Non-original Sony batteries

Hello,

I'm planning on getting a large capacity battery for my S-Series and have found numerous non-original replacement batteries on ebay which seem like a bargain. http://cgi.ebay.de/SONY-VAIO-VGN-S2...ryZ81737QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Has anyone had experiences or bought 3rd party batteries for their Vaio? Is there anything I have to keep in mind before buying?

Thanks,
Bomfunk

 

I bought the extended capacity version from dsmiller.com. No problems and I use it every day.

 

For whatever it's worth, this thread talks about OEM batteries in VAIOs. No direct experience myself.

 

Thanks for the link, that's very helpful. My opinion is that with something expensive like a notebook, why take the chance with an off-brand battery/AC adapter. I'd rather spend a little more and get the right one built to the exact specifications of my system. I'm sure there are a lot of people who use them without problems though.

 

I agree with chrisyano, off-brand batteries have been implicated in airplane fires on Lufthansa, etc. I would not risk your expensive lappy to save a couple of bucks.

 

I bought an extended original sony battery off ebay for $200 shipped. I rather spend $200, rather than $100 with a laptop on FIRE.

 

The link was great, thanks. THe problem is that even on ebay I can't find an original Sony battery. The price for an original one from an online store here in Germany is a ridiculous 350 Euro!! An OEM battery would cost me around 90 Euros max. That is a difference I can't disregard..

 

That is a big difference in price. Is Sony offering the battery through their parts department? Maybe their prices are somewhere in the middle?

Like I said though, there are also people who use the generic batteries and seem to be fine with them. It's my personal preference to stick with the specified battery.

 

I use an APC Universal Notebook Battery with my Vaio SZ. It is not a battery replacement, but plugs into the DC power input of my computer. It is fantastic and very useful on long flights when you are in an airplane that does not have Aircraft power. I get a solid 5 hours with it powering my Sony utilizing the DVD player with all other aps turned off. It does have a memory and need to be conditioned to get max usage. It is Lithium Polymer vice the LiOn our notebooks have. Anyway, you charge it plugging it into the wall with your Sony power adapter and then it plugs into your DC input and the computer thinks it is pluged into the wall until it run out and switches to its internal battery. I find it useful, you just have to be mindful of the conditioning requirements. Oh and it comes with a package of tips, one of which fits into the Sony.

 

That sounds like a cool solution. How big is it?

 

They come in different sizes varying from 1 to 2 lbs. It is flat and skinny, about the size of a sheet of US printer paper and about a third of an inch thick. It is not the perfect solution, but you can leave it in your computer bag and the plug easily extends from it to your laptop. It is a few feet long. They come in different sizes and capacities. Here is a link to one of them on the APC wesite. http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=UPB80 I purchased mine from CompUSA.

 

There was a thread about a similar product recently, but this looks way more stable and compact. Looks like a nice option to have if you're out and about a lot and need your laptop.

 

It is convenient. I wish that it was smaller and lighter and I wish that you did not have to be quite as careful with the battery conditioning. Basically you have to discharge it before you charge it in order to get a complete charge. But is is extremely reliable and provides steady and consistent power. It can also power multiple notebooks with its different power settings and tips. I recommend that if you are traveling Business or First Class, use the aircraft power and your own DC power inverter (Some airlines are asking now that if you do use Aircraft power, to remove your Sony battery). But if you spend a lot of your time flying economy or have periods of time where you will not be around a consistent wall outlet, it is fantastic.