I'm debating about whether or not I should buy a

[Jonpole]

I'm debating about whether or not I should buy a spare battery so I could swap during standby. However, the high price tag on the external battery charger and the extra battery seems to make me just want to find a power plug when I'm at school. Anyone have any experience with using multiple batteries?

[WNewquay]

Jonpole,

There is a lengthy discussion about this here:

http://tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic....hTerms=valence

quote:Originally posted by Jonpole

I'm debating about whether or not I should buy a spare battery so I could swap during standby. However, the high price tag on the external battery charger and the extra battery seems to make me just want to find a power plug when I'm at school. Anyone have any experience with using multiple batteries?

[Jonpole]

Thanks. Looks like the consensus is to get an extra internal battery and tell HP that they've gotta lower the price of the external charger because none of us are buying it at that price. = )

[WNewquay]

Jonpole,

I may be a dissenting voice in that consensus.

I use a couple of Valence batteries, (Electrovaya also has something similar).

A couple of benefits.

These batteries are relatively generic and I can use them in several different devices (ThinkPads, TC1100, M200, cell phone etc.)

When I move to a new machine, I can probably still use the same external batteries.

These are bigger and a little heavier, but no difficult to pack around because of their shape. (pretty much the same dimensions as a Tablet PC - except thinner). The higher capacity means that I don't have to think about "managing" the battery life if I am going to be running for more than 6 or 7 hours. I can easily run 8 to 12 or more.

I can charge the external batteries using the power supply from the Tablet PC - and I can do this while running the Tablet PC. This means that I don't have to swap batteries around to charge them. This just means less planning is required to be sure that I have lots of power to spare.

The external batteries are not that much more expensive than replacement internal ones.

In summary

• I get all the functionality you would have with an extra internal battery plus an external charger
• with higher capacity
• I'm not tied to having spent the money on accessories that I might not be able to use with the next Tablet PC.

[robdam]

quote:Originally posted by Jonpole

I'm debating about whether or not I should buy a spare battery so I could swap during standby. However, the high price tag on the external battery charger and the extra battery seems to make me just want to find a power plug when I'm at school. Anyone have any experience with using multiple batteries?

I had ordered an extra batery for my 1100 but I have since cancelled the order when HP informed me that it would be another 3-4 weeks until wold be receiving delivery of the battery. Instead, I invested $66 in the "IGo Juice" power system. Works great - in stock - and less expensive than my initial solution.

[Jonpole]

I was about to order an internal battery and now I can't decide. = P

[first_of_many]

There are some batteries on e-bay: http://tinyurl.com/2zckd I am going to try one. I only need a spare maybe once or twice a month, but it will be handy when I do need it... And hopefully lighter and neater than carrying a charger or other setup.

[first_of_many]

There are some batteries on e-bay: http://tinyurl.com/2zckd I am going to try one. I only need a spare maybe once or twice a month, but it will be handy when I do need it... And hopefully lighter and neater than carrying a charger or other setup.

[Jonpole]

I believe I'm going to settle on the internal battery w/o the external charger. I plan on keeping the TC1100 for at least a year and I wouldn't want to carry around a Valence or an Electrovaya PowerPad solely because they're really big horizontally.

[kvyoung]

I'm using an Electrovaya Power Pad which gives me roughly 12 hours of run time. I picked up a cheap day-timer type organizer, removed the binder rings and attached velcro strips to the organizer and cover that came with my docking station. The Power Pad slips neatly in to a pocket in the organizer and I run the cord from it to the TC1100. The organizer will accommodate the power pad, TC1100 and keyboard and gives me a portable office I can use all day where ever I happen to be. I tend to leave the keyboard behind for day trips and it is great not to have to lug around a power supply and search out a plug-in. The power pad is about the exact same size as the TC's keyboard. They are a little pricey but the extended use is fantastic.