Why no simple battery replacement......

carpetmojo · 04-09-2011, 06:11 AM

Could anyone tell me why consumers are considered intelligent enough to change batteries on a 'phone, remote, radio, torch and 100's of other gadgets -

sorry, technical aids and devices - yet not a reader ? And a Sony reader in particular ?

(I mean, a torch sometimes has more than one to cope with !)

And I don't think any battery has inherent dangers that make it dangerous for users to handle, carefully, like a 'phone, remote, rad....................et al.

And I'm sure designers are clever enough to design a flap or panel for access - much like a 'phone, remote - oh, you know.

I can't think of any other good reason - can anyone else ?

I'm sure it's like the wall charger, nothing to do with money.........

Poppaea · 04-09-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

I'm sure it's like the wall charger, nothing to do with money.........

I am sure it has all to do with money! Now you have to send it in and pay for the replacement. But it was not always like this, 505er had consumer replaceable batteries. Anyway, I like it better this way. The device is solid. Battery will last for 400 recharging cycles which equates a live of about 8 years. So why should I keep up with a sliding backside, when I won't have to?

jbcohen · 04-09-2011, 10:04 AM

Poppea is correct however there is a technological consideration here. I am told that rechargeable batteries do better and last longer when they remain plugged into the device that they are supplying. If you are concerned with that I believe that there are other readers that have changeable batteries. My blackberry storm has a proprietary battery but one that I can swap out at any time I so chose.

elcreative · 04-09-2011, 10:38 AM

There is an actual reason they could use because Lithium polymer batteries are regarded as toxic waste for special disposal and the only way to ensure this, is return to manufacturer... this type of thing is currently being considered as being made a legal requirement in the EU for all electronic equipment... can't trust the user to safely dispose so make it the manufacturer's responsibility...

Poppaea · 04-09-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

If you are concerned with that I believe that there are other readers that have changeable batteries. My blackberry storm has a proprietary battery but one that I can swap out at any time I so chose.

Babe, I hate to be the bearer of bad news to you, but your blackberry is no reader, no matter how much you read on it!

CraftyDan · 04-09-2011, 12:09 PM

I agree it's all about money, but not in the way Poppaea proposes. It's not about service income, it's about sales income.

Having designed enclosures for "technical aids" before, I can say it's an engineering tradeoff between user requirements (size/features/speed/charge time).

To create a service panel that works reliably, one has to compartmentalize the area (you rarely see the guts of your cellphone or TV remote when you open the battery compartment). The space for the internal compartment walls and door come out of the space budgets for screen, mainboard, connectors, battery and buttons.

To put one in, you'll end up with a bulkier, less responsive, shorter life device -- but what do you gain? A high quality rechargeable battery's lifespan typically outlasts the device's expected lifespan. End users may like a battery compartment, but few will use it and very few weigh maintainability into their purchase decisions.

For the PRS series, dimensions and performance are optimized at the cost of user maintainability. In this case, to slip in a battery compartment would be an EXPENSIVE design feature. It may not drive up costs, but the loss in performance WILL drive down sales.

Poppaea · 04-09-2011, 12:19 PM

Wow, Dan! Great explanation. Thank you!

carpetmojo · 04-09-2011, 12:20 PM

Poppaea ...................

" So why should I keep up with a sliding backside, when I won't have to? "

Are you quite sure you meant to say that !!

Poppaea · 04-09-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Poppaea ...................

" So why should I keep up with a sliding backside, when I won't have to? "

Are you quite sure you meant to say that !!

Even though I am known for saying cheeky things all the time, this one was unintentionally.

carpetmojo · 04-09-2011, 03:35 PM

Passing on very swiftly.........................

Yes, thanks Dan, that's a very interesting viewpoint, i.e. you've been there done it, as it were.

It looks like if want a sexy looking, feature-laden device, it's a factory-fit, should it outlive the package (or the user!).

Although I have seen the 600 etc.. series has , um, been DIY'd successfully, but I don't know if the 3/650 range has been "fettled" in this way - yet.

I suspect getting the battery might be a stumbling block ?

Poppaea · 04-09-2011, 03:44 PM

carpetmojo, could you please tell me what for heavens sake makes you want to change a brand new battery that will go for the next couple of years???????

CraftyDan · 04-09-2011, 08:24 PM

And you guys just thought I was another pretty face!

I imagine the x50's disassemble in the same manner as the 600, I but could be wrong. you probably could replace the battery with a little care and warranty voiding -- then again it'll probably be out of warranty before you'd need it.

elcreative · 04-09-2011, 08:34 PM

That may be pushing it a bit...

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraftyDan

And you guys just thought I was another pretty face!

carpetmojo · 04-10-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppaea

carpetmojo, could you please tell me what for heavens sake makes you want to change a brand new battery that will go for the next couple of years???????

I don't plan too - cor, not that organised - I just thought it was a slightly strange situation, and one that seems to be increasingly the case with gadgets.
I have a brilliant little pocket DAB radio with the same (to me) disadvantage, and my trusty Clip+ mp3.
I hate " Black Box " engineering really, I'm just a born tinkerer I suppose !

Mind you, I expect they'd just bump up the price of batteries.

J..M · 04-12-2011, 04:50 PM

If you look on You Tube there is a video on how to change the batt & suggests where to buy a new one

04-09-2011, 06:11 AM	#1
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Why no simple battery replacement...... Could anyone tell me why consumers are considered intelligent enough to change batteries on a 'phone, remote, radio, torch and 100's of other gadgets - sorry, technical aids and devices - yet not a reader ? And a Sony reader in particular ? (I mean, a torch sometimes has more than one to cope with !) And I don't think any battery has inherent dangers that make it dangerous for users to handle, carefully, like a 'phone, remote, rad....................et al. And I'm sure designers are clever enough to design a flap or panel for access - much like a 'phone, remote - oh, you know. I can't think of any other good reason - can anyone else ? I'm sure it's like the wall charger, nothing to do with money.........

04-09-2011, 12:20 PM	#8
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Hurrumph.................... Poppaea ................... " So why should I keep up with a sliding backside, when I won't have to? " Are you quite sure you meant to say that !! Last edited by carpetmojo; 04-09-2011 at 12:20 PM. Reason: Missed a bit

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04-09-2011, 10:04 AM	#3
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Poppea is correct however there is a technological consideration here. I am told that rechargeable batteries do better and last longer when they remain plugged into the device that they are supplying. If you are concerned with that I believe that there are other readers that have changeable batteries. My blackberry storm has a proprietary battery but one that I can swap out at any time I so chose.

04-09-2011, 10:38 AM	#4
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	There is an actual reason they could use because Lithium polymer batteries are regarded as toxic waste for special disposal and the only way to ensure this, is return to manufacturer... this type of thing is currently being considered as being made a legal requirement in the EU for all electronic equipment... can't trust the user to safely dispose so make it the manufacturer's responsibility...

04-09-2011, 12:09 PM	#6
CraftyDan Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 7724 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middle Ga Device: PRS-600 and PRS-350	I agree it's all about money, but not in the way Poppaea proposes. It's not about service income, it's about sales income. Having designed enclosures for "technical aids" before, I can say it's an engineering tradeoff between user requirements (size/features/speed/charge time). To create a service panel that works reliably, one has to compartmentalize the area (you rarely see the guts of your cellphone or TV remote when you open the battery compartment). The space for the internal compartment walls and door come out of the space budgets for screen, mainboard, connectors, battery and buttons. To put one in, you'll end up with a bulkier, less responsive, shorter life device -- but what do you gain? A high quality rechargeable battery's lifespan typically outlasts the device's expected lifespan. End users may like a battery compartment, but few will use it and very few weigh maintainability into their purchase decisions. For the PRS series, dimensions and performance are optimized at the cost of user maintainability. In this case, to slip in a battery compartment would be an EXPENSIVE design feature. It may not drive up costs, but the loss in performance WILL drive down sales.

04-09-2011, 12:19 PM	#7
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,536 Karma: 19491715 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra 2	Wow, Dan! Great explanation. Thank you!

04-09-2011, 03:35 PM	#10
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Passing on very swiftly......................... Yes, thanks Dan, that's a very interesting viewpoint, i.e. you've been there done it, as it were. It looks like if want a sexy looking, feature-laden device, it's a factory-fit, should it outlive the package (or the user!). Although I have seen the 600 etc.. series has , um, been DIY'd successfully, but I don't know if the 3/650 range has been "fettled" in this way - yet. I suspect getting the battery might be a stumbling block ?

04-09-2011, 03:44 PM	#11
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,536 Karma: 19491715 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra 2	carpetmojo, could you please tell me what for heavens sake makes you want to change a brand new battery that will go for the next couple of years???????

04-09-2011, 08:24 PM	#12
CraftyDan Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 7724 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middle Ga Device: PRS-600 and PRS-350	And you guys just thought I was another pretty face! I imagine the x50's disassemble in the same manner as the 600, I but could be wrong. you probably could replace the battery with a little care and warranty voiding -- then again it'll probably be out of warranty before you'd need it.

04-12-2011, 04:50 PM	#15
J..M Member Posts: 19 Karma: 338 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-600	If you look on You Tube there is a video on how to change the batt & suggests where to buy a new one

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