New Compaq Battery Packs

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/power.html#plusbattery">http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/power.html#plusbattery</a><br /><br />Going along with the two new sleeves from Compaq, we have the batteries that go with them. What's cool here is that you can put either battery on either sleeve - you can have an Extended battery pack on your CF Card Expansion Pack Plus (they need shorter names for these things). The capacity is impressive - the slimline battery is 940 mAh, while the extended battery is a massive 1840 mAh. That's a lot of power! The links below go the our affiliate partner where you can pre-order the hardware - the batteries and charger are expected to ship April 20th.<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.ssdonline.com/detail_page.cfm?ProductID=253512-B21&affid=T99&urlid=253512-B21">Slim Expansion Pack Battery</a> ($50 US) & <a href="http://www.ssdonline.com/detail_page.cfm?ProductID=253514-B21&affid=T99&urlid=253514-B21">Extended Expansion Pack Battery</a> ($90 US)</i><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/batteryplus.jpg" /><br /><br />"Provides rechargeable, removable battery power for either your PC or Compact Flash Expansion Pack Plus product. Removable batteries enable you to keep your Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC running longer so you don't have to hurry back to your desk to charge. Easy to install and remove, this battery can be recharged with the iPAQ Pocket PC in your Desktop Cradle or with the optional Battery Charger."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ssdonline.com/detail_page.cfm?ProductID=253516-B21&affid=T99&urlid=253516-B21"><i>Battery Charger for Expansion Pack Batteries</i></a> ($50 US)<br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/chargerplus.jpg" /><br /><br />"This product combines the features of a travel charger and a desktop charger you're your extra Expansion Pack batteries. It recharges both the Slim and Extended Batteries so you're never without battery power. The Battery Charger comes with a convenient desktop base or it can be used by itself when you're traveling."

[Sanjay Srikonda]

Is this a replacement to my CF expansion pack or an addition TO my expansion pack for CF card?

So, great, if it's a new replacement CF pack, i'm going to have to go out and buy another one of those all over again? but don't lots of us have expansion packs already? Which is why I'm asking if this is an addition to the existing expansion pack?

[Jason Dunn]

So, great, if it's a new replacement CF pack, i'm going to have to go out and buy another one of those all over again? but don't lots of us have expansion packs already?


It's a new expansion pack. The original CF sleeve is two years old now, so I'm happy they came up with a new. If you're upset about having to buy a new one, remember you don't: your current CF sleeve still works right? :-)

[Sanjay Srikonda]

Now, you have to buy a new charging cradle and a new case. Does no one see this as an issue?

I'm saying that this is a expansion case version 2, yes, this time compaq got it right, but what about an add-on to all the existing expansion packs out there?

that's what i'm asking.

[Jason Dunn]

Now, you have to buy a new charging cradle and a new case. Does no one see this as an issue?


It's only an issue if you expected to see your old hardware magically morph into the new hardware. :lol: Seriously, I don't understand when people complain about things like this - it's like me complaining about my 512 meg CF card not being like the new 1 gig CF cards. There's no technolgoy that's "future proof". I'm just happy to see Compaq not make these sleeves 3800-series only - all iPAQ owners can use them, which is great.


but what about an add-on to all the existing expansion packs out there?


What sort of add-on would let your plastic CF sleeve accept a battery? It's a big hunk of plastic - short of taking a dremel and cutting it up, how would you suggest this be done?

[Sanjay Srikonda]

mea culpa, mea culpa, i didn't know it's been 2 years since the expansion pack originally came out, mine's still under the 30 day warranty.. hmmm

[bargle]

Now, you have to buy a new charging cradle and a new case. Does no one see this as an issue?


It's only an issue if you expected to see your old hardware magically morph into the new hardware. :lol: Seriously, I don't understand when people complain about things like this - it's like me complaining about my 512 meg CF card not being like the new 1 gig CF cards. There's no technolgoy that's "future proof". I'm just happy to see Compaq not make these sleeves 3800-series only - all iPAQ owners can use them, which is great.


Well, its frustrateing when your new dual sleave that you bought after you migrated over from Casio to Compaq, is suddenly outdated in no (1 month to be exact) time by exacly what you wantted in the first place. I was just about to contact a friend who was a mannager at a plastic molding store, and see if I could get him to mold me a screen protector that I could velcro onto the old sleave..... But now Im just having second toughts on all that.... Its more less anoying.... But its the way things go.....

[Lotak]

How big is the internal battery? I mean, how much longer will my ipaq have life with the big or small extra battery, in terms I can understand?

[Marc Zimmermann]

Am I understanding this right? You can't charge this battery through the iPAQ like you can with the PCMCIA and GSM/GPRS sleeves?

[ChrisD]

Marc,
Yes the iPAQ still gets trickle charged from the battery.

[Marc Zimmermann]

Yes the iPAQ still gets trickle charged from the battery.


Thanks, Chris. I was thinking about the other direction. Is it possible to charge this battery through the iPAQ like you do with the PCMCIA jacket or do you really need the stand-alone charger?

[Sanjay Srikonda]

now, maybe i'm completely off here, but is there a way to create a CF-type battery? one that actually inserts into the CF slot and charges your Ipaq?