Hewlett-Packard (HP) is partnering with portable power solution provider Boston-Power to offer customers, through its HP Enviro Series Program, a battery back that is guaranteed to function like new for the typical three-year life of a notebook computer, according to Boston-Power.
Boston-Power's next-generation Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell, Sonata, will be available first to HP customers as an upgrade option. The battery vendor indicated that Sonata delivers like-new performance for three years and HP Enviro Series program notebook batteries with Sonata technology will come with a three-year warranty, the longest battery warranty available from any notebook PC provider.
Consumers will be able to purchase the optional HP notebook batteries with Sonata technology for use with select HP consumer notebook PCs in early 2009.
Boston-Power claims its technology allows users to charge their notebook batteries in just half the time needed for normal battery packs to charge. In addition to lasting three years, the battery offers the same capacity of a new battery that entire time, the company stated. This would address a key issues facing notebook users, which is the dramatic degradation of battery quality over the lifetime of the product.
Initially targeting notebook PCs, Sonata's drop-in form factor enables it to be used with existing notebook computers. This means that HP customers with compatible PCs can purchase Sonata-powered batteries to replace their existing batteries or use as a spare on long trips or plane flights. No system changes are required, the company pointed out.
