Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 5

Battery usage?

Up until now I've only used my Visor for tiny amounts of time. Last year I used my Powerbook in class to take notes but I realised that its hard drive was too loud for some quieter classes so I would like to move over to my 2MB Visor.

I have read to my dismay that the battery only lasts 6 hours of straight use. I have 4 hours of class a day, so if I leave it on to constantly take notes throughout the class, does that mean I'll have to buy 2 AAA batteries every day?

At that rate I could buy a model with a rechargeable battery and come out ahead after just a few months.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 42

Or you could use rechargeable batteries for your Visor.

Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 116

How are you going to recharge your device after 4 hours in class? You'll have to wait a few hours I'm sure. You should try NiMH rechargable AAA batteries. Carry an extra charged up set. Get the largest mAh rating you can for the longest lasting batteries. I use Energizer ACCU with a mAh rating of 700. I always have 2 sets charged up and ready to go. Im my opinion having a unit that has removable batteries is a lot better than a unit with a built in battery you change swap out.

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Scott Olendorf
Sony Clie N610C,
Blue Visor Deluxe, Magellan GPS Companion

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 5

How well do rechargeable batteries work in Visors? (I'm talking about store bought ones not the built in lithium ion ones).

Do they last anywhere near as long as regular brand name batteries? If I could get rechargeables then I would be much happier (it seems so wasteful throwing away 14 batteries a week).

Thanks again

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Out of my skull, back in five minutes
Posts: 1435

I'm using NiMH's and they seem to work pretty well. I was getting about a week's use out of them until I cleaned up my VDX, now it's more like three weeks (it's about half-full).

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Misplaced Canuck in Charleston SC
Posts: 257

quote:

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Originally posted by 2MB
How well do rechargeable batteries work in Visors? (I'm talking about store bought ones not the built in lithium ion ones).

Do they last anywhere near as long as regular brand name batteries? If I could get rechargeables then I would be much happier (it seems so wasteful throwing away 14 batteries a week).

Thanks again

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

I have been using an NiMH battery with my Visor Deluxe for quite some time and love it. The product is FullCharge from www.extendcomputer.com. In addition to the battery you get a new battery cover with 2 holes in it, which is where the power adapter plugs into. You can get an AC adapter and/or a car adapter, so you can almost always get a quick topoff. You can even use it while plugged in and it will trickle charge. There's another product out there from www.icuaccessories.com, but I don't have any experience with it.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

Re: Battery usage?

quote:

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Originally posted by 2MB
I have read to my dismay that the battery only lasts 6 hours of straight use. I have 4 hours of class a day, so if I leave it on to constantly take notes throughout the class, does that mean I'll have to buy 2 AAA batteries every day?

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-Bernie

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 5

Thank you all for the responses, they were very helpful.

I have one final question though: Are the NiMH batteries susceptible to "memory" effect? Or can I recharge them whenever I want with no ill effects?


Thanks

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Out of my skull, back in five minutes
Posts: 1435

see this page: http://www.howstuffworks.com/battery.htm
This is noted on the second page of the article:

quote:

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Nickel-metal hydride battery - Rapidly replacing nickel-cadmium because it does not suffer from the memory effect that nickel-cadmiums do. Rechargeable.

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