NEW Battery Tip - Applicable to some T, X, R models and batteries [ Edited ]

[palmerhg]

Why do so many Thinkpad X60/s users write you emails about their batteries?

On a business note.  It might seem expensive for Lenovo to replace all those defective batteries.  But like the expert on public relations said today about that golfer who screwed up: he appears to be following what his lawyers are telling him and saying nothing.  The rumor mills are churning.  The golfer stands to loose big time with his endorsements.   Lenovo stands to loose big time by not recognizing there is a problem.  Two great products, two potential mistakes in public relations.

[junvelasco]

This is another report about battery FRU 42T4506 (I have X61 laptop, which I use in exam rooms when seeing patients) which has been acting weird lately, battery drains right away, once off the power cord, the run time on battery is less than an hour even after 100% charged. I just happened to find this posting and wanted for Lenovo to be made aware of this as well. However, it seems they are not responding; I have not seen Mark the administrator reply in a while. Does anybody have any other ideas on how to deal with this issue, aside from not buying any more products from Lenovo?

[hjnormey]

I feel I must pitch in my two cents on this (and I speak only of my particular case): Lenovo -is acknowledging- the problem and is taking steps to resolve it...

I am beginning to think that, as is usual in large entities, certain call centers, or support people or what not might not yet have got word of how to best deal with this, ie. word might not have percolated throughout...

... BUT I know of several folks on this forum that have received direct replies from the house and are in touch to try and mend things.-

In my particular case, Lenovo -did- follow through and did respond adequately.-

(Even when strictly outside of warranty and/or recall) ...

So credit where due.-

[mcmetrox]

I have to welcome myself in the club of a strange battery dead.

I own a x61 Tablet and the battery died within 8hours. I worked with the battery on tuesday evening without any problems and on wednesday morning the tablet wasn't able to start with the battery. I pluged in the AC-Powersupply and the power manager told me that the battery is loaded to 37%, unable to charge because of an irreparable damage and i have to replace it.

The FRU p/n is 93P5032. So the number is not on the list, but i've read a lot of post about batteries with this fru-number and problem.

It's seems that this problem isn't really based on the normal deterioration of this part.

I would be delighted if anybody from the support could give a statement about the problem.

Sorry for my (bad) english.

[junvelasco]

Thanks hjnormey for a reassuring response. But my point is that there are people here who posted having problems with their batteries which are not part of the recall, although the problems described are very similar to those batteries which are being recalled/replaced.

I have a 3 year extended warranty (purchased 9/07) but when I checked it does not cover the battery. I have placed a service request thru Lenovo yesterday (very, very confusing by the way, as it forwards you to an IBM website where you have to register again, and when I checked the status of my inquiry it states that I called them which I did not) and so far I'm not sure if they are even going to respond to it.

I am confused but hopeful that Lenovo can still rectify the issues with these batteries (I purchased the 8-cell battery to be able to use the laptop for more than 2 hours after being fully charged).

[hjnormey]

Happy to have shed some light!

(And, again, my battery was not strictly part of the recall either, nor within warranty...)

If I were to judge from what I've seen, posting here is the single most effective thing to do...

[junvelasco]

Just wanted to update anyone who is interested about my battery, FRU 42T4506, mfg date 9/07. I just got off the phone from IBM support, and was told my extended warranty expired coverage for the battery last year, and I will just simply have to buy a replacement. The person (based in Atlanta) I spoke with said "it is normal for the battery to degrade at 2 years if you leave the power cord plugged in overnight; I've seen cases where it does not even last a year." So his solution is to buy a new battery, and don't leave it plugged in overnight, and just try to charge it during the day (right!, when I'm seeing patients)?@#$! I was just blown away by that comment, because that's the only time I can charge the laptop, as I use it all day in seeing patients in exam rooms (and that's the very reason I went for the 8 cell battery). I did point out to him the several posts on this subject at this very own forum. Oh well, I don't expect Lenovo to step up to this one. This is my first lenovo laptop (I have a 5 yr old SONY-still holds charge by the way even if I've always left it plugged in all the time, and 2 yr old HP) and is certainly the last. Good luck to the other guys. So long and advance Happy Holidays.

[iyogee]

I agree ... this is the most expensive and worst quality electronic product I have ever purchased. My 7 year old Dell laptop batteries still hold good charge, even if they are not turned on or plugged in for months.

I decided to buy a $48 AGPtEK battery from Ebay, rather than risking $180 on Lenovo. It was a good decision, because the new compatible battery was faulty, but atleast the Ebay retailer was nice enough to offer replacement or return. So long ....Lenovo

[palmerhg]

My IBM X60s Thinkpad is well made and disagree with the post that says it is not.

On one post someone said:

In my particular case, Lenovo -did- follow through and did respond adequately.-

(Even when strictly outside of warranty and/or recall) ...

Not sure why you got taken care of and I did not when I am a long time user and proponent of Thinkpads.  My battery was part of the recall but was not was older than 1 yr and was refused to be exchanged.  Then, all of a sudden, my BATTERY DIED.  Totally unlike any NiCad or Lithium Batteries in our stable.

So, why are some get a 'adequate response' when others were probably due same and did not?

Oh yea, that golfer now stands to loose much more than if he first 'ponied up'  to the problem.

[hjnormey]

Indeed, I must say the X Series (and, by extension, Thinkpads) -are- well made machines ...

(We would not be here if they weren't, at least on first impression, often confirmed through years of trouble-free computing...)

And, yes, after two X61s, a 3000 N200 and (coming up, with any luck) an IdeaPad in the space of a year or so, I -can- speak to why one would go with the house, Lenovo being what it is...

... and this -might- have to do with what I felt was indeed an "adequate response", which I alluded to earlier.-

Although the "right thing" remains "the right thing" to do, regardless of particulars.-

And this "right thing" rightly done, now has me considering the Q110 thin clients for deployment at some site, where a different reaction (or lack of it) would have me having, in conscience, to recommend better support as provided elsewhere...

Better support, nothing to say about quality itself, as a battery recall is just that: A big issue with a critical component affecting lots of people...

... but saying nothing about -product quality- per se, as another participant said earlier.-

Wrong supplier at the wrong time.-

And you get to disgruntle a lot of folks ...

(Further, add to it that, often, the folks manning the more "traditional" support channels seem to be a bit more "out of touch" with the reality of things than would be advisable, and you got a recipe for disaster...)

I can, and will continue to claim, however, that the forum appears to be the best way of going about complaining...