Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!turing.toronto.edu!ruhtra
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: ruhtra@turing.toronto.edu (Arthur Tateishi)
Subject: Re: rechargeables in palmtops?
Message-ID: <1991Apr27.232635.24658@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
References: <1991Apr27.161015.19757@cmcl2.nyu.edu> <1991Apr28.012501.28554@zoo.toronto.edu>
Date: 28 Apr 91 03:26:35 GMT
Lines: 24

In article <1991Apr28.012501.28554@zoo.toronto.edu> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes:
>In article <1991Apr27.161015.19757@cmcl2.nyu.edu> dimitrov@lab.ultra.nyu.edu (Isaac Dimitrovsky) writes:
>>My portfolio says alkaline batteries are recommended.
>>Does anyone know if using Nicad rechargeables will actually
>>cause problems, or if it just results in shorter times
>>between battery replacement.
>
>I don't immediately see any problem they would cause, however.  They do

The real problem with NiCd's is their power curve. Normal batteries follow
a long steady line from 1.5V down. Nicads start at 1.2V, drop quickly to
a level slightly lower and then suffer a very slow decline to ~1V or so.
After that it just sort of drops away to nothing. Suddenly. This is really
bad when your unit's memory could get wiped out. A computer's battery level
alarm doesn't give a lot of warning and may not even trigger.

BTW Henry, welcome aboard. In an earlier post you spoke of those
right-shifted special characters. There is a nice keyboard template
overlay you can buy. They should have included it with the base machine.

-- 
Red Alert.
    -- Q, "Deja Q", stardate 43539.1
Arthur Tateishi                 g9ruhtra@zero.cdf.utoronto.edu