Here's a thing that's gotten out of hand: replacement batteries that don't work quite right and don't fit quite right. This one is reaching epidemic proportions. The one I'm looking at is a generic thing with a label that says: Replace 312-0366 312-0416 For Inspiron 1300/B120/B130, Li-ion 11.1V 4800mAh.
Whatever that means ....
Problem with this battery is that when it is brand new, it works as it should (charges, runs, etc.), except that when it's fully charged and your charger is kept plugged in, it causes the charging LED on your DELL Inspiron 1300/B120/B130 and Latitude 120L to blink amber, or orange (instead of charge light being off, which is what your laptop should do with a fully-charged DELL battery). An amber/orange blinking charge light is essentially saying that your battery is dead. But then if you hit F2 on startup and go into the DELL BIOS, the DELL BIOS will report back that it is working normally.
So ... working normally, but with a blinking amber charge light that insists that the battery is dead, but with a BIOS battery status that insists that the battery is healthy. So ... which is it? It's annoying as hell, and you should either reject it or ask for a steep discount because ... hey, it ain't made right, which makes you wonder what else about this battery ain't made right. Is it gonna be a fire hazard?
The other problem - a pretty minor one - with these replacement batteries is that they don't fit perfectly. The original DELL batteries for these models will be set flush with the bottom case, something that NONE (0%) of the replacement batteries will do. You can easily tell just by doing a visual of your laptop with the replacement battery installed - the bottom ain't flush, and the darn thing looks like a crooked door. It's minor, but again, why can't these battery manufacturers do anything right?
Lastly, I haven't encountered this yet, but I'm sure I will pretty soon: somebody across the Pacific is gonna slap a counterfeit DELL label on these things and try to get double the price out of each sale by passing these things off as "GENUINE DELL" batteries - if that hasn't happened already. I'm willing to bet my life on it.
So ... how about it? How about if you and I get together and demand perfection? I mean ... gimme a friggin' break! These guys can't even make the battery case right (not flush), and to add insult to injury, they screwed up the circuit board, too (causing the blinking amber/orange charge light). How much do you wanna bet that these batteries won't last a year? I can tell you right now: they won't last a year.
Drop me a comment if you're seeing the same thing as I am. As users, we need to band together cause I'm sick and tired of these half-arsed, somewhat-working products. I'm willing to pay extra for products that are credible, but not for this!
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