Best batteries for your bucks

Ever wonder whether it's worth spending extra money for name-brand batteries as opposed to generics, and for certain brands over others?

DealNews.com has a lab compare many of them and it turns out - most batteries are pretty much created equal.

As DealNews.com Contributing Editor Jason Cochran put it on "The Early Show" Monday, "Surprisingly, we found that, among the alkaline batteries there was no difference between the brand-name batteries and the generic. All the same."

So, asked co-anchor Chris Wragge, "If you've been loyal to, let's say, a Duracell or an Energizer, really no difference between those batteries and some you'd never consider?"

"Statistically insignificant. Minor differences," Cochran replied.

But, "There was one that actually did very well" compared to the alkalines. "It was a lithium battery, the Energizer Advanced lithium. But it was the only lithium that we checked."

Still, Cochran pointed out, "The lithium batteries are quite expensive. The Energizer lithium was about $1.42 per battery. Of course, that lasts a very long time. But while the alkalines, the lower priced ones, like a generic or a Rayovac, they're more like only 42 cents. Maybe a quarter as much. So, you have to weigh whether you want to pay that much money for a longer life or you're happy sort of cycling through but at a much cheaper price.

"People," he added, "go for the brands which they may not need to. Statistically it doesn't make a difference."