When is it time to upgrade?

[Skeithex]

Most I've seen needing replacement is because they lost/forgot them, their pet got a hold of it or they were way too forceful with removing it.

[froggyboy604]

It would be nice if laptop makers add an alarm or smartphone app to warn you when someone tries to steal a charger, or you forgot to pack your charger in your bag.

[Skeithex]

I suppose there could be an internal alarm, but that would need its own battery if the main laptop battery was low or depleted.

[froggyboy604]

A regular AA or AAA battery may work at powering a simple alarm which goes off when someone unplugs or move a charger from a laptop. I know there are alarm clocks which are powered by a single AA or AAA battery.

[Skeithex]

Those wouldn't last long enough, its too much to pry off the laptop cover to replace a simple battery.

[froggyboy604]

I know there are Lithium-Ion and rechargeable NIMH AA batteries which can last longer than Alkaline AA batteries. Better AA batteries may last long enough for a few weeks to months of travel with a laptop.

Buying a battery for an anti-theft alarm on a chargernis cheaper than replacing a laptop charger which can cost a lot of money, and some chargers are hard to find at stores.

[Skeithex]

Still be a pain to get them in, unless they make a easy to open slot but that might kill how they keep the laptop slim