Thinkpads Forum

I have a question with regards to the T400. I see that there are three different battery sizes: 4 cell, 6 cell, and 9 cell. What are the battery lives that I can expect to get from the different sizes? The 9 cell seems like a great option for battery life but it also appear to be quite large. Mobility is important to me and I should normally be around around a outlet at least every couple of hours or so after classes. Any comments would be appreciated.

With integrated graphics and LED screen, I got around 3hr+ on a 4 cell, 5hrs+ on a 6 cell. Based on that I would guess a 9 cell will last 7hr+.

Why not consider an X200 or X200s? Many MBA/law students use these laptops or their predecesors.

Have a look at http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf which has all the battery life & size details.

If you really want battery life. Add in an ultrabay battery to a 9 cell (last page under accessories & upgrades/batteries). However, I've heard that these ultrabay batteries don't last that long over time (and they are expensive to replace).

I'm just about to purchase a t500 once the right discount happens to upgrade from my t43 (which I love, but it is playing up). I decided that the extra screen real estate was worth the minimal difference in size compared to the t400 (especially with long hours of study!).

Staying off topic, which law school are you attending?

I went through law school on a brand-new T20 that ran for all of 2 hours on its battery.

Just get the 6cell, the 9cell feels and looks "wrong" on the T400

But if you carry your computer around all day and don't mind not having the DVD drive, then I suggest you get a x200 instead with 9cell battery.

asiafish wrote:I went through law school on a brand-new T20 that ran for all of 2 hours on its battery.

Nice Work... congratulations asiafish!

My T20 was / is one that I have very fond memories of, using it as my main ThinkPad without a single problem.

Cheers...

archer6 wrote: Nice Work... congratulations asiafish!

My T20 was / is one that I have very fond memories of, using it as my main ThinkPad without a single problem.

Cheers...

I can't wait for my T400 to arrive next week. I ordered it with the 9 cell because looks don't matter. If it really runs for 7 hours or more on the integrated graphics then this is a machine that I can take out the door in the morning, use all day and leave the AC adapter at the office. I will buy an ultrabay battery as well, for my semi-annual trans-Pacific flight and for use at conferences and the like where I need all-day computing and then some. I used to do that on an X41 with 8 cell AND expansion battery, but never got more than 7 hours combined.

I will also buy the four cell for routine court days. Normally, I open the laptop for perhaps 30 minutes at each hearing to access my calendar and another hour while waiting in the coffee shop before court. A four cell is more than up to such use, and will travel better than anything short of an X series.

Of course, unlike an X series, when I travel I can switch to discreet graphics and play a few hours of Mass Effect, Crysis or Fallout 3 in the hotel.

asiafish wrote:I went through law school on a brand-new T20 that ran for all of 2 hours on its battery.

We must have been in school at about the same time. I had a different strategy though. I bought a used machine then upgraded every year. In my three years I went through a 560E, a 560X, and finally a 570. I think each of the machines ran about $250-$350, so I came out ahead a little. Of course your T20 blows any of mine out of the water!

I went through law school on a brand-new T20 that ran for all of 2 hours on its battery.

This is way off topic, but you make me feel old. I went through law school on coffee, Parker Pens and legal pads.

Lots of lawyers here.

I wish I could have had something like this T400 (arrived today). To be able to run through an entire day of class without recharging, with wireless internet, wow, you kids have it good.

I just finished law school and I'm really glad I had bought a T400 last year. I bought the 9-cell battery and it is great - I can keep my PC on for 6+ hours without needing to be around an outlet, and it is very portable. On a side note, the notebook is very business-oriented, so it will look very professional if you end up interning at a firm during the summer.

jdbuckeye2009 wrote:I just finished law school and I'm really glad I had bought a T400 last year. I bought the 9-cell battery and it is great - I can keep my PC on for 6+ hours without needing to be around an outlet, and it is very portable. On a side note, the notebook is very business-oriented, so it will look very professional if you end up interning at a firm during the summer.

That's a pretty big if given this economy...

Do any of you have special cases to accommodate and protect the battery bulge? I ordered my T400 with the 4 cell battery, not to save money, but I was afraid that using 6 or more cells would increase the chance of hardware failure. I can see the bulge sticking out the back of the laptop making it more susceptible to damage, even in a case.