Oasis Battery Life Concern

[shalym]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

Hi Barry,
I appreciated reading your perspective in the Oasis threads that I researched.

Yes, the logic used by some folks is indeed odd, and is why I decided to create this thread. Again, it's quite possible that I'm wrong on this, but I haven't been satisfied with the reasoning to suggest there's no cause for concern, and I see you haven't been either.

It sounds like you were convinced that it was a problem before you bought the device. Can I ask why you bothered to buy it if you knew that you weren't going to like it?

Shari

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by shalym

It sounds like you were convinced that it was a problem before you bought the device. Can I ask why you bothered to buy it if you knew that you weren't going to like it?

Shari

Nope, I wasn't convinced there would be a problem. It's only in using it that I've perceived there to be a potential future issue.

Does it bother you to hear others voice concerns about the Oasis? I've been primarily a Kobo user in the past, and have noticed that often those who are critical about a device are dismissed by those who seem to be emotionally invested in their particular ereader.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

I am referring to the device itself. I read without the cover.

Perhaps the Oasis is intended only for lighter readers? That would come closest to a reasonable explanation yet. It's strange, though, that such a high-end niche device as the Oasis would be targeted at lighter readers. It's seems self-contradictory to me.

If you're a heavier reader, and you read without the cover, my charging experience is far more similar to a cell phone. Yes, a cell phone will show little change in charge capacity in the first year of use. It's years two and beyond that will be telling.

Well in that case, you have nothing to worry about. Both hubby and my cell phone are over 2 years old with no loss of battery (unless some idiot who shall remain nameless due to self-incrimination leaves an app running).

Oh and all the kindle batteries are based on light usage. As in reading time not illumination.

[rem736]

i think this is the concern users are having with the type of charging system that the oasis adopted. regardless of whether the battery is lithium or lithium polymer, the number of charging cycles is about the same and limited. let's say hypothetically that the life of the battery is 400 charging cycles. with the oais' two battery system, even with the larger capacity battery in the cover, the number of charging cycles is the same. so if the cover's battery has twice the capacity of the battery in the reader, you only need to charge the cover once to fill the reader's battery twice. so by the time you get to the 200th cycle on the cover, you will have gotten to the 400th cycle of the reader's.

the cover's battery is still good. however, because the reader's battery is at the end of its cycle limit, you can no longer use the reader unless you can get a replacement battery for the reader.

the numbers are hypothetical, but the concept is accurate.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

Nope, I wasn't convinced there would be a problem. It's only in using it that I've perceived there to be a potential future issue.

Does it bother you to hear others voice concerns about the Oasis? I've been primarily a Kobo user in the past, and have noticed that often those who are critical about a device are dismissed by those who seem to be emotionally invested in their particular ereader.

Now the three in thread that I would listen to about anything kindle are Atunah because she has pretty much owned all of them, barryem for the same reason (except the Oasis because he doesn't own one but he has done his research) and knc1 on pretty much any technical issue including batteries but that is because he has worked with pretty much everything technical.

I must admit your thread is making me miss geekmaster. I am sure he could either lay all your concerns to rest or cause other concerns. I learned a long time ago, don't ask him a simple question unless you want to know everything about whatever you asked about.

The heavy readers in this thread that do own the Oasis have not noticed any problems.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

If you get a chance, could you explain how you charge your Oasis as frequently as you did your Voyage, while maintaining the same reading habits?

It's confusing because the Oasis has a much smaller battery than the Voyage and therefore it's hard to understand how you could be re-charging it at the same rate as the Voyage.

I mean I plug the Oasis into the wall charger about as often as I did my Voyage. I'm not obsessed by the battery issue as some seem to be. It's more comfortable for me to hold than the Voyage and I prefer the physical page buttons and it's a handsome device. I don't know where you got the information that the battery in the Oasis is smaller than that in the Voyage. I doubt that taken together the two Oasis batteries have less capacity than that in the Voyage.

Jim

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by Strether

I mean I plug the Oasis into the wall charger about as often as I did my Voyage. I'm not obsessed by the battery issue as some seem to be. It's more comfortable for me to hold than the Voyage and I prefer the physical page buttons and it's a handsome device. I don't know where you got the information that the battery in the Oasis is smaller than that in the Voyage. I doubt that taken together the two Oasis batteries have less capacity than that in the Voyage.

Jim

It seems you're confused about the difference between the battery in the case and the battery in the device itself. It's a fact that the battery in the Oasis reader (not the case) is much smaller than the battery in the Voyage.

I'm glad you enjoy your Oasis and this doesn't concern you.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by rem736

i think this is the concern users are having with the type of charging system that the oasis adopted. regardless of whether the battery is lithium or lithium polymer, the number of charging cycles is about the same and limited. let's say hypothetically that the life of the battery is 400 charging cycles. with the oais' two battery system, even with the larger capacity battery in the cover, the number of charging cycles is the same. so if the cover's battery has twice the capacity of the battery in the reader, you only need to charge the cover once to fill the reader's battery twice. so by the time you get to the 200th cycle on the cover, you will have gotten to the 400th cycle of the reader's.

the cover's battery is still good. however, because the reader's battery is at the end of its cycle limit, you can no longer use the reader unless you can get a replacement battery for the reader.

the numbers are hypothetical, but the concept is accurate.

Thanks for taking the time to explain the issue more clearly than I have. You've described my concern accurately; I'm not concerned about the battery in the case. I'm only concerned about the battery in the ereader itself.

Others seem to struggle to distinguish between the two and I'm now wondering if it's just technical ignorance on their part that explains why there hasn't been more substantive discussion on this.

Also, the ratio of device charges to cover charges is actually worse than in your hypothetical example. It's more like 3:1, which is completely consistent with the respective capacities of the two batteries.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Well in that case, you have nothing to worry about. Both hubby and my cell phone are over 2 years old with no loss of battery (unless some idiot who shall remain nameless due to self-incrimination leaves an app running).

Oh and all the kindle batteries are based on light usage. As in reading time not illumination.

That's somewhat reassuring (the example from your cell phone usage). I may have been unlucky in that I've noticed a significant deterioration in my latest cell phone once I hit around the two year mark.

If I had to guess why my theory is wrong, yours is the leading explanation. Thanks.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

- - - -
The longevity in years two and beyond. I should have been more clear that my concern is beyond a year's usage. My mistake there. Doesn't change the underlying point.

Here is what puzzled me -

The warranty period of a Kindle is one year (you have not mentioned if you have purchased an extended warranty) -

The battery life-time you are concerned about is that beyond a year's usage -
Which is beyond the device's warranty -
==> No possibility of a warranty replacement of the battery.

I.E: If the battery needs replacement in year 3, then you need:

a) a 3 year or greater warranty
So the battery replacement can be done by a "shop" experienced in getting unglued, glued together consumer items.
or
b) a device that does not have the battery glued to the fragile vitals. That is, one you can replace yourself.
Meaning exchange the current device while you still can under the 1 year warranty (I assume) you have.
or
c) since the damage (to your free cash) has been done, forget it.
This is like wondering if it will rain the weekend 3 years after the one coming in a day or two.

And the other puzzling thing about your logic is you say that you have not noticed anything about yours different from what you have read (-- here I assume you mean read before buying --).

OK, that means you have no new information since you read about this topic prior to buying the model and now, when you own the model.

My question remains -
Why become concerned about it now?
The time to raise this concern was before you purchased it.

If the answer is, you didn't do the reading before the purchase, but only after the purchase, then see your lettered choices above.

If your answer is you became concerned after reading something JSWolf wrote, then your only logical choice is (c) above. (forget the entire topic)

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

That's somewhat reassuring (the example from your cell phone usage). I may have been unlucky in that I've noticed a significant deterioration in my latest cell phone once I hit around the two year mark.

If I had to guess why my theory is wrong, yours is the leading explanation. Thanks.

Hey on your cell phone you might want to check what is running in the background. Oh and second suggestion if yours is a smart phone, turn off location services and wifi unless you are using it.
Oh and lastly, if you are in an area with no cell reception or very spotty cell reception put it in airplane mode otherwise it will wake you up at 3 am wanting fed. (Care to guess who forgot to put it in airplane mode. Hint hubby didn't appreciate not his phone waking him up.).

[Cinisajoy]

Oh and here is a solution if you are still concerned. You said you paid $500. Ok put back $5 a week for the next two years and you will have enough money saved to buy a new one if the battery does what you think it might do. If it is still good well then you will have $520 saved to spend on what you like.
Hmmm, in those terms the Oasis isn't as expensive as previously thought.
(That is less than a pack of cigarettes or a 6 pack of beer or a 12 pack of soda if you have any of those vices.)

[knc1]

Cell phones, like Kindles with 3G -
Cinisajoy has the only answer: airplane mode whenever possible.

And there is a very good (technical) reason why experiences with cell phone batteries and 3G Kindles is so similar. It isn't a coincidence.

[knc1]

And a whole lot cheaper than forgetting spouse's birthday two years in a row.
Cheaper than most trash pick-up services (those < $1/day).

The time to panic is not now, but when the non-replaceable battery dies two days after the end of the warranty period (no matter how long you extend it, that is the way things work).

[Strether]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

It seems you're confused about the difference between the battery in the case and the battery in the device itself. It's a fact that the battery in the Oasis reader (not the case) is much smaller than the battery in the Voyage.

I'm glad you enjoy your Oasis and this doesn't concern you.

I'm not confused at all. Why should I consider them separately when they were designed to work together to provide a similar (at least) experience as other Kindles. If you're worried so much about the batterie, don't keep the Oasis and sleep better at night.

Jim