- More on Rechargeable Batteries

- Re: Batteries

- Dimensions Revo vs 9500

- Psion replacement

- complementary to ER5

- Netbook Dialling France vs The Rest of the World

- 9500 dimensions

- Nokia 9500/9300 and GPS

Date: 24 Mar 2005 13:42:34 +0000
From: g y reyes <address truncated>
Subject: More on Rechargeable Batteries

At 01:11 AM 3/24/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>Date: 23 Mar 2005 16:45:38 +0000
>From: Peter Rand
>Subject: Standard batteries
>
>So I guess I am now firmly in the camp of those who will now only buy >equipment using standard user-replaceable batteries. Unfortunately, it's >getting more and more difficult to find machines using standard batteries. >
>Peter

Peter,

Yes, it is certainly a challenge these days to find devices that use AA or AAA, specially when size is an issue.  Digital cameras are the few devices left that do use AA's.

I use a mobile phone that will definitely go up in size were it to use 3 AAA's.

My PDA form factor will also cause the unit to become thicker if they switched to 3 AAA's.  By the way, I am surprised your Tungsten goes only 4 hours on a charge.  My device with colcred screen and IrDA port which I use a lot goes a whole week (sometimes more) with daily use on 1 charge. I am not sure how much total ON time this amounts to but going over a week without a recharge certainly suits me.

I don't think I want to sacrifice the portability of my two devices - one fits in my shirt pocket and the other in my pants pocket, both of which are small because I am only 5'4" - just for the convenience of standard AA or AAA.

Also, rechargeable AAA's I have seen are either NiCd or NiMH.  These
battery types don't provide extended power at high drain rates and do
suffer from memory effect. The latest in Lithium Ion technology is what the flat cells use and they provide longer operating hours.

But, as they say, each to his own.

Gary

Date: 24 Mar 2005 23:24:27 +0000
From: Alan Morris <address truncated>
Subject: Re: Batteries

K. Liebmann <address truncated> wrote:-

<<< I am also a supporter of standard size batteries for mobile devices. >>>

<< Actually, its probably a misconception that the phone size would go up by using standard cells. >>

I would agree with your view Karsten.  A new world standard flat pack would be ideal, but that now wont happen.  I can't ever see a new 'standard' size battery ever being introduced in this world of own profit before the good of customers.

When I buy a new product, I normally consider all relevant features of the range of possible products.  Battery type is always at the top of my list.  At one time I counted how many devices I had with AA batteries, but I've now got too many to count just now, an a few with AAA.

I always carry replacements of Duracell for my 5mx etc and rechargeables.  The Ni-cads are now getting rather past it and have been replaced with Ni met Hyd.

<< I would believe, designing for custom batteries either just misses the consideration for the life cycle of the product or this is deliberate to make business with battery replacements. >>

I'm sure it's to maximise profits on battery sales.

I've had at least cellphone in use for almost 18 years and with one exception (Nokia 6210e), the phone has been cheaper to replace rather than buy a new battery.  The 6210e battery has, and still, gives a very good service.

However many custom batteries have been built to a low standard and with a very high replacement price.  I can remember when one could recharge a Ni-cad and leave it for months before use.  Then it gave almost full capacity.

I remember with my first camcorder.  I bought 2 extra battery packs.  A week before going on holiday I charged them, but when I started to use them, I only got a few minutes use from each battery.

I thought I had been sold a faulty batch, but soon learnt that this was how the then new Ni-cad worked.  Charging immediately before use became necessary.

Fortunately my Psion 7, nB and spare battery packs don't have this problem.  The spare (I rotate all 3 each month) can give full capacity even after leaving for a month.

Alan.

Date: 24 Mar 2005 23:41:07 +0000
From: Thomas F. van der Zijden <address truncated>
Subject: Dimensions Revo vs 9500

Hello Mike,

You are right in saying that the 9500 is smaller than the Revo. However, how do you carry your Revo ? In your jacket ?
The 9500 is a phone and I have a habit of carrying my phone in my trouser pocket, something which I dare not do with my Revo.

This is a complication: sometimes you just want your normally-sized phone with you and compared to other phones the 9500 is a fridge.

Yours sincerely,

Thomas VAN DER ZIJDEN

Date: 25 Mar 2005 00:25:14 +0000
From: Cyril Catt <address truncated>
Subject: Psion replacement

With the death of my 3a I discovered the inability to transfer files between the otherwise adequate P5 and my Macintoshes. After 5 years of waiting for a sensible replacement, I've decided I'll have to settle for my Palm IIIxe. At least the sync software makes file swaps easy, although the screen size and shape, short battery life, and awkwardness of a folding keyboard are compromises that I would prefer not to have to make.

Date: 25 Mar 2005 01:09:25 +0000
From: Jack <address truncated>
Subject: complementary to ER5

Hi all,
PIM + VoIp (wifi and Skype = no SIM needed) + multimedia = another complement to ER5 (still needed for 'real' work): http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500594_specs.html?lang=en Jack
PS check your bank first
-

Date: 25 Mar 2005 19:34:38 +0000
From: Richard & Jennifer Wong <address truncated>
Subject: Netbook Dialling France vs The Rest of the World

Could someone please explain the settings I should have for Dialling? My problem is that when I change countries I get an extra zero for numbers in France (my original home country).
For example a Paris number that starts 01XXXXXXXX dials fine when in France but when I am on holidays in Sydney the zero won't go away. There are no optional area codes in France, so in Dialling location I have +33 [Area] 1234567 sample number 01234567.
Maybe it is the changes I make when I change countries that is the problem???
thanks
Jennifer

Date: 25 Mar 2005 20:28:49 +0000
From: Kevin Thorne <address truncated>
Subject: 9500 dimensions

Mike Dyer wrote:
Subject: Relative Dimensions

<Hi all,

still researching my Revo replacements in case I don't gel with the Treo, I decided to check the dimensions of the new communicators compared to the Revo and was amazed to see that the 9500 which I'd assumed was a bit of a brick, is actually smaller than the Revo.>

Mike, I've never actually held a Revo (about the only Psion I never owned!) so I can't comment on my own experiences of 9500 v Revo but I can compare the 9500 with my old 9210 (which I used for 18 months until the screen went dead).  On paper the newer 9500 is about 10% lighter and 10% smaller. However, in practice I have found the 9500 feels a lot more than 10% smaller and lighter.  The more modern rounded design helps a lot - gives it a more compact feel.  Being much more square the 9210 seemed to earn the description of house brick but anyone considering a 9500 may well be pleasantly surprised at the improvement.  I used to tote around a 5mx and Nokia 8210 with a combined weight of around 420g (and always requiring line of sight for IR connections) but now I carry just over 220g and no longer need to juggle IR ports on a table on the UK's finest wobbly trains!

Regards
Kevin Thorne

Date: 26 Mar 2005 07:46:58 +0000
From: Eir <address truncated>
Subject: Nokia 9500/9300 and GPS

On 21 Mar 2005 Chris Malcolm wrote:

>> Is it possible to connect to a Garmin 12XL?

>Yes if it's got an RS232 serial connection, all you >need is appropriate cabling.

I have been looking at the specs for the 9500/9300 and it does not seem to have a serial port connection (only USB).  Can someone please confirm this?

I am looking for electronic maps for the Jungfrau region which can be used in conjunction with the 9500 or 9300 and the Garmin 12XL

Many thanks,
Martin O'Neill