It's hard to believe we're talking about the same product. Well actually we're not exactly. I have the Electrovaya PowerPad 120 rather than the 160 and while I have a 2300C as my reason for being on this list, I bought the Electrovaya to go with my Wallstreet Powerbook.
Using no power saving features, I got about 3 hours and 45 minutes on the external battery. That was before I installed the Sonnett G4 upgrade in my Wallstreet, I haven't tried the Electrovaya since I did the upgrade. And as far as design goes, after I got the Powerpad out of my carry-on luggage which had been squeezed into the overhead bin on a flight to Florida the batteries inside seem to have separated from the cardboard sides of the device and it now has a lot of flex to it. It still works but for the price I am quite disappointed. John Buenfil [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Excellent review, and as far as the weight is concerned if you were to > remove the internal battery then the actual weight of powerbook + > external is a lot closer to the weight of the Powerbook and internal > battery. > > ~ Larry, Darn Good Design > > > On Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at 05:33 PM, Gary Shigenaka wrote: > >> A long-time list-lurker hereI thought I would share with you my early >> experience >> with the Electrovaya PowerPad 160 external power source and my 2400c >> (G3 320 mhz). >> I know that a few others had indicated they would post their results >> but I donıt >> recall seeing anything yet. >> >> For those of you who arenıt familiar, the Electrovaya batteries are >> lithium ion >> power sources for notebook computers. There are three models, the 80, >> 120, and the >> 160. The number represents the power capacity in watt-hours. Weight >> ranges from >> 1.4 lbs (for the 80) to 2.4 lbs (for the 160). Size of the PowerPad >> 160 is just a >> little bigger than the footprint for the 2400c and about 3/8² thick. >> The size and >> thickness of these batteries mean that they pretty easily fit into >> backpack or >> briefcase-type computer carriers. These buggers are expensivearound >> $400 for the >> PowerPad 160 at Provantagebut they can be used for any G3 or G4 >> PowerBook, not just >> the 2400c. I bought this thing for work, to use in remote field >> research situations >> where access to AC power is not very consistent. >> >> >> So I charged it up and this morning thought I would see what kind of >> duration I >> would get out of the thing. The result: it has powered my 2400c for >> 9 hrs straight >> and the built in LED ³fuel gauge² indicates that the PowerPad is still >> at 10-20% >> capacity. Thatıs not the lowest power level the gauge will show, but >> I donıt want >> to sit around waiting for the battery to drain (itıs actually hot and >> sunny in >> Seattle). So...I would figure a nominal 10 hrs of use from the >> PowerPad before the >> internal PowerBook battery has to kick in, which would give another >> hour or so of >> use. Thatıs a pretty decent long dayıs work and might even last >> through an ugly set >> of flights complete with airport delays. >> >> The two main disadvantages are the initial cost (about the same as a >> 2400c on eBay), >> and the fact that the battery has to be recharged via its own AC >> adapter (included) >> (some notebook chargers provide the proper input voltage for the >> battery and an >> additional charger is not neededthatıs not the case for PowerBooks). >> Now that I >> have a unit that worksI have to say the performance of the PowerPad >> 160 is >> outstanding. The fact that it works with the whole family of G3 and >> G4 PowerBooks >> makes it a pretty versatile external source of power if a couple of >> pounds of >> additional weight (and the cost) arenıt a deal-breaker for you. >> >> Cheers, Gary > ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! MPC-100 | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/mpc100.html> RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 Traveler CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at <http://roadtools.com> Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
