[Tfug] OT: Batteries

[Bexley Hall]

Hi Adrian,

> How about a missing option:
> 
> 4) A "proprietary" battery in a commonly available form factor. Lots of 
> various cordless phones/radios/etc. use a battery pack (usually AA or C
> type rechargeable cells) permanently bound together in a standard form
> factor. You can pick the batteries packs up at Target/etc. and remove
> the cover/plug them in.

I consider this the same as COTS (option 1).  Though you have
to realize that these semi-standard batteries can just as
easily go out of fashion.  E.g., now you see 1/2AA, 4/5C, etc.
sizes being built into these "packs" (grrr... since I am
misusing the term "battery" I guess I need to come up with
another term for these!)
 
> For a large production run you can make/brand your own. If
> it turns out to be a small run, then the option is "go buy X 
> brand cordless phone battery pack at Target".

Yes.  Though you also have to be aware that going this route
(*any* COTS solution) leaves the user vulnerable to making
mistakes that are hard (for him) to diagnose -- i.e., by
assuming the battery's form factor is the only issue
(buying a NiCd battery pack when the design actually calls
for a Li battery pack of the same *physical* size/shape)

The essence of my question is:  how dependant do users like
or dislike being on the *manufacturer's* choice of battery
implementation?

E.g., I think it would be *great* if I could slide a bunch
of C or D cells into a plastic case that "was" my laptop's
battery.  Even if that means I have to replace them two
days hence (this is the point you were making).  It gets
me over a short term need without a long term expense

I.e., I use my laptop so infrequently that the battery
is almost *always* "flat" due to self-discharge over time.
For those few times when I *need* it, I wouldn't mind
buying some alkalines and discarding them a day later.