Sharp Md-dr77 Design Flaw

[yochanan]

I just received my new Sharp MD-DR77 portable MD recorder and I am quite dissatisfied with one design feature.

The alternate, AA battery case attachment point is a tiny screw that attaches to the case via the turn of a thumbwheel on the battery case.

With the exception of the two, battery contact points,-- the entire weight and stability of the battery case is supported by this very small, short screw with fine threads. I can see how these threads could strip out or the pin break off or a very short time. The pin is hardly of great enough strength to support the weight of the battery case, let alone if one should accidently bump it, applying torque to the screw.

How this was overlooked in it's design is beyond me. There should be at least TWO attachment screws on this case to provide even a minimal amount of support for the battery.

I am very dissapointed.

[yochanan]

I see now that Sharp was well aware of the design weakness. In the manual, where it talks about attaching the battery case they make a pointed and final comment.

"4. Turn the knob on the battery case toward "LOCK", and then make sure that the battery case

DOES NOT MOVE." (capilization emphasis mine)

[Christopher]

Actually, most Sony attachments are like this as well. Kenwood, too. So it's not specifically a Sharp design flaw, as it was Sony who was first to have this attachment design, I think.

[Guest NRen2k5]

This, and the gumstick batteries being underpowered, is what makes me afraid to get a slim unit and happy with my humped ones.