"Compatible" battery - a viable alternative?

[Nickolai]

I am going to buy an X series laptop that is not new (something like X31) and expect batteries to be in bad shape.
Because battery life is very important for me, I was planning to get battery to the local repair company and have the cells replaced. If all goes well, I may get extra old battery and rig it too, so that my notebook will always have enough runway for long trips.
Alternatively, I see many cheap batteries on eBay that are not in fact genuine IBM batteries, but "compatible" batteries, like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0215453521

Is it safe to use them instead? How good are they?

UPDATE:
I have updated the link. It should work now.
(here's old link:)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Battery-f ... dZViewItem

[ryengineer]

Can't guaranty safety: After the thinkpad exploded.

[chocorem]

link does not work for me ??

[Nickolai]

So, do you advise to only use original batteries? The batteries like that seem to be majority of offerings on eBay for some of the models of laptops. So I wonder, can't I use them? Do you? Or, to put it the other way: which is better - to buy new batteries like that or to rig the old ones in a company that professionally repairs batteries?

I have updated the link, it should work now (scroll down to see the item)

[chocorem]

personaly, I tried some "replacement Battery" 2 times and I won't do that again ... The battery Life was going down very very fast !
After 6 - 12 Months when the battery were dead, I openned them and saw a very simple and undprofessional Charge and protection circuit. The cells were panasonic cells, but they weren't managed properly.

So personaly, I won't go to cheap chinese replacement battery again...

Cells changing can be tricky, because the weldings are very complicated to do ...

Don't look over the additional 50 USD and buy an original Battery ...

[Nickolai]

personaly, I tried some "replacement Battery" 2 times and I won't do that again ... The battery Life was going down very very fast !
After 6 - 12 Months when the battery were dead, I openned them and saw a very simple and undprofessional Charge and protection circuit. The cells were panasonic cells, but they weren't managed properly.

So personaly, I won't go to cheap chinese replacement battery again...

Thank you for sharing your experience. I will stay away from "replacement batteries". But maybe I can give it a try and repair original batteries in a local company.

Cells changing can be tricky, because the weldings are very complicated to do ...

When looking for used laptop here in St.-Petersburg I've been advised of a local company that specializes in battery repair (they replace the cells)

Don't look over the additional 50 USD and buy an original Battery ...

Okay, but you know if I choose an old notebook (like X31 or X40) I doubt I will find any original batteries for it, and if I do - I doubt they are not new and good...