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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 11 reviews
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Product summary
The good: No extra AC adapter needed (uses your laptop's power cord); recharges the laptop's native battery while powering the notebook; can also power other devices; excellent manual.
The bad: Large footprint; replacement adapter cables are expensive.
The bottom line: Valence's three-pound external battery is one of the best, delivering lots of life and some unique options.
Specifications: Weight: 3.1 lbs See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 04/05/2004
For an external battery, the VNC-130 has a large, 0.6-by-11.8-by-9.1-inch footprint, making it less convenient to tote than a smaller battery. However, the Valence doesn't need its own AC adapter, because it uses your laptop's AC power cord. Thus, the travel weight stays a low 3.3 pounds--a pound lighter than the Hi-Capacity SmartPad 90's travel weight. With a rating of up to 130WHr, the VNC-130 carries less capacity than the lighter Electrovaya PowerPad 160, but it can handle a commendable 600 recharges before starting to lose capacity.
Almost 400 laptops are compatible with the VNC-130, which connects to your laptop via the power port. Check this Valence page to see if your laptop makes the list. The battery also comes with a connector for a 12V cigarette-lighter outlet, and Valence even goes a step further with optional $20 USB adapters, so the battery can power cell phones and PDAs. Unfortunately, replacement adapter cables, which have built-in connectors specifically designed for the power port in your notebook, cost $30 each.
The VNC-130 powered our test laptop, the Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100, for 4 hours, 10 minutes, which is 40 minutes less than Hi-Capacity's SmartPad 90. It recharged in 3 hours in a tied race for fastest of the bunch. The LED battery gauge helps you determine how much juice is left, and a blinking light, rather than an annoying beep, tells you the end is near.
Unique among its peers, Valence supplies a useful and informative manual with the VNC-130. The 12-page booklet is packed with instructions, illustrations, and tips. There's even a helpful troubleshooting section and contact information. The one-year warranty is another point in Valence's favor. Six-month warranties are sadly the norm for external batteries from Hi-Capacity and Laptops for Less.
Battery name |
Price |
Dimensions (inches) |
Weight (pounds) |
Capacity (WHr) |
Runtime |
Recharge time |
| Hi-Capacity SmartPad 90 | $392 | 0.5 by 11.3 by 8.8 | 3.3 | 140 | 4 hr., 50 min. | 4 hr., 15 min. |
| Electrovaya PowerPad 160 | $450 | 0.5 by 11.9 by 9.8 | 2.6 | 160 | 5 hr., 5 min. | 4 hr., 45 min. |
| Laptops for Less Universal ED350 | $150 | 1.0 by 7.5 by 4.0 | 1.6 | 49 | 1 hr., 5 min. | 3 hr. |
| Valence N-Charge VNC-130 | $300 | 0.6 by 11.8 by 9.1 | 3.0 | 120 to 130 | 4 hr., 10 min. | 3 hr. |
- See more CNET content tagged:
- laptop computer,
- battery,
- capacity,
- PDA,
- adapter
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- Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 11 reviews
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