Friday, March 28, 2003
Seidio's Data Power Pack G2 - your next purchase?
Posted by Gary Garland, Esq. in "HARDWARE" @ 10:30 AM
Seidio has some great products for the mobile user. The award winning Data Power Package is an exceptional product, and a near necessity for anyone who routinely uses his or her PDA on the go. Read on to find out why this should be your next purchase...
The Seidio Data Power Package does just what it claims - it will power your lil’ buddy through a variety of methods, and also allow you to effortlessly sync your data.
What’s in the package?
The system is contained in a small nylon case - very cool. The case is essentially rectangular with rounded edges, with the Seidio name on the top. It measures 6 ½ inches wide, by 3 ½ inches across, by 3 inches deep and weighs 13.0 ounces fully loaded. Not quite small enough for your pants pocket, but certainly small enough for a briefcase or onboard luggage. Each zipper really has that double zipper thing, so you can open it how you like, and the case has two shiny metal rings which I still don’t know what they do - maybe you can attach a wrist strap? Anyway, when you get this thing, you’ll realize it’s quality before you even open it up.
Opening the top reveals the unique 8 inch data power cable, which can synchronize and charge your PDA in one shot. I say unique because I am unaware of any other sync/charge cable of this size - the rest are generally in a 3 or so foot range, so this little guy is perfect for travel. Also within the top compartment is the award winning Emergency Power Charger (EPC) which has been reviewed to death elsewhere, and a unique airline charger.
EPC easy as ABC
Figure 1: The EPC can operate your PDA and charge while the backlight is low - notice the lit charge light. The mascot is Gizmo, on Gadgetaddict.com
The EPC is the “soul” of the package. One credible site claims they could charge their dead iPAQ 38XX series from 0 to 80% in 3 hours on one 9 volt battery. Another site said closer to 15%, which matched testing on my 3975. I was able to get a roughly 40% charge increase on my iPAQ 3630. Per Energize ME!, their 9 volt battery holds 625 mah. The iPAQ 3630 holds roughly 750 mah, so the battery should give nearly a full charge (less losses for resistance). The iPAQ 38/38/54 series has something like a 1,450 mah battery, so theoretically 2 or 3 9 volt batteries should fully charge one of those units.
The way the EPC works is you pop the appropriate PDA adapter on the end of this 9V cradle, you slap a 9 volt on it, stick it in your PDA, and count the minutes. You can either use your PDA at this point, or simply keep the power off and let it charge. As this is intended for emergency charging, any use/charge is better than nothing. As a warning, I found (consistent with at least one other review) that after about 90 minutes or so, the 9 volt battery will cool, and your PDA will start to discharge! You have been warned. The PDA light continues to blink while it then begins to slowly discharge, so if the battery isn’t warm, you’re done. Seidio stresses the EMERGENCY nature of the EPC, so unplug when you’re done with that emergency use, or carefully monitor while charging. I would like to see this piece improved, however if I need power NOW $2 or so will buy me a 9 volt and I can do what I need to. I don’t go camping much, but if I did and power was not available, you bet I’d take the EPC and a slew of 9 volts.
The airline adapter is intended to plug into an airline outlet, and then the end plugs into the EPC unit, charging your little buddy. As I believe this is mostly found in business class and first class, I doubt I’ll get to ever use it - however if more airlines adopt the power outlet it will be great for the frequent (or infrequent) flier.
Enough soul, talk about the heart!
If the EPC is the soul of the package, then the bottom compartment of the case contains the heart, which is the dual adapter. This thing makes me feel like Macguyver - flip it one way and you have a 120 volt plug, flip it another and the same unit will work with your car’s 12 volt DC socket. The end of the adapter is essentially the same as the end of the EPC, so you use the same adapter for your PDA that you would use with the EPC. I have tested the unit in my home and car, and it works great.
I asked the folks at Seidio to individually price the items within. For the most part, they don’t separately sell the dual charger with removable plugs, but instead just have a fixed end. Anyway, when they were done adding up the cost for each part, it was far cheaper to buy the unit together.
Extra “heads” can be purchased for about $10.95 each, which lets you get great utility from the pack - for $10.95 extra you could charge, say, a Dell and a Palm, or whatever your needs are. I also questioned about the rigid small connection of the EPC to PDA, and they sell 3.5 foot cables for $6.95 - one choice is simply a 3.5 foot double extension cable, so you could keep the battery and EPC in your pocket. The other cable has dual 9 volt heads so you keep the battery in your pocket, and the EPC on the iPAQ. I don’t know why anybody would buy the latter, except you could potentially use it with other devices.
USB for me!
Figure 2: A few changes round out the USB version, described below.
There is also a “USB” version of the kit - the main differences are:
Gotchas
The only con I found is the EPC did not work the way I would have liked - I would want it to shut down when the battery is drained, not to continue to imply my PDA was charging while the power was actually draining!
I paid about $30 in July for a lesser functioning kit that didn’t sync. I had also paid close to $30 at Radio Shack for an A/C adapter for my iPAQ 3630 a couple of years ago - these things need heavy amperage not found in a typical charger. The Data Power Package G2 (generation 2) is on sale for $49.95, and Pocket PC Thoughts readers can take 10% off this, or any other purchase over $50 until April 28, 2003 - use link Seidio Purchase and use code PPT2MR3 at checkout. As with all things Seidio, the Data Power Pack comes with a one year warranty.
Conclusion
The ability to power and/or charge your PDA under almost any circumstance makes this kit a must-have. This value packed unique combination of adapters, charging methods, plus the ability to sync, all in a compact, lightweight package should make this one of the first accessories you purchase for your PDA. The Data Power Pack is the best, most cost effective accessory I have found for any of my PDAs. Period. At $10.95 for a different PDA “dongle,” this is a kit you will use for years and PDAs to come.
The Seidio Data Power Package does just what it claims - it will power your lil’ buddy through a variety of methods, and also allow you to effortlessly sync your data.
What’s in the package?
The system is contained in a small nylon case - very cool. The case is essentially rectangular with rounded edges, with the Seidio name on the top. It measures 6 ½ inches wide, by 3 ½ inches across, by 3 inches deep and weighs 13.0 ounces fully loaded. Not quite small enough for your pants pocket, but certainly small enough for a briefcase or onboard luggage. Each zipper really has that double zipper thing, so you can open it how you like, and the case has two shiny metal rings which I still don’t know what they do - maybe you can attach a wrist strap? Anyway, when you get this thing, you’ll realize it’s quality before you even open it up.
Opening the top reveals the unique 8 inch data power cable, which can synchronize and charge your PDA in one shot. I say unique because I am unaware of any other sync/charge cable of this size - the rest are generally in a 3 or so foot range, so this little guy is perfect for travel. Also within the top compartment is the award winning Emergency Power Charger (EPC) which has been reviewed to death elsewhere, and a unique airline charger.
EPC easy as ABC
Figure 1: The EPC can operate your PDA and charge while the backlight is low - notice the lit charge light. The mascot is Gizmo, on Gadgetaddict.com
The EPC is the “soul” of the package. One credible site claims they could charge their dead iPAQ 38XX series from 0 to 80% in 3 hours on one 9 volt battery. Another site said closer to 15%, which matched testing on my 3975. I was able to get a roughly 40% charge increase on my iPAQ 3630. Per Energize ME!, their 9 volt battery holds 625 mah. The iPAQ 3630 holds roughly 750 mah, so the battery should give nearly a full charge (less losses for resistance). The iPAQ 38/38/54 series has something like a 1,450 mah battery, so theoretically 2 or 3 9 volt batteries should fully charge one of those units.
The way the EPC works is you pop the appropriate PDA adapter on the end of this 9V cradle, you slap a 9 volt on it, stick it in your PDA, and count the minutes. You can either use your PDA at this point, or simply keep the power off and let it charge. As this is intended for emergency charging, any use/charge is better than nothing. As a warning, I found (consistent with at least one other review) that after about 90 minutes or so, the 9 volt battery will cool, and your PDA will start to discharge! You have been warned. The PDA light continues to blink while it then begins to slowly discharge, so if the battery isn’t warm, you’re done. Seidio stresses the EMERGENCY nature of the EPC, so unplug when you’re done with that emergency use, or carefully monitor while charging. I would like to see this piece improved, however if I need power NOW $2 or so will buy me a 9 volt and I can do what I need to. I don’t go camping much, but if I did and power was not available, you bet I’d take the EPC and a slew of 9 volts.
The airline adapter is intended to plug into an airline outlet, and then the end plugs into the EPC unit, charging your little buddy. As I believe this is mostly found in business class and first class, I doubt I’ll get to ever use it - however if more airlines adopt the power outlet it will be great for the frequent (or infrequent) flier.
Enough soul, talk about the heart!
If the EPC is the soul of the package, then the bottom compartment of the case contains the heart, which is the dual adapter. This thing makes me feel like Macguyver - flip it one way and you have a 120 volt plug, flip it another and the same unit will work with your car’s 12 volt DC socket. The end of the adapter is essentially the same as the end of the EPC, so you use the same adapter for your PDA that you would use with the EPC. I have tested the unit in my home and car, and it works great.
I asked the folks at Seidio to individually price the items within. For the most part, they don’t separately sell the dual charger with removable plugs, but instead just have a fixed end. Anyway, when they were done adding up the cost for each part, it was far cheaper to buy the unit together.
Extra “heads” can be purchased for about $10.95 each, which lets you get great utility from the pack - for $10.95 extra you could charge, say, a Dell and a Palm, or whatever your needs are. I also questioned about the rigid small connection of the EPC to PDA, and they sell 3.5 foot cables for $6.95 - one choice is simply a 3.5 foot double extension cable, so you could keep the battery and EPC in your pocket. The other cable has dual 9 volt heads so you keep the battery in your pocket, and the EPC on the iPAQ. I don’t know why anybody would buy the latter, except you could potentially use it with other devices.
USB for me!
Figure 2: A few changes round out the USB version, described below.
There is also a “USB” version of the kit - the main differences are:
- 5 foot sync & charge cable
- 2 in 1 charger is USB type (plug USB cable into it) without a coiled cord
Gotchas
The only con I found is the EPC did not work the way I would have liked - I would want it to shut down when the battery is drained, not to continue to imply my PDA was charging while the power was actually draining!
I paid about $30 in July for a lesser functioning kit that didn’t sync. I had also paid close to $30 at Radio Shack for an A/C adapter for my iPAQ 3630 a couple of years ago - these things need heavy amperage not found in a typical charger. The Data Power Package G2 (generation 2) is on sale for $49.95, and Pocket PC Thoughts readers can take 10% off this, or any other purchase over $50 until April 28, 2003 - use link Seidio Purchase and use code PPT2MR3 at checkout. As with all things Seidio, the Data Power Pack comes with a one year warranty.
Conclusion
The ability to power and/or charge your PDA under almost any circumstance makes this kit a must-have. This value packed unique combination of adapters, charging methods, plus the ability to sync, all in a compact, lightweight package should make this one of the first accessories you purchase for your PDA. The Data Power Pack is the best, most cost effective accessory I have found for any of my PDAs. Period. At $10.95 for a different PDA “dongle,” this is a kit you will use for years and PDAs to come.
