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Juice For All Our Devices
The biggest drawback to our mobile lifestyle (and strangely enough,
also at the same time the most exciting aspect) is the multiplicity of
devices that we have. And that's because they each come to my great
frustration with their own power adapter and a variety of different
ports and plugs. The iGo everywhere130 Universal Notebook Power Adapter
is designed to minimise the need for all these various means of
powering our gadgets. Equipped with iTips to accommodate dozens of
different devices, the iGo everywhere130 is the top of the range
product from Mobility Electronics. How well does it all work in
practice? Let's find out what my expectations were and my thoughts on
the implementation. |
When I received the iGo everywhere130 and felt the weight I automatically assumed that the power brick incorporated a battery…
Well, such was not the case but the thought of it is not that strange, methinks.
That way, after charging your devices you'd still have some spare juice to hit the road, while searching for the next power point…
There are, of course, a number of such solutions available for devices that sip no more than 5 or 6 Volts, like the Socket Mobile Power Pack.
The iGo everywhere130 came in a plastic see-through package which contained the adapter itself and the so-called iGo Dual Power accessory to recharge smaller items at the same Time as charging your laptop.
The DC car charger, the zippered pouch and a slew of cables to connect the various bits plus about half a dozen different iTips that the company sent us, made up the package.
The first impression is that the iGo everywhere130 is of high-quality built, with a good-looking, silver adapter coated in thick plastic.
The next thing you notice where you try to connect the various bits is the number of non standard plugs for the cables. Have a look at the close-up pictures. There is probably a good reason why the plugs are shaped the way they are so that you don't hook up the wrong cable but I like standardisation in most things and particularly in plugs.
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Putting It to the Test
When you plug in the iGo everywhere130 the blue LED light glows to indicate it is working properly. I tried out different devices, checking out how many Watts they were pulling with the aid of the Energy Monitor from Kill-a-Watt.
This is quite handy to know whether a device is charging or not.
In fact, a built-in meter might be just the thing for a newer model in the iGo series… And particularly because the LED does not turn off when the devices are fully charged.
It's a bit ironic that, with all the plugs supplied, the most important one wasn't there: an adapter plug for overseas customers, primarily a round European plug adapter or an Australian (slanted prongs). I knew before I ordered the iGo everywhere130 just when it first was announced that it came standard with a US plug but since I have stacks of travel plugs it didn’t matter to me. These days the 130 will ship with whatever plug you need and Mobility Electronics will ship internationally.
Most folk will not look at the Device Compatibility Guide first to check whether it's safe to connect but follow the general rule of: "if it looks it will fit I'll give it a try"...
How safe is that, given the patented iTips seem to have some way of "knowing" what voltage to use? I'm not sure but I have a sneaking suspicion that if it fits, it will charge at the correct voltage. As an example, the new Nokia N70 has a smaller round plug for the higher charge voltage needed. I have often thought to create a web site that documents all the various plugs and ports in existence today but I'm afraid that this may take more of my time than writing reviews for the DigitalReviews Network….
Seven Good Reasons Why You Should Have the IGo Everywhere130
1. Obviously, “One to Many” is much better than just one too many (adapter)
2. Even though the iGo everywhere130 is priced at a hefty USD150 or so, with the iTips about 10 bucks each, there is money to be saved if you have to buy new adapters (happened to me once on my old Toshiba laptop!)
3. If you travel a lot with many devices you can now travel a bit smarter and lighter
4. Fewer cables (hey, what's not to like, eh!)
5. Most devices are catered for with new iTips coming out all the time
6. Includes car adapter and the ability to use it on aircraft
7. Still thinking about this one…
Three Good Reasons to Think Twice
1. The iGo everywhere130 is not helping standardisation of plugs as described above
2. The total number of wires might be less but the iGo 130 has a fair few wires of its own
3. If you don't travel much or only carry a couple of devices it's a bit over the top.
iGo Everywhere 130 Universal Notebook Power Adapter Specifications
* AC Input: 120-240 VAC; 50/60Hz; 3A
* DC Input: 12-30 VDC; 10A max
* DC Output: Up to 100W continuous; 130W peak
* Main Unit Dimensions: 6.07 x 2.54 x 1.30 inch (154.18 x 64.52 x 33.02 mm)
* Unit Weight: 17.2oz (368.5g)
Conclusions
The iGo everywhere130 can be a lifesaver in many situations. The price, whilst not cheap, is fair, particularly if you want to streamline your charging options. Personally, I would have liked the DualPower accessory to be a retractable device, in the style of some sync/charge cables.
The iGo everywhere130 is rated for up to 130 W but it is good to know that Mobility Electronics also has many other options to cater for lesser demands.
7 out of 10
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