I've blown out a brand new HP battery by using a brick with an identical tip that ultimately had a different power profile. I've also caught Dell doing this as well. I share your dream of universality, but I think you'd have to take a different tack. If a universal connector with a globally identifiable shape could be developed, then perhaps someone could sell tips that convert into this universal format, and eventually, maybe even manufacturers will actually start respecting it...

Hell, perhaps usb _is_ this universal format. Motorola and others are using it for cell phones, but the mini variety would never cut it for laptops. Perhaps the larger usb could handle the load, but I doubt it. It would be nice though...