[bookport] Re: power
- From: "LARRY SKUTCHAN" <lskutchan@xxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:11:03 -0500
Brian, this is a good thought, but one thing that complicates this whole
issue is the expense of manufacturing such a mechinism in the low
quantities we need. I don't think anyone here wants to pay $600 for a
Book Port.
>>> buhrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wednesday, February 01, 2006 2:46:28
PM >>>
I actually don't really think this is a good idea. With a cell
phone,
battery replacement is a real problem. Yes, the battery is user
replaceable, but, for example, my new cell phone has a $50.00 battery,
which may or may not be available in 3 or 5 years. I'd hate to have
to
scrap my bookport because its battery was no longer manufactured.
While I
recognize that the current system has its drawbacks, and having a lot
of
units come back with bent battery terminals is frustrating, I think a
better approach would be to try and design a better battery loading
mechanism which would accomodate similarly commoditized batteries, but
which was less prone to user error. For example, one solution might be
to
put the battery door on the side of the unit. The door itself would
have a
metal backing on it, and the batteries themselves could be slit into
individual slots which would then be connected once the door was slid
into
place. The terminals at the back end of the compartment would be
virtually
unreachable by folks, and the slots themselves would guide the
batteries in
at the proper angle. If the battery cover was damaged or lost, it
could be
easily replaced.
For examples similar to what I'm talking about, look at digital
cameras which take AA batteries. Many of them use a design which
exposes
the ends of the batteries, rather than the sides of the batteries.
-Brian
On Feb 1, 1:12pm, "Richard Ring" wrote:
} Subject: [bookport] Re: power
} I could go along with that, provided the battery was easily
obtainable
} and not too expensive.
} I would also want a way to charge the battery outside the unit
though,
} so I could have a spare. Larry, I use the Bookport every day, not
just
} once in a while. I cannot stress this enough. I use the thing all
of
} the time, I probably read at least two books per week. It keeps me
off
} the street!
}
} -----Original Message-----
} From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of LARRY SKUTCHAN
} Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 12:56 PM
} To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} Subject: [bookport] Re: power
}
}
} 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.
} >
} >
} >
} >
}
}
}
}
}
}
>-- End of excerpt from "Richard Ring"
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