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From: dl1@ukc.ac.uk (D.Langford)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Z88 problems
Message-ID: <4534@harrier.ukc.ac.uk>
Date: 2 May 90 09:36:08 GMT
References: <4505@harrier.ukc.ac.uk>,<1601@mindlink.UUCP>
Reply-To: dl1@ukc.ac.uk (D.Langford)
Organization: Computing Lab, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK.
Lines: 31


I posted a tale of woe about flat batteries in my Z88 a while back, and
it seemed sensible to summarize for the net - seems as if it could be a
small percentage of Z88's may have the problem as well.

NiCad batteries were mentioned as needing special treatment; if only
discharged to a certain level before recharging, they apparantly treat
this as their new 'discharged' point. Could it be sensible to totally
discharge a battery pack after removal from the computer but before recharging
it? In any event, several people told me they had experienced charging-type
problems.

More: it seems from several reports that if Z88 key/s are depressed /at any
time/ the battery is discharging. I take this to mean that even if the
machine is theoretically off, pressure on a key can flatten batteries. 
Someone mentioned a special hard plastic keyboard cover designed to prevent
this problem.

Finally - and this was probably a major part of my own problem - the actual
keyboard itself can cause false 'keydown' messages. Those funny rubber keys
can be damaging without appearing damaged...

For the interested: my Z88 now won't work at all, even with fully charged
batteries (I suspect the benchtesting only tested functioning with a mains
connector). Ah, well. Back to the Mac...

- duncan

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 dl1@ukc.ac.uk  duncan langford computing lab., university of kent, uk
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