seeing this thread gives me one conclusion. Scientists haven't what I feel done enough research into the capacity of comsummer batteries.
The difficaulty with manuafacturing batteries is that as mentioned need to be enviromentally safe and be safe for the comsummer to use, but there is always improvements into battery technology every day!
My father works in the electronics industry, he is an engineer for Acoustiguide Ltd, that deal with handheld audio tour guide
(yes, they are also MP3 players too!
) and his job is sometimes define the design and spec for the devices. When he was consulted on the design of the AG2000
(a type now being phased out
), it had to be designed to be rugged, droppable and maintainence free. Some people in Acoustiguide disregarded this, then they took the units apart, obviously, they didn't do a good enough job, so buggered up the units. Anyway, the spec also included the use of Metal Hydride batteries. This is because we are certain that poorly maintained batteries of the Lithium type can vigiously explode with catastrophic results. I too am weary of Li-ion batteries, espeically when my life is relying on a piece of PCB, that wont blow.
(I think in a previous battery, one did blow a cell, because it never would accept more than 75% charge state, plus it was giving me loads of false readings before!
). If I was specifying the spec for my laptop, one would be:
"The inclusion of metal base batteries or a lithium battery that does not rely on a PCB for circuitry or charging."
Of course, for me, trusting is difficault and fearing the worst case scenario for my lithium battery is what I fear. I don't know if there is going to be a massive heatwave.
By the way, be cautious of some cheaper Pentimun 3 laptops, from my expereinces, we have had 2 IPCs, both cooked batteries quite quickly, when the batteries were removed, they became unbearable to touch.
On for more theroies about Li batteries and an extract from my IPC manual:
"
3-2
Ni-MH / Lithium-Ion Batttery
Your notebook uses an removeable ten-cell Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) or eight-cell Lithium-Ion battery pack that provides power when you are away from an AC outlet.
This is the main battery, you should recharge it as it is drained. (poor german translation? Should that be "when it is drained?"
Besides the main battery, it is suggested that you should also have a second battery pack as the backup power solution in your travelling
Note: Make sure the battery is fully charged before using
Note: Do not touch the metal ends of the battery connector to avoid rusting
Warning:
Do not expose battey packs to tempratures below 0 degree Celsius (32 degree F) or above 60 degree C (140F). This may adversely affect the battery pack.
(skip a few sections)
3-6
Prolonging the Battery's Life and Usage Cycles
The are ways you can do to prolong the use of the battery.
* Use the AC adapter wherever AC wall outlet is available. This will ensure uninterrupted computing.
Purchase an optional second battery pack.
* Store the battery pack at room temperature. Higher temperature tends to deplete the battery's power faster.
* Make good use of the power management function. Save To Disk saves the most energy by storing current system contents in a hard disk space is reserved for this funciton. (poor translation again!)
* Disable the parallel and serial ports if no devices are attached to these ports. See section 2 for details of how this is done.
* Even when the PC is not operationg, it still draws a small amount of power. Eject the PC card from the card slot when not in use.
* The life expectancy of the battery is approximately 500 recharges.
See the notices in the begining of the user manual on how to care for the battery pack.
"
I'll type out the clevo one tomorrow.
Oh and lists don't seem to work as stated in the code reference:
As a general of thumb, my laptop batteries are out when they are not in use, due to heat the the computers tend to generate. But from time to time, I may give them a top up charge and a full discharge/recharge as stated by clevo every month or every 20-30 partial discharge/recharge cycles.
). 
you can use nickel based ones for your laptop but their energy density is much worse...
... wow ... I've reached the level where ppl want to impersonate me! 
