Re: Problem with both batteries dieing

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From: Nikki Casali (nikki_at_ncSasPali.deAmoMn.co.uk)
Date: 07/08/04 

Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 19:30:30 +0100

If you look at it simplistically, your today's PDA has 2000 times more
ram than your TI-85, that's 2000 times more power consumption to keep
the ram alive.

You could theoretically run the PDA's main memory directly off flash,
but it would probably run just as fast as the TI-85.

It's a physical limitation of current memory design.

There are new designs in the pipeline such as Fe-RAM, "low-power memory
chips made from 'ferroelectric' materials", New Scientist vol 182 issue
2452 - 19 June 2004, page 21. These would retain their data without
using any power.

Nikki

Thomas Magma wrote:
> I don't know why PDAs can't function more like my 15 year old TI-85
> calculator. When the main batteries die the device stops functioning but the
> back-up battery maintains the RAM for years. Seems like a simple concept to
> me.
>
> Are the PDA hardware and software designers just getting lazy?
>
> Thomas
>
> roombridge" <Mikey@noreply.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:cck0kv$i6i$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
>
>>I thought that was normal.
>>The device drains power all the time - just less when switched off.
>>
>>I don't understand why you have to buy a new coin battery - i thought it
>
> was
>
>>rechargeable.
>>
>>I charge my axim up every couple of days as I use it regularly.
>>If I didn't though it would be flat within the same period yours is.
>>
>>I think this is common to all pdas not just yours.
>>
>>
>>Thomas Magma <somewhere@overtherainbow.com> wrote in message
>>news:GNeHc.982664$Pk3.310507@pd7tw1no...
>>
>>>I have a Dell Axim X5. If I leave it on the shelf for more than two
>
> weeks
>
>>>the main battery goes dead, the back-up goes dead, and I loose all my
>>
>>memory
>>
>>>in the device.
>>>
>>>I can see my main battery going dead because, from what I understand, is
>>>that Windows is waking up the PDA a few times a day for house keeping.
>
> But
>
>>>when my back-up goes dead and I loose all my memory it really sucks. I
>>
>>have
>>
>>>to go and buy a new coin battery and re-install all my software, not to
>>>mention all the information I just lost. Not a very functional back-up
>>>system and a very poor design I might add.
>>>
>>>I guess my question is, is this a Dell thing or a Pocket PC thing?
>
> Windows
>
>>>CE? Is there a software patch that will fix this? Is this the same on
>
> all
>
>>>Pocket PCs?
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>Thomas
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

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