Power consumption woes

dyspepsic · 06-09-2007, 03:17 AM

http://ebooks.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/e...hp?p_faqid=837

"Turning the page is the only time power is consumed. "

Why such a blatant lie, Sony?

Anyone who owns a PRS500 knows that the battery runs down within a couple weeks of charging it, even if one seldom uses it. I dont recall if this was a problem before the unfortunate firmware update in Feb, but it needs to be fixed. This seriously limits portability. I find it especially irritating that Sony advertises 7000 page turns per charge. At best, I would estimate 1500 page turns.

I would not buy this product again and would be hard pressed to buy anything from Sony again.

HarryT · 06-09-2007, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyspepsic

http://ebooks.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/e...hp?p_faqid=837

"Turning the page is the only time power is consumed. "

Why such a blatant lie, Sony?

You have quoted that phrase completely out of context; it is not a lie. The full text reads:

"Due to the nature of the E Ink electronic display technology, the LCD can retain an image without having power. Turning the page is the only time power is consumed. If the Reader's power is drained, the LCD will retain the last image that was displayed, thus making it appear like the Reader is frozen and in some instances it will not have enough power to perform other operations such as turning on or off."

ie, They are saying that the display only consumes power when a new image is displayed, hence it's possible to be left with the screen showing an image even when the Reader's battery is completely and utterly drained. It's always a good idea to read these things properly!

Quote:

Anyone who owns a PRS500 knows that the battery runs down within a couple weeks of charging it, even if one seldom uses it.

No, that is incorrect. A battery charge should last approximately a month with the machine turned off. It will lose about one "bar" of power every 7-10 days. This is because the operating system is always running.

Quote:

I dont recall if this was a problem before the unfortunate firmware update in Feb, but it needs to be fixed.

Yes, it was, and to be honest with you I really don't see what needs to be "fixed", as you put it. The Reader has a battery life which throws every other book reader out there into the shade. You're complaining about the fact that it needs to be charged once a month????

Quote:

This seriously limits portability.

Why?

Quote:

I find it especially irritating that Sony advertises 7000 page turns per charge. At best, I would estimate 1500 page turns.

A battery charge will allow the display to refresh approximately 7500 times. Naturally the operating system also uses power for other things.

Quote:

I would not buy this product again and would be hard pressed to buy anything from Sony again.

I am completely baffled by your complaints - you seem to have a fundamental lack of understand about how devices such as this operate. The reason that the machine "turns on" instantly when you press the power button is precisely because the operating system is running constantly. Would you really want to have to wait a minute before you could start reading every time you turned the machine on? That would be the consequence of doing a "cold boot" each time!

I mean, look at it. You have to charge the machine perhaps once every few weeks. You're complaining? What do you want?

Geez!

Mr. Goodbar · 06-09-2007, 09:11 AM

From a portability standpoint I can only say that I've been able to take a week long trip to Europe, reading on the plane both ways and in the evenings and when I returned I still had 3/4 bars of charge left on the device. Coming from an Iliad I find the battery life amazing and I've stopped traveling with the charger.

jsutton02 · 06-09-2007, 09:38 AM

I agree totally with dyspepsic.

I too am only getting on average 1500 pages per charge.

Also if I don't use the reader for a couple of weeks the battery is drained.

HarryT · 06-09-2007, 09:44 AM

If your battery is draining after two weeks and 1500 page turns, return your Reader to Sony - it is faulty.

1500 page turns will drain the battery about 20%; two weeks operation will drain it about 40%. ie after two weeks AND 1500 page turns you should have about 40% charge remaining, and the battery meter should be showing about 2 bars.

yvanleterrible · 06-09-2007, 12:14 PM

Havn't used mine for two weeks because I am reading

...paper.....

Unhappy to report that after said time off the reader has gone from 4 to 1 bar. I guess I should try hooking the charger just to see if the meter is accurate.

BTW Harry! your avatar looks great, where's he from?

Hey! Avatar woud be a great name for a robot!

NatCh · 06-09-2007, 12:18 PM

It's a Dalek from the BBC's Doctor Who series.

HarryT · 06-09-2007, 12:24 PM

Don't read that Dalek Wikipedia article, Nat - it's got some stuff in it that you really don't want to know yet!

JSWolf · 06-09-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsutton02

I agree totally with dyspepsic.

I too am only getting on average 1500 pages per charge.

Also if I don't use the reader for a couple of weeks the battery is drained.

You might also be forgetting that changing menus also counts as a page turn. Not just reading of the books. So every time you go from one menu to another, that is one page turn.

NatCh · 06-09-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Don't read that Dalek Wikipedia article, Nat - it's got some stuff in it that you really don't want to know yet!

I didn't plan to, Harry, but I appreciate the warning.

JSWolf · 06-09-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I didn't plan to, Harry, but I appreciate the warning.

I've just starting watching the David Tennant 1st Dr. Who series. I have them all on the computer. And then I'll go from there into the current season. Have all of them too.

NatCh · 06-09-2007, 07:15 PM

There's a season before that, with Christopher Eccleston (sp?). There are a few bits that will make better sense if you watch those episodes first.

JSWolf · 06-09-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

There's a season before that, with Christopher Eccleston (sp?). There are a few bits that will make better sense if you watch those episodes first.

I've seen all of those already between the downloads and sci-fi channel. So I am good to go.

NatCh · 06-09-2007, 08:51 PM

Very good, my mind can rest easy for your sake, then.

RWood · 06-09-2007, 10:10 PM

Although out of character, going back to the charging issue for a moment: I read about 4,000 pages over a 10 day period (airplanes and hotel rooms interrupted by periods of work at the client's site.) When I got back I still had 2 bars left showing on the battery meter.

BTW: One of the books read that week was a Haggard Anthology posted by Harry.

06-09-2007, 03:17 AM	#1
dyspepsic Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: sony prs500	Power consumption woes http://ebooks.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/e...hp?p_faqid=837 "Turning the page is the only time power is consumed. " Why such a blatant lie, Sony? Anyone who owns a PRS500 knows that the battery runs down within a couple weeks of charging it, even if one seldom uses it. I dont recall if this was a problem before the unfortunate firmware update in Feb, but it needs to be fixed. This seriously limits portability. I find it especially irritating that Sony advertises 7000 page turns per charge. At best, I would estimate 1500 page turns. I would not buy this product again and would be hard pressed to buy anything from Sony again.

06-09-2007, 12:14 PM	#6
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Havn't used mine for two weeks because I am reading...paper..... Unhappy to report that after said time off the reader has gone from 4 to 1 bar. I guess I should try hooking the charger just to see if the meter is accurate. BTW Harry! your avatar looks great, where's he from? Hey! Avatar woud be a great name for a robot!

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06-09-2007, 09:11 AM	#3
Mr. Goodbar Wizard Posts: 1,005 Karma: 98078 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Mini 4	From a portability standpoint I can only say that I've been able to take a week long trip to Europe, reading on the plane both ways and in the evenings and when I returned I still had 3/4 bars of charge left on the device. Coming from an Iliad I find the battery life amazing and I've stopped traveling with the charger.

06-09-2007, 09:38 AM	#4
jsutton02 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: PRS-500	I agree totally with dyspepsic. I too am only getting on average 1500 pages per charge. Also if I don't use the reader for a couple of weeks the battery is drained.

06-09-2007, 09:44 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If your battery is draining after two weeks and 1500 page turns, return your Reader to Sony - it is faulty. 1500 page turns will drain the battery about 20%; two weeks operation will drain it about 40%. ie after two weeks AND 1500 page turns you should have about 40% charge remaining, and the battery meter should be showing about 2 bars.

06-09-2007, 12:18 PM	#7
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	It's a Dalek from the BBC's Doctor Who series.

06-09-2007, 12:24 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Don't read that Dalek Wikipedia article, Nat - it's got some stuff in it that you really don't want to know yet!

06-09-2007, 07:15 PM	#12
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	There's a season before that, with Christopher Eccleston (sp?). There are a few bits that will make better sense if you watch those episodes first.

06-09-2007, 08:51 PM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Very good, my mind can rest easy for your sake, then.

06-09-2007, 10:10 PM	#15
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Although out of character, going back to the charging issue for a moment: I read about 4,000 pages over a 10 day period (airplanes and hotel rooms interrupted by periods of work at the client's site.) When I got back I still had 2 bars left showing on the battery meter. BTW: One of the books read that week was a Haggard Anthology posted by Harry.

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