js9b+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jon C. Slenk) (11/21/90)
Have people noticed that the 48 tends to draw a lot of power from its batteries? It seems to run them down pretty quickly. Also, what is really intelligent is that it keeps on a little symbol telling you, "I am draining the batteries to warn you that the batteries have been drained!" Anyhow, I would really have appreciated a power socket thingy on the 48 so I could just plug in a transformer when I use it near a power outlet (which is about 99% of the time). If anybody at HP is listening, how about considering it for future calculators? -Jon / js9b+@andrew.cmu.edu
akcs.azz710@hpcvbbs.UUCP (Jeffrey R. Broido) (11/25/90)
Jon, I've been keeping statistics on battery life since I began using the 48SX last March. My first couple of sets lasted no more than three weeks. My last set lasted several months. I was using the beeper a lot more at the start which might explain it. Also, I've switched to Radio Shack batteries (made by Eveready but to different specs, Tandy claims better). Despite this horribly uncontrolled test, I'd almost believe that the 48 uses less power as it ages. This seems hardly likely, but it's a feeling I have. How long does a set of yours last? As for the AC adapter idea, I've been toying with building a very ripple free AC adapter which would supply 4.5VDC. All one would need to do is fabricate a dummy device shaped like three penlight batteries with contacts at opposite corners (forget the contacts on the middle "battery"). Of course, you'd be in trouble if you unplugged it for any length of time, but it would (crudely) do the trick. Jeff