65Wh Battery for 700M

I just tested mine last night. Wireless on, surfing, light work, screen dimmed. Here are my findings:

2.5 hours took me down to 50% so I was on track for 5 hours
Then I downloaded/installed firefox and using the hd/wireless ate some batteries.
4.5 hours and I was at 5% and decided that was enough testing.

I'm sure if I did less work (I actually watched one of the new scenes in LOTR:Return of the King Extended Edition and that probably drained some too...running off the hd btw) I might have reached 5 hours.

I'm looking at buying a 700m in the near future (hopefully tonight actually)...

And I definitely plan on getting the extended battery. But I was also considering just getting it as an additional battery and keeping the 4 cell one too. I would use it for times when I wouldn't need 4 - 5 hours and would keep down on weight and not stick out as much.

Plus on real long trips, extended times without an outlet near by I would have two batteries with me potentially going for 7.5 - 8 hours of time.

Is this bad logic? Is the 4 cell really THAT bad, if I would also have the 8 cell?

Thanks in advance for your input.

I am kinda disappointed on how long the 8-cell lasts.....

Be sure to get it with the 700m order, instead of ordering it later
With my $75 coupon, 25% or 15% off accessories, 4-cell or 8-cell batteries are still pricey alone

why would you waste money on the 4cell...get it configured with the 8cell. it's only a few dollars more, versus buying a 8-cell afterwards. it's a minor weight difference, and the 4-cell still protrudes out 1/2" versus the 8-cell 1" out the back. the 4 cell just ain't worth the expense. you might as well just get two 8-cell batteries.

yeah, i wish for 65KWh the battery should last over 6 hours instead it lasts and reads as 44Kwh which is about the 4.5 hours you are getting before you should recharge.\

i've also noticed that the first 50% lasts like 2.5-3 hours and then it drops off fast for the second 50%

I have 2 700m's, 1st one (from $750 coupon deal) has 8-cell, no cd-rw)
2nd one (Refurbished, CHEAP as 1st one, 4-cell, cd-rw though) <- can't really configure refurbished laptops, hence why

Still, < 5 hrs for 8-cell is bad @@ Consider that laptop is so small too
I got a optical-bay battery for my M6, primary + 2nd battery should last me 10 hours, WOW... gonna test it of course

I also got my 700m with a four cell battery...i like how long it lasts considering it's just a 4-cell battery...i consistently get 2.5 hours doing some word processing and playing music. i was thinking of getting an 8-cell, but am not sure if i like how it looks (and i don't like the added weight...) So I was thinking of adding another spare 4-cell battery in the future. My thinking is, if 4-cells consistently give 2.5 hours, then combined I could get 5 hours consistently. I don't like the posts around here complaining of substandard battery life from the 8 cell...

i'm hoping dell makes a battery pack for the optical drive slot. that would solve many problems. plus, i think a new bios version would take better use of the battery chip. the only problem with having to swap battery is that you have to shut down and reboot which is a bit of a hassle, but maybe not that big of a deal. anyways, if given the opportunity, i think it's a waste of money to opt for the 4-cell over the 8-cell. the 4-cell is not flush to the back either.

if you don't like the added weight, what is the sense of carrying two 4-cell batteries versus one 8-cell battery around?

the 8-cell 4.5-5 hour performance is pretty good. it still makes the computer lighter than others in the same category, although if dell had gotten the 4-cell right, and lasting 4 hours, that would have been a killer. there are things you can do, i disable my firewire and lan when not using them as well as wireless. i hate the pop up messages although nothing is connected to them. there are lots of things on this thing that are running eating up battery power even though nothing is connected to them. i think this has a great deal to do with decreased battery performance. perhaps it's centrino that is the fault even though centrino is supposed to provide for bettery battery performance.

the bad thing about having extra batteries around is that they go bad just sitting there. i've had to conciously swap my two 8-cells out every other day, just to take advantage of them. i will say that 10 hours plus is a great at about 5 pounds. that is what two 8-cells plus the 700m is. someone else give me another computer with those status.