I Waited 19 Months for the Magic Coin Card and It Was a Big Disappointment

Re:I Waited 19 Months for the Magic Coin Card and It Was a B... by Dylan16807 on Monday July 13, 2015 @04:51PM (#9880987)

But isn't the battery not even rechargeable? Sure, it's hard to let it be replaced in that form factor. But how about one I recharge every 6 months instead of one that lasts 2 years before dying forever.

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Re:I Waited 19 Months for the Magic Coin Card and It Was a B... by JoshTriplett on Monday July 13, 2015 @06:03PM (#9881460)

Rechargeable batteries are larger and less efficient than the equivalent non-rechargeable battery, and you then need some circuitry and mechanism to charge them. A charger might well be more expensive than the card, significantly larger, and more intimidating for prospective users. And the card itself would then last less time on battery and would likely be thicker and heavier.

On the other hand, making it rechargeable would allow for a pile of "charge card" puns.

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Re:I Waited 19 Months for the Magic Coin Card and It Was a B... by Dylan16807 on Monday July 13, 2015 @06:44PM (#9881658)

>larger and less efficient

Sure, that's why I put in the 4x reduction. They're not that much worse.

>circuitry and mechanism

A charger circuit costs 25 cents and doesn't have to be integrated into the card. It already has a sort-of base station you use when you're programming it.

All you really need is a low-current 4v source. You could make a USB charger for a tiny lithium ion battery out of a cable, a diode, and a resistor.

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