I am a senior in high school and am planning to buy a laptop after the first of the year. I have been considering the Gateway Notebook with Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3200+ Model: 7405GX. I have read the reviews everyone has posted. I am not really into gaming, but I do it sometimes. I don't mind the weight, but what I am worried about is the battery life. If I don't buy another battery, around how long will the life last? Does anyone know? What about if I add a 12-cell battery, how long will just the 12-cell last. Also I am planning going into Meteorology and would like to know if this is a computer that will be upgradable for the next few years. Thanks.

No computer is upgradable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 3 years it will be junk. But in all honesty the 7405 is a great machine. The ONLY single on problem that people hate is the hinge cracking. A newer one will not crack supposedly.

There are no other batteries available for this laptop, the factory one will last 2:30 on max brightness with no power managment. And 3:22 at medium brightness and with power set to laptop.

I got some spares off ebay for only 36 each shipped and they were used. They were however just as good as my new one. N-charge will be coming out with a external battery soon, I would say end of Q1 maybe Q2.