HP 15C CE ships with mediocre batteries

[RPNerd]

(11-26-2024 01:47 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  In my experience not many things come with "cheap" batteries pre-installed.

I see it happening more and more. Put the batteries in the device and you no longer have to manufacture separate packaging to accommodate them. Save a few cents on something that's mass produced and you end up saving quite a bit of money. Similarly, a cheap Chinese battery that performs poorly is going to cost less than a decent branded battery, maybe only a few cents less, but here again, multiply that by the number resold and you start saving considerable amounts of money.

(11-26-2024 01:47 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  If they come with batteries they're often packaged separately.

Either packaged separately or installed but with a plastic insulating sheet with a tab on it that you have to pull for the battery to make contact with the terminals in the device. Either way round, the battery isn't discharging into the device while it's sitting on a shelf in a warehouse. Except when you decide to save another cent or two and don't bother with the insulating tab any more.

(11-26-2024 01:47 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  Whatever the case it is probably better to use quality named brand ones and ditch the cheapies or keep them for emergency use.

You can't even keep the cr*p batteries for emergencies because they tend to have a very poor shelf life. By the time you actually need one it's already going to be dead. Just don't buy them. If you're going to keep spares, make sure it's the good stuff and save yourself a lot of trouble.

(11-26-2024 01:47 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  I have a bunch of brand name CR2023's on-hand for a number of things (not just calculators). And AA's. These days shelf-life is long (10+ years) so there's really no reason not to. Buy spares when they're cheap.

100% agreed.