Wednesday, May 7, 2003
Charge And Sync Solution From Moonlight Technologies
Posted by Brad Adrian in "HARDWARE" @ 08:00 AM
Like most of you, I take my Pocket PC with me wherever I go, especially when I take longer business trips. The downside of the great mobility that the Pocket PC offers, though, is the fact that I always have to take all the extra cables and cords along for charging and synchronizing my device. I thought I had come across the perfect solution to this problem the first time I bought a combination USB charge/sync cable...until I found Moonlight Technologies.
Moonlight Technologies has a really unique way of helping me reduce all the cords and cables I need to carry.
I've seen all kinds of combination USB charge/sync cables, and they do help with part of the traveler's cable problem. As a matter of fact, I've got one for each of my Pocket PCs. By making it possible to charge my Pocket PCs while synching, combo cables eliminate the need to carry a separate cradle and charging cord with me. However, combo cords only charge a device when the PC it's plugged into is turned on. What if I want to charge a Pocket PC without turning on my PC?
That's where the Moonlight Technologies USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit comes in (affiliate link).
Contents
The USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit includes a standard USB charge/sync cable, a special AC adapter and an equally special cigarette lighter adapter. All together, these three little components give me all the flexibility I need for charging and synching WITHOUT the bulk of multiple cables.
How They Work
The 36 inch long USB charge/sync cable works just like any other combo cable. The one from Moonlight Technologies is well-made, sturdy and the connectors are strong and snap neatly into place.
Here's the neat part: in order to charge my Pocket PC without using my PC, all I have to do is plug the three-inch-long AC adapter into the USB end of the combo cable and plug the whole thing into the nearest wall outlet. The AC adapter automtically regulates the voltage, ensuring that my Pocket PC only receives the five volts that it needs for a safe charge. It's even got an LED that lights when the Pocket PC is charging. And, if I happen to be in my car when I need to charge my Pocket PC, I instead plug the combo cable into the cigarette lighter adapter and then plug that into the lighter socket in my car.
So, with these three items, which can all be very easily stored in the corner of my briefcase, I have all the connectors I need to sync and charge my Pocket PC in just about any situation. And, what's even better, because the AC and cigarette adapters both connect via a standard USB port, they can be used with virtually any other USB charge/sync cable. All of my Pocket PCs have the same 5 volt requirement, so all I need is one three-piece kit and a combo charge/sync cable for each device type, and I've got all I need!
Where To Buy
I ordered the kit for my Pocket PC Phone Edition, but Moonlight Technologies has USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kits to fit most Pocket PCs, including the most popular HP, Compaq, Dell, Phone Edition and Viewsonic models. They cost $21.99 each and usually ship right away. I ordered mine on a Wednesday and it arrived in the mail the following Monday. You can order them here.
Gotchas
I am really hard-pressed to find anything about this product that is a real "gotcha." The product does exactly what it is supposed to do and the price is reasonable. Because of how useful the small AC and cigarette adapters are, though, I wish Moonlight Technologies sold just those pieces. However, I suppose it's more lucrative to instead sell only the entire three-piece kits.
Conclusions
This is a terrific product for anybody who travels with his or her Pocket PCs, especially if traveling with more than one device (and who doesn't?). Given that the whole purpose of owning a Pocket PC is increased mobility, the USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit should be considered a must-have tool for any frequent traveler.
UPDATE: Mike at Moonlight Technologies has told me that they DO sell the little adapters separately. So, if you want to get one, you can look here.
Moonlight Technologies has a really unique way of helping me reduce all the cords and cables I need to carry.
I've seen all kinds of combination USB charge/sync cables, and they do help with part of the traveler's cable problem. As a matter of fact, I've got one for each of my Pocket PCs. By making it possible to charge my Pocket PCs while synching, combo cables eliminate the need to carry a separate cradle and charging cord with me. However, combo cords only charge a device when the PC it's plugged into is turned on. What if I want to charge a Pocket PC without turning on my PC?
That's where the Moonlight Technologies USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit comes in (affiliate link).
Contents
The USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit includes a standard USB charge/sync cable, a special AC adapter and an equally special cigarette lighter adapter. All together, these three little components give me all the flexibility I need for charging and synching WITHOUT the bulk of multiple cables.
How They Work
The 36 inch long USB charge/sync cable works just like any other combo cable. The one from Moonlight Technologies is well-made, sturdy and the connectors are strong and snap neatly into place.
Here's the neat part: in order to charge my Pocket PC without using my PC, all I have to do is plug the three-inch-long AC adapter into the USB end of the combo cable and plug the whole thing into the nearest wall outlet. The AC adapter automtically regulates the voltage, ensuring that my Pocket PC only receives the five volts that it needs for a safe charge. It's even got an LED that lights when the Pocket PC is charging. And, if I happen to be in my car when I need to charge my Pocket PC, I instead plug the combo cable into the cigarette lighter adapter and then plug that into the lighter socket in my car.
So, with these three items, which can all be very easily stored in the corner of my briefcase, I have all the connectors I need to sync and charge my Pocket PC in just about any situation. And, what's even better, because the AC and cigarette adapters both connect via a standard USB port, they can be used with virtually any other USB charge/sync cable. All of my Pocket PCs have the same 5 volt requirement, so all I need is one three-piece kit and a combo charge/sync cable for each device type, and I've got all I need!
Where To Buy
I ordered the kit for my Pocket PC Phone Edition, but Moonlight Technologies has USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kits to fit most Pocket PCs, including the most popular HP, Compaq, Dell, Phone Edition and Viewsonic models. They cost $21.99 each and usually ship right away. I ordered mine on a Wednesday and it arrived in the mail the following Monday. You can order them here.
Gotchas
I am really hard-pressed to find anything about this product that is a real "gotcha." The product does exactly what it is supposed to do and the price is reasonable. Because of how useful the small AC and cigarette adapters are, though, I wish Moonlight Technologies sold just those pieces. However, I suppose it's more lucrative to instead sell only the entire three-piece kits.
Conclusions
This is a terrific product for anybody who travels with his or her Pocket PCs, especially if traveling with more than one device (and who doesn't?). Given that the whole purpose of owning a Pocket PC is increased mobility, the USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit should be considered a must-have tool for any frequent traveler.
UPDATE: Mike at Moonlight Technologies has told me that they DO sell the little adapters separately. So, if you want to get one, you can look here.
