D.I.Y.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

CRACK OPEN

AN iPAQ

Replacing your PDA’s battery requires the proper knowledge, adequate courage, and a set of Torx screwdrivers. By Dale Dougherty

While I was getting a new home theater installed, the installer asked if I used a Pocket PC. He said I could make it function as an additional remote control. I had an early model iPAQ, but stopped using it for a number of reasons and it was confined to a closet. The iPAQ is a slim, beautiful device and one of the first color PDAs. I used it as an MP3 player for music and audio books. I also bought TravRoute CoPilot, a GPS navigation system for the Pocket PC that never quite worked for me.

I recalled that my iPAQ’s battery no longer held a charge. Batteries are a headache. My Sony

digital camera, which is less than a year old, has a rechargeable battery that has started to fail; the time remaining on the battery went from 30 minutes to zero in practically no time! At least I can buy a new battery and easily swap out the old one. No tools required.

Not so with an iPAQ (or an iPod, for that matter.) The design pre-supposes you will eventually replace the entire device, not just its battery. In other words, you’ll upgrade for new features before you

You have to crack open the iPAQ to remove the battery, which is glued to the cover.

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