How to charge

[far-from-fit]

Hi,

I've been bought one of these devices for my birthday which was a thoughtful gift. However there are two problems with the device that seem like complete show-stoppers. Best to have two separate threads, so this one's about how to charge the device.

I have a desktop PC. The USB port is about half way up the casing. Trying to charge the device for the first time I have the cable hanging out of the computer at the front and the magnetism just holds the device dangling in mid-air. But only just. After a fair amount of trying.

I do have a laptop and it would plug into that but I don't use that daily and it is hardly practical to dig that out and fire it up every time I want to charge this.

I'm really puzzled by this design. Clearly I could go and buy an extension cable but in all honesty despite this being a thoughtful gift I am minded to return it for a refund. This is just utterly bizarre.

Are all the Fitbit devices like this? I like the device, so I'm thinking that rather than a refund, I could exchange it for another model that doesn't rely on the magnetism remaining strong enough to win the battle against gravity.

Thanks,

Mark

[SteveH]

Would it be easier if you were to charge it from a wall charger such as you use for your phone? Any USB power source will work just fine.

It is a strange design and I can only think it was designed for maximum portability. Other models have longer cables with some - such as the Versa Lite - having a very long cable so it's not clear what their design criteria are.

[far-from-fit]

It looks like there was an assumption that it would be used with a laptop.

My phone charges wirelessly. However, now you mention it, I'm pretty sure there's a USB socket on the side of the little plinth thing the phone sits on, and it can indeed go in there.

Didn't think of that - thanks!