Kensington Travel Plug Adapter with USB Charger 33346 Review

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(More customer reviews)This product includes:
1 male plug adapter, which fits in any of the 4 types of supported outlet types (European, British/Asian, American/Japanese/Chinese, and Australian)
1 female outlet adapter, which accepts any of the 4 types of supported plugs
1 USB charger adapter, which can be swapped with the outlet adapter
This was the best of all the adapters I looked at, it has a simple compact design, and only three parts, two of which will usually be firmly attached to each other, so there's less to lose. Contrary to what some of the other reviews say, the USB charger WILL work with an iPod. As I write this I'm charging my 2nd gen iPod Nano with it. It's also not a voltage converter, but I think that would have added a lot of bulk, and all of the electronics I travel with are dual voltage anyway.
I would have given this 5 stars, but I've had a few minor issues with it:
1. It takes much too much force to plug in a grounded 3-prong US plug into the adapter, so much that I'm afraid I'll break it when I remove the plug. It works, but you have to force the round US ground pin into the rectangular UK ground hole, which is just slightly too small for it to fit easily. If the UK ground hole was slightly rounded or half a millimeter larger, it wouldn't have this problem.
2. You sometimes have to pull out the pins on the plug end with your fingers to get them to lock correctly. Otherwise they'll retract back into the adapter when you try to plug it in.
3. You can only awkwardly connect all three pieces together for transport, and you can't do it at all while you're using it. It would have been better if there was a slot or something where you could attach the unused part during use.

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Kensington K33197 120W Auto/Air Ultra Portable Notebook PC Power Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the perfect adapter for me as it powers both my notebook and all of my gadgets from a single brick. I use it for my notebook, DVD player, cell phone, mp3 player, guitar trainer and PDA. The Kensington is simple, compact and lightweight without a lot of fussy extra stuff to deal with. The iGo and Targus systems require a separate dongle for low-power devices like cell phones and CD-players.
"Brick" really isn't a good description though, because the Kensington transformer has a super slim profile and is lightweight. I bought the 120w version because some people reported trouble with the 70w on newer HP Compaq Business notebooks. I figured the 120w is good now and insurance against obsolesence in the future.
The power supply is just part of the picture though, as the real beauty of the system is the "smart tip" feature. I frequently fly on international and long haul domestic trips and like to take along my portable DVD player for entertainment. Instead of hauling heavy auxiliary batteries or having both a DC adapter for the plane/rental car AND the regular power bricks, cables and wall warts for AC, now all I need is a single power supply and the right tips.
It seemed like I was always forgetting to pack the one crucial component I needed, like the USB cable to charge my Tungsten T or the wall wart for my mp3 player. With this system, everything stays in one pouch in my carry-on briefcase and the OEM power supplies stay at home, no more sharing and forgetting....
On the downside, the AC power cord really needs to be longer. Now it hangs down off the wall with the weight of the brick straining the cord. This will eventually lead to failure and an electrical hazard unless replaced. Also on my wish list is a separate European two-prong power cord to eliminate the need to pack a plug adapter.
Technical support is a joke, as the call desk didn't even know that any of the DVD tips were available. Technical spec information is nigh on impossible to get. My DVD player wasn't listed on the website and I wanted to know which tip supplied 9v.
Good luck trying to find that out without a major research project. I wish Kensington would just publish a compatibility chart on the site and keep it current, instead of that goofy query-based tip selector. It is so out of date, that it doesn't list many of the DVD player models that have tips (e.g. Panasonic).
I wanted to find the right tip for my Philips PET1000 DVD player. I finally had to go to the manufacturer websites that Kensington makes tips for to dig out which one uses 9v (it was Panasonic). Bought the tip, works like a charm. This works for other devices that aren't listed too, like my Tascam gutiar trainer. If the tip fits your device without forcing or isn't loose, it is probably the right one. However, ALWAYS check the voltage and amperage first to avoid frying your stuff.
The bottom line is that this is head and shoulders above the other AC/DC systems out there. If Kensington can keep up the product support by making new tips for gadgets as they hit the marketplace, it could be around for a long time.

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The Kensington 33197 120-Watt Notebook AC/DC Power Adapter uses patented technology to deliver all the power you need in a size that is 40-percent smaller and lighter than other power supplies, for easy portability. With its AC and DC power options, you always have the right adapter, whether you are in the office, on the road, or on a plane. This Kensington 33197 is able to power or charge virtually all notebook computers from any AC or DC source, as well as providing the right power for iPods, cell phones, DVD players, and PDAs. The ideal replacement for, or upgrade to, your existing power supply, this power adapter works on most HP, Compaq, Sony, IBM, Gateway, and Averatec notebooks, includes multiple tips for use with these major brands, and is backed by Kensington's one-year warranty. This unit weighs six ounces, and measures 5.6 x 0.66 x 3.1 inches (WxDxH).

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