Review: FastMac’s replacement battery a TruePower

Posted by Dennis Sellers Nov 17, 2006 at 12:30am

If you’re looking for a replacement and/or extra battery for your 15-inch MacBook Pro, give FastMac’s 62 Whr battery a shot. It uses Lithium-Polymer cells (with integrated charge indicatorLEDs) and offers longer life-per-charge than Apple’s included battery. FastMac says it offers “up to 68 percent” longer battery life. I never got that much, but did get an impressive 50-55 percent more.

That’s due to the utilization of TruePower technology, according to the folks at FastMac. This technology incorporates sensors in the integrated circuit inside the battery that detect undesirable levels of swelling or a short circuit that will power off the battery in certain extreme conditions.

FastMac recommends that you calibrate the internal control chip to get the best possible performance from the TruePower battery. First, fully charge the battery after installation. Once it’s fully charged, unplug the AC power adapter and use the MacBook Pro until it’s drained. Then plug the power adapter back in and recharge the battery. You may have to run two or three battery calibration cycles to hit peak performance, FastMac says. The company also recommends that you recalibrate the battery every month or so.

Fastmac’s TruePower battery for the 15-inch MacBook Pro costs US$99.95. It carries a one-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. FastMac also makes TruePower batteries for other Apple laptops and iPods.

Macsimum rating: 8 out of 10.

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