I Hate Batteries!

[keyplyr]

I was almost finished with a very long script involving a cron and scheduling a few website tasks when my mouse died... the battery that is. It takes one AA size. This was at my office. I saved the unfinished work and started my search...

I usually keep a supply, so looked in the top desk drawer, moving everything around, checking other drawers, no battery. I sometimes keep batteries in the refrigerator, so looked there but nope, no AAs.

I went down the hall to my colleague's office, no answer. I then called down to the lobby and asked for maintenance which resulted in a voice menu with no related choices.

Then it dawned on me; I had at least one AA battery in one of my devices at my home across the street a ways. I left the building, walked several blocks home and started removing AA batteries from remote controls units.

Returned to the office about an hour later & got back to work... voila!

So... what have I learned from this? Not much except I HATE BATTERIES!

[lucy24]

Every couple of days my mouse scroller suddenly slips into a coma and I have to take out the battery, wipe it down and put it back, which frightens it into submission. I have been doing the same thing for years with my calculator; I believe I've replaced the batteries once, if ever, since 1975.

:: idly wondering if I've still got that priceless Mouse Balls memo from years ago on my HD anywhere ::

[robzilla]

Still using wired keyboards and mouses (mice?), so... can't relate. Except I do hate batteries :-)

[LifeinAsia]

I've never had good luck with wireless mice. Somewhat better luck with wireless keyboards, but not good enough to give up my wired ones.

[ken_b]

I've been traveling the last couple of weeks and decided to finally try out the wireless mouse my wife bought for me.

Nice not to have to mess with another wire. But it would seem to go to sleep every once in a while which was a little annoying.

Glad to be back home to my wired mouse.

[keyplyr]

I hate wires even more than batteries.

I work in a recording studio which potentially has several hundred wires going everywhere. I've been able to cut down that number significantly with a reprogrammed Google Home, outlet adaptors and bluetooth, but there still are a lot of wires.

I hated wired keyboards; the wire always in the way of things. I really like my wireless keyboard & mouse. I'll never go back. So nice to move it around to different places in the room without worrying about wires... but then there are those batteries :(

[lucy24]

My favorite is the cordless mouse that came with my computer. It's useless as a mouse, since it doesn't have buttons (I think you're supposed to click on different parts of it, and the right kind of finger movement produces a scroll) but it works perfectly as a remote control when I'm watching movies on the computer while sitting at the other end of the room. And, lacking buttons and scrollers, there's nothing to collect dust and cat hair.

[keyplyr]

it works perfectly as a remote control when I'm watching movies on the computer

Never considered watching movies on the computer. The whole point of watching a movie IMO is to get away from the computer :)

I have a different wireless keyboard (with a 16' range) I use for my TV. I use it to type in passwords or searches for shows and movies on the various stream apps. My TV also has a web browser, but there's just something odd about looking at webpages on a 65" screen. Youtube is cool though.

I think at some point in the future, the battery/energy storage problem has to change. The limitations with today's batteries is holding back innovation. I'm sure Elon Musk and his entourage are working on it.

[edited by: lawman at 11:05 am (utc) on Jun 14, 2017]
[edit reason] Correct Typo [/edit]

[lucy24]

Never considered watching movies on the computer.

My computer screen is actually larger* than my TV screen--and, more to the point, my VCR/DVD player is so old, it doesn't understand how to send widescreen movies to the TV, so things end up letterboxed both ways.


* Whenever a TV dies, I get the smallest available model to replace it. I mean of course the smallest standard TV, not the miniatures made for your kitchen counter. For a long time it was 13"; now it's 19".

[piatkow]

At least there are standard sizes for consumer batteries.

I was caught out once, just starting my post IT life as a music journalist I turned up at a gig to do an interview and found the recorder dead, I pulled out the spare pack of batteries in my bag and found that they were AA for the flash gun, the recorder took AAA. That didn't come over as my most professional moment. Luckily I did have a back up by using an exciting new system of encoding text with a graphite / cellulose interface. (pencil and paper)

[keyplyr]

I think AA and AAA are common to most devices. C & D for the larger flashlights (torches for you Brits.)

I haven't seen A size batteries in years, at least not with the devices I use.

And why was B left out anyway?

A lot of cameras, wrist watches, work-out bands and FOBs use those small dime-size 3 volt lithium batteries.

Don't see those 9 volt batteries much anymore either. I used those for years in my guitar effects pedals.

[lucy24]

Don't see those 9 volt batteries much anymore either.

Memo to self: Do not trust keyplyr's smoke detector.

[mentalfloss.com...]
I was surprised to learn that A and B do technically still exist.

[keyplyr]

Memo to self: Do not trust keyplyr's smoke detector.

The "smoke" detectors I have do not use 9 volt batteries, they use lithium. They are combo CO, other gases, heat and smoke. Higher end for my studio. Got a deal so I also use them for my home.

[tangor]

Most wireless mice will go to sleep when not in motion after a certain period of time ... but the battery is still engaged, though at a significantly lower drain level. However, that's still a constant drain on the battery so I got into the habit of switching the mouse OFF when not in use and especially wen stuffed in a laptop bag. :)

Gained about 20% more useful life. That said, I never leave the house without a tailed mouse!

[keyplyr]

I don't buy wireless keyboards or mice without a switch to turn off the batteries. I wear-out keyboards about once a year. The last wireless keyboard/mouse set I bought even had a driver to install that put them to sleep if not in use, in addition to the on/off switches.

I use the on/off switches. Still, batteries die :(

[lawman]

I have it on good authority that keyplyr's smoke detectors are powered by these:

[smith.edu...]

[keyplyr]

ha ha ha... not quite.

[piatkow]

I don't buy wireless keyboards or mice without a switch to turn off the batteries. I wear-out keyboards about once a year. The last wireless keyboard/mouse set I bought even had a driver to install that put them to sleep if not in use, in addition to the on/off switches.

I use the on/off switches. Still, batteries die :(

My keyboards last a lot longer than that. Being a touch typist helps, 6 keys are almost blank on this one but I hardly notice!

I agree about the off switch, I try and remember to switch the mouse off when not in use, and to shut down battery draining functions on my phone when I don't need them. Of course I forget to switch Bluetooth back on before getting in the car and then realise that I have no music.

[not2easy]

I have it on good authority that keyplyr's smoke detectors are powered by these

Yeah, but did he buy them new?





;)

[lawman]

>>Yeah, but did he buy them new?

Woulda been new old stock

[lucy24]

Yeah, but did he buy them new?

Where's* that ROFLMAO smiley when I need it?


* Just kidding. I know perfectly well it's here [cosgan.de].

[keyplyr]

My keyboards last a lot longer than that. Being a touch typist helps...

I'm a pianist. My fingers hit the (computer) keyboard fast and hard. Eventually a few of the keys stop being responsive, which is why I get a new keyboard once a year on average.

[lucy24]

I'm a pianist. My fingers hit the (computer) keyboard fast and hard.

Y'know, it's called a pianoforte for a reason...

[keyplyr]

Y'know, it's called a pianoforte for a reason...

Ya think?

I'm a pianist. My fingers hit the (computer) keyboard fast and hard

Contrary to popular misunderstanding, I don't hit the computer keys the same way I hit the piano keys. However, I do tend to loose track of the velocity I smack the keys with since I don't get that audio feedback like I do when I'm playing music.

[robzilla]

...since I don't get that audio feedback like I do when I'm playing music.

I'm sure there's a browser plug-in that can fix that :-) If not, well... that's gold, Jerry.

[lucy24]

I think it would call for a physical redesign. Existing keyboards can recognize how fast you hit keys (as for double-click recognition) and how long you hold a key down (including "sticky keys" options for accessibility)--but there's no reason for them to recognize how hard you hit the key. It's like seeing stars when you rub your eyes: the optic nerve is only set up to transmit visual signals, so that's how everything gets interpreted.

Now, if you programmed your existing MIDI keyboard to render each note as a specific key--A, B, C, Control, Shift etcetera--that would be a promising direction. Probably already exists, in fact.

[keyplyr]

your existing MIDI keyboard

MIDI keyboard? Yeah right :) I stopped playing plastic in the late 70s. I have a 7' 6" Concert Grand Piano that's the envy of every pianist that records on it.

I have no problem tossing these $25 wireless computer keyboards once a year.

[lucy24]

I stopped playing plastic in the late 70s.

Haha, of course I didn't mean for performance. Yecch. Honestly.* I meant for composition. Surely you've got something that talks directly to your computer?


* At various times in my life, one or another of my parents has tried to unload a piano on me. I've always frantically declined, thinking that a piano is all well and good--until the moment you move cross-country and suddenly the mover is raking in more money than the instrument is worth.

[keyplyr]

Haven't used MIDI [apassion4jazz.net] in many years. I write pretty fast by hand. Software always slowed me down, but I finally found something that can keep up with me.

On my Windows Surface Pro 4 I have a program called StaffPad [staffpad.net] that can write as fast as I can using the Surface Pen.

At various times in my life, one or another of my parents has tried to unload a piano on me. I've always frantically declined, thinking that a piano is all well and good--until the moment you move cross-country and suddenly the mover is raking in more money than the instrument is worth.

Don't move cross-country :)

[lawman]

keyplyr's latest hand-coded piano piece:

[youtu.be...]