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IBM 600 Series Laptops and Flaky Batteries?

netdemonboberb asks: "I don't know where else we should turn, because no site will write articles on [this subject] and IBM is denying that their IBM 600 series laptops have flaky batteries. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute distributed these laptops to freshman students in 1999 and almost everyone I knew in my class had this issue. Ralph Levien's page has suggested it appears to be an issue with the 'Smart Monitoring' circuitry. I'm writing this article to get the issue out in the open so IBM can no longer deny it. These batteries are expensive, and I have had to replace mine 4 times already. Can anyone who reads/maintains slashdot help or provide any advice on getting resolution for this?" I must say that from personal experience, I've wondered if this might be the case as well. I have an IBM Thinkpad 600e laptop and I've already gone through 2 batteries. The laptop is currently inactive as it must be tied to the wall if it is to be used. Has anyone else experienced shorter-than-average battery life using these laptops? Were you able to do anything to improve the battery life?

2 of 446 comments (clear)

  1. 'Tute Screw by Gothmolly · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yet another example of the old 'Tute Screw! (all -1,Offtopic mods indicate that you didn't go to RPI)

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  2. Re:Yup, and they know it by pete-classic · · Score: 2, Funny

    On a long enough time line the life of every battery drops to zero.

    I was a recall coordinator. My job was to apply the formula. Take the number of notebooks in the field, A. Multiply it by the probable rate of failure, B. Then multiply the result by the average out of court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

    "Are there a lot of these kind of failures?"

    You wouldn't believe.

    "Which computer company do you work for?"

    A major one.

    -Peter

    Very . . . modern art.