Classic How many actual reading hours do you estimate... - Page 2

Rebo · 07-25-2010, 05:57 PM

There is something amiss in here. While my device is in reading mode, WiFi/3G is off and LCD is basically off; however, battery is still draining at 6% per hour. The only power that the nook should be using in this mode is to go to the next page on command, refresh the e-ink screen, update the clock, and running background checks.

One potential power drain is the constant energy required in the circuit to monitor the touch screen for refresh. Therefore, the LCD circuit is not totally asleep. I tested this theory by leaving the device in reading mode (airplane on, WiFi off, sleep timer to 20 minutes) and turned the pages only 3 times in one hour. In this one hour, the power still drains 4%. It should be noted in normal reading mode with approximately 50 page turns, the power usage is ~ 6% per hour.

In other words, for good power managerment design, the Nook should be using only 2% per hour for its reading function since 4% can be considered as non function related waste. To potentially improve the battery usage, B&N can add a feature to completely shut down the function and monitoring of the LCD screen. I hope some clever programmers/hackers can find an easy software solution. If not, it might have to be a hardware fix that we are not going to see until the next gen Nook arrives.

lionel47 · 07-25-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebo

There is something amiss in here. While my device is in reading mode, WiFi/3G is off and LCD is basically off; however, battery is still draining at 6% per hour. The only power that the nook should be using in this mode is to go to the next page on command, refresh the e-ink screen, update the clock, and running background checks.

One potential power drain is the constant energy required in the circuit to monitor the touch screen for refresh. Therefore, the LCD circuit is not totally asleep. I tested this theory by leaving the device in reading mode (airplane on, WiFi off, sleep timer to 20 minutes) and turned the pages only 3 times in one hour. In this one hour, the power still drains 4%. It should be noted in normal reading mode with approximately 50 page turns, the power usage is ~ 6% per hour.

In other words, for good power managerment design, the Nook should be using only 2% per hour for its reading function since 4% can be considered as non function related waste. To potentially improve the battery usage, B&N can add a feature to completely shut down the function and monitoring of the LCD screen. I hope some clever programmers/hackers can find an easy software solution. If not, it might have to be a hardware fix that we are not going to see until the next gen Nook arrives.

Excellent observation. Maybe a good design would be to make swipe page turning an option you can turn on/off in the settings. That way, the Nook logo could be used to wake up the LCD and not send you to the main menu. Brilliant!

Personally, I only use the buttons to turn pages so the loss of the swipe to have more battery is worth it to me.

simplyparticular · 07-28-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Maybe a good design would be to make swipe page turning an option you can turn on/off in the settings.

This a good idea, as long as they could make it easily accessible for switching on the fly. I use the page turn buttons during the day, but at night I read with an easel case and use the touchscreen. My bedmate appreciates the silence - those buttons are noisy in a quiet room.

boswd · 07-28-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellington

...that you get from a single battery charge. I got a nook recently and am a bit distressed by the battery performance. I'm not sure if I was expecting too much or if I got a bad battery.

I'm on my second charge now and it seems like I'm getting 8-10 hours of reading per charge. Also, I've noticed that where sleep mode used to use maybe 1% of the battery overnight, it's now more like 6-8%. I've always had airplane mode on, and the touchscreen timeout at the lowest, with the lowest brightness and auto-adjust off.

When I first got it I charged it up right away, but it wouldn't charge beyond 86% (though now it does charge to 100). I wonder if this is makes a difference? Mine came with the 1.4 firmware on it.

So how does your experience compare? What do you think?

I would def. say bad battery. have them exchange it out.

wellington · 07-28-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boswd

I would def. say bad battery. have them exchange it out.

How many hours would you say you get? I'm trying to get some sort of consensus to compare to.

Miss Understood · 07-28-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boswd

I would def. say bad battery. have them exchange it out.

I have had my nook for about 3 weeks and exchanged it out because the battery needed to be charged every 2 1/2 days. My new nook has the same problem. It's disappointing that after my nook finishes charging and I unplug it the battery immediately drops down from 100% to 98%.

My Sony PRS505 can go a full 2 weeks with VERY heavy reading before needing to be charged. I am forced to think that the nook or the current firmware 1.4 is to blame for the crappy battery life.

lionel47 · 07-28-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Understood

I have had my nook for about 3 weeks and exchanged it out because the battery needed to be charged every 2 1/2 days. My new nook has the same problem. It's disappointing that after my nook finishes charging and I unplug it the battery immediately drops down from 100% to 98%.

My Sony PRS505 can go a full 2 weeks with VERY heavy reading before needing to be charged. I am forced to think that the nook or the current firmware 1.4 is to blame for the crappy battery life.

You know, all this talk about the batteries is making me paranoid. I charge every 5 days or so but I only read for a couple of hours a day. Should I be getting more?

GreenMonkey · 07-29-2010, 02:38 AM

I've had mine for about a month now. I'd say I'm getting about 4-5 days on average if I don't recharge. Closer to 4 than 5. I try to put it in airplane mode...it lasts a lot longer that way. I don't know about 10 days...but I'd say 6-7 if I leave the network off.

That said I picked up a few extra micro-b usb cables for like $7 shipped at monoprice.com (my favorite cable store) so that I can charge it if needed while I'm at work, or from my laptop if I'm at school.

If you're not familiar with monoprice for cables, you should be

dharh · 07-31-2010, 04:53 AM

In airplane mode, about 2 to 3 books before recharge. Mind you they aren't super large books.

lionel47 · 07-31-2010, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

That said I picked up a few extra micro-b usb cables for like $7 shipped at monoprice.com (my favorite cable store) so that I can charge it if needed while I'm at work, or from my laptop if I'm at school.

If you're not familiar with monoprice for cables, you should be

Can you point out which cables specifically?

just_jeepin · 08-01-2010, 10:25 AM

Wow, I've been wanting a Nook but think I'll stick with my 505. I can go 3 weeks between charges with 1-3hrs reading a day.

aagstn · 08-01-2010, 12:20 PM

The battery thing always puzzles me. I just don't see why I would need a book reader that lasts longer than the 4-5 days the nook lasts between charges. I have to charge my phone and my netbook daily so it really isn't a big issue to top off my nook as well. Going a month between charges seems like overkill to me.

I would gladly trade a month between charges for a few days to get that color screen and page swiping.

Rebo · 08-01-2010, 01:22 PM

I don't think charging it every 4 or 5 days is really a problem for me but it is just annoying that the unit is not working as what I thought was advertised. With my Nook turned off every night, I get 15 hours of reading out of it. Is this 1 day or 10 days battery charge? I can argue one way or the other since it depends on a person's reading habits.

I think the advertisment of the ereader in terms of days is really misleading. They should just tell the consumers how many hours of reading the product can provide. Depending on what assumptions people make on number of hours of reading per day, one battery charge can last one day or LOL forever.

sarahsbloke · 08-01-2010, 02:11 PM

The Nook doens't last 4-5 days, more like 8 hours of use.
My Samsung Netbook can go 6 hours, an Ipad can do 8 hours.

When you aren't actually reading it, the number of days doesn't count, the battery is useless.

Get the new Kindle next month, that looks much better.

aagstn · 08-01-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahsbloke

The Nook doens't last 4-5 days, more like 8 hours of use.
My Samsung Netbook can go 6 hours, an Ipad can do 8 hours.

When you aren't actually reading it, the number of days doesn't count, the battery is useless.

Get the new Kindle next month, that looks much better.

I get at least 16 hours even using the 3G a bit and that is over several days with it draining slightly in standby. The 8 hour number is not true of my nook.

07-31-2010, 04:53 AM	#24
dharh Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: nook,ipad,netbook	In airplane mode, about 2 to 3 books before recharge. Mind you they aren't super large books. Last edited by dharh; 07-31-2010 at 04:55 AM.

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07-25-2010, 05:57 PM	#16
Rebo Groupie Posts: 173 Karma: 392 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: nook, nook color, kindle 3, Ipad 2nd gen, Nook HD+, Iphone 4S	There is something amiss in here. While my device is in reading mode, WiFi/3G is off and LCD is basically off; however, battery is still draining at 6% per hour. The only power that the nook should be using in this mode is to go to the next page on command, refresh the e-ink screen, update the clock, and running background checks. One potential power drain is the constant energy required in the circuit to monitor the touch screen for refresh. Therefore, the LCD circuit is not totally asleep. I tested this theory by leaving the device in reading mode (airplane on, WiFi off, sleep timer to 20 minutes) and turned the pages only 3 times in one hour. In this one hour, the power still drains 4%. It should be noted in normal reading mode with approximately 50 page turns, the power usage is ~ 6% per hour. In other words, for good power managerment design, the Nook should be using only 2% per hour for its reading function since 4% can be considered as non function related waste. To potentially improve the battery usage, B&N can add a feature to completely shut down the function and monitoring of the LCD screen. I hope some clever programmers/hackers can find an easy software solution. If not, it might have to be a hardware fix that we are not going to see until the next gen Nook arrives.

07-29-2010, 02:38 AM	#23
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	I've had mine for about a month now. I'd say I'm getting about 4-5 days on average if I don't recharge. Closer to 4 than 5. I try to put it in airplane mode...it lasts a lot longer that way. I don't know about 10 days...but I'd say 6-7 if I leave the network off. That said I picked up a few extra micro-b usb cables for like $7 shipped at monoprice.com (my favorite cable store) so that I can charge it if needed while I'm at work, or from my laptop if I'm at school. If you're not familiar with monoprice for cables, you should be

08-01-2010, 10:25 AM	#26
just_jeepin Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1010848 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Wow, I've been wanting a Nook but think I'll stick with my 505. I can go 3 weeks between charges with 1-3hrs reading a day.

08-01-2010, 12:20 PM	#27
aagstn Evangelist Posts: 422 Karma: 1004351 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 3, iPad mini 2	The battery thing always puzzles me. I just don't see why I would need a book reader that lasts longer than the 4-5 days the nook lasts between charges. I have to charge my phone and my netbook daily so it really isn't a big issue to top off my nook as well. Going a month between charges seems like overkill to me. I would gladly trade a month between charges for a few days to get that color screen and page swiping.

08-01-2010, 01:22 PM	#28
Rebo Groupie Posts: 173 Karma: 392 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: nook, nook color, kindle 3, Ipad 2nd gen, Nook HD+, Iphone 4S	I don't think charging it every 4 or 5 days is really a problem for me but it is just annoying that the unit is not working as what I thought was advertised. With my Nook turned off every night, I get 15 hours of reading out of it. Is this 1 day or 10 days battery charge? I can argue one way or the other since it depends on a person's reading habits. I think the advertisment of the ereader in terms of days is really misleading. They should just tell the consumers how many hours of reading the product can provide. Depending on what assumptions people make on number of hours of reading per day, one battery charge can last one day or LOL forever.

08-01-2010, 02:11 PM	#29
sarahsbloke Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 16 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Thailand Device: Original Nook, Kindle Keyboard	The Nook doens't last 4-5 days, more like 8 hours of use. My Samsung Netbook can go 6 hours, an Ipad can do 8 hours. When you aren't actually reading it, the number of days doesn't count, the battery is useless. Get the new Kindle next month, that looks much better.