Valence N-Charge VNC-130

Reviewed on 4/5/04    In addition to making batteries for laptop vendors, Valence sells a line of multifaceted external laptop batteries. The matte-black Valence N-Charge VNC-130 ($300) provides 130WHr of power, just a little less than the 160WHr provided by the Electrovaya PowerPad 160, and at about three pounds, it's several ounces lighter than the Hi-Capacity SmartPad 90. The VNC-130 is the external battery for those who need to travel light and power other devices, such as cell phones or PDAs.

For an external battery, the VNC-130 has a large, 0.6-by-11.8-by-9.1-inch footprint, making it less convenient to tote than a smaller battery. However, the Valence doesn't need its own AC adapter, because it uses your laptop's AC power cord. Thus, the travel weight stays a low 3.3 pounds--a pound lighter than the Hi-Capacity SmartPad 90's travel weight. With a rating of up to 130WHr, the VNC-130 carries less capacity than the lighter Electrovaya PowerPad 160, but it can handle a commendable 600 recharges before starting to lose capacity.

Almost 400 laptops are compatible with the VNC-130, which connects to your laptop via the power port. Check this Valence page to see if your laptop makes the list. The battery also comes with a connector for a 12V cigarette-lighter outlet, and Valence even goes a step further with optional $20 USB adapters, so the battery can power cell phones and PDAs. Unfortunately, replacement adapter cables, which have built-in connectors specifically designed for the power port in your notebook, cost $30 each.

The VNC-130 powered our test laptop, the Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100, for 4 hours, 10 minutes, which is 40 minutes less than Hi-Capacity's SmartPad 90. It recharged in 3 hours in a tied race for fastest of the bunch. The LED battery gauge helps you determine how much juice is left, and a blinking light, rather than an annoying beep, tells you the end is near.

Unique among its peers, Valence supplies a useful and informative manual with the VNC-130. The 12-page booklet is packed with instructions, illustrations, and tips. There's even a helpful troubleshooting section and contact information. The one-year warranty is another point in Valence's favor. Six-month warranties are sadly the norm for external batteries from Hi-Capacity and Laptops for Less.