I've searched, but can't seem to find any software to add onto my PDA that would allow me to condition the battery. It seems to have started to build up a memory and now I'm lucky if I can get the standard battery to last more than two hours. Before both batteries were lasting 3+ hours with wireless on.

-Nate

Li-ion batteries do not suffer from memory effect (probably the reason you cannot find software to prevent it). A single occasional deep discharge will reset the metering which can sometimes become innaccurate.

More likely, though, your normal usage pattern has just quickened the demise of your batteries. Under optimal conditions, the useful life of Li-ion is under 3 years. each deep dischage shortens their life.

-Ike-

     

using wifi alot or all the time will decrease your batteries lifetime quickly think about it the wifi requires alot of constant power to transmitt and recieve and powersave is usually not on with wifi plus you have to power the screen at the same time if you are surfing or streaming video this puts the maximum load on the battery discharge rate the faster you drain the battery the shorter its expected lifetime if you do this alot I would recommend buying extra batteries and rotate them all in and out to even out the discharge cycles

 

I usually tether my Axim x51v to my phone via bluetooth. It use alot less power than
wifi. Using ACBpowermeter I have come to the conclusion that Wifi uses more power
than anything else except the backlight.

Try buying an extended battery at http://www.aximcases.com

HP IPAQ 211: WAD, WA, PocketPlus, PocketWeather, MemMaid, Pocketmusic, etc.

To really determine if your battereys are really on their way out, I find that SPB Benchmark is a great utility. It can also tell you other stats about your Pocket PC. You can get it from http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/benchmark/?en . Just download the time-limited demo since in all likelyhood you will only use it once.