If I were on a plane, and my battery died, not only could I not read,
but I couldn't recharge. I know, whine, whine, whine!
But you should be glad that I have been one of the biggest proponents of
the Bookport you'll ever see.
I feel somewhat responsible for at least three Bookport purchases
besides my own!
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of LARRY SKUTCHAN
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 2:07 PM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: power
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.
