We have many of the Dell Axims at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Many times they sit idle for a month or 2 between classes and the batteries go down. Question is: Should we remove both batteries during the time that we're not using them or maybe just remove the backup battery. We do a hard reset between users so we are not concerned about user's data only the programs that came with it.

I would remove both. For a couple of months the backup battery would go flat anyway... May as well save yourself the trouble of buying new ones.

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

   

But if the batteries are fully charged when they go to store them and are removed from the Axim they shouldn't really loose any power in 2 months of sitting .. The batteries should still be fully charged when they attach them back to the Ax ..

my understanding is that for absolute best maintenance while in storage, you should drain the batts to 40% or so, and stick em in the fridge. ...but this probably isnt necessary.

2x SimpleTech Bonzai USB2 mini-drive/SD card reader
2x Lexar 1GB (Non-Hi Speed!) SD (USA): write speed = 5.5MB/sec (37.5X) Space avail. (formatted) = 975MB
1x SimpleTech 512MB SD (Taiwan?): write speed = 5.3MB/sec (36.4X)...... Space avail. (formatted) = 489MB
RMA'd: SimpleTech 512MB SD (Japan): write speed = 3.9MB/sec (26.6X)... Space avail. (formatted) = 491MB
Sold: Viking 256MB SD (Taiwan): write speed = 1.5MB/sec (10.2X)........... Space avail. (formatted) = 241MB
Sold: Viking 128MB SD (Japan): write speed = 1.5MB/sec (10.2X)............. Space avail. (formatted) = 120MB

Well, I thank all 4 of you but it seems that there is no real consensus. I don't have the option of leaving them charging because I need to secure them in a cabinet. It sounds like maybe I should leave the 2 batteries in it and try to recharge them.

If you leave the batteries in there and DON'T use them there is the possiblity (slim) of leakage.

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

   

I'm going on a long trip to Africa, two months, and I'm going to remove the backup battery. I don't think the perfomance will be very much affected. I've heard people that fully discharge and those that don't discharge their batteries, and they get the same effect.

Sadly I have to use a palm on the trip, I want ordinary AAA batteries.

You know the backup batter is not rechargable right?

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

   

Yes, I know the backup battery is not rechargeable. If I remove it and the main battery goes down, what happens. There is no data on these as I've done a hard reset to clean out the old data.

Ok...in lamen's terms?

We are the people our parents warned us about.

nothing you do is going to destroy the batteries. basically what everyone said is correct, but if you want to maximize the battery life and qualty, drain them to 40% and stick em in the fridge.

if you don't stick them in the fridge I don't think there will be a devastating effect.

if you don't drain them to 40%, I don't think there will be a devastating effect.

if you store them at 100% OR 0%, there might be a significant effect but I doubt it would be catastrophic or even noticeable.


If you leave the batteries in the Axim without connecting it to a power source, the batteries will go from 100% to 0% in probably one month.

If you remove the backup battery while leaving the main battery in, you won't lose your data until the main battery dies.

Whatever you do, take the backup batteries out.

If you do not leave the axim connected to a power source, all of the data will be gone because the main battery will die in about one month.

If you can't leave the batteries in a refrigerator, I would still drain them to 40%.


Litium-ion batteries die completely in 2-3 years, regardless of usage or storage conditions.


..and not to be incredibly nitpicky but Jefefef, you mispelled layman....

2x SimpleTech Bonzai USB2 mini-drive/SD card reader
2x Lexar 1GB (Non-Hi Speed!) SD (USA): write speed = 5.5MB/sec (37.5X) Space avail. (formatted) = 975MB
1x SimpleTech 512MB SD (Taiwan?): write speed = 5.3MB/sec (36.4X)...... Space avail. (formatted) = 489MB
RMA'd: SimpleTech 512MB SD (Japan): write speed = 3.9MB/sec (26.6X)... Space avail. (formatted) = 491MB
Sold: Viking 256MB SD (Taiwan): write speed = 1.5MB/sec (10.2X)........... Space avail. (formatted) = 241MB
Sold: Viking 128MB SD (Japan): write speed = 1.5MB/sec (10.2X)............. Space avail. (formatted) = 120MB

Thanks for the great summary and feedback.