One of the factors that most consumers look for a netbook is its battery life and power. Although earlier versions only last up to two continuous hours, most new version can have as much as ten hours of continuous use. But there are also factors to consider in determining the power duration of specific batteries such as number of applications that are loaded at the same time, the tasks being performed simultaneously as well as the charging time of the battery.

The Dell Mini 9 battery uses 24 watts 4-cell Lithium ion. When used extensively for power and memory demanding applications, the battery lasts for five and a half hour. But for simple tasks, it can last for 8.5 hours. If you are a prospective buyer and the power duration doesn’t suffice due to the nature of activities you will perform, you can upgrade the battery into 8-celled ones. 8-celled Dell Mini Inspiron 9 batteries are available from third-party sellers. Therefore, buyers must take extra care in purchasing this battery upgrade or they may end up with poor-performance battery.

Here are some tips to maximize the battery life of Dell Mini 9 battery:

• After purchasing the unit, use it while running on batteries to drain the power. After draining it, charge the batteries fully. You have to do this for three times: use-drain-charge to achieve the maximum performance of the battery.
• Never plug your batteries when it is fully charged. Using both the batteries and the AC power can lessen the battery life as it is constantly charging and discharging while connected to an electrical outlet.
• Never exposed it to extreme temperatures. Hot temperature can quickly discharge the batteries while cold temperature can decrease the power of the batteries.

These are some of the reminders in replacing your Mini Inspiron batteries:

• Make sure that the unit is turned off and the lid is closed.
• Make sure that the unit is plugged into an AC power outlet.
• Flip the unit upside down. You can see two switches beside the battery tray. Bring these switches into the unlocked icon.
• Push up the tray and then insert the replacements.
• Make sure the switches returns to the locked state after inserting the replacement batteries.
• Read the batteries manual before operating the unit. The manual should indicate if there is a need for initial charging.

Upgrading your Mini Inspiron 9 batteries means adding additional bulk to the unit causing some bulging beneath the unit. It can be quite uncomfortable at first but you can get used to it. Battery upgrades, when done thoughtfully and carefully can increase the longevity of the Dell netbook. Always purchase butteries from trusted sources as there are literally hundreds of third-party suppliers in the market offering the same batteries under different wattage. Prices, discount and promotional offers may be enticing but you may only get unsatisfactory results. Always see to it that these products carry at least one-year warranty to ensure the quality standards you are getting.