>
> I've had three laptops in my life with Li Ion batteries in them. In
> all three cases (actually involving four batteries since I got a
> replacement for one), the battery capacity declined rapidly over time.
> The laptops were two Dells and a Toshiba. On one of them (which I have
> now), a Dell Inspiron 6000, the battery is perhaps 1 year old. When I
> unplug the AC adaptor, the system immediately starts giving battery
> warnings and after about 5 minutes shuts down suddenly, without even
> going into hibernation.
>
> I'm wondering if this is just the way things are (inherent in Li Ion
> technology? poor charger design?) or if I am doing something wrong.
> 90+ % of the time I leave my laptop plugged in. I have the occasional
> need to carry it away from AC power for perhaps a half hour.
>

I had the same problem with my Dell 510m, I think my original pack was good
for 6 months only.  I opened the pack, and found one of the cells was not
properly charged, and charged it separately, but was good for a short while
only.  After 1 month, that cell was dead.  It maybe the charging circuit,
but the cells are definitely not of acceptable quality.  They had such thin
plastics sleeve that you can pierce through it quite easily.

The "smartness" of the pack does not allow rebuilding of the battery pack
easily.  Though Dell has lost the number 1 position in number of units sold,
but is number 1 in the revenue now.

Ling SM
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