Sammy wrote:
How does the capacity of a Duracell-brand AA cell (Duracell ordinary
or Duracell ultra) compare to one of the high-capacity NiMH cells (eg
2100 mAh)?


It all depends on the drain. Alkaline do well in very small drain
applications. e.g. digital clocks etc, where they'll last for years.
NiMH batteries do well in higher drain situations. And will outlast most
alkalines in things like camera flashes etc.


I am assuming, of course, that any applicance using the cells would
work down to the 1.2 volts of the NiMH.

If it uses alkalines it has to. Alkalines only provide 1.5V when they're
brand new. They quickly degrade to around 1.2V for most of their
lifetime and then drop off rapidly to nothing when they're dead.

NiMH on the other hand start at 1.2V and drop only a little during their
disharge cycle.

H