Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghitulescu
"Special" batteries are another method for manufacturers to control the "obsolescence" of an apparatus. Devices that work "forever" are the nightmare of any manufacturer, in the end there will be 7 billion items, and nobody will want a new one.
For me batteries are very important. They should be common, the more common (AAA, AA, R6, R03) the better, as one can find them even in Kenya.
I bought once a budget device. It was supposed to be powered by 2 AAAs (R03). It also looked like. Only at home, after opening the package, I noticed that the battery compartment had indeed been designed for AAAs, yet the mould has been changed and a CR2016 placed instead (I mean "stamped over"). Why? Because a CR2016 will be drawn fast and it costs 2-4€ apiece unlike 2€ for 8 AAAs.
|
eReader batteries are meant to be
recharged not replaced in the first instance (and replaced only when they lose their ability to recharge). So,
no, being "common" is not generally an issue. People will only be replacing them every couple of years or longer.
Whilst these "special" batteries may be exotic compared to AA, etc, they tend to be standardised and available well after the products that they power, so don't contribute to "obsolescence" (assuming that they can be accessed to allow replacement).
Also these "common" batteries are thicker than most eReaders, and I rather doubt if many would be interested in a larger and heavier design needed to accommodate them.
If anybody is concerned about their eReader running out of juice away from the amenities of civilisation, they will most likely either (i) get themselves a solar recharger, or (ii) get an external battery-based backup/charger.
Addendum: I would also mention that the battery-powered "device" that I use with a comparative frequency to my eReader is my flashlight, which likewise uses a "special" battery, a 18650 (3.7v lithium-ion). The battery lasts a couple of months or more, and when it runs down I just swap a second one in and put the used one on the charger. So much easier than continually having to buy and stuff AA/AAA batteries into it