Comments on: Kensington Portable Power Outlet Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:27:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: David Bechtol http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25191 David Bechtol Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:35:36 +0000 #comment-25191 <p>Why not reverse one of the grounded recepticles to make them more accessible for all plugs?</p> Why not reverse one of the grounded recepticles to make them more accessible for all plugs?

]]> By: BK http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25190 BK Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:28:21 +0000 #comment-25190 <p>I own the Belkin surge protector and while it serves a similar purpose to the Kensington power outlet, the Belkin device is simply huge: 3.6 x 5 x 8.5 inches</p> <p>vs. the Kensington: 4.4 x 3.1 x 1.2 inches</p> <p>In terms of portability and flexibility, I'd argue the Kensington wins hands-down. It's quite the ugly duckling, though! Now I need to find someone to foist my Belkin off on :)</p> I own the Belkin surge protector and while it serves a similar purpose to the Kensington power outlet, the Belkin device is simply huge: 3.6 x 5 x 8.5 inches

vs. the Kensington: 4.4 x 3.1 x 1.2 inches

In terms of portability and flexibility, I’d argue the Kensington wins hands-down. It’s quite the ugly duckling, though! Now I need to find someone to foist my Belkin off on :)

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25189 Julie Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:59:41 +0000 #comment-25189 <p>Hai:</p> <p>You make an excellent point as to why having outlets on both sides of this device is a GOOD thing. :o)</p> <p>BTW, I got a reply back from my contact for Kensington and she said that she is definitely passing on the comments about a UK version. So keep your fingers crossed.</p> Hai:

You make an excellent point as to why having outlets on both sides of this device is a GOOD thing. :o )

BTW, I got a reply back from my contact for Kensington and she said that she is definitely passing on the comments about a UK version. So keep your fingers crossed.

]]> By: Alan B. http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25188 Alan B. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:07:39 +0000 #comment-25188 <p>Wow, Thanks Kenton. Good catch. I think I'll pass unless they come out with an international version. alan</p> <p><em>[Edited at August 22, 2008 16:12:48 PM.]</em></p> Wow,
Thanks Kenton. Good catch. I think I’ll pass unless they come out with an international version.
alan

[Edited at August 22, 2008 16:12:48 PM.]

]]> By: Hai http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25187 Hai Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:04:32 +0000 #comment-25187 <p>Julie, Looks like Kensington is coming out with a competitor to the Belkin's Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=400738</p> <p>While I like the Belkin's for its beautiful and design, I give the Kensington a thumb up for being practical: many hotel's outlets are blocked by furnitures and the Kensington's cord solves that problem.</p> <p>By positioning the connectors on both sides, Kensington can accommodate a large power brick without blocking others; something the Belkin could not do.</p> <p>I wish Kensington (and Belkin for that matter) goes the extra mile by including short USB cables for iPod and male A to male B (which many phones and devices use).</p> <p>Hai</p> Julie,
Looks like Kensington is coming out with a competitor to the Belkin’s Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=400738

While I like the Belkin’s for its beautiful and design, I give the Kensington a thumb up for being practical: many hotel’s outlets are blocked by furnitures and the Kensington’s cord solves that problem.

By positioning the connectors on both sides, Kensington can accommodate a large power brick without blocking others; something the Belkin could not do.

I wish Kensington (and Belkin for that matter) goes the extra mile by including short USB cables for iPod and male A to male B (which many phones and devices use).

Hai

]]> By: Colin Westwater http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25186 Colin Westwater Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:40:14 +0000 #comment-25186 <p>Thanks Julie. I think half the battle in the UK is our power plugs are so much larger than the UK. Mainly because our mains puts out more juice!</p> Thanks Julie. I think half the battle in the UK is our power plugs are so much larger than the UK. Mainly because our mains puts out more juice!

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25185 Julie Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:11:34 +0000 #comment-25185 <p>I'm going to make sure my contact at Kensington reads these comments. Hopefully they can do something about a UK (and other) versions.</p> I’m going to make sure my contact at Kensington reads these comments. Hopefully they can do something about a UK (and other) versions.

]]> By: Colin Westwater http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25184 Colin Westwater Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:38:12 +0000 #comment-25184 <p>Wish they would release this in the UK. Monster have a similar product (but without the USB ports) and they have no plans to release their version in the UK.</p> Wish they would release this in the UK. Monster have a similar product (but without the USB ports) and they have no plans to release their version in the UK.

]]> By: Mark Rosengarten http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25183 Mark Rosengarten Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:27:55 +0000 #comment-25183 <p>I bought one of these this weekend, and my biggest concern was that it be able to recharge my iPod Nano 3G. With the newer iPods, you can't just use any USB charger, but this one works. It is going into my gear bag for when I go storm chasing. The number of outlets is perfect! The main outlet for my laptop, the USB ones for charging my phone and iPod, the two on the back for charging my camera battery and my camcorder battery. Instead of trying to find outlets in a hotel room (unplugging all manner of things to find room), I can do it all from my room desk and one outlet. It is an excellent solution to a long-standing problem.</p> I bought one of these this weekend, and my biggest concern was that it be able to recharge my iPod Nano 3G. With the newer iPods, you can’t just use any USB charger, but this one works. It is going into my gear bag for when I go storm chasing. The number of outlets is perfect! The main outlet for my laptop, the USB ones for charging my phone and iPod, the two on the back for charging my camera battery and my camcorder battery. Instead of trying to find outlets in a hotel room (unplugging all manner of things to find room), I can do it all from my room desk and one outlet. It is an excellent solution to a long-standing problem.

]]> By: Jake Tongue http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25182 Jake Tongue Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:35:51 +0000 #comment-25182 <p>if they did a uk one i'd peacticically run out to buy one but the major flaw is it's only 125 volts</p> if they did a uk one i’d peacticically run out to buy one but the major flaw is it’s only 125 volts

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25181 Julie Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:01:48 +0000 #comment-25181 <p>Kenton:</p> <p>Sorry for missing that flaw. I don't travel outside the US enough to have discovered the problem...</p> Kenton:

Sorry for missing that flaw. I don’t travel outside the US enough to have discovered the problem…

]]> By: kenton a hoover http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/08/21/kensington_portable_power_outlet_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25180 kenton a hoover Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:16:12 +0000 #comment-25180 <p>You missed the single largest flaw with this product:</p> <p>125VAC, 60Hz</p> <p>The time when I have the greatest use for a product like this is when I'm traveling and need to split outlets off an international adapter. Without being multivoltage, that's not possible. So I'm back to my combination of $2 hardware store multiplug and international adaptor and this useful item stays at home with the wife and kids.</p> <p>It's a shame.</p> You missed the single largest flaw with this product:

125VAC, 60Hz

The time when I have the greatest use for a product like this is when I’m traveling and need to split outlets off an international adapter. Without being multivoltage, that’s not possible. So I’m back to my combination of $2 hardware store multiplug and international adaptor and this useful item stays at home with the wife and kids.

It’s a shame.

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