Something Obvious to Help You Get Things Done
August 5th, 2008Categories | Gadgets | Getting Things Done
A few weeks back, Duracell contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in testing out their new pre-charged rechargeable batteries. These are nickel metal hydride batteries that come in a variety of common sizes including AAA and AA. Being a gadget guy with more devices than I know what to do with I can always use batteries so I said yes.
When I found a use for the new batteries I did something I’ve never been able to do with a rechargable batter before: I was able to open the package, insert it into the device and turn the device on, all without having to charge the batteries first. This is one of those “Homer Simpson - DOH!- moments” where you wonder why no one thought of this before. In retrospect how stupid are these battery companies that sell you a device that is useless out of the box and is only functional after you’ve invested hour waiting with it plugged into a power source and costing you addtional money.
As far as I can tell these batteries perform as well if not better than the nickel metal hydride Duracell batteries that I had before only without the wait. Cool.
The company has a promotion related to this with an online “Museum of the Obvious“. - it’s a bit bandwidth intensive so have a fat pipe if you want to spend a few minutes being amused.
Hi there……..Have you ever tried Eneloop batteries from Sanyo? These are rechargeable batteries that come charged and can stay charged for months. I’ve been using them for over a year and won’t use anything else. I did a review of them back in January, which you can see here: http://freshfocus.info/blog/product-review-sanyo-eneloop-batteries-the-evolution-of-the-rechargeable-battery
It would be interesting to see how they compare to Eneloop.
everytime i buy a new gadget i rush back home to check the features.
and i first have to charge it to ‘minimmum eight hours’ as most of them mentioned.
hope every one take the idea
Duracell sounds like the Apple of batteries! Nice to see green products connected to great service.
This is great news for gift-givers and receivers alike. When I give a gift that requires batteries, I give the batteries as well. Whether adult or child, there’s no fun in not being able to use your new toy right away.
I’ll second Kris’ suggestion of Eneloops.
We’ve used them for about a year for 2 cameras and we find them much better than standard rechargables.
With the latter, the charge is quickly lost when they’re sitting on the shelf or in your camera bag. If you’re an episodic photographer (not using the camera for weeks, then taking a bunch of shots), you find when the batteries die and you put in the ‘recharged’ ones . . . they’re dead, too.
With Eneloops, a recharge has me lasted several months ‘in the bag’, then has powered the camera for a hundred or more photos.
Hope Duracell’s ‘new’ batteries do as well.
a third nod for Eneloop. Wireless mice, keyboards, Leapster, camera etc - they perform like regular batteries in them all.
Until now, chargable batteries came uncharged because they self-discharge. All batteries do, some fast, some slowly. These new batteries self-discharge slow enough that it is meaningful for the manufacturer to sell them pre-charged.
It might have been obvious, but it wasn’t practicably possible before.