Should I buy a non-OEM laptop battery?

[RoyBiggins]

I have a Toshiba laptop, and the battery isn't holding much of a charge anymore.  I don't wanna spend $100 for a new battery if a generic one is gonna do the trick.  Anyone have any experience with that?

[dieblucasdie]

for something like a battery it really doesn't matter.

A lot of old batteries have recalls out on them, though.  Take a look at Toshiba's website; you never know, might get it for free.

[RoyBiggins]

You know what's funny?  I thought that Toshiba stopped letting people ship recalled batteries back to them.  But when you said that, I decided "Wait--there's no way they can do that, is there?"

Anyway, ten minutes later and they're sending me a new battery.  Now let's hope the old one doesn't explode within the next 4-6 weeks.

[RoyBiggins]

Also, the huge number of recalled batteries in the last 2 years is how come I was curious about the generic batteries. 

The other thing I was thinking when I asked the question was that lots of the time, stuff (blank DVDs, for example) is just made by a couple manufacturers and rebranded by Sony or whoever.

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, I don't know if that's the case with batteries, but it wouldn't surprise me.
And still, a battery's a battery.

[andronicus]

Non-OEM batteries are most likely going to be reman/refurb.  So it's the same battery just the exhaustible components are replaced.  Any time you buy something that is like that the likelihood of problems are going to be greater, so buying non-OEM is fine if you're replacing a component on an older system, but not so good if it's new or especially (!) if it's under warranty.

I mean, I guess Biggins doesn't need this advice anymore, but in case anyone else was wondering.

You're definitely right though people come into my work all the time all, "OH EXCUSE ME SIR DO YOU WORK HERE OH I DIDNT SEE THE SIX INCH NAME BADGE ON YOUR CHEST WELL RICHARD THAT"S YOUR NAME RIGHT I READ IT RIGHT OFF YOUR BADGE THAT"S FUNNY I KNOW YOUR NAME BUT YOU DONT KNOW MINE SO RICHARD I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THE BEST BRAND OF DVDS IS".  me: 'whatever's on sale.  it's all made in the same factory in malaysia anyway.'

[FreddyKnuckles]

some dvd-rs don't work in certain dvd players.  Maybe you should try recommending a brand that is more universally compatible rather than being a snarky asshole

(I'm kidding, I want your balls)

[dieblucasdie]

that's usually an issue between DVD-R and DVD-RW.  I don't think there are any where brand matters.

[FreddyKnuckles]

I know for a fact I've had specific difficulties with different brands of dvdrs

[andronicus]

It's true there's more than one factory, but 1. you have way of knowing what batch branded x comes from what factory and 2. even though there's more than one factory, they're still all pretty much equally shitty. 

In your case it's most likely a shitty dvd player though, Freddy.

[dieblucasdie]

yeah I'm pretty sure he's thinking of the PS2 DVD player which, yes, shittiest of the shitty.

[elpollodiablo]

You're definitely right though people come into my work all the time all, "OH EXCUSE ME SIR DO YOU WORK HERE OH I DIDNT SEE THE SIX INCH NAME BADGE ON YOUR CHEST WELL RICHARD THAT"S YOUR NAME RIGHT I READ IT RIGHT OFF YOUR BADGE THAT"S FUNNY I KNOW YOUR NAME BUT YOU DONT KNOW MINE SO RICHARD I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THE BEST BRAND OF DVDS IS".  me: 'whatever's on sale.  it's all made in the same factory in malaysia anyway.'

I've pretty much refused to wear my name tag at work for about a year now. I wear it when the corporate brass comes around, but there's nothing more humiliating than having some fucking strange yuppie walk up to you and all patronizing be like "Hello Miles. How are we today Miles?"

[diesel_powered]

I know for a fact I've had specific difficulties with different brands of dvdrs

Most of the time it's either an older DVD player (they used to play either DVD-R or DVD+R but not both, even older ones don't play them period.) Other than that, it's usually a bad run of discs. They crank those fuckers out by the bajillion, so by the time somebody realizes the batch is bad, some have usually made it off the line and into packaging.

[milesofsparks]

http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#4.3.5

[andronicus]

You're definitely right though people come into my work all the time all, "OH EXCUSE ME SIR DO YOU WORK HERE OH I DIDNT SEE THE SIX INCH NAME BADGE ON YOUR CHEST WELL RICHARD THAT"S YOUR NAME RIGHT I READ IT RIGHT OFF YOUR BADGE THAT"S FUNNY I KNOW YOUR NAME BUT YOU DONT KNOW MINE SO RICHARD I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THE BEST BRAND OF DVDS IS".  me: 'whatever's on sale.  it's all made in the same factory in malaysia anyway.'

I've pretty much refused to wear my name tag at work for about a year now. I wear it when the corporate brass comes around, but there's nothing more humiliating than having some fucking strange yuppie walk up to you and all patronizing be like "Hello Miles. How are we today Miles?"

Dude at least you don't have to wear a Secret Service-style earpiece with which your boss and any other annoying co-worker can YELL INTO YOUR EAR AT ANY TIME.  Seriously. 

We do talk some hilarious shit about customers over the radios though. 

[heather marie]

Remind me to tell everyone about the time I picked up the phone at Michaels, swore I dialed the Cash Office extension and instead I leaned into the intercom, so my entire conversation with the person from the Cash Office was on the intercom and I was like "MAN THAT LADY WAS A GIANT FUCKING CUNTFACE" or something similar. THAT was awesome.

[jebreject]

how did you keep your job

[jebreject]

i mean, jon got fired for less than that

[heather marie]

The store was pretty empty and my manager generally said worse than that, and either no customers actually NOTICED or nobody said anything. Y'know, craft store, old ladies are busy hiding in the yarn or something?

I actually miss that job, now that I think about it.

[Good Intentions]

You're definitely right though people come into my work all the time all, "OH EXCUSE ME SIR DO YOU WORK HERE OH I DIDNT SEE THE SIX INCH NAME BADGE ON YOUR CHEST WELL RICHARD THAT"S YOUR NAME RIGHT I READ IT RIGHT OFF YOUR BADGE THAT"S FUNNY I KNOW YOUR NAME BUT YOU DONT KNOW MINE SO RICHARD I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THE BEST BRAND OF DVDS IS".  me: 'whatever's on sale.  it's all made in the same factory in malaysia anyway.'

I've pretty much refused to wear my name tag at work for about a year now. I wear it when the corporate brass comes around, but there's nothing more humiliating than having some fucking strange yuppie walk up to you and all patronizing be like "Hello Miles. How are we today Miles?"

You see, at my job people stare at my name badge, and then tiptoe around calling me on my name.

[coldforge]

I don't wear no stinkin' badges!

[Greg Nog]

OH I DIDNT SEE THE SIX INCH NAME BADGE ON YOUR CHEST WELL RICHARD THAT"S YOUR NAME RIGHT I READ IT RIGHT OFF YOUR BADGE THAT"S FUNNY I KNOW YOUR NAME BUT YOU DONT KNOW MINE

having some fucking strange yuppie walk up to you and all patronizing be like "Hello Miles. How are we today Miles?"

Occasionally, when people did that to me at the Olive Garden, I would just sigh like they'd made a really common mistake, and say "That's not my name," and then change the subject real quick so they couldn't ask any follow-up questions.

[elpollodiablo]

The store was pretty empty and my manager generally said worse than that, and either no customers actually NOTICED or nobody said anything. Y'know, craft store, old ladies are busy hiding in the yarn or something?

I actually miss that job, now that I think about it.

That's like the first positive thing I've ever heard you say about that job, ever