Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

Bought VDX a month ago and seldom used it(not even switching in on often) and today when I wanted to use it for a while, I found that the battery run out.

So does it mean that even I don't use it, the battery continue to run ?

Gary

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 62

If you don't have anything running on the VDX, the batteries aren't used much. Remember, without a battery, there is nothing to keep the memory holding the stuff you have stored there. There is no hard drive on your VDX, so if you took the batteries out, the memory that makes your visor useful would be erased in a matter of minutes.

So, yes it is using battery all of the time. But this is a device that is intended to be used. If you only use it once a month or so, I have to wonder why you bought one?

USE IT, and you will feel better about replacing the batteries once a month. But seriously, if you have an application running in the background, it will continue to use batteries more than if the VDX was idling.

larry

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

I am waiting for the W2K driver :-(

I just can't think of entering all my stuff using that little pen :-)

Well, I just bought it to see if it fits my
life style. May be it doesn't :-)

Thanks for the help anyway.

Gary

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

Don't give up on your Visor until you can HotSync. As you may already know, some of the most useful stuff relies on desktop syncing: AvantGo, iSiloWeb, e-books, "canned" info databases, PayPal, etc. While the PIM role is still central to my use of the Visor, I could never go back to paper day planner because of the above mentioned applications.

FWIW, you can sync with Win2K if you use the Serial Cradle. The extra cost is not so much, and it does give you a backup if your USB cradle ever bites the dust.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Oregon
Posts: 115

I went thru my first set of batt in 1 week. I admit I was using it quite a bit learning how to and everything. But half way thru the second week I'm half way thru the next set of batteries.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 22

I get about 22 hours of "on" time with standard alkaline. Still working out how long my new NiMH's will last, I'm thinking they should come somewhere near that, but I'd be happy with even 10 hours out of them.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Monroe, Michigan, USA
Posts: 244

Battery life is pretty short compared to older Palm devices. I think HS removing wait states contributes greatly to this. With that in mind, I installed AfterBurner II and left the speed untouched, but unchecked Zero Wait State in the prefs page. It seems to have stretched battery life a bit; after 28 days, I'm still at 2.47V and about half that is after installing AfterBurner II. Of course, the device seems a bit slower, about like my old PalmPilot Personal/2MB. HotSync speed is not affected.
Might be worth a try, eh? I'll update this when I run through a fresh set of batteries with AfterBurner II "there for the duration."

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 62

I have put Runtime on my Visor so that I could check on the amount of time my batteries last. I am using good quality throw-away Alkalines. Here's the stats:

First set == 22 hrs 23 min of runtime
Second set == 20 hrs 11 min of runtime
third set == 4 hrs 25 min and counting current voltage is at 2.71 volts.

I am not using any overclocking. I find the speed satisfactory, and don't want to burn off my batteries.

larry

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Oregon
Posts: 115

When I got my visor I also got the tiger woods game. Had it in the visor all the time. Then I read a post about the springboard mod uses batt power even when its not in use. Well since I've taken it out the batt have lasted 2 weeks and still going. Before that I only got 1 week outa them.

------------------
Rose's are Red
My Visor is Blue....

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Gary:

I'm assuming this is your first PDA. While you're waiting for the Win2K driver, you might want to bite the bullet and spend a couple of hours entering your information by hand: it really helps you become proficient with Graffiti. I did a single marathon session of data entry by hand the second day I got my Palm III, and since then, writing with Graffiti is about 75% as fast as my longhand. Once you get past the issue of "that little pen," you'll find yourself using the Visor all the time.

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 03-19-2000).]