Touch Does sdhc card affects autonomy?

Akto · 12-21-2011, 06:26 AM

Hi !

Well the title sums it up.

Leaving my 4 gb sdhc card in the reader seems to greatly affect the autonomy. The card contains some 20 pdf files averaging 50 mo each.

With the card left inside the reader, wifi off, I can only read some 600 pages (1 book stored on the kobo - not the card - taking very short notes) before charging is needed.

Does someone experiences the same problem ? Thanks in advance for your feedback

digiSara · 12-21-2011, 12:48 PM

I don't understand what you mean by autonomy.

If you are asking if the SD card affects battery life, that was my experience - I tried using an SD card for a week or so, and felt the battery life was less with it in - my thought was that it's checking the card everytime you restart the reader so that uses a bit more power then normal.

Koboyashi · 12-21-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digiSara

I don't understand what you mean by autonomy.

Autonomy from an AC outlet or Computer...

Quote:

Originally Posted by digiSara

... I tried using an SD card for a week or so, and felt the battery life was less with it in ...

Yes, the same for me (16gb). Where the power consumption seems to be higher if you always shutdown/restart the Touch with a card inserted, instead of using the sleep mode.

jefftheworld · 12-21-2011, 07:35 PM

I have tested this theory several times and found that it's not only true but the amount of content on the card makes a big difference.

A couple items on an sd card made little difference, but when I put Five hundred epubs on the sd card the device wouldn't last more than a few days. Changing the sleep/power policy fixes this.

mconh · 12-21-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefftheworld

I have tested this theory several times and found that it's not only true but the amount of content on the card makes a big difference.

A couple items on an sd card made little difference, but when I put Five hundred epubs on the sd card the device wouldn't last more than a few days. Changing the sleep/power policy fixes this.

Changing it to what? Sleep and never power off automatically?

Akto · 12-22-2011, 03:23 AM

Battery life would have been clearer.

Thank you all for your feedback.

This only confirms what I thought but I'm very disappointed that you confirm it. I wanted to have reference books (pdf "home made" nature and hiking guide books not available, mostly in french) and maps on my sdhc card to use during weeks long treks. The battery life falling down to 600 pages i.e. 3 or 4 days of use maximum is a great disapointment as I often travel away from any plug for a week. My solar panel helps but I would never have thought that a sdhc card would make such a huge difference for the autonomy of the reader. Very bad news.

I would be glad to hear a comment from a Kobo Team member on this subject. Maybe some fine tuning could help ?

Xennex1170 · 12-22-2011, 03:38 AM

I wonder if it makes a difference in power drain depending on what Class the microSD card is.

frankieGom · 12-22-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akto

I wanted to have reference books (pdf "home made" nature and hiking guide books not available, mostly in french) and maps on my sdhc card to use during weeks long treks. The battery life falling down to 600 pages i.e. 3 or 4 days of use maximum is a great disapointment as I often travel away from any plug for a week. My solar panel helps but I would never have thought that a sdhc card would make such a huge difference for the autonomy of the reader. Very bad news.

Akto,

You'd get a similar experience from other eReaders as any read or write to the card will draw additional power. Some eReaders may be better optimized in this respect (though I doubt it), but not using the card should yield better battery life in most if not all instances.

In the Kobo case (and I just don't know but that may be true of other eReaders as well), because the SDcard is a removable media it must be scanned for content whenever the device is switched on, or a card inserted (as you don't know that it is the same card or another one), and that will mean additional drain proportional to the number of books stored on it.

I know that is not the answer you seeked, but why not plan a little ahead and load in main memory those PDF files you need for the trek before you go? For your specific usage that would seem the better option... That and switching off the Kobo when you're done, of course, since you wouldn't incur the extra drain from the card at boot up time.

If you need to stick to the SDcard scheme, then I suggest you go to other parts of the forum and check on other eReader owners about their experience.

good reading,
François

Koboyashi · 12-22-2011, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankieGom

... because the SDcard is a removable media it must be scanned for content whenever the device is switched on, or a card inserted ...

So we should have an option to scan the card always automatically or by hand, maybe called "Voyage Mode" or "TripMode" with an icon near the clock when activated. This mode could also disable the wireless connection (optional).

Akto · 12-23-2011, 03:11 AM

Merci François.

Obviously, as suggested by frankieGom, the easiest way to handle this issue would be to simply have all my reference books and maps on the internal memory.

The problem is the following. Each pdf is about 50 mb meaning that once 28 of them are "on board" no room is left and the memory is full, the reader slowing down a lot. I also wonder in this case if opening and reading 50 mb files would significantly decrease the battery life.

What's the point then in advertising up to one month of reading and the possibility to extend the storage capacity if doing so "kills" the autonomy of the reader ? Readers are said to be used while traveling away from home but if it's means only traveling near a plug... then it's mostly useless.

I will try to optimize my "home made" guides but don't want to spent days on that. Furthermore if I convert them into Epub, this format doesn't allow to zoom or change orientation. Hiking guide books containing maps...

I like the idea of Koboyashi to have an option concerning the scan.

I will also try to use only the sleep mode once the sdhc card is inserted to see how the battery behaves.

Thanks all for your ideas !

12-21-2011, 06:26 AM	#1
Akto Member Posts: 15 Karma: 628 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo touch	Does sdhc card affects autonomy? Hi ! Well the title sums it up. Leaving my 4 gb sdhc card in the reader seems to greatly affect the autonomy. The card contains some 20 pdf files averaging 50 mo each. With the card left inside the reader, wifi off, I can only read some 600 pages (1 book stored on the kobo - not the card - taking very short notes) before charging is needed. Does someone experiences the same problem ? Thanks in advance for your feedback

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12-21-2011, 12:48 PM	#2
digiSara Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 153344 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo wifi	I don't understand what you mean by autonomy. If you are asking if the SD card affects battery life, that was my experience - I tried using an SD card for a week or so, and felt the battery life was less with it in - my thought was that it's checking the card everytime you restart the reader so that uses a bit more power then normal.

12-21-2011, 07:35 PM	#4
jefftheworld Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 157090 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo, Kobo Vox	I have tested this theory several times and found that it's not only true but the amount of content on the card makes a big difference. A couple items on an sd card made little difference, but when I put Five hundred epubs on the sd card the device wouldn't last more than a few days. Changing the sleep/power policy fixes this.

12-22-2011, 03:23 AM	#6
Akto Member Posts: 15 Karma: 628 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo touch	Battery life would have been clearer. Thank you all for your feedback. This only confirms what I thought but I'm very disappointed that you confirm it. I wanted to have reference books (pdf "home made" nature and hiking guide books not available, mostly in french) and maps on my sdhc card to use during weeks long treks. The battery life falling down to 600 pages i.e. 3 or 4 days of use maximum is a great disapointment as I often travel away from any plug for a week. My solar panel helps but I would never have thought that a sdhc card would make such a huge difference for the autonomy of the reader. Very bad news. I would be glad to hear a comment from a Kobo Team member on this subject. Maybe some fine tuning could help ?

12-22-2011, 03:38 AM	#7
Xennex1170 Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 289856 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Device: Kobo Touch	I wonder if it makes a difference in power drain depending on what Class the microSD card is.

12-23-2011, 03:11 AM	#10
Akto Member Posts: 15 Karma: 628 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo touch	Merci François. Obviously, as suggested by frankieGom, the easiest way to handle this issue would be to simply have all my reference books and maps on the internal memory. The problem is the following. Each pdf is about 50 mb meaning that once 28 of them are "on board" no room is left and the memory is full, the reader slowing down a lot. I also wonder in this case if opening and reading 50 mb files would significantly decrease the battery life. What's the point then in advertising up to one month of reading and the possibility to extend the storage capacity if doing so "kills" the autonomy of the reader ? Readers are said to be used while traveling away from home but if it's means only traveling near a plug... then it's mostly useless. I will try to optimize my "home made" guides but don't want to spent days on that. Furthermore if I convert them into Epub, this format doesn't allow to zoom or change orientation. Hiking guide books containing maps... I like the idea of Koboyashi to have an option concerning the scan. I will also try to use only the sleep mode once the sdhc card is inserted to see how the battery behaves. Thanks all for your ideas !