Maxell P-2 2-G Rechargeable Back-Up Battery Pack
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List Price: Our Price: $9.98 You Save: $30.79 (76%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Maxell P-2 2-G Rechargeable Back-Up Battery Pack
Customer Review: Not perfect, but it works
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this battery pack in preparation to a few long flights. I haven't used regular alkaline batteries- I can only attest to using this battery pack with rechargeable NiMH rechargeable batteries, 2500 mA.
One set of rechargeable batteries got me through about 21 hours of video playback (without skipping back and forth, and with my iPod screen set to minimal brightness).
The battery level reading on the LED lights of this unit varies whether your iPod is on or off. If the iPod is receiving power from the battery pack, the LEDs will show a lower level than if your iPod is off. The LED indicator could be redesigned a bit to make it easier to read. You have to hold it at just the right angle to see each LED - there's too much reflection from the surrounding plastic.
As far as I can tell, this battery pack won't charge your iPod - it just supplies power. Another thing to be aware of is that if the batteries die out, the iPod will run off it's internal battery. You have to keep tabs on the AA battery level if you don't want to drain the iPod completely.
Overall, worth the money.
***
The following comments are more of a wish list than an expectation - for a $20 dollar item, this battery pack met my expectations. With that, it never hurts to have a list of "revisions" to ask for:
1. Changing the batteries is a bit awkward.. you have to disconnect the iPod and slide the pack out of the cradle. If you're on a plane or tight space, it's a lot to juggle. It would be nice to be able to just open the panel while it's still attached to the iPod.
2. Finally, the pack's holster separates from the iPod's holster - the unit comes with a belt clip to allow the iPod holster to act as an independent holster as well. Adding another piece of plastic to the product to allow iPod to use the battery pack as a base, allowing the iPod to stand on it's own would be nice. The cord from the battery pack sticks out the bottom when it's plugged into the iPod and both the pack and iPod are in their respective holsters. It's hard to stand up and lean against something.
Customer Review: The only device that hugely prolongs your iPod's lifespan!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great product. In spite of some reviews it DOES work too with the 80 GB iPod Video [I've got three of them from 2006 & 2007 and the Maxell performs splendid with all three]. It doesn't matter if you use rechargeable or disposable AA batteries.
When you switch the power button on, your iPod switches automatically on too: I think this is the -safest and probably most effective- way to use this device.
On the matter of not charging the internal battery of the iPod: I think this is fantastic! The internal battery has only a limited amount of [dis]charge cycles and is spared this way, thus lenghtening your iPod's lifespan. And: research has indicated that the kind of battery built in iPods age considerably when kept fully charged [like in a dock, or connected to a charger]: with 'The Pack' you can keep the internal battery permanently 50% charged, a state in which the internal battery does NOT age!
But there's more. With two good sets of 4 NiMH [say 2500 mAh a piece] batteries and a charger, or with disposables, you can -if you wish to- keep your iPod mobile non-stop without the annoying charging sessions which, in my opinion, shorten the lifetime of an iPod considerably too when you do this via your pc. One can read so many stories about dying iPods when they are connected to the computer, supposedly many things can go wrong during this procedure. And when you're in a car, plane or at home: who cares about the extra weight of the battery-pack.
Last but not least: my iPod works much longer on one set of 4 AA 2500 mAh rechargeables than on one charge of the internal battery. Ten hours of video is no problem. On average, with varied ways of using [music, games and video] the battery-pack works -within a period of days when you use NiMH's, they have a very high selfdischarge rate- 24 hours!
Update: it does work with my 1G iPod Touch 32GB too. However, the internal battery of the Touch has to be fully charged!
Customer Review: Works with 16GB iPod Touch!
Summary: 5 Stars
This works well with my 16GB iPod Touch. It does NOT charge the iPod (which is actually why I bought it - I previously used a To Go Portable Power IPod Energizer battery pack/charger with my 80GC iPod Classic and it made the iPod do strange things. I wanted a battery pack that simply ran my Touch, but didn't try to charge it), but runs it just fine.
This is essential for long trips or anytime you won't have access to a computer or wall outlet to charge the iPod. Yes, it is bulky and a bit awkward, and I don't see why they bother including a belt clip because I can't imagine anyone carrying this along with their iPod on their belt, but for my purposes (sitting on an airplane) it is totally worth the size and weight. It is set up to accept the (thicker) iPod Classic, so the Touch sits very loosely in the cradle.
As another reviewer mentioned, the battery level indication lights are not accurate. I started out with 4 fully charged Sanyo Eneloop AA batteries, and I immediately tested the indicator lights, of which only 3 green lights appeared. It's also worth noting that the green lights are difficult to see, they are sort of recessed behind the blue power light. Not a big deal to me, as I will always carry 2 sets of AA batteries anyway.
I haven't used it long enough to see how long it allows the iPod Touch to run for, but I will post an update once I do.
Customer Review: Gets the Job done
Summary: 4 Stars
I would have given this 5 stars if it charged the Ipods Battery. That's the only fault I could find with it. I've only used it for about a month, but being deployed to Iraq I needed something to use with my Ipod when I couldn't get to a power outlet. Plus it seemed like a decent product for long flights (from Iraq back to the states). While it is fairly large, it isn't too uncomfortable and merely doubles the thickness of the actual Ipod. I have a 5Gen video Ipod, which seems to work just fine with this piece of eqiupment. I haven't had the opportunity to try any of the competitors backup batteries, even though a few of the other guys in my unit have them. I only use the battery backup for about 2-4 hours at a time so I honestly haven't been able to see how long the batteries last during constant play, but judging by the amount of juice I can get in 2-4 hours it seems adequate. All-in-all, I would have to say this piece of equipment does a decent job of supply the extra juice you might need during a long flight or long road trip if you don't have access to a car charger unit (i.e. your on a bus). I would have liked it to charge my Ipod battery at the same time, but in the absence of that, I'll just have to carry extra batteries with me when I travel.Customer Review: Use double A's ("AA") with your iPod.
Summary: 4 Stars
Been using this for about a year.
Why you need this? Because eventually your iPod rechargeable battery will die and it cause a fortune to replace it.
Also, if you play movies. I use my Ipod to watch movies in the car for the kids. I plug the Ipod to the TV via A/V cable.
Lastly, if you play lossless formats. Lossless eats up about 40 megabytes per song compared to a regular 5-megabyte mp3s'. Your iPod drive need to spin more often and drain your juice like a translyvannian vampire.
Pros:
-Simple and easy to use. Just place 4 "AA" batteries, connect to Ipod and switch ON.
-Reasonable price
-Low battery indicator
Cons:
-Very short cable to Ipod. Really, everytime I use it; I wish it has a longer cable.
-Why not available in black? How about owners of black Ipods?
-This is a battery back-up and will not charge your Ipod
-It uses "AA's". So, if you do not mind the bulk.
5 start for usability, 4 stars for design