hello,

I need a new battery for my laptop--an HP Pavilion dv6-1355dx (the battery is completely dead--can't even charge it now). I found one I liked at BestBuy.com, item name "Laptop Battery Pros - Lithium-Ion Battery for HP Pavilion DV4, DV5, DV6, and CQ60 Laptops". It is $120, on sale for $87. However, I googled the phrase "laptop battery HP Pavilion dv6-1355dx", and all the websites and Google Shopping Results that came up showed prices ranging from $17-$65 (most in the $30-$50 range).

So now I'm completely confused...
1. Why the huge difference in PRICE??
2. What is DIFFERENT about the one I found at Best Buy that makes it so much more EXPENSIVE?? (and that model is just MID-range for the laptop batteries at Best Buy...)
3. Is it just that the Best Buy one is a lot BETTER?? (battery lasts longer between charges and/or has a longer life in general??)
4. But then, it's weird that no pricier batteries (over ~$65) came up when I did my google search--why is that??
5. I didn't realize that there were other companies (i.e., non-computer brands/manufacturers) that make laptop batteries... Is it better to get a battery made by a COMPUTER manufacturer/brand (HP, in my case) vs. a NON-COMPUTER manufacturer (like Laptop Battery Pros)?? Or does that not make much difference??
6. Aside from battery LIFE, are there any OTHER FACTORS to take into acount when choosing a battery for a laptop??
7. Are ALL (or MOST?) of the laptop batteries made today the LITHIUM-ION kind?? (that's the BEST kind, right??)

If you can, please keep any language you use as simple/"not-too-technical" as possible--in case you can't tell, I'm not all that tech-savvy...

I've been without a computer for over a week now, so I really need to get a battery as SOON as posible--PLEASE HELP!!
(And please forgive my asking so many questions--as well as my ignorance!) Happy

Thanks!!
~Shanna

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Answer
In a simple nutshell . . .
by Jan 6, 2013 12:44AM PST

Horror stories abound from people who buy "knock off" batteries. Some even catch fire. Simply, spend the bucks and get the genuine OEM battery. Don't scrimp.

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Sorry . . .
by Coryphaeus Jan 6, 2013 12:45AM PST

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer. This meas from the computer company, and in this case, HP.

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just so I understand...
by shanna077 Jan 7, 2013 6:10AM PST

So you're saying I need to get an HP BRAND battery, right? (The one I found at Best Buy is out of the question?--even though it is more expensive, thus implying that it should be of better quality? and even though it has GOOD RATINGS at BestBuy.com??)

Well, when I google "HP laptop battery", all the results that come up are NON-hp brand batteries--just batteries from other manufacturers that are compatible with hp laptops. So is the only way to get an HP brand battery to go to HP.com??

Well I did that, and all the batteries that are compatible with a dv6 laptop have really CRUDDY RATINGS... Why is that?? (and, they're even more expensive than the one at Best Buy... not that price is the determining factor, at this point...) So what should I do?? Are OEM batteries UNEQUIVOCALLY the best ones?? (even despite the poor ratings??)

Sorry--don't mean to be a pain!! I just want to be SURE I get a VERY good battery that will last/perform well. Happy

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There's the "correct answer" and then YOUR CHOICE.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jan 7, 2013 6:26AM PST

Given the liability issues, no one should answer but with what you are getting here. I see folk have replied with what looks to be the correct answer but YOU MAKE THE FINAL CHOICE.

If you want to try some non-maker battery then you do that and know that such is what it is. No one can make this decision but you.
Bob

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Answer
There's the correct answer and the other answers.
by Former Forum moderator Jan 6, 2013 12:56AM PST

For now the correct answer is to get the battery from the maker. WHY IS THAT? While other batteries might be fine the problem of "Laptop Battery Fires" caused a lot of trouble a few years ago and highlighted a problem.

If you go cheap you rarely can find anyone to pin the liability of such a failure on.

The other answers are "it's a battery, buy it."
Bob

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