Best place to buy Dell laptop battery?

[Desmo]

The battery on my Inspiron 6400 is dead. Battery barely lasts 15 minutes before the machines pops it's clogs.

Battery type is a GD761 11.1V 53WH.

[Desmo]

Is there any reason not to get a compatible battery rather than an original? I mean, the prices on them mean I could buy 2 compatibles for the price of one, surely they can't be that bad.

http://www.batteryfast.co.uk/dell/gd761.htm

[Mark]

I've never had a problem with 'compatible' batteries, but you should be at least wary. Remember the Sony incident? That was down to poor design, and if they - making expensive cells - can get it wrong, you can be sure the Chinese copies can get it very wrong too. They cut corners to save money - and quality control is an obvious corner to cut.

[Desmo]

Just spotted this genuine Dell on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-INSPIRON-1501-6400-BATTERY-9-CELL-85WH-GD761-HK421_W0QQitemZ230345765970QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C omputing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries?hash=i tem35a1ad7452&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

[LeperousDust]

Do sony actually make them though or outsource them to the same chinese factories? Like clothes, designer stuff is often made in exactly the same places as primark :p

[Daz]

I couldn't stomach the cost of a 9 cell original for my D820 so I went with some generic out of China. $50 and it's been ok for me.

[Desmo]

Ended up getting a new Dell battery of the bay for £68 which I'm happy with :)

What's the best way to charge things these days to get the most life out of them? Full charge and full drain a few times or is there no need for that any more?

[Burble]

Full charge and full drain a few times or is there no need for that any more?

Apparently there is technically no need for that any more what with Li-Ion (and Li-Polymer) batteries. It can't do any harm to condition them a bit so that's what I still do. I think that's possibly why the battery in my Macbook is as good as new after 18 months,

[Desmo]

Coolio :)

I know it's sad, but it actually feels like getting a new laptop again as my current battery lasts about 13 minutes before it dies. No more cables ;D

[Mark]

Also, don't leave the battery in the laptop when you don't need to. Even though manufacturers claim to the contrary, it still seems that continuous trickle charging kills batteries.