On Thu, Sep 05, 2002 at 11:45:20PM -0500, Chuck Cole wrote: > [snip] I don't think anyone was claiming that rechargable are best for everything. > My requirements for batteries for either personal or for professional design > usage go much beyond what this author has considered. FYI, I chose a Palm > IIIxe when color and rechargeables were available in newer models: I get > full compatibility in B&W, and almost 2 weeks battery life on regular > Duracells. The rechargeable B&W Palm compatibles show only about 6 hours of > operation between recharges, and that's barely enough for a flight to CA > with a layover. Rechargeables in a PDA can't be instantly replaced anywhere > or bought in any airport. Color models are worse. Pocket PC models are > really terrible. A B&W Palm is a very low power demand on standby and much > lower than color models when operating. This is why I have a handspring with a built in lithium ion battery, it runs for *months* before I finally use up the battery and sit it back on the cradle to recharge (which takes all of 30 minutes when it's discharged to about 10%) I don't use it for extended periods of time, but the run-time on the unit even when it is left on continiously will last about 6-7 hours, it's a snap to recharge on-the-go by plugging it into a cigarette lighter or wall outlet for 10-20 minutes. > My digital camera is pretty greedy > of power, but I like the feature of knowing that a fresh set of throw-aways > will assure an operating period while rechargeables may be "tired" due to > heat or shelf storage and thus may quit prematurely. I know the > rechargeables cost more than throw-away Duracells, but I do not know that > rechargeables can be as good or better for either 1) typical realistic life > of a spare set, or 2) realistic lifetime cost that includes aging and > storage effects. I remain skeptical, but YMMV. Spare throw-aways assure > that precious camera shot the author speaks about, but spare rechargeables > may not. If you really can't get to a cigarette lighter plug, or a wall outlet, then sure. go ahead and pick up some disposables, otherwise you're better off with the good rechargables. -- Matthew S. Hallacy FUBAR, LART, BOFH Certified http://www.poptix.net GPG public key 0x01938203