DIY 9-cell battery defeats the Wind's purpose, keeps it going and going

Sick of your puny 3-cell battery? Not really kosher with paying absurd premiums for a 6-cell edition? Do what any self-respecting, entirely fearless netbook owner would do -- create your own 9-cell while simultaneously sticking your tongue out at MSI. We wouldn't go tinkering with a battery pack unless you're a) quite skilled and b) well protected, but those looking for extra long battery life at the expense of (severely) uglifying your machine can dig into the how-to guide waiting in the read link below.

[Via jkOnTheRun, thanks Joe]

[LondonConsultant @ Aug 1st 2008 6:07AM]

7 bullets in the head if you carry that on the underground...

[Nabil @ Aug 1st 2008 10:47AM]

Or the Airport

They had to retrain all their security when SSD came out. Imagine how'd they react to this

[OneLove @ Aug 1st 2008 11:33AM]

His instructions say "Opening the rear is tricky..." (I would think so)

[404 @ Aug 1st 2008 6:16AM]

Anyone else see a machine rigged with cartoon dynamite?

*Mental images of Wile E. Coyote holding an explodified laptop*

[Sebbi @ Aug 1st 2008 7:50AM]

Cartoon dynamite? Lithium Ion can explode like real dynamite if handled incorrectly ;-)

[collegekid13 @ Aug 1st 2008 6:17AM]

good luck going through airport security.

no sir those are not explosives strapped to the back of my laptop, they're extra batterys

[OneLove @ Aug 1st 2008 11:27AM]

@collegekid13: Google asks "Did you mean: batteries?" Are you really in college?

[Pavan @ Aug 1st 2008 1:33PM]

Why don't you take a seat?

[Jash Sayani @ Aug 1st 2008 6:34AM]

Nice !!!

Trying it now :D

[XenoX101 @ Aug 1st 2008 6:37AM]

I'd LOVE to be behind the guy trying to get this through airport security.

"No damnit, they're cell batteries"

"Mhm.. And how stupid do you think we are?"

"..."

[kaiz3n @ Aug 1st 2008 7:06AM]

Companies make a lot of money on batteries that do not last long and die eventually; I would love to see more attention paid to batteries as I agree that is a strong point of disappointment from every notebook company over the last decade.

Almost as disappointing as hard drives being the last real spinning mechanical thing in a computer, normally the first thing to die, and coincidentally hold ALL of your data... but not as much.

I digress; anyway I feel that if companies slowed down their research on speed and upgrading components (most computers will do 90% of word processing / internet browsing which is what 99% of public do) and speed up their research on battery technology there would be a lot happier customers. Then again who am I to say anything? =)

[j_g_puff @ Aug 1st 2008 7:11AM]

A R S E T U B!!

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 1st 2008 10:30AM]

G T F O

[Bernhard @ Aug 1st 2008 7:28AM]

T H I D !

[Arnold @ Aug 1st 2008 8:08AM]

Dude, its super convoluted blogspam.
Here you go:
http://www.blogeee.net/2008/07/31/une-batterie-9-cellules-pour-msi-wind-u100-faite-maison/

[Bob @ Aug 1st 2008 8:11AM]

More battery research also equals higher mileage for HEVs, PHEVs and PEVs (hybrids / electric cars) and less fuel use... If they could come up with a completely "environmentally friendly" battery as well as decrease the size and weight of batteries, that would be an amazing leap, not just for computers and small consumer electronics, but for the car industry! The less oil demand, the better.

[Dead_Rebel @ Aug 1st 2008 8:15AM]

R A N D O M L E T T E R S . . . .

[NoAndThen @ Aug 1st 2008 8:24AM]

thank god he's making a case for it cuz that's just about the ugliest/least safe thing i've ever seen.

[Jason @ Aug 1st 2008 5:36PM]

Clearly he hasn't made a good case for it.

[Rick White @ Aug 1st 2008 8:49AM]

That's nice work. Can't wait to see the final product. I didn't upgrade mine (my laptop is massive as-is) but replacing my failing cells worked wonders.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 1st 2008 9:16AM]

Yea, uh I will pas playing with lithium Ion's....good luck the rest of you and may your HMO have mercy on your soul when your battery breaks in your hands :)

[Brian @ Aug 1st 2008 9:17AM]

Try to get through airport security with that laptop in your bag :)

[johnzilla @ Aug 1st 2008 9:19AM]

@ Bob

You know, the easiest way to use less oil is just not drive.

The big reason we're having problems is that people want everything and aren't willing to compromise. They live 60 mile from where they work, and where they live is some crazy subdivision where they have to drive 5-10 miles just to go to a store. So their demand for oil is high.

But instead of just driving less and making smart decisions like living close to work, and living in an area where you don't have to fire up the SUV to get a quart of milk, they instead run around ranting about how oil companies and car companies are part of some grand conspiracy to make money and endlessly whining and complaining about how they don't have this or that vehicle technology.

No wonder people think Americans are crazy.

[giantcircle @ Aug 1st 2008 10:29AM]

well, I work for a company that do ODM battery packs (including NB batteries). I only add this comment to advise everyone not to do this.

When we assemble packs with cells in series/parallel config we match them by voltage and impedance for numerous performance and safety reasons. At the very least, his setup throws off the balancing circuit of the FG and protection IC. He is matching 6 red cells (probably made by Sanyo...god knows what the cell capacity is) with 3 green cells (probably made by SDI, again we don't know the cell capacity). This is not smart.

You do not want to see one of these 18650 cell "rapidly disassemble," let alone 9 of them firing off at the same time.

Certain thing is not worth messing with unless you really know what you are doing, especially if it can burn down your house or severely hurt you.

[Rick White @ Aug 1st 2008 10:32AM]

Thank you for this. There are always opinions from both sides of the safety issue, so it's nice to have a professional opinion.

[Esteban @ Aug 1st 2008 11:39AM]

Yeah, if he is planning to sell these things to people, he is probably going to get himself into some serious legal trouble.

[Jason @ Aug 1st 2008 10:57AM]

Woah! That guy must've studied engineering.

[Esteban @ Aug 1st 2008 11:22AM]

Yeah, um.... Good luck when that non-removable, completely proprietary battery of yours fails and you will have nowhere to turn but to another over-priced battery from Apple.

You're just jealous that you can't upgrade your battery even if you wanted to in your MBA. ;)

[Kizorblade @ Aug 1st 2008 11:30AM]

Don't take the guy seriously...

1) Nobody seems to be able to reply to him for some reason
2) He's a dick

Not you of course Esteban. Talking about Mr. Clak

[Esteban @ Aug 1st 2008 11:37AM]

Well first, I am surprised that you were even able to tell who i was replying to, because it didn't show up as a reply. lol

And second, yeah he is probably just trolling.

[OneLove @ Aug 1st 2008 11:31AM]

Although I think the battery should have been included in the first place. MSI is only charging $50 for the 6 cell battery. A tiny 6 cell battery for a Samsung Q1 ultra costs $100+.

[andres @ Aug 1st 2008 11:33AM]

youll be laughing out of sorrow realizing you have no battery life left.

[andres @ Aug 1st 2008 11:35AM]

comment system needs a FALCON PUNCH

[Jason @ Aug 1st 2008 6:09PM]

tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B
tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B
tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B
tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B - tap-L, B

[rBoLt @ Aug 1st 2008 11:36AM]

i love the design. creating the bumb from behind making some vent effect for air.

[w00t @ Aug 1st 2008 11:42AM]

Christ, did nobody tell this guy you can get spare batteries?!

[Qasim Riaz @ Aug 1st 2008 11:55AM]

This is an explosion waiting to happen... hopefully its not at the airport or the next brown guy standing next to this goes down!

[linuxamp @ Aug 1st 2008 8:06PM]

At least the batteries are naked so there's less shrapnel.

[joe @ Aug 1st 2008 12:02PM]

ghetto booty

[coffee @ Aug 1st 2008 12:40PM]

How is $50 for a 6-cell battery an "absurd premium"? Has the author bothered to check battery prices? Most 6-cell batteries start around $95, so a $50 upgrade from 3- to 6-cell seems reasonable.

A lenovo 6-cell is $140 all by itself.

I know it's just a blog, but christ, try a little, Engadget.

[The Tech Guy @ Aug 1st 2008 12:54PM]

Yes its ugly, yes its dangerous, no its not finished and yes my battery lasts longer than all of yours :p

It charges fine without issue. Been using it for a good few weeks now and its awesome. I've rebuilt a few battery packs over the past few months, so the initial fear of working with Li-On is gone.

I'll be flying in a few months with it, only difference is, it will have an OEM finish case :D

Original Post.
http://forums.msiwind.net/hacks-and-mods/bigger-battery-7400mah-battery-with-hours-life-t1245.html

[OneLove @ Aug 1st 2008 1:17PM]

@OneLove: "coffee" just repeated what you said. :)

[Bob @ Aug 1st 2008 5:06PM]

@ johnzilla

I never said there was a conspiracy, that's for quacks, not me. Also, your idea doesn't work for me, and many other people. My wife and I live in City A. She works in City A and I work in City B which is 40 miles away. Now, if you can find me a job in City A that will pay me the same amount as City B and keep all the benefits, I would gladly start working in City A.

[Unknown @ Aug 1st 2008 8:58PM]

Okay why not just hack the AC adapter (assuming it comes with one) or build a box that plugs into the power receptacle of the laptop. Much prettier and it would be resellable. Then you wouldn't have to beg people to "buy my product".

[The Tech Guy @ Aug 1st 2008 9:56PM]

You're kidding right, I don't get it, why don't people on the internet ever read before posting?

I haven't begged anyone to sell it, to be brutally honest, its not even worth my time making them for other people - I'm making them at cost price as a kind gesture to the community.

What would be the point hacking the AC adaptor - you may as well have an external battery pack and defies the whole point of not walking round all day with a PSU.

This will be the last time I post this, the above - PROTOTYPE, ie. not finished article.

[Nate DiDonato @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:04AM]

Engadget, please stop with the blogspamming (it's bad enough when you do "this" via "this"). Seriously, it takes 2 minutes to navigate through all that crap to the original page. One was even translated into French. Luckily the pix from that one had the original site watermarked (added later... ridiculous!).

Just because you found the article on another blog doesn't mean you cite that one, you cite the ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

Or did NONE of you go to English class in middle school and have to cite books or articles?