Since getting my Advent 4213 it has become invaluable for work on the move. Sometimes though it runs out of juice at the most frustrating times. Not any more thanks to the Extended 6600Ma-h battery from ultimate-netbook.
Portability is becoming more and more important these days and the need for a mobile office suite to accompany a mobile life is the holy grail for many. With this in mind there have been a multitude of mobile devices released promising to fill this void.
Now we all know that the majority of the time Windows Mobile fits the bill nicely with net access and office functions such as calendar, email, word processing etc… Sometimes though you can be left wanting a little more and for me this is where the netbook comes in.
Small enough to be discreetly portable yet powerful enough to take on more complex tasks and with the arrival of mobile broadband I’m pretty much set. The only downside for me was battery life that is until I was given the opportunity to try out the new extended 6600Ma-h battery for the Advent 4212/4213.
For your delectation photographs are thumbnails which may be clicked on to load a larger image.
Thanks go out to the guys at Ultimate-Netbook.com for providing us with a review sample.
Rechargeable and removable Extended 6600 mAh 11.1V Li-ion Easy installation CE APPROVED Black Weight 435g
In the box
The battery arrived packed inside an anti-static bag surrounded by a made to measure foam insert placed inside a cardboard sleeve as detailed in the picture.
It won’t be getting damaged in there that’s for sure.
Size matters!
By their very nature many extended batteries on modern devices add a vast amount of bulk which makes the devices unsightly. With this battery however I feel it has not had that effect but in fact the opposite.
For me it has improved the netbook as it gives the body an elevated back end which makes the gradient of the keyboard more pleasant for typing. Whether on a table on the train or on your lap on the bus it just feels more comfortable. Sure it’s slightly heavier than the original but in terms of carrying the device around it’s not really noticeable.
For those who are after the measurements the original 2200Ma-h battery weighs in at 175g. The extended battery is 435g and 6600Ma-h so you get three times the power for around two and a half times the weight.
You may need to treat yourself to a new sleeve if you use one for your netbook, I didn’t but it depends on how tight a fit your current sleeve is.
Quality
Is it any good?
The quick answer is yes but the important answer is how so?
My original 2200Ma-h battery just didn’t give me enough battery life for a full days use no matter how minimal that would be, half an hour on the bus in the morning followed by a couple of hours at work would leave me running out by home time. This meant that among the other various things I needed to take out in my bag I also had to take the charger. Now I know the charger is not heavy but like all things that possess a long cable or two by the end of an hours bus journey they would be nicely tangled around everything else.
The extended battery however lasts between 6-7 hours depending on what you are doing. Bye Bye cables and welcome back sanity.
Something else worth noting is the increased standby time. With the original battery I found that if I had an hour left and I just shut the lid, popped it in my bag and went on a few errands within a couple of hours when I came to open up the netbook for reuse I would have used about half the remaining battery power. Now I can charge up the netbook and get almost two full days use out of the it only turning the netbook off over night which means during the day I don’t have to wait for it to boot up before use.
Is the extended battery right for you?
For me the price is very reasonable but it does depend on how you use your netbook. If you use your netbook for surfing on the sofa at home then the extended battery is probably not for you but if, like me, using the netbook in the field is an integral part of your working day you will use the battery every day and that’s where it shows its true value.
At time of press the battery was £69.99 including vat.
As I say I’ve had it three weeks and wouldn’t be without it now. Spread that cost over a year it doesn’t even come to 20p per day.
Pros
Good increase in usage time Good increase in standby time Nicely styled to fit in with the netbook Rubber feet reduce slip Makes the typing angle better Reduces the amount of cables you carry
Cons
Increases the machines bulk Increases the devices weight
Conclusion
The Extended battery for the Advent 4212/4213 is an excellent accompaniment to the netbook and for me a must have. It depends on how you use your netbook as to whether or not you need the extra battery life. Still when has need ever been a factor in increasing the capabilities of your latest gadget?
For the person who has everything it would make an ideal birthday or Valentine's day present.
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Certified Windows Mobile Specialist 2009
HTC HD2 Rom: WM 6.5.3
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i've been in meetings at 4 different pkaces today each involving public transport in between and managed to type up proposals and minutes in between each one and still have three hours life left
Rechargeable and removable
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