April 7th, 2009 | 
Author: BatteryGuy says:
If you need to keep your laptop computer plugged in to its AC adapter to keep your laptop running, it probably means that your laptop's battery is dying. If that's the case, then it's time for you to start looking for a replacement laptop battery. The error that most people make is thinking that the computer's manufacturer is the only place to get a battery and they end up paying more than they have to. However, when the see that the manufacturer charges an extremely high price for their laptop batteries they start to look elsewhere.
Computer manufacturers charge a large premium for all of their laptop replacement parts, and this is most evident in their battery pricing structure. They usually charge anywhere from $100 to $250 for the replacement battery that specs out the same as the one originally supplied. This is bad enough, but sometimes laptop batteries for older computers are not even offered by the OEM company. Many people then decide to buy generic replacement laptop batteries due to the lower cost and availability. But is an aftermarket battery as good as an original battery from the manufacturer?
The short answer to that is that it usually is. The primary things to consider when replacing a laptop battery are the amperage and the voltage ratings. The best place to find this information is on the AC adapter that you use to charge your battery. The primary concern in replacing a laptop battery is its physical shape, so when you find a generic battery make sure that it says that it will fit your notebook PC. That is obvious. However, as far as the electrical specifications go, the voltage is also a critical concern. Generally, you must use a replacement battery at or near the same voltage rating. The amperage rating is a lot more flexible when looking at replacement batteries because this indicates the amount of charge that the battery will hold. So when you need to replace your laptop battery, look to upgrade it with a higher amperage rated battery.
So to expand on the orginal question; YES...replacement laptop batteries from other companies are USUALLY as good as the OEM battery. But use some common sense in this approach. Some batteries are cheaply made and if you find one for ten dollars proceed with caution. However, generic replacement laptop batteries can usually be found for approximately half the cost of an original battery. Just make sure when you buy a replacement laptop battery that it comes with a guarantee. When you receive the battery, make sure that you follow the charging instructions for your battery and that it is fully charged and functions properly with your laptop computer's power management software utility.
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