Quick and Easy Charging with the ECOSOL Powerstick

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1221097596.usr1.jpg" /></p><p>Virtually no electronic device I own has battery life that impresses me, so the hunt for new ways to keep them powered is never-ending. The <a href="http://www.powerstick.com/catalog/index.php" target="_blank">ECOSOL Powerstick</a>, with it's small size and simple operation, intrigued me so I requested one for review. I wanted to test the Powerstick in a worst-case scenario, so I completely drained the battery on my <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=46278" target="_blank">HTC Touch Diamond</a>. I then charged the Powerstick fully, and connected the Touch Diamond using the included miniUSB cable. About two hours later, I noticed that the charging circle on the Touch Diamond wasn't pulsing any more - sure enough, the Powerstick was completely drained. The Diamond showed 60% power - which is about right given that the Powerstick battery is 750 mAh and the Touch Diamond has a 900 mAh battery. There's always a bit of efficiency lost when one battery charges another, so I'd guess that the Powerstick would only fully charge a battery that's 700 mAh or less in size.<MORE /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1221095368.usr1.jpg" border="1" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Figure 1: The Powerstick includes ten different adaptors. Their Web site says nine, but I counted ten in the package they sent me.</span></p><p>I started re-charging it at 5:25 PM and by 7:00 PM or so it was finished charging, so you can figure it takes around 90 minutes to recharge the Powerstick. You connect your device to the Powerstick using one of the ten included adaptors. It's handy that they provide so many, but many are for mobile phones. There's an iPod adaptor, and a miniUSB adaptor that can be used in a variety of devices, but there's no connector for my Zune for instance, nor my Samsung Blackjack II smartphone. There's a <a href="http://www.powerstick.com/catalog/function_compatibility.php" target="_blank">compatibility chart on their Web site</a> that helps you narrow down if your device is supported by one of the bundled tips, but it throws errors in Firefox to view it using Internet Explorer.</p><p>The Powerstick is <a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&amp;langid=EN&amp;sku_id=0926INGFS10106597&amp;catid=21389" target="_blank">available from Best Buy Canada</a> (hopefully in other places soon) for $69.99 CAD, and herein lies the biggest problem with this product: it's quite expensive for something having such a small battery. It's handy that it comes with so many adaptors, but that seems to add greatly to the price, and if you have devices that aren't supported like I do, they don't sell additional tips so the usefulness of this product is diminished. Compare the Powerstick and its 750 mAh battery with proprietary cables for $69.99 to the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/87793/the-lil-sync-usb-mobile-power-pack-power-on-the-go.html" target="_blank">PPC Techs Lil Sync Mobile USB Power Pack</a> and its 4400 mAh battery with a USB charging port for $59.99 USD, and you realize that if you want to have more power and more flexibility, albeit at the price of more size and weight, the Powerstick might not be for you. On the other hand, if you have devices that the included cables support, the Powerstick might be exactly what you're looking for: it's small, light, and is very easy to use.</p><p><em>Jason Dunn owns and operates <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com" target="_blank">Thoughts Media Inc.</a>, a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys <a href="http://photos.jasondunn.com/" target="_blank">photography</a>, mobile devices, <a href="http://www.jasondunn.com" target="_blank">blogging</a>, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his lovely wife, and his sometimes obedient dog.</em></p>

[sundown]

Jason, I love these reviews so thanks. I guess the price seems reasonable and I love the digital readout of remaining battery capacity. And the fact that the default connector is USB and built-in is a plus. It would take me 17 minutes to lose the exact adapter I'd need to use this on my particular phone and that's where this kind of device fails for me. But it's my fault, I suppose. What I've been using with great success is a Black and Decker Pocket Power battery brick I found on Woot recently. It puts out a mere 20 watts but is great for charging my phone, Pocket PC and iPhone. I even used it the other day to extend the battery on an HD camcorder during an event it was critical I captured. This thing has a two-prong AC plug as well as a USB port (an "innie"). I still have to remember my AC charger or USB cable for my devices but so far so good.

Bottom line is whether you use what I have or this Powerstick, it's great having extra power around. Just remember those adapter cables and keep it charged.

[kerrins]

When I first read this, I thought, cool. That'd be a nice to have to stick in the car, just in case. Realize I already have a USB charger in the cigarette lighter, but if it charged quickly it might be okay. So I go to Amazon to see how much it sells for. No, not $10 which is what it's worth...but $70! Everyone near me wonders why I laugh out loud in my cube.

[Chris Gohlke]

I second the Black and Decker Pocket Power thingys, I got some from woot also. I was thinking about reviewing them, but seems like a product on the way out even though I like it.

<rant>Why can't we just have standarized power connectors!</rant>

[Jason Dunn]

No, not $10 which is what it's worth...but $70! Everyone near me wonders why I laugh out loud in my cube.

Oh come on, you can't get anything for $10 - not even a big pack of AA batteries. ;) I think this product would make a lot of sense at the $30 price point. But since it's pretty expensive, the PPC Techs battery is a better deal if you don't mind the extra bulk of carrying your cables with you.

[Jason Dunn]

<rant>Why can't we just have standarized power connectors!</rant>

It all comes down to $$$. The companies want to keep selling their special power adaptors for their special power plugs. :mad:

[Gordo]

Am I correct in assuming that it will change from the computer USB port, and then can power my laptop from the USB port?
Gord

[Jason Dunn]

Am I correct in assuming that it will change from the computer USB port, and then can power my laptop from the USB port?
Gord

It charges from your USB port, yes, but it will not power a laptop - it will only power small devices (phones, MP3 players, etc.).

[T_Scheen]

For half the price (+- 25 EUR), I'll buy it.