Z2 Sheet Battery: Looking For Input

I'm contemplating the sheet battery for my Z2 and am curious as to the opinions of people who already have this. Like it? Hate it? Really 14-16 hours? Weight? Convenience? etc, etc.

TIA

 

14-16 hours? Sez who?

 

Well, that's the official Sony quote for both batteries together.

 

..........

 

^
Thanks for your usual useful input as the Sony forum is filled with it. I'm surprised you didn't spend more time posting a more cynical and sarcastic response like your typical meaningless banter. It's kind of a given that all manufacturers overestimate their battery claims. Why are you even bothering to post?

Anyhow, I get estimates of 14 hours battery life according to Windows but Windows of course overestimates like usual.
With Wifi on and screen brightness at approximately in the middle, I get around 4-5 hours doing medial tasks with the standard battery and estimates of 5.5-6.5 hours. I run the sheet down in about 4.5-6 hours in the few times I've used it. So I'd estimate somewhere between 8-11 hours typically with my usage. I run an equal mix of Balanced/Power Saving but I keep brightness around the 50% range give or take a couple of notches up and down.

 

I would have but thought you would appreciate a post that you could understand without a dictionary.

Because someone wanted to know if that crap from a manufacturer was actually true.

 

lol...a dictionary to decipher equivocal posts. Who knew modern dictionaries were detailed to such an extent?

Then get to the point and state it. It's quite obvious where he was quoting his numbers from. Furthermore, read his post clearly, " I'm contemplating the sheet battery for my Z2 and am curious as to the opinions of people who already have this." If you do, then why not help him? Otherwise, the value of your post is minimal as it only costs bandwidth, especially with the quality of your first two posts in this thread.

 

Interesting.

I would be want to using it at a brighter level/heavier load, so I would guess I'd be down at the lower level. How about the weight issue? Thanks for the input.

Anyone else?

 

Z21 with sheet is about 1,8kg...

I hold it today at german "Saturn" and I did not find it really heavy or bulky. I first thought it was a SA without ODD

I think, when I will buy a new Z I will get the extended thing and can do all my universitywork a day without charging!

 

I'm thinking in terms of trans-Atlantic flights and trying to balance that versus a charger with its own weight, cables everywhere, etc.

 

i get about 47 minutes for every 20% of the sheet battery, so 4.5 hours sounds about right. I don't think i could ever get 5 hours unless i turned wifi off. I noticed that if i am using verizon broadband, the battery life is less than 4 hours. Thats about at around 40-50% brightness and simple web surfing with sirius streaming.

I just got the Z2 and still haven't tested out the main battery yet. But I doubt I will be able to get 4 hours with it considering on how fast the sheet runs.

All in all, I would say 7.5-8 combined with wifi/sirius/web surfing/ (no gaming) at 50% brightness. 7 hours with verizon broadband.


I am also on a balanced power plan.

That being said, I am extremely happy with the Z2. The only other issue is using headphones that have a volume control on it (like the ipod headphones) You will get sound out of the headphones AND computer. This is a known issue and discussed earlier.

 

Re: Headphones: I don't have that problem. When I plug in my headphones the sound only comes through there, not the computer as well.

Got all your settings right in the Control Panel Sound applet?

 

Do your headphones have a volume control button physically on the headphones? My bose noise cancel headphones work fine.. The apple ipod headphones are the issue.

I noticed this was discussed in the Z2 owners lounge, so didn't think any more of it.

 

There's a post on Sony's forthcoming high-end noise canceling earbuds in the CES thread.

 

I'm using the Sony-supplied earphones. Didn't register your comment about the volume control.

 

Using a HD video looping continuously, with no wifi and low screen brightness, I got 4.5 hours on the internal battery and 8.5 hours with internal and battery sheet. That was on "balanced" power settings.

 

So, on a sample of two, it looks like about 8 hours with the combination. Is it "worth" the weight differential for you?

 

I only use the battery slice when I travel. On a long flight I'm willing to accept the extra weight -- even in business class I've had seats where the plug didn't work. Plus in a hotel room where I might be using a bed/pillow to support the Z, the slice makes sure the fans are not obstructed.

At slightly under 4 pounds, the Z2 plus battery slice is still the lightest laptop I've ever owned.

 

I have the sheet battery and rarely use it. It about doubles the life of the original battery. I run my laptop in hi-performance mode all the time, so my battery life is dismal (about 3-4 hours). I don't travel much and don't need any longer life than that, but that differs for everyone.

The battery does add weight and definitely takes away the "sexy" look of the laptop. But it's nice to have if you're gonna be using it on the road for more than a few hours. It's designed well and fits nice.

I highly recommend it for people needing battery juice for long periods, such as long flights. It's nice to not deal with cables and chargers while on a plane. To me, the added weight is worth it.

 

I went down to the Sony store and was actually surprised at how light it was.

There was an eBay listing for a locally available unit for $99 so I got that. Will pick it up shortly.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

Your usage pattern is pretty much what mine is and my expectations are about like yours. Thx.

 

I've hopped the pond a few times with the Z2 and sheet battery.

10 to 12 hours is easily doable with wifi use and 16-bit color/40hz refresh. I leave outlook open, work on powerpoints and watch movies. It is somewhat liberating to use the machine as I need without worrying about juice.

I've also started leaving my charger at the hotel during meetings. Going all day isn't a problem, so it isn't really necessary.

The sheet does add bulk, but it isn't anywhere as awkward as other extended batteries. The extra row of cells on the Z1's extended kit is bulky in a bad way.

I do wish Sony used another attachment system though. The screws are silly and the prongs make it slightly dangerous to leave in a bag when it is detached. You know, the pokey-bits and all.

 

The Z2 feels light. The sheet battery feels light. Somehow together they feel heavier than the sum of their parts. Maybe I'm just a wimp

 

It definitely makes the Z look like any other 13" laptop. Which does bug me a little. Of course may be looking "normal" is good when an airport thief is reviewing his options.

 

My sentiments eggsactly.

 

So you are calling me a wimp?

Tomorrow, by the monkey-bars, fight

 

y'er on!


(10 c..)