Should I get a 6-cell or 9-cell when I buy a new battery?

[keithsketchley]

I am building a list of probably useable p/ns, having to be wary as usual, examples:
- Circa 2006 Lenovo’s battery listing was in error with little chance of getting it corrected by the bureaucracies. They shipped me a battery that was for a different computer than my basic x41. (They accepted it back for refund, but had no ability to find the correct p/n, so I had to buy one from a store.)
- I expect the probability of confusing the batteries for basic x41 and tablet version is high, with people who do not have them in their hands.
- A Lenovo Canada listing in 2007 claimed the 73P5167 4-cell battery is designed to fit the x4 Dock. Well, no, the Dock is designed to accommodate the extra length of the 8-cell battery which projects beyond the computer case, the dock has space for the extra length plus a re-positionable cover over the gap to accommodate various batteries, and fits either basic or Tablet x41 models. What is very significant (not stated but visible in the accompanying photo) is that the 73P5167 and 73P5168 (8-cell) have substantial differences in geometry to fit the Tablet model (which those web page listings were for).
- The “lezinn” company lists both 4 and 8-cell batteries as replaceable by its p/n 8-cell battery LIBX40 from which is not strictly true due weight considerations. (They list some p/ns twice, which I guess is better than omitting them.)

Can anyone advise what the "Extended battery support bracket" 26R8173 listed in the HMM for the Tablet x41 is? It is not illustrated.

It appears that the Extended Life (wedge) battery fits x40, x41 basic, and x41 Tablet but not x6x series (looks similar in general, but different connector location and cutaway in one corner).

There is a thread either on this forum or Lenovo’s in which someone claims to have used a battery for the Tablet model in a basic model x41 by removing the connector keying tabs (it sticks out and has a gap but connects and works).

Does anyone have experience using the “Battery charger II” to charge these batteries?

[keithsketchley]

Actually, the wierd phenomena may be simply that it takes a little while for a dead battery to be charged up enough that the computer will recognize it - I observed that the power-ready light on the outside of the lid was not illuminated after the computer shut down due crashed battery, but somewhat later it was then later yet when I tried to start the computer it did.

All from very little data, I don't know, trying several things may be worth the effort - patience is a virtue?