iGo EverywherePower 3500 Series Adapter

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Julie

January 10, 2005

Product Requirements:
Device:
Various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, MP3 players and more

You may remember Judie's review of the iGo Juice Combination AC and Auto/Air Notebook Power Adapter. Made by Mobility Electronics, this charger allowed for notebook charging along with another device. Well, now we have a new charging product by the same company: the iGo EverywherePower. Based on the same principle as the iGo Juice, this new version is more compact while retaining the same basic charging features, minus one. Read on...

Package Contents

iGo EverywherePower adapter
iGo DualPower adapter
Electronic Device Input Cord
Standard Wall Outlet AC Power Cord
Auto/Air EmPower DC Power Cord
Zippered carrying pouch

Hardware Specs

AC Adapter
Input: 100-230 VAC ~1.5A 50/60Hz
Main Output: 3-10 VDC
Sec. Output :19 VDC
Total Power: 15W

DC Adapter
Input: 10.75-30 VCD 3A Max.
Main Output: 3-10 VDC
Sec. Output: 19 VDC
Total Power 15 W
 

The main iGo EverywherePower adapter is about the size of a deck of cards. It's a chunky blue module with a blue LED on the front and connectors on either end. Here's how it works.... plug in either the 3 prong wall outlet cord or Car/Air cord into the bottom end of the main adapter.

Then plug in Electronic Device Input Cord and/or the iGo DualPower adapter into the other end of the adapter. If you want to just charge one device, use on the Electronic Device Input cord. If you want to charge two devices at once, plug in the DualPower adapter too.

The DualPower Adapter is like a oblong spool with a wrap around cable attached to it. The spool must house some additional electronics due to its size. I guess I would be happier if the cable wasn't as long and didn't need to be wrapped around the body of the module for storage.

Once you have the two cables attached to the main adapter, the next step is to connect your electronic devices for charging. Here's where the cool part comes in... The iGo EverywherePower adapter can charge a whole cornucopia of devices. I like the word cornucopia, don't you? ;o) In order for the iGo to charge your devices, you will need little connectors called iTips that snap onto the end of DualPower Adapter cord and the Electronic Device Input cord.

For this review, I was sent an iTip for my junko Motorola cell phone and my HP HX4700 iPAQ. The iTips are sold separately and range in price from $9.99 to $14.99 and are available for various mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, mp3 players etc.

The iTips snap onto the ends of the cables easily yet snuggly and connect to the devices securely.

Once you have everything configured, it is a snap to charge two devices at one time utilizing just one wall outlet auto cigarette lighter outlet or airplane EmPower connector (the end of the cigarette lighter adapter pulls off the reveal the EmPower connector). I'm sure you've guessed that this product makes traveling much more convenient as you do not need to pack a power brick for each device that you bring along with you on your trips. Instead, you just bring an iTip for each device and charge 2 at a time. Nice!

Whenever the iGo is plugged into a power source, the LED on the front glows blue. This LED does not turn off when the devices are fully charged. You'll need to manually check the devices themselves for their charging status.

I should note that the main iGo EverywherePower adapter does become slightly warm while plugged in. It's not hot, but it is warm to the touch.

This is a great product for travelers or even home use as it frees up one wall outlet for other use. You will recall at the beginning of the review, I said that this product is similar to the model that Judie reviewed except that it lacks one feature. That feature is the ability to charge a notebook computer. If you want that feature, you'll have to buy the larger iGo Juice power adapter. 

The other only little gripe that I have with the iGo EverywherePower is that the regular wall outlet cable is just a bit short at 34". That said, I will not hesitate to pack this product in my luggage the next time I take a trip with my gadgets.

Price: $69.99 (assorted iTips are sold separately)

Pros:
Ability to charge 2 devices at once using 1 power source
Works with a wall outlet, car or airplane power source
2yr warranty

Cons:
Must buy iTips for your devices
May not be compatible with all your devices
AC power cord a bit short