Battery For Aging Laptop: OEM or 3rd Party?

February 9, 2009 12:01 PM

Battery For Aging Laptop: OEM or 3rd Party? I need a new battery for my four year old Mac powerbook (old one discharges within 60 mins). Like the original, it lost its endurance after 2 years and currently discharges after 60 mins of use. There are few OEM batteries still around for this thing (though I did find one on eBay). But it occurs to me that while no Apple battery could possibly be fresh at this point, the 3rd party replacement ones MIGHT be more recently made. Though I'd usually hesitate to go with a 3rd party manufacturer on something like this. Any advice? FWIW, it's a Powerbook G4 15", and battery is A1045/A1078/A1148
posted by jimmyjimjim to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

I don't think batteries go bad from sitting...I think they go bad because we use them. So an old one would probably be fine.

****I am not an engineer.*****
posted by sully75 at 12:32 PM on February 9, 2009

Response by poster: Even after sitting for four years?
posted by jimmyjimjim at 12:55 PM on February 9, 2009

The lifespan of Lithium batteries is affected not just by recharge cycles, but also by time since manufacture. You can't buy a battery, let it sit untouched for 4 years, and pop it in to get 100% performance; it'll have severely degraded over time. Which sucks, but that's how the chemistry rolls.
posted by Tomorrowful at 1:03 PM on February 9, 2009

Lithium ion batteries start dying the moment they come off the production line, unlike most other battery types, so you should go for the newest batteries you can get your hands on. Personally I'd just buy the third party battery: battery technology has improved over the last four years and you'll probably get a larger capacity battery for less cash than the Apple one.

Alternatively, you might be able to get the cells in your existing battery pack replaced, which could be cheaper than buying a new battery.
posted by pharm at 1:10 PM on February 9, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks, guys!

pharm (or others), can you recco a quality third party battery manufacturer, or one that could redo my old battery?
posted by jimmyjimjim at 1:20 PM on February 9, 2009

First thing I recommend that you do is go to this web site and check out a bit concerning care and feeding of your battery. http://www.batteryuniversity.com/
Once I started using my batteries according to their guidelines I began to get much better performance and life out of my laptops etc. And for a replacement battery for your powerbook I would recommend either going to Apple or Other World Computing http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook/battery/g4-15inch-aluminum/. I have had very good results using their replacement batteries for the powerbooks I've had, with the added bonus of higher capacities vs Apple. Hope this helps.
posted by chosemerveilleux at 1:32 PM on February 9, 2009

I can't personally vouch for their batteries but I think the guys at Low End Mac have recommend both NewerTech and Other World Computing for third party batteries. I did order RAM from OWC awhile back and it arrived promptly and works fine.
posted by 6550 at 1:34 PM on February 9, 2009

Response by poster: As an old Mac fanboy, I'm surprised I didn't think to go immediately to OWC and Newer in the first place. Thanks!

And thanks for that link, chosemerveilleux!
posted by jimmyjimjim at 1:44 PM on February 9, 2009

Response by poster: It cost about triple the eBay price, at $125, but I ordered the OWC/Newer battery. At least I can return it if there's a problem, and expect it not to 'splode or anything. I'll skimp on other stuff.

Thanks, all!
posted by jimmyjimjim at 1:59 PM on February 9, 2009

metafilters own dan on the care and feeding of batteries and the myths surrounding the same.

http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/02/08/i-run-my-thinkpad-from-a-leclanche-cell/
posted by onya at 2:57 AM on February 10, 2009

Response by poster: NICE! Thanks!
posted by jimmyjimjim at 8:58 AM on February 12, 2009