Holler for a Marshal

Analysts are predicting a 50 percent cut in Sony's profits this year, mostly due to the dud batteries the company has been supplying to other laptop manufacturers.

Who knew their laptop battery came from Sony? And why is there such a massive price difference between batteries when they all come out of the same factory?

Why aren't we surprised to discover we've been ripped off again by pseudo-proprietary behaviour in the IT world?

Isn't it about time one or more laptop makers decided to stuff the battery box full of AA cells, rechargeable of course, which you get replacements for at the local supermarket?

Wouldn't you rush to buy a laptop that you could power up when flat by grabbing a stack of AA cells from the corner store?

Yeah, OK, running on standard alkalines might only get you half an hour of action but that could mean the difference between closing the deal or looking lame, so I am sure a lot of people would prefer to have the option.

Rabid got a new cordless phone for the office the other day and it has rechargeable AA batteries inside. Hooray for common sense!