11–16 of 16 posts
What computer-like devices still use AAs? The only ones I can think of are some of Garmin’s GPS units. (There the user-replaceable battery, in a standard format you can buy from any developing-world shop, is seen as a big plus by many users. But one dreads that such units will eventually no longer be offered, replaced only by USB-charged batteries, just because that’s how things go nowadays.)
- The IBM WorkPad Z50 (could use, IIRC, 8 AA batteries)
- The HP Jornada 720/728 (there was an adapter to use two AA batteries IIRC).
I had the HP Jornada 728 and used to run JLime Linux and NetBSD on that. It was a nice toy for a 16-17 years old geek like me.
I had hopes for the Jornada 728 flashrom board... But it never materialized AFAIK.
I get that Li-ion charges faster, but there is something about industry standard batteries.
Hmmmmm. Maybe it's not so much AA that I miss, but the standardization. If Li-ion were sold and designed for swappable 18650 form factor, then we wouldn't need as many. The problem is that different Li-ion can have different specs and/or safety features (protected cells have slightly less current and are slightly longer).
Still, modern AA NiMH remains a standard form factor and capable.
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The other set of standard batteries is Lead Acid (6V 4.5 Ahr is standardized for example).
When did we become incapable of standardizing parts btw? Why are all of our batteries across iPhones and Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxies different?
Back when Mp3 players were a thing (before the iPod) Archos were making an MP3 player which took 4 AA, and the mail list for alternate runtime (rockbox) was full of discussions about NiMH trickle charging, approaches to maximising battery life, as were Apple Mouse conversations. People went wild for the most long lived, fastest recharge AA. In some ways, I think it's a shame we didn't go to consumer goods run on Lith…
I had the Archos Jukebox ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archos_Jukebox_series ) - so great - I remember the corner bumpers actually working pretty well. Thanks for the memories!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Karma
After my Rio broken (failed HD, and a terrible pain in the butt to take apart, and beyond my skills to put back together...) I got an iAudio X5 L and stuck Rockbox on it. After a few years, I upgraded the HDD to a CF-Card using a CF-to-miniIDE adaptor. I loved the battery life on that thing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAUDIO#iAUDIO_X5
But, sadly, now I just use a phone for everything.
I am very happy though that I can at least have foobar2000 on my phone. But, I really miss the well thought-out tactile UI of my previous dedicated players.
AA batteries were insane back then. Technically rechargeables existed. It was always cheaper right now to buy disposables, so of course, if you were a kid in a poor family, rechargeables probably did not exist. Just complete madness buying disposable batteries on a monthly or weekly basis! I'm glad we don't have to do that anymore!
> if you were a kid in a poor family, rechargeables probably did not exist. Poor kid from a poor family here, I switched entirely to NiCad AAs and AAAs in 1986 'because it was cheaper' to reuse the same batteries over and over. I accidentally wiped a bootleg Guns and Roses concert tape by leaving it on top of my NiCad charger (bought from Maplins) once and somehow it had this huge magnetic field that rendered the tap…
I've got a similar number of LSS NiMH, but only one crappy single bay charger for all of them, and they're all over 10+ years old I'm pretty sure, so I don't really have any way to refresh them or even detect which are still good...
The few times a year I need one is always a hassle, I keep meaning to get an ISDT A8 Air, but haven't yet, because I have so few remaining AA/AAA devices and they mostly only need charging once a year.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I had the Archos Jukebox ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archos_Jukebox_series ) - so great - I remember the corner bumpers actually working pretty well. Thanks for the memories!
I had a Rio Karma, it remains to this day one of my favorite piece of tech I've owned. The UI was simple and fast, and the tactile buttons let me control playback by touch alone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Karma After my Rio broken (failed HD, and a terrible pain in the butt to take apart, and beyond my skills to put back together...) I got an iAudio X5 L and stuck Rockbox on it. After a few years, I upgraded…