Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For anyone needing extra time from their current battery, February 17, 2007
The APC model number is UPB70, so that is how I will refer to it here.
The UPB70 is thin and lightweight, about the size and heft of a National Geographic magazine. It is covered in a very pleasant-feeling non-skid coating, which is beneficial since the preferred usage is to sit your notebook on it. The back is slightly higher than the front, which helps with the typing angle.
Under my ultraportable 10.6" Sony Vaio TR1, the computer is smaller than the battery, so the battery sticks out about 1 inch on all sides. This is not a problem; the battery becomes like a carrying tray.
Under my 15.4" standard size Gateway MX6453, the computer is larger than the battery by about 1" on each side. This makes it awkward if you go to pick up the notebook/UPB70 system as one unit. It is best to use two hands.
This leads to one of my minor nitpicks with the system. It is unwieldly and a bit unsafe to move the system when a larger notebook is on top of the battery. The solution, though is simple: Use a couple of strips of Velcro! This way, you can pick up the notebook/battery system as one unit. Attach so the hard bristly side is on the UPB70 and the soft fuzzy side is on the underside of your notebook. The soft Velcro will be a non-scratch "foot" for your computer, when you are not using the UPB70 battery underneath.
The only other minor nitpick is that the power cable from the UPB70 to the notebook is about 18" too long (at least, when the notebook is right on top of the UPB70). But a cable tie will tame the cable so it is out of the way.
The UPB70 outputs 4 voltages: 15, 16, 19 and 20 volts. The included compatibility chart lists which one to use with your notebook. Note that if you change the voltage selection switch, you must press the round silver Status button on the UPB70 so the unit is reset for the new voltage.
The UPB70 comes with 8 different tip adapter sets. This is a definite plus since this allows you to fit it to many different notebooks. (Some other power systems come with only one tip set, so you would have to buy additional sets at around $10 each. This is both expensive and inconvenient if you have more than one notebook in the house or office.)
Not sure if it is compatible with your notebook? Visit APC's site and search for the product. [...].
Note that the UPB70 does NOT come with its own charger. You use the AC power supply that came with your notebook to charge the UPB70. (This is one reason for having the 8 tip sets. You select the correct type of tip that allows your power supply to plug into the UPB70.)
Helpful hint: If you use more than one notebook, make a label for the underside of the UPB70 that lists each notebook's name, voltage, and tip adapter set. Mine reads "Gateway 19v B/b, SonyTR 16v E/e". This way you don't have to travel with the compatibility chart; just look at the label.
You can keep the UPB70 attached to your notebook at all times if you want. Plugging in your power supply to the UPB70 will "pass-through" power to the notebook.
Indicator lights show the charge status in 4 increments (25-50-75-100%); this is very useful.
There is a handy USB connector so you can charge or run devices which need standard 5-volt USB power.
As for runtime, this can vary widely. It depends on your notebook's power draw. If you have an ultraportable that's designed for long battery life, the UPB70 could add up to 6 additional hours. But if you have a standard 15.4" business computer doing office-type work, the extra time could be 2-3 hours. A very rough guide for most people (those whose notebooks did not come with hulking-large 12-cell extended life battery packs!) is "whatever battery time you are getting now, double it."
If you need even more time, APC makes a 90 watt-hour version
In summary, I would highly recommend this product. It is especially useful if you own a number of notebooks, some of which are so old that their batteries don't hold a charge for very long. The UPB70 will give them "new life", and having all the tips makes it easy to switch between notebooks (just don't lose the tips!).
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Extra Laptop Battery For The Pragmatic, December 6, 2006
I had originally bought this to bring to Uganda, which is currently facing a power crisis. Usually, there will be a day with power--with sudden outages interspersed throughout--and the subsequent day will be without power. After a year of living like this, my laptop battery (for a Lenovo R40) conked out and I was in dire need of a replacement.
Instead of paying $150 to buy a new laptop-specific battery, I bought this universal battery--in the event that my laptop was stolen, I could use the battery for another laptop. Final price was $144, bought at Best Buy.
Battery does what it's supposed to. Lasts a bit longer than three hours, and can last a bit more if you lower the power settings on your laptop. Will last less when you are playing a DVD in your laptop. The weight is comparable to any laptop-specific battery.
Four stars are given instead of five because of its bulky design. If you don't place the battery underneath your laptop, its footprint is about as big as the laptop itself, and takes up that much more room on your desk.
A big plus are the LED indicator lights, telling you how much power you have left in the battery. Extremely helpful--especially since your computer can't gauge the power level for you.
If your laptop battery is of questionable quality--as Lenovo's are, then this is certainly recommended.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not compatible with latest HP laptops, February 7, 2008
This battery comes with interchangeable tips to make it compatible with almost all laptops out there. Unfortunately, HP changed the power jack for the their newest laptops (dv2000 and dv6000)... APC doesn't have a jack adapters for these models... I bought the battery back when I had a dv5000 and was assured by the APC that they were going to keep producing new jacks as new laptops hit the market... I've called APC several times and they don't seem to have any plan to release an adapter for this laptop.
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