Power issues

Don't have complaints about the pictures, but then haven't made objective comparison. Software is a complete pain - no export back to card for outsourcing printing (use Picasa for this) and seems to put images all over the show (full details of all image placement should be in the help file and tutorial). Great for albums and keywords though. But batteries - I put rechargeable alkalines (1.66V tested) in and switched on. Nothing, even though the camera was still receiving 3.1V under load (so how can one even use 1.2V NiMH?). We've never had more than a few dozen photo's on a battery charge even though I don't use Live View and keep control of the flash. Also, to rub salt into the wound, the external power jack seems to be of proprietary size so one can't make up an external pack (instead of forking out big $'s for the Kodak power pack).