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Apple's Battery Charger Sets New Standby Usage Benchmark

I do like this charger, great product (and I know I would love to have one for myself!), but...

It's so odd that apple made it?

I mean, apple looks more and more like Tesco

Sometime from now they'll produce and sell anything. It will be funny to see an apple branded car, and maybe it will use these batteries' "cousin" :D
 
jeffereyj said:
- how long does it take to complete a charge?

- what mAh rating are the batteries? (this is crucial)

- why NiHM? isn't that old/crap technology? Lion is way better...
Click to expand...

mAh is the critical rating and I'll wait to buy, until I know that.

NiMh have specific strengths over Lion.

They have a lower memory effect. You can charge them at anytime, without destroying your batteries.

Lower discharge rate. These can sit in a drawer, charged for a longer period of time. Lion would drain nearly 50%.

Lower power draw. These show give a lower power, over a longer period of time. This is great for computer pheriperals. (They don't need large power doses.) Not as good for cameras (b/c flash needs a high power dose.)

Two other points to consider:
NiMh does not contain toxic materials.
Less expensive than Lion.

Some info about NiHM batteries.
 
gheat93 said:
No, the product is not good, nor is it innovative. The rechargeable battery market has been around for years: there are plenty of other (likely superior) chargers out there. The only "feature" this has is its reduced stand-by draw; but their claim can probably be disputed. Really, it looks to me that Apple is increasingly trying to exert their brand these days... A practice that vaguely reminds me of companies like Microsoft.
Click to expand...

If you really want to reduce the draw, don't leave the batteries in there. These don't need it, anyway.

There is a big difference between Apple selling more than one type of product and Microsoft illegally forcing computer makers to use only their software.
 
aurichie said:
In your opinion.

I am not fan boy but I'm very excited to have an Apple supported product charge the batteries I use in my Apple devices. The stand-by draw feature is incredible in my mind. I'm always worrying about unplugging chargers soon after they have finished charging. And that's a big reason I don't use them. And the slim, sleek design will undoubtedly make it easy to plug into my multi-plug adaptors (unlike most chargers that are huge and difficult to use in 4-way/6-way/8-way adaptors).
Click to expand...

By Apple supported, do you mean their deletion of threads off their support forum when people begin reporting their device is catching fire? :)
I'm glad you feel this way about the product. But I'd certainly like you to truthfully say that your approval of the product has nothing to do with the fact that it comes with the Apple logo on it. The way I see it, Apple is gradually becoming a PR company. I'm happy to pay for innovative, easyto use devices; not promotional costs.
 
madrag said:
I do like this charger, great product (and I know I would love to have one for myself!), but...

It's so odd that apple made it?

I mean, apple looks more and more like Tesco

Sometime from now they'll produce and sell anything. It will be funny to see an apple branded car, and maybe it will use these batteries' "cousin" :D
Click to expand...

There's nothing odd about it. Just look at other electronic companies; they make their own accessories. I think Apple's decision to approach this direction is great for us consumers.

You're last statement is illogical too. They won't and aren't going to produce and sell anything. What new products you see fit inside the Apple ecosystem (and that's really the only way it could work). You might see a television, but never a car.
 
madrag said:
I do like this charger, great product (and I know I would love to have one for myself!), but...

It's so odd that apple made it?

I mean, apple looks more and more like Tesco

Sometime from now they'll produce and sell anything. It will be funny to see an apple branded car, and maybe it will use these batteries' "cousin" :D
Click to expand...

What?
 
shanmugam said:
my sanyo Eneloop batteries and charger rocks hard, what is new here? :eek:
Click to expand...

I love my Eneloops! Best batteries I have ever had.. and :eek: they are white and :eek: so is the charger! I have Eneloops in all of our battery powered devices/toys.

I do appreciate that Apple has improved on the charger.. wish they had done a 4 battery charger or a USB.. but wait, does that back part come off? can a USB adaptor be connected?
 
OK, but can it fully charge the batteries in 10 minutes? And to how many mAh?
 
JAT said:
If you really want to reduce the draw, don't leave the batteries in there. These don't need it, anyway.

There is a big difference between Apple selling more than one type of product and Microsoft illegally forcing computer makers to use only their software.
Click to expand...

Nice straw man... Simply, I think that Apple has become too much about the brand recently.
 
Tones2 said:
Actually, it'd be a lot nicer if the batteries were re-chargeable within the devices THEMSELVES.
Click to expand...

If you have enough power to charge the battery in the device itself, why do you need the battery in the first place?
 
gheat93 said:
By Apple supported, do you mean their deletion of threads off their support forum when people begin reporting their device is catching fire? :)
I'm glad you feel this way about the product. But I'd certainly like you to truthfully say that your approval of the product has nothing to do with the fact that it comes with the Apple logo on it. The way I see it, Apple is gradually becoming a PR company. I'm happy to pay for innovative, easy to use devices, not promotional costs.
Click to expand...

I don't care about the logo. For example, I have covered the logo on my MacBook Pro with an artistic protector. :)

Until the Magic Mouse came out, I loathed wireless mice and keyboards and always insisted on using Microsoft USB devices. Now I have started to use the Magic Mouse full-time, I'm getting through two AAs a week and really do need a recharger once I deplete my supply of Duracell batteries. Apple has a solution at a price I am prepared to pay so I'm going for it.

I'm just lucky that the time timing of this particular product announcement was perfect for me.

Would I buy this if I was perfectly happy with a battery charger from another manufacturer? No.
 
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Don't most folks unplug their chargers from the socket? I do. This whole "new standby usage benchmark" is a load of crock. Americans are too fat, stupid and lazy to bother unplugging their chargers after use?
 
Eddyisgreat said:
If I didn't have my BC-700 I probably would have gotten this, though they really are seperate products. The maha/la crosse chargers are more like Cell Maintenance Suites instead of chargers lol
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking.

On the other hand, for only $30 you're getting 6 batteries and a charger. Wish they were LSD batteries, but still it's definitely tempting...
 
Tronic said:
Thats great, but how good of a charger is it actually? For now ill stick to my professional Maha charger and Maha/Eneloop batteries. Tested and proven for years.
Click to expand...

Hmm. This:
maha-charger.jpg


Or this:
125214-apple_battery_charger.jpg


Gee... Tough Decision
 
notjustjay said:
I don't think anybody makes LiIon "AA" cells. Standard batteries are 1.5 volt cells and I don't think they make LiIon cells below 3.6 volts or so.
Click to expand...
Not rechargeable LiIon, you can buy single-use AAs, though. Expensive.

cube said:
OK, but can it fully charge the batteries in 10 minutes? And to how many mAh?
Click to expand...
Nothing can that fast. 1 hour is possible.

mAH is definitely the question to answer. These webpages aren't ready for prime time, yet. Don't even have size specs listed for the trackpad.
 
I think this is a quite good product and I'll be ordering one for sure when I'll get the Magic Mouse.

What I don't get is why they boast about low standby power consumption.. Who keeps their battery chargers in standby anyway? :confused:
 
maz-o said:
I think this is a quite good product and I'll be ordering one for sure when I'll get the Magic Mouse.

What I don't get is why they boast about low standby power consumption.. Who keeps their battery chargers in standby anyway? :confused:
Click to expand...

People who forget to unplug them?
 
sure they do

RMo said:
Do you know of anybody who makes standard-sized (AA, etc.) rechargeable Li-ion batteries? To my knowledge, the answer is "no."
Click to expand...

Sure they do, what do you think goes in the tesla?

I'll name three right now

Panasonic, sony, sanyo

there are probably dozens of additional Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers
 
maz-o said:
What I don't get is why they boast about low standby power consumption.. Who keeps their battery chargers in standby anyway? :confused:
Click to expand...

Most people understand that you're not supposed to, but the reality is many people do this. It's why good chargers have a 'throttle' built into them.
 
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