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    TZ - extended battery life!

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by epbrown, Mar 9, 2008.

  1. epbrown

    epbrown Notebook Consultant

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    I got my extended battery today, and allow me to gloat about how cool this is - I just watched an entire movie on my TZ, and I've still got 5 hours 31 minutes remaining. :cool:

    And thanks to searching the board, I now know to remove it before putting the TZ in my backpack, as some people have broken the latches on theirs that way.

    I sort of wish the BPS11 was available in the US. I think I'd prefer to have that for day-to-day use and maximum portability, and the BPX11 for when I need more juice.
     
  2. balto

    balto Notebook Consultant

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    I have both the BPS11 and the BPX11 and I use the BPX all the time. I hardly ever put the little guy in. I actually find the laptop to be more comfortable with the larger battery in it, better typing since it is on a slant.

    As for battery life I can stretch this thing to 12 hours when needed. I only really change my laptop at night like my cell and it is good all day. I don't even carry the power adapter around with me anymore.
     
  3. skippy911

    skippy911 Notebook Geek

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    Thats amazing battery life now I want one. Any idea where to get it for cheap? Ill be in Tokyo in May or June would it be less expensive there?
     
  4. epbrown

    epbrown Notebook Consultant

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    I saw some crazy prices on eBay, but my best deal was at sonystyle.com. They had some sort of discount for registering your laptop, free shipping if you order between Tuesday and Thursday, and it was 20% off, so I wound up paying $199 plus tax. Everywhere else they ranged between $260 and $400.
     
  5. armadilo

    armadilo Notebook Evangelist

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    Can you guys post some pics to see how does it seems the extended battery?
    So, in real usage can you take 10 hours of life with this?
     
  6. Benjamin Chin

    Benjamin Chin Notebook Consultant

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  7. armadilo

    armadilo Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks Benjamin,

    Wow, it makes a big difference from the standard battery!
    Anyone know if the extended fits on the leather cover VGP-CV1/T?
     
  8. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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  9. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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    One question about Vaio TZ batteries, though.

    Why does this Vaio TZ standard battery look so big? http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8390/8390608cv1a.jpg

    That is the Vaio TZ150 that Best Buy is selling. It's supposed to come with the standard size battery, BPL11. But, doesn't it look pretty large on that photo?

    Here are some other photos that Best Buy provides, for the Vaio TZ 150:

    http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8390/8390608cv2a.jpg
    http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8390/8390608cv3a.jpg

    The battery looks like the standard size battery in those photos, but the first one...?

    [EDIT] Here is a photo of the Vaio TZ240 that Best Buy is selling: http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8718/8718328cv2a.jpg

    Now that looks like a standard size battery, in comparison to the first photo with the TZ150. What's going on here? Sorry, I'm just a little concerned about battery sizes because I'm afraid the large capacity battery, BPX11, may detract from the looks of the Vaio TZ.

    Does anyone happen to have the large capacity battery? I would appreciate photos of the Vaio TZ with the large capacity battery on.
     
  10. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    The first picture is the TZ with the large capacity battery, BPX11, the rest of the pics are of the standard battery. All TZs come with the standard battery out of the box.

    I don't know why BestBuy posted a pic of it with the large battery when it doesn't come with it from the box; it would confuse some people.
     
  11. scottyinco

    scottyinco Notebook Evangelist

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  12. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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    Do you mind posting photos of your Vaio TZ with the large capacity battery on? It would be nice to see the difference in the appearances of the TZ. Does it still look good with the large capacity battery?
     
  13. epbrown

    epbrown Notebook Consultant

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    The pictures you posted from best buy show the difference perfectly (if there's a specific picture angle you're looking for, let me know and I'll break out the camera phone):

    BPL11
    [​IMG]

    BPX11
    [​IMG]

    The BPS11 (not sold in the US) looks the best, the BPL11 looks acceptable, and the BPX11, seen from behind, looks awful. The increased running time, however, is a thing of beauty.

    The extra tilt to the keyboard improves the ergonomics, and I never work with the TZ facing away from me, so to me the looks don't matter.

    To forestall a couple of more questions: all of the Sony-made cases will fit any of the 3 battery types, and it will still fit the port replicator with any of them installed as well.
     
  14. armadilo

    armadilo Notebook Evangelist

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    IMO It may look ugly, but when you think that you have 1.5 time more battery life then doesn't seem so bad, does it?
    The standard battery gets 5-6 hours of battey life, with the extended you go at 9 hours easily. All day! I have read in this forum that is comfortable to type on the TZ with the extended battery.
    Again, I know it fits in the leather case VGP- CV2, but anyone tried it with the leather cover VGP-CV1/T?
     
  15. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    The battery life of the BPX is impressive, but I don't like that it lifts up the notebook so much.

    I'd rather have the 11" Asus U2E's extended battery, sticks out the back, but keeps the notebook flat and level.

    But then again, if the notebook is lifted, it helps with cooling. :confused:

    [​IMG]
     
  16. starstreak

    starstreak Notebook Deity

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    I had the larger battery for the FZ. Was well worth it. made it hard to put into a bag, but well worth it.
     
  17. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the clarification on the battery sizes, everyone.

    I noticed that in Outrigger's review on the Vaio TZ, he said that the battery is very securely-attached. However, I watched the CNET UK video review of the Vaio TZ, and the battery made a distinct rattling noise when he deliberately shook it, at the end.

    Here's the video review: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39030094,49290810-1,00.htm

    Can anyone confirm or disprove this?
     
  18. epbrown

    epbrown Notebook Consultant

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    I've checked both mine and neither rattles like that- maybe he didn't latch it properly?
     
  19. Jirka_koffee

    Jirka_koffee Notebook Geek

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    In review at www.notebook.cz the battery was a bit loose too, but Sony claims that its a feature to not to transmit heat from battery to laptops body when charging :D

    PS: my batt is loose too..
     
  20. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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    Okay, that's really interesting. So we have one person who has a very secure battery on their TZ, and another person with a loose battery.

    Is this a manufacturing problem? Personal use problem?
     
  21. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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    Hm... this is an extremely important issue for me. If the Vaio TZ will indeed have a loose battery, I'm really not interested in purchasing it, then. Can anyone else confirm or disprove it?
     
  22. Gazelle

    Gazelle Notebook Consultant

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    [EDIT] Wrong topic, sorry. Double post.
     
  23. skippy911

    skippy911 Notebook Geek

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    Battery in my laptop is tight but i dont have the extended battery just the normal one that the TZ ships with.