Frequent charging, short life, light duty use only
ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS
The very high quality standard disposable (non-rechargeable) Lithium batteries that can be purchased from Energizer and Duracell have set my expectations too high for these Sony batteries to compete with. They simply do not last very long after a charge. You use it, and within a very short time, it's dead.
FREQUENT CHANGES
An example: My wireless mouse. I use it all day long. With a standard, non-rechargeable Lithium-type Energizer, I could use the same battery for 2 to 3 weeks or more. Using the Sony rechargeable batteries, I find I need to change batteries every 5 days or so. Fortunately, with a rechargeable, I walk over to the charger, and swap it out (single battery mouse) but there is a noticeable difference in the life of the battery.
NO REAL COMPLAINTS
Do they work? Yes. Have I had any trouble? No. Unfortunately, these batteries do not last long enough for heavy-use devices, such as digital cameras. They are fine for TV remotes or a wireless mouse perhaps, and other "light-duty" chores. I wish this was not the case, because I use my digital camera constantly, but rechargeable batteries burn of all their energy in as little as 30 to 45 minutes of (moderate) use, where a Lithium disposable might have lasted 3 to 4 hours. Obviously time varies from one set to another.
My suggestion: Buy plenty of cells, and keep the charger handy, so you can rotate the batteries out with use. Their individual charges appear to last 25-30% of the life of a disposable premium Lithium battery, so you'll probably be changing them 3 to 4 times more frequently. If you insist on trying to use them with a digital camera for your trip to Disney with the kids, I would advise taking along a large ziploc bag, with a full change-set of batteries for every 1-hour of anticipated use.
VERDICT:
Still a huge savings over time, and no real complaints other than the adjustment of expectations needed. A solid, light duty long-term pony, in a race filled with short-sprint, high-performance thoroughbreds.
|