Get a FREE fully-working copy of Steganos Security Suite 7 (worth £49.99) when you sign up to the Practical PC Newsletter. Review: Power Extras USB In-Car Charger
Is this an essential purchase for gadget fiends on the move? Iain Laskey investigates
| Product | USB In-Car Charger |
|---|---|
| Company | Power Extras |
| Web | www.powerextras.com |
| Price | £9.99/$20 USD |
| We like | Charges two devices at once on the move, price |
| We don't like | power switch quality |
| Rating | 8/10 |
| Requirements |
There's nothing more infuriating that being out on the road when your favourite gadget suddenly gives up the ghost because its battery has run out. With more and more devices having something other than the usual AA or AAA batteries and instead relying on some internal custom battery charged via the USB port, you would ordinarily be stuck.
Fear not then as this neat new device could be just what the doctor ordered. Power Extras have produced an interesting device that plugs in to your car's cigarette lighter socket and provides not only a splitter providing two more lighter sockets but features a pair of powered USB sockets on the side.
When connected, it lights up with a pleasingly eerie coloured glow although this may prove distracting for some and did seem a bit boy-racerish. We'd rather have had a simple LED to be honest.
There is also a somewhat stiff and rather clunky on/off switch which we thought was probably superfluous - it would be far easier to just unplug the adaptor. Still, what's more important is what it does.
In Use
This is a classic case of doing exactly what it says on the tin. You plug it in, connect your USB devices and away you go - they charge up. Brilliant! After a few days of use we couldn't imagine not having it. It was no longer part of the daily routine having to make sure our MP3 player, mobile, PDA and other toys were all charged up and ready to go. For sure, many of these devices had optional in-car chargers but here you have one device that works with everything reducing clutter and giving you an extra cigarette adaptor socket in to the bargain.
Conclusion
For a mere £9.99 we can't really complain about the price. It does the job nicely and before long you'll wonder how you coped without one. The tough plastic case should survice being thrown around the glovebox with ease. A neat little device at a bargain price.
