New DV4T-1147CL - Horrible battery life!

Grabbed a display model of the DV4T-1147CL from Sams Club yesterday for 599.99 + tx. Configured as:

14.1 high def brightview infinity display
4gb
64bit vista home sp1
320gb drive
dvd+/-R drive
6-cell battery
intel 5100 wifi wireless N/bluetooth
T5800
Geforce 9200M GS w/ 512 ddr2

Pretty nice overall, however the battery life is horrendous!

High performance power plan w/ default settings for the plan, with wireless/bluetooth on, web surfing, some youtube playback = 90 minutes!

balanced w/ same use as above =120 minutes

power saver w/ above: 145 minutes. (just shy of 2 1/2hr).

The unit was on display for about 1 1/2 month and did have the battery in it from the start, and was always plugged in. Did this damage the battery , or is it just normal for this high of battery consumption?

I'm coming from a Toshiba U405 w/ 9cell that gets 4.5hr on power saver so this is killing me. I know the battery size is different, but still 90 minutes? Its almost like I can mouseover and watch the percent drop every minute or so.

 

i think the constantly on and plugged in killed it or it just always had sucky battery life

 

I'm wondering but the Toshiba U405 I have has had the battery in it for the last 6 months and plugged in about 3/4 the time, but I know every brand is different though.

 

Maybe you should see if they will give you a new battery.

I have not had stellar battery life from any of HP's standard 6-cells, but it is worth a try.....

 

You mean Sams or HP? I talked to the computer dept guy that unlocked it for me yesterday and with display (since they are so marked down) it's probably not going to happen. Since other Sams are still selling them for 899+tx until they get down to the last one, they feel it's just the way it is.

Now HP, I'm sure I could ask a million times over and I'll either get a scripted answer about how to turn down brightness, turn off things that aren't needed, or if I'm sent one, it would be a refurb. I'll give them a try though, can't hurt.

thanks!

 

Maybe you should state that you will return the unit because it is not working correctly. A floor model is still a new model unless it was sold as used.

If the battery is no good, what good is a portable computer?

 

I'm not sure how they term the sale - I know he said for warranty purposes the receipt starts the 1 year warranty on the unit, but then again I can't take it to another Sams Club and exchange it (if they have any in stock), without paying the difference between the floor model price and new stock price (899 where they still have them in stock).

I'll check with HP I guess. I know I see some reviews that say the battery life isn't the greatest, but trying to get some idea how far off , if at all it is. It's been several years since I saw something draw off the power like this one.


I grabbed it because 599 was an awesome price for the item of course, but that dv3z at Costco looks like something I need to check out this weekend though.