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more Palm problems
Jun. 15th, 2006 12:21 amThe device is only useful when it is charged.
In theory, one can charge it from a computer (through a serial port -- it looks like another drive, and transfers power slowly, or data on request -- it does not transfer both at once), or from an electrical outlet with an adapter. It came with an adapter for charging from US electrical outlets, but that simply doesn't work at all. I can't charge it from my computer at work, because it's against the network security rules.
So I went shopping for a new adapter that would let me charge the device from an electrical outlet. Staples only had the "vehicle adapter" (which means car, not bus or airplane. pfui.) or the "travel adapter," which has a plug that looks very badly suited for US electrical outlets. Obviously, Americans can be assumed to have their cars with them if they are not travelling abroad. *rolls eyes* Stephen found me an adapter I could go pick up in Woburn, that was supposed to be designed for this kind of handheld. When I got there and found it was exactly the same travel adapter kit I had rejected at Staples, walking distance from work, I pestered the clerk for a few minutes.
"I need a charger that works with US power outlets."
"This works anywhere."
I pointed at the plug, visible through the package. "That won't fit in a US outlet. Do you have one for the US?"
He was exasperated. "That *is* the one for the US."
"Is there an adapter in the box or something? Can you open the package and show me?" (I was being a little sneaky. I don't think I can open this kind of package by myself.)
He didn't open the package. He looked it up online, thus, http://www.palm.com/us/products/accessories/chargerscablescradles/3231WW.html
and used the pictures he could see there to confirm his certainty that there were all kinds of plugs in there.
So I bought the charger, begged him to open the package for me anyhow, and took it home.
The latest problem is that the adapters are not the kind I am accustomed to. There isn't an AUS/US power adapter that you plug into a US electrical outlet, that lets you plug in AUS appliances (like I think my new charger might be, but I'm not at all sure.) The kit comes with 4 different faceplates for the power converter, each with its own prong configuration. I think one is supposed to remove the default (AUS?) faceplate and attach the desired one, but I can't get the default one off. There aren't any screws or bolts. It's either brute force, or knowing just where to put the pry-bar on an unlabelled electrical device. Any suggestions? Palm does not have useful tech support for this. (I don't know if the tech support they offer for their handhelds is useful, but at least they offer it. For the charger, it's a considerable online search just to find the manual (which helpful companies would put in the box, or at least print a direct link on the box if they wanted to save the paper.) The manual mentions how to put an electrical faceplate on, but gives no clues about how to remove an unwanted one.
Any suggestions? Do any of you have a simple US charger that works for a Tungsten T5, and want to trade? Or can you point me towards a supplier, online or in Boston or Montreal? Or can any of you get the faceplate off my new adapter so I can use it here?
In theory, one can charge it from a computer (through a serial port -- it looks like another drive, and transfers power slowly, or data on request -- it does not transfer both at once), or from an electrical outlet with an adapter. It came with an adapter for charging from US electrical outlets, but that simply doesn't work at all. I can't charge it from my computer at work, because it's against the network security rules.
So I went shopping for a new adapter that would let me charge the device from an electrical outlet. Staples only had the "vehicle adapter" (which means car, not bus or airplane. pfui.) or the "travel adapter," which has a plug that looks very badly suited for US electrical outlets. Obviously, Americans can be assumed to have their cars with them if they are not travelling abroad. *rolls eyes* Stephen found me an adapter I could go pick up in Woburn, that was supposed to be designed for this kind of handheld. When I got there and found it was exactly the same travel adapter kit I had rejected at Staples, walking distance from work, I pestered the clerk for a few minutes.
"This works anywhere."
I pointed at the plug, visible through the package. "That won't fit in a US outlet. Do you have one for the US?"
He was exasperated. "That *is* the one for the US."
"Is there an adapter in the box or something? Can you open the package and show me?" (I was being a little sneaky. I don't think I can open this kind of package by myself.)
He didn't open the package. He looked it up online, thus, http://www.palm.com/us/products/accessories/chargerscablescradles/3231WW.html
and used the pictures he could see there to confirm his certainty that there were all kinds of plugs in there.
So I bought the charger, begged him to open the package for me anyhow, and took it home.
The latest problem is that the adapters are not the kind I am accustomed to. There isn't an AUS/US power adapter that you plug into a US electrical outlet, that lets you plug in AUS appliances (like I think my new charger might be, but I'm not at all sure.) The kit comes with 4 different faceplates for the power converter, each with its own prong configuration. I think one is supposed to remove the default (AUS?) faceplate and attach the desired one, but I can't get the default one off. There aren't any screws or bolts. It's either brute force, or knowing just where to put the pry-bar on an unlabelled electrical device. Any suggestions? Palm does not have useful tech support for this. (I don't know if the tech support they offer for their handhelds is useful, but at least they offer it. For the charger, it's a considerable online search just to find the manual (which helpful companies would put in the box, or at least print a direct link on the box if they wanted to save the paper.) The manual mentions how to put an electrical faceplate on, but gives no clues about how to remove an unwanted one.
Any suggestions? Do any of you have a simple US charger that works for a Tungsten T5, and want to trade? Or can you point me towards a supplier, online or in Boston or Montreal? Or can any of you get the faceplate off my new adapter so I can use it here?
