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Just curious: what does a real estate broker do where he needs to be away from electricity for the time it takes to replace his batteries twice? Maybe he works

Just curious: what does a real estate broker do where he needs to be away from electricity for the time it takes to replace his batteries twice? Maybe he works in a big city and uses public transit?

lutusp 12y ago
Many people who own and use smartphones don't know they can charge them while driving by attaching them to the car's power by way of a cigarette lighter power adaptor. The irony of the cigarette lighter outlet in a modern car is that it's not likely to be used for its original purpose, but it won't disappear from cars because it's a convenient way to charge a small electronic device.
- GregQuinn 12y ago
  It will disappear. A lot of new cars in Europe already have a USB port built into the dashboard.
  - lutusp 12y ago
    That sounds more practical. A lot of equipment exists that assumes the presence of a cigarette lighter socket, but I wouldn't be surprised if they declined over time because the USB socket is cheaper and more versatile.
    - icebraining 12y ago
      It'll be fun when people start buying USB-powered cigarette lighters because they've been obsoleted from cars :)
      - pjc50 12y ago
        The joke going around is "can you unplug your book, I need to charge my cigarette": the lighter will be obsoleted too in favour of e-cigs. Generally it's better for things not to be on fire.
        mrottenkolber 12y ago
        > Generally it's better for things not to be on fire. Maybe in your bubble.
        freehunter 12y ago
        When gas stations are selling e-cigs, how is that a techie-bubble at all?
  - silon3 12y ago
    A lot of new cars in Europe also have front, rear and trunk 12V sockets. I wouldn't buy one without at least two of those.
  - robodale 12y ago
    My 2009 BMW has a USB. Works great as a charger.
- kalleboo 12y ago
  > The irony of the cigarette lighter outlet in a modern car is that it's not likely to be used for its original purpose, but it won't disappear from cars because it's a convenient way to charge a small electronic device. I subscribe to a car-sharing service that uses exclusively Volvos and they all have USB ports. And the cigarette lighters are marked "12V" instead of "cigarette lighter". I can see the 12V ports disappearing in favor of USB in a couple years.
  - nnnnni 12y ago
    That would be a major shame since there are AC power inverters that run off of 12V ports in cars. Some people rely on those for different reasons. For example, it's a really nice way to recharge a laptop while traveling.
    - icebraining 12y ago
      With USB PD, you can recharge your laptop through USB, which will now provide up to 100W. No doubt there will be USB PD - AC power inverters for other use cases when 12V ports are obsoleted.
    - winthrowe 12y ago
      In my last rental car they skipped the middleman; there was no 12v port, but there was a 120V AC socket, as well as the usb.
    - unoti 12y ago
      I drive a Jeep Wrangler. 2012+ they have a 120v AC outlet, cigarette lighters (one in the front, and one in the back where you can connect refrigerators and such), and multiple USB ports. Including a USB port inside the center console which locks, allowing you to charge your phone securely while away from your vehicle with the top off. It's also worth noting that an adapter that connects the 12v in any car to a USB outlet can be had for less than $10 on Amazon.

Just curious: what does a real estate broker do where he needs to be away from electricity for the time it takes to replace his batteries twice? Maybe he works in a big city and uses public transit?

lutusp 12y ago

Many people who own and use smartphones don't know they can charge them while driving by attaching them to the car's power by way of a cigarette lighter power adaptor. The irony of the cigarette lighter outlet in a modern car is that it's not likely to be used for its original purpose, but it won't disappear from cars because it's a convenient way to charge a small electronic device.

GregQuinn 12y ago
It will disappear. A lot of new cars in Europe already have a USB port built into the dashboard.
- lutusp 12y ago
  That sounds more practical. A lot of equipment exists that assumes the presence of a cigarette lighter socket, but I wouldn't be surprised if they declined over time because the USB socket is cheaper and more versatile.
  - icebraining 12y ago
    It'll be fun when people start buying USB-powered cigarette lighters because they've been obsoleted from cars :)
    - pjc50 12y ago
      The joke going around is "can you unplug your book, I need to charge my cigarette": the lighter will be obsoleted too in favour of e-cigs. Generally it's better for things not to be on fire.
      - mrottenkolber 12y ago
        > Generally it's better for things not to be on fire. Maybe in your bubble.
        freehunter 12y ago
        When gas stations are selling e-cigs, how is that a techie-bubble at all?
- silon3 12y ago
  A lot of new cars in Europe also have front, rear and trunk 12V sockets. I wouldn't buy one without at least two of those.
- robodale 12y ago
  My 2009 BMW has a USB. Works great as a charger.
kalleboo 12y ago
> The irony of the cigarette lighter outlet in a modern car is that it's not likely to be used for its original purpose, but it won't disappear from cars because it's a convenient way to charge a small electronic device. I subscribe to a car-sharing service that uses exclusively Volvos and they all have USB ports. And the cigarette lighters are marked "12V" instead of "cigarette lighter". I can see the 12V ports disappearing in favor of USB in a couple years.
- nnnnni 12y ago
  That would be a major shame since there are AC power inverters that run off of 12V ports in cars. Some people rely on those for different reasons. For example, it's a really nice way to recharge a laptop while traveling.
  - icebraining 12y ago
    With USB PD, you can recharge your laptop through USB, which will now provide up to 100W. No doubt there will be USB PD - AC power inverters for other use cases when 12V ports are obsoleted.
  - winthrowe 12y ago
    In my last rental car they skipped the middleman; there was no 12v port, but there was a 120V AC socket, as well as the usb.
  - unoti 12y ago
    I drive a Jeep Wrangler. 2012+ they have a 120v AC outlet, cigarette lighters (one in the front, and one in the back where you can connect refrigerators and such), and multiple USB ports. Including a USB port inside the center console which locks, allowing you to charge your phone securely while away from your vehicle with the top off. It's also worth noting that an adapter that connects the 12v in any car to a USB outlet can be had for less than $10 on Amazon.