MetaChat - Why, why, WHY aren't cellphone chargers standardized?!?

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26 November 2007

Why, why, WHY aren't cellphone chargers standardized?!? →[More:]So I'm off the rock for a few days, and was sure I'd packed my cellphone charger. I hadn't. I need to get my messages and have my phone on in case there's work, among other reasons. I have visited with three friends with cellphones, each with its own precious snowflake of a charger, and not one fit my phone (even though at least two of them were by the same manufacturer). Gah! Gaaaaah!

Yes, I know this is my fault for forgetting my charger when it was important to have it, but that is outside the scope of this rant.

post by: elizard at: 15:13 | 15 comments

It's cruelty! It's so we all have to buy new chargers every other day!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 26 November | 15:15

Why aren't all power cords standarized?
Oh, i almost forgot the fee. The i don't live at radio shack fee.
Disposal electronic will rise out of their graves to reclaim us.
It is why you should recycle, by pulverization.

posted by ethylene 26 November | 15:19

Disposable electronics
My gibberish is kinda gibberishy today.

posted by ethylene 26 November | 15:26

Connector conspiracy.

posted by grouse 26 November | 15:41

grouse: Exactly! Seriously--how stupid and irritating this is. I've had to turn my phone off, and turn it on at distant intervals to see if anyone's left a message, which means I don't get missed calls (it's on the verge of dying). I also will have to buy a phone card and go to a pay phone today to check my voicemail at home. I'm going to be away for 3-4 more days. Fuckity fucking fuck fuck.

posted by elizard 26 November | 15:49

Well, I never used to have this problem because I always bought Nokia phones and they have used the same charger for close to a decade, so I had chargers all over the place. Now, though, they have cruelly changed the plug with their new phones, rendering all those chargers useless to me. At least they had the decency to include an adaptor so I can use the old chargers on my new phone, but there's only one of those, so how am I supposed to remember to carry that everywhere?

Why can't things just stay the same forever?

posted by dg 26 November | 15:51

But having an adaptor or batteries now make you a superhero.
"Why, i have a spare in my glove compartment."
"But how?"

posted by ethylene 26 November | 15:54

Now, though, they have cruelly changed the plug with their new phones, rendering all those chargers useless to me.

I feel your pain. I have had Nokia chargers pretty much everywhere, but my new Nokia is not compatible.

On our California trip, daughter had forgotten her charger, and one would think that mine would have worked, since we both have Nokias, but no.

posted by danf 26 November | 16:06

Are you at a hotel? Most hotels nowadays have a bevy of chargers at the front desk from previous clientele.

posted by eamondaly 26 November | 16:07

Also, I recommend iGo tips. One charger, multiple tips, less confusion.

posted by eamondaly 26 November | 16:10

Unfortunately not, eamon. I've been staying at Zack_Replica's, and today will be heading to my friend's farm for a few days. Said friend doesn't have a cellphone, so we can't even test the 'How many different chargers are out there--100 or 3,526,678?' theory. On the other hand, I do get to help them smoke bacon. Mmmmmmm....bacon.... And eat eggs I gathered myself. Almost makes up for it.

On preview: Oh. my. god. That's brilliant. Not available in Canada, apparently, but brilliant.

posted by elizard 26 November | 16:14

hmm. My solution is to use the same exact model mobile as approximately 3,748,632,970 other Americans do. Because *of course* I forgot to pack my charger for our long holiday ski weekend. As anyone who's recently been to ~~Breckenridge~~ any vast modern megaresort knows, having a functional cellphone is the only way of maintaining sanity whilst recreating en masse no, actually walkie-talkies are crap, especially when you are way the heck out on the back bowls. Fortunately no fewer than three of the friends who stayed at the condo with us have Razrs as well.

posted by lonefrontranger 26 November | 17:29

The green glow on the mid Atlantic US coast is me, wishing I was the one gathering the eggs.

posted by chewatadistance 26 November | 19:13

I like how the iGo people have invented their own connector.

posted by cillit bang 26 November | 19:19

Fortunately now in Japan cellphone are now becoming more standardized in regards to this.

But you can also pick up a mini charger with batteries if you are desperate. (Kinda like the one eamondaly linked to).

Hell you can even go into a convenience store and charge your phone.

The rest of the world needs to catch up with us.

posted by gomichild 26 November | 21:35

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