Low Battery Warning

I have had some trouble with the battery in my 1st generation MacBook Pro 15" (Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo). My problems are:
1. When the battery charge gets low, it switches itself off without any warning.
2. When I press that little button on the battery at the back of the machine (the one with 5 little dots showing battery charge), it shows 2 green dots.
3. I can then re-start the computer on battery without problem, and the battery charge icon in the menu bar shows about 25% and 1 hour remaining time.
4. I continue using the computer as normal; and voila, 10 minutes later, it switches off again without any warning.
5. I press the button on the battery again to check, and it now blinks orange to indicate no charge left.
6. I can not re-start the computer on battery.
7. When I plug in the power cord and re-start the computer, it shows 0% charge in the menu bar. However, after just 10 minutes, the charge goes up to 40% and 1:30 remaining. But if I switch to battery power at this point, the machine will switch off in just a few minutes (without warning, of course).
After reading through this discussion forum, I have performed the following operations:
1. Resetting System Management Controller (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319)
2. Calibrated my battery (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284)
3. Using Software update to ensure latest software (10.4.9) and firmware (SMC 1.2f10, boot ROM MBP11.0055.B08)
4. The machine/battery is about 8 months old, and I have been regularly draining the battery to prolong its life.
I have NO luck. The battery still performs erratically. What else should I do? Is this a faulty battery?
Thanks in advance!

For what it's worth, I had exactly the same and it took two battery replacements before I got one that didn't exhibit this issue. The first was one of the publicised 'bad' batches, and although the first replacement was not it also had the same problem.
The third has been fine having been used for the last 3 months or so.
I'd make them give you a new battery first, and only if that fails then send the machine away for testing.
Good luck,
Tom

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