Judie Lipsett Hughes
07-04-2007, 04:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_01.JPG" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Universal portable power adapter<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.mobilityelectronics.com/">Mobility Electronics</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.igo.com/product.asp?sku=2918708">iGo Store</a>, tips are available <a href="http://www.igo.com/searchresults.asp?search_id=7"> from here</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $49.99 USD<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Tips which are compatible with your particular portable electronic device.<br /><b>Specifications:</b> Up to 8 watt power output; Utilizes rapid charge technology for the fastest charge; Use only with A-series power tips; Output current - 1.5A max; Use with mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones, smartphones/PDAs, Bluetooth headsets, MP3 players and portable gaming units.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><br /><li>Portable power solution for both AC and DC charging;<li>Swappable tips allows for multiple device compatibility;<li>Makes into a compact kit with the included travel organizer.<br /><br /><b>Cons:</b><br /><li>No included starter tip - they are all sold separately.<br /> <br /><b>Summary:</b><br />Today we'll take a look at the iGo Everywhere, an AC and DC power solution that uses iGo's patented intelligent tip technology. If it works as advertised, this may just be the last portable charging solution that you will ever need to purchase. <br /><br />Read on for the full review! <!><br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>I Need This...Why?</b></span><br />Every time I add another device to my gadget bag, I have to add yet another charger. After a while, these chargers and cables can get a bit out of control as they begin to take up too much room. Even worse is when a new device is purchased to replace an older one. In that situation, an all new set of portable cables is often purchased out of necessity. Enter the beauty of exchangeable tips, which can be swapped out so that the same power adapter can be used with virtually any portable electronic device. I've been a big fan of this type of system for some time, which is why I jumped at the chance to review this particular item.<br /><br /><span><b>Getting Started</b></span><br />In order to get set up with the proper equipment, an iGo Everywhere power adapter kit must be ordered along with the desired device tips. While I appreciate the wide variety of available tips, and I like how whichever different tips may be needed can be ordered at once to use with the same power adapter, I was a bit surprised that there wasn't at least one starter tip included in the purchase price. With that said, it's an easy enough matter to select the proper tips from the online shopping list; tips vary in price from $9.99 (i.e. a Treo 700 tip) to $12.99 (i.e. a "coming soon" Zune tip).<br /><br />After the iGo Everywhere and the proper tips have been ordered, a kit will arrive that includes a wall charging unit, an auto charging unit, a five foot long retractable cable, a black nylon elastic and mesh travel organizer, and whatever specialized tips were purchased. Worth noting is that the kit arrives in what appears to be ordinarily impenetrable plastic display pack, but it is easily opened without a sharp knife or scissors. I point this out for other klutzes like me, who have an innate fear of slicing ourselves open while undoing this type of packaging.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_02.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 1: Klutzes rejoice - no need for sharp objects! </i><br /><br />After the package has been undone, the contents con be laid out for inspection; let's take a look at the various included components... <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_03.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 2: The iGo Everywhere kit.</i><br /><br />The first item is the wall unit, a black and silver plastic AC wall charger with retractable prongs. It measures 3.3" long x 2.1" wide x 1.1" thick at its widest points, and it weighs 2.4 ounces. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_05.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 3: The top of the AC charger.</i> <br /><PAGEBREAK> <br />The outlet prongs on the back can be flipped into the charger's plastic housing so that they can be stored without snagging. Although this and the other components are made of plastic, they all feel well made and in no way flimsy or cheap. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_06.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 4: The underside of the AC charger.</i> <br /><br />The next piece is a black and silver DC car, boat, or plane charger. It measures 3.8" long x 1.1" wide x 1" thick at its widest points and weighs 1.2 ounces. There is an LED under the iGo logo to indicate when it is receiving power.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_04.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 5: The DC charger.</i> <br /><br />You probably noticed that the ends of both the AC and DC chargers have ports built in to receive a plug; well, that plug is found on the end of this retractable cable spool - it's the one with the white tip. The spool is composed of heavy black plastic; it measures 2.9" wide x 0.8" thick, and it weighs 2.6 ounces. Up to five feet of 0.25" wide flat cable can be extracted by pulling the opposing cable ends from the spool at the same time; a silver button on its underside will instantly cause them to retract. I wanted to mention that of all the retractable cable spools I have reviewed in the past, this one is the best quality. Granted the other cables were mainly compact sync & charge retractables, but there is a noticeable upgrade in this one's quality. Too bad there is no way to turn this particular cable into a sync & charge model, but I digress.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_08.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 6: The retractable cable spool.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><br />The last vital piece of the kit is the exchangeable tip, which plugs into the spool's black tipped plug. This particular tip is specifically designed for the Treo 700, and it measures approximately 1.25" long x 0.7" wide x 0.4" thick at its widest points. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_07.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 7: The Treo tip.</i><br /><br />When all the components are put together, they create a custom charging solution for my Treo. That's the only tip I have at the moment, but I will be ordering extras for my Zune and HTC Advantage. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere_11.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 8: The Treo, Treo tip, retractable cable, and AC adapter.</i><br /><br />When the entire iGo Everywhere kit is stored inside its black nylon travel organizer, it measures approximately 4" long x 3.4" wide x 2.4" thick and weighs 7.1 ounces. This is a great compact kit which can be thrown into almost any gear bag, laptop bag, man-bag, or purse. When carried, the user will never be without on-the-go charging capabilities.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppcthoughts_judie_igo_everywhere8_10.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 9: The entire iGo Everywhere kit in its travel organizer.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>But How Well Does It Work?</b></span><br />I've had the displeasure of testing retractable power chargers in the past that would not charge a device under certain conditions, namely when it was turned on, when Bluetooth was on, or when WiFi was working. Unfortunately the Treo doesn't include WiFi, so I couldn't test it while that non-existent feature was running, but I can definitely say that the both the AC and DC chargers will work properly when the Treo is turned on, in use as a phone, and with BT running. It may seem like this would be an obvious expectation, but sometimes even obvious expectations aren't met; fortunately that is not the case here. <br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />The iGo Everywhere universal power adapter is a brilliant product that will make a useful addition to anyone's gear. Even if it only worked with a single chosen device, I would still like it very much; but the addition of iGo's intelligent tip technology makes this a must-have device that will always have a place in my bag. <br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.geardiary.com/about/">Judie Lipsett Hughes</a> spent six years earning a reputation as a respected reviewer at The Gadgeteer, has now added "member of the Pocket PC Thoughts review team" to her list of credits. As the editor of <a href="http://www.geardiary.com">Gear Diary</a>, she continues her exploration of the gadget world with blog entries and reviews of all things geeky.</i>