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General discussion

Please Help Me.

Jun 4, 2005 6:29AM PDT

Hello. My name is Randall. I'm in the process of purchasing a laptop. I've been doing a lot research for about a week now and still can't find what I'm looking for. I was hoping some of you could help me...

So here's the deal. I'm looking for a laptop that can hold two batterys at once (one primary, one secondary) that will give me at minimum, 5 hours of usage under normal conditions (typing, surfing). I will go with one battery if I have to but still want something that will run for at least 5 hours. The laptop must feature the Intel Centrino processor @ 1.5Ghz minimum. Must have at least an x300 128mb graphics and up or equivilent (Nvidia, Ati. Don't care). A decent screen for gaming.

I couldn't find anything that meets this criteria and was hoping some of you laptop gurus could help me out. If you can't, thanks anyway for reading. If you can, by all means, please, help me! Happy Thanks in advance.

-Randall

Discussion is locked

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Even with dual batteries...
Jun 4, 2005 6:58AM PDT

I've yet to see a laptop with full bore video systems run for more than a few hours on battery power. Even with dual batteries, the game will not hit 4 hours.

What you are looking for has not been made.

Bob

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Compromise
Jun 4, 2005 7:16AM PDT

Firstly. Thanks for your information. That is disappointing to hear, but if it does not exist, I will settle for less battery life. Three hours is the absolute lowest I could shoot for. Do you have any suggestions?

-Randall

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Still may be close.
Jun 4, 2005 7:27AM PDT

I found the average (stock) 8 cell battery could be drained in one hour flat if you turn up the brightness, turn on the WIFI and play a game like DOOM 3 to hit the battery hard and you got just over one hour. That's a NEW battery and in 18 months of such use, it will likely be some 1/2 or less that minutes.

So you could check out a Dell with dual 12 cell higher capacity batteries and get over 2 hours of battery powered gaming, but what a price to pay just to cut the cord.

But if you want such, it is possible.

Bob

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Last question
Jun 4, 2005 7:50AM PDT

There is such thing as a 16-cell battery manufactured by Dell. It says it's compatible with the Inspiron 9100 and XPS. Would it not power any other Dell laptop? More specifically, the Inspiron 6000.


-Randall

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That's where you call Dell.
Jun 4, 2005 10:11AM PDT

They answer such questions or you shop elsewhere.

It's not the number of cells that really sets the AMP HOURS, so you want the maximum AMP HOURS from what I can tell.

Sounds pricey.

Bob