CEGEP and university students have been coming into our stores with a typical start-of-school-year problem: their portable computer's battery is on its last legs. They can still use the laptop in the classroom by plugging it into a nearby outlet, but it's a different ball game if they have to work in an area where no outlets are in sight.

When should you replace a portable computer battery?

Most portable computer batteries have a life expectancy of two to three years. As the battery gradually loses its ability to hold a charge, you'll be increasingly on the lookout for wall outlets. Before long, the only thing “portable” about your laptop will be its portability. Now is the time to change the battery!

Give your laptop a new lease on life.

The only component that will wear out in a portable computer, even one that is two or three years old, is the rechargeable battery. Instead of buying a new computer, you can simply replace the battery against a new one to give your laptop a new life —and put a smile back on your face.