Portable PCs use four types of batteries

Portable PCs use four types of batteries

Portable PCs use four types of batteries: alkaline, nickel-cadmium (NiCad), NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride), and Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion). 

The following is a list of their characteristics:

l Alkaline: The same batteries that you commonly rely on for operation of your calculator, TV remote control, and portable tape player. This type of battery is used in some palmtop computers. 

l Nickel Cadmium (NiCad): The most popular and durable type of rechargeable battery. This battery is also the heaviest, yet least expensive, of the portable PC battery types; it is also quick to charge and has a reasonable life of around 700 charge-and-discharge cycles.

l Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH): Unlike NiCad batteries, these batteries are environmentally friendly because they don't contain heavy metals that can be toxic. They also store up to 30 percent more power than NiCad batteries of the same battery weight. Some of the disadvantages of NiMH batteries are that they have a shorter life (around 400 charge-and- discharge cycles) and cost about 30 percent more than NiCad batteries.

l Lithium Ion (Li-Ion or LiON): Very lightweight with a long battery life, this type of battery is made with one of the lightest metals (Lithium) around. LiON batteries hold about twice the power as a NiCad battery in about half the weight, and compared to a NiMH of equal weight, a LiON delivers twice the run time from each charge. This battery type has about the same life cycle as NiCad and NiMH batteries. LiONs are not generally available for all models and are typically more expensive than other battery types. A LiON is probably the best choice of battery for a portable PC--although it can be more expensive than the other choices.