Think it doesn't matter whether you buy generic batteries instead of name brand ones?

[Captain Falcon]

Boy are you fucking wrong. Here's the lowdown; I use a portable wireless mouse and it takes two AAA batteries. Now I bought generic cells all the time, like shitty Walgreens ones that come in packs of 8 for about a dollar.

So I was happy using these and then they ran out, so I thought to pick some up while filling up my car at the station. They only had an energizer 8 pack for AAAs, so I got it, something like $3.50.

Get this; one pair of generics in my mouse ran two days before needing replacement. One pair of Energizers? Two weeks. And more, actually, 2 weeks and a day or two, but it took 14 days for the indicator to start blinking. And this was under insanely heavy use, I use my mouse to navigate my RokuBox.

Lesson: Name brand batteries REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. They're not bullshitting you when they say it runs 10 times longer, it fucking well can.

[LSA King]

Yeah I've heard rumors generic alkaline aren't nearly as good as the name brands (Energizer/Duracell/etc.) although I didn't actually believe it until now. I've actually given up on alkaline batteries in general switching to Ni-MH instead. Save a ton of money and they last for quite awhile especially for low-end things like remotes and wireless computer components.

Did some research a couple years back because surprisingly I found the "name-brand" alkaline manufacturers made the shittiest re-chargeable batteries. If you go that route I'd suggest checking out the Sanyo re-charger and Eneloop batteries. Those things are beasty and hold their charge for insane amounts of time without losing much of their original charge. I do heavy computing and I only re-charge them about once a month (once a week or two doing heavy gaming or using the 360 wireless remotes). I'm not sure how much you're doing since I've never used up my batteries that fast even when I would game like 8 hours a day using my mouse. Worth looking into though.

[The Duke]

Duly noted.

[neosade]

You seriously didnt know this!?

[Michael Scott]

No shit. Also you are a huge nerd falcon

[Zok Jr.]

They have walgreens in islamabad?

[tomjonesa22]

I read on yahoo the cvs batteries are the worst

[Mutant Funk Drink]

The easiest way to tell if a battery is shit is by the weight. If you compare a generic battery with a name brand one, or a good one, you'll notice that the cheap ones are much lighter. Likely they just stuck a smaller battery inside a larger shell, or they just contain less material.

Rechargeable batteries work fine most of the time, and I've never understood why people don't use them more. Maybe it's because they're just too lazy. They'd rather just throw out batteries than stick some on a charger.

If you are out of batteries and you're desperate, you can get some extra power out of them by "crushing" them, or making dents in them with a hammer. I used to do this back in high school when my CD player ran out of power. I could get a few extra hours out of the batteries just by slamming a door on them to mix around the "juices".

And yeah, CVS batteries are terrible. But Kirkland brand batteries are still great.

[The Duke]

Smashing batteries? Sounds dangerous.

[Mutant Funk Drink]

Originally Posted by The Duke

Smashing batteries? Sounds dangerous.

Nah, they're pretty durable. You don't need to literally smash them flat; rather, you make some dents in them so that the acid mixes around inside.

[Sir Cornwell]

I use store brand in my Logitech mouse. I think they last about 3 months.

I imagine generics vary but I saw a news report that found that the generics tested were very much like name brand ones.

[CountBlah]

[Metafire]

The only device where I really notice a difference in battery life is my camera. Energizer lithiums have been going strong for awhile now

[ShyStar]

Originally Posted by Mutant Funk Drink

Rechargeable batteries work fine most of the time, and I've never understood why people don't use them more. Maybe it's because they're just too lazy. They'd rather just throw out batteries than stick some on a charger.

This. They are more expensive to buy at the beginning is one reason I think people don't use them more often.

I think it's plain wasteful tossing out disposable batteries. I think society might be finally veering away from them now that digital cameras some with rechargeable batteries like mobile phones have.

[The Chuggernaut]

I actually did my science fair project 7 or so years ago on this by putting different brand batteries into a clock and timing how long it took for it to die.

Results showed the amount of 'juice' in a battery varied more pack to pack of the same brand rather than brand vs. brand.

[Mutant Funk Drink]

People need to learn not to buy rechargeables from Radio Shack. I saw they were selling a pack of 4 AA NiMH batteries for $23, and then I saw the same batteries at Target for $9.

[Blux]

I bought a Duracell 15 minute charger, 12 AA's and 8 AAA's about a year ago.

Big cost up front, but I haven't bought batteries in a year so...

[Mutant Funk Drink]

Solar chargers are also cheap to build and don't take very long to charge.

[SADDAM]

Originally Posted by Mutant Funk Drink

People need to learn not to buy rechargeables from Radio Shack. I saw they were selling a pack of 4 AA NiMH batteries for $23, and then I saw the same batteries at Target for $9.

I'm surprised that Radio Shack is still in business

[Captain Falcon]

What the fuck? Radioshack is still a thing? Why is that shithole still in business?

Originally Posted by Zok Jr.

They have walgreens in islamabad?

I live in Chicago

[Pee Vee Proots, M.D.]

What the fuck? My portable wireless mouse took 2 AA batteries and lasted like... months. How portable is this little piece of shit? I'm assuming it has to use AAA because it's just that tiny. How small are your goddamn hands? Your mouse sounds like a piece of shit.

[curioushat]

[Captain Falcon]

Originally Posted by Pee Vee Proots, M.D.

What the fuck? My portable wireless mouse took 2 AA batteries and lasted like... months. How portable is this little piece of shit? I'm assuming it has to use AAA because it's just that tiny. How small are your goddamn hands? Your mouse sounds like a piece of shit.

it's on pretty much all day.

[Pee Vee Proots, M.D.]

Originally Posted by Captain Falcon

it's on pretty much all day.

So was mine. It's just that yours uses AAA so it drains like 10x faster. Which is why I was wondering how small it is, because the only reason to use AAA for a mouse is to keep it compact... but a mouse any much smaller than mine would be too small to be comfortable. AA is a way of life.

[ArmsMerchant]

Duracell rules.

[Captain Falcon]

Originally Posted by Pee Vee Proots, M.D.

So was mine. It's just that yours uses AAA so it drains like 10x faster. Which is why I was wondering how small it is, because the only reason to use AAA for a mouse is to keep it compact... but a mouse any much smaller than mine would be too small to be comfortable. AA is a way of life.

it's pretty small I guess, I only got it to put in my laptop bag.

[roasted]

Originally Posted by Pee Vee Proots, M.D.

So was mine. It's just that yours uses AAA so it drains like 10x faster. Which is why I was wondering how small it is, because the only reason to use AAA for a mouse is to keep it compact... but a mouse any much smaller than mine would be too small to be comfortable. AA is a way of life.

Most USB mouse use AA and every bluetooth model I've seen has been AAA. I switched over to bluetooth and I've noticed a difference in battery life. A huge factor is the brand of battery though. Generic batteries suck balls. Cost wise, it probably makes sense to use brand name even though they cost like 4x more

[komokazi]

99.9% of the time, you get what you pay for.

[Mutant Funk Drink]

I still go to Radio Shack because they are the closest electronics store to where I live. They have a lot of basic components, and I like their premade PCBs. Their components are still a ripoff, though. LEDs there are like $2 each, whereas I can get them for 49 cents at All Electronics. The only place worse than Radio Shack is Frys, except Frys has a bigger selection.

[Proots]

Interesting! It's always neat comparing generics to name brand products. Normally, they're the same exact thing. But - as we see here in this thread, that isn't always the case. So, it's nice to know these things. Thanks for the input, maaaan.

[HLC]

Originally Posted by The Chuggernaut

I actually did my science fair project 7 or so years ago on this by putting different brand batteries into a clock and timing how long it took for it to die.

Results showed the amount of 'juice' in a battery varied more pack to pack of the same brand rather than brand vs. brand.

thank you "The Chuggernaut" for actual scientific input.
I buy "Sunbeam" brand alkaline batteries at the dollar store.
4 AA for $1.
No complaints, personally.

[Haiti's Space Agency]

Dollar General batteries last like a day in a wireless mouse they are absolute shit.

[Sober]

I am sure this has already been said, but get rechargeables. They play for themselves.

[Mullen]

Originally Posted by Sober

I am sure this has already been said, but get rechargeables. They play for themselves.

[Sober]

[benny vader]

Originally Posted by Captain Falcon

Boy are you fucking wrong. Here's the lowdown; I use a portable wireless mouse and it takes two AAA batteries. Now I bought generic cells all the time, like shitty Walgreens ones that come in packs of 8 for about a dollar.

So I was happy using these and then they ran out, so I thought to pick some up while filling up my car at the station. They only had an energizer 8 pack for AAAs, so I got it, something like $3.50.

Get this; one pair of generics in my mouse ran two days before needing replacement. One pair of Energizers? Two weeks. And more, actually, 2 weeks and a day or two, but it took 14 days for the indicator to start blinking. And this was under insanely heavy use, I use my mouse to navigate my RokuBox.

Lesson: Name brand batteries REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. They're not bullshitting you when they say it runs 10 times longer, it fucking well can.

you stupid fuck. you compare regular dry cells with alkaline ones ???

you fucking deserve your bann.

[Proots]

Originally Posted by benny vader

you stupid fuck. you compare regular dry cells with alkaline ones ???

you fucking deserve your bann.

What was he banned for?

[benny vader]

Originally Posted by Proots

What was he banned for?

idk and idgas but it seemed like he fucking deserved it.

hes a towel headed phaggott anyway.

[DirtySanchez]

Thanks for the obvious information paki.

[southernsun]

I found Energizer Ultimate Lithium to be the best, I tested loads of brans/none brands out when I had a wickedlasers laser and those babys lasted weeks.

Like with most things, you pay for what you get.