I'd need a really, really long cord. I'm generally not in favor of being planted while reading. On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:07:04 -0500, you wrote: >What makes you think that you could not read while recharging? > > >>>> chill000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wednesday, February 01, 2006 2:59:17 PM >>>> >If you shipped the unit with two batteries and an external charger, >I'd be in favor of a rechargable battery, otherwise just fix the >contacts and be done with it. Digital cameras get their batteries >changed as well and don't have this problem. I'm not interested in >stopping reading for a few hours while my bookpart recharges. > >On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 13:56:13 -0500, you wrote: > >>What about if we did something like your cell phone where you could >>replace the battery yourself if you needed to, but you would not need >to >>do so every week or so as is the case now. >> >> >>>>> ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wednesday, February 01, 2006 >>12:39:22 PM >>> >>I must chime in here. I have never had a problem with the current >>battery contacts. And I would hate to see the batteries become >>something that cannot not be replaced by the user. There are many >>battery charging systems that allow users to recharge batteries, and >I >>firmly believe that having the ability to replace the batteries makes >>the Bookport portable and easy to use. Think about it, APH, if there >>were some kind of proprietary battery system, you'd have even more >>Bookports coming in for repair than you ever did for battery contact >>issues. People would have to routinely send their devices for >service >>when the battery died. >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Neal Ewers >>Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:27 AM >>To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>Subject: [bookport] Re: power >> >> >>Sarah and others, I have not had any problems changing batteries >>either. >>And, for what it's worth, I like the fact that I am not stuck with >>some >>proprietary batter pack that I either have to buy at some point, or >>worse yet, send the unit back to have the battery pack replaced. I >>can >>understand Larry's point if they have really had problems with this, >>but >>perhaps a little podcast on how to correctly change batteries would >be >>in order before scrapping the idea of replaceable batteries. >> >>Neal >> >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sarah Cranston >>Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:03 AM >>To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>Subject: [bookport] Re: power >> >> >>Eric, >> >>May I respectfully ask what any of this has to do with blindness? >>Changing batteries has nothing to do with vision and everything to do >>with being careful and paying attention to what one is doing. I, >like >>Walt, have changed batteries in many, many devices. In particular, I >>have changed the batteries in my BookPort at least 60 or 70 times, >and >>have had absolutely no ill effects. I do understand that there are >>those who have ended up with damaged contacts, but I have never been >>able to figure out exactly how this could happen if one is careful. >>If >>I've misunderstood your comment about making things "blind proof", >>(you're not a partial, are you?), then please clarify and set me >>straight. >> >>Sarah >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Eric StevenS >>Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 10:48 AM >>To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>Subject: [bookport] Re: power >> >> >>Well, Walt, again they have to dumb down to the lowest common >>denominator. >>Make everything stupid/blind proof. >> >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Walt Smith" <walt@xxxxxxxxxx> >>To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:39 AM >>Subject: [bookport] Re: power >> >> >>> The last time we had a discussion on battery connections, I think >it >> >>> was Larry who pointed out that in actual use, the spring type of >>> connectors really don't stand up much better than the present >spring >> >>> clips. The problem seems to be more related to how the batteries >are >> >>> inserted and removed--they >>> should always be inserted negative end (the bottom of the battery >>opposite >>> to the end with the little button on it) first. I've made dozens >and >> >>> dozens >>> (probably over a hundred) battery changes without any apparent >>damage >>to >>> the >>> contacts and have used all types of batteries. I agree with the >>comments >>> regarding the 15-minute charger, as well. >>> >>> Larry's message slightly alarmed me in that it almost seems to >imply >> >>> that future devices that emanate from his shop may not have >>> user-replaceable batteries and I think this would be a mistake, as >it >> >>> would seriously limit the BP's portability in situations where AC >>> power might not be easily available (camping, for example). >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Chris Hill" <chill000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:29 AM >>> Subject: [bookport] Re: power >>> >>> >>> I agree that the way the charger does it is a batter solution. I >>> think the coil spring type of contacts also are a better bet than >>what >> >>> the bookport currently uses. >>> >>> On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 07:27:40 -0800, you wrote: >>> >>>>I was glad to see that the user could change and replace the >>batteries >> >>>>in the bookport. I'm wondering about a solution to the problem of >>>>damaged contacts. I >>>>use an IC-3 battery charger that quick charges the IC-3 batteries >in >> >>>>about >>>>15 >>>>minutes. This is a great comvenience. Now when you insertt the >>batteries >>>>into >>>>this charger, where the positive contact is, instead of feeling >the >>bare >>>>contact, if you will, you find a round protruding piece with a >>little >>>>recess in >>>>it where you fit the little nub at the positive end of the battery. >>When >>>>you >>>>snug the battery against this, inside, it is spring loaded. You >fit >>in >>>>the >>>>nub >>>>and gently push in and seat the battery. This protects the contact >>and >>>>you >>>>never actually touch it. Wonder if something like that could work >>for >>the >>>>BP >>>>battery recepticle. Just thinking. I really like the current >>>>battery/power >>>>arrangement for the BP. >>>>By the way, I don't get as much battery time per charge with the >>IC-3 >>>>rechargeables, as I do with non-rechargeable alkalines. But the >>quick >>>>charge >>>>convenience and cost savings makes it worthwhile. If I'm reading >>only >>>>books >>>>using the synthesizer, I get 50 hours or close thereto >>>>Lois. >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> > > >