palsapal

I'm thinking of buying a second-hand portable having recently acquired a Tascam MD350 deck. I'm trying to find one that's going to have some life. It's amazing how many decks & portables are sold minus remotes, USB cables & cradles. And how many fail to describe battery condition. It's equally amazing how many of these missing items turn up in separate sales, & at disproportional prices. I'll be kind & think that the vendors have found them at a later date (yeah!). Is it safe to assume all USB connections are standard sizes e.g. USB A to either mini A & B/micro A & B. I already own most of these. I read of portables with dead internal batteries that can't make use of AA alkalines in an attached dry battery pack. Is this widespread?