Ask Our Experts: The Best Battery Options

Should I go with an extended-life battery or choose an external laptop battery for my notebook PC?

David Dively, Shelbyville, Kentucky

As a frequent flier, I would snag an internal extended-life battery. They're easier to stow and harder to lose. Plus, new Department of Transportation rules let you carry aboard with you multiple internal notebook batteries (which are typically rated at less than 100 watt-hours and fewer than 8 grams of equivalent lithium content); you're allowed only two "larger" lithium batteries--DOT's term for external laptop batteries. You can no longer check in lithium-ion batteries with your luggage at all. Regrettably, there's no "magic bullet" equation for determining a laptop battery's life, whether internal or external, according to IDC analyst Richard Shim. If battery life is a concern for you, buy a notebook known to have lengthy staying power. Some ultraportables support a battery life of up to 8 hours.

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