Hands On the Palm Power to Go

[Ed Hardy]

Those who frequently use their palmOne handheld for more than a couple of hours a day should consider the Power To Go, which can be used to recharge a handheld while it is still in use.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Ha...lm_Power_to_Go

[imported_palmhiker]

Uh-oh, Ed mentioned "Palm" a few too many times in this review, I can feel another round of "Ed likes Palm better than PPC blah, blah, blah" coming.

Seriously, this is a pretty good solution in that you can charge a handheld multiple times with something that really only takes up slightly more room than an extra battery.

By the way, these things sell regularly on eBay for less than $50, so the street price is not too bad for what you get.

[altema]

I picked mine up for about $53 online in my pre-updated T3 days when I was only getting about 3.5 hours runtime per charge. Now that I get 5 to 6 hours per charge, I hardly use it, but it is great when I DO need it. How many cradles can you clip on the back and keep going? Having 15+ hours continous runtime is great, as is my worst-case scenario: playing RifleSLUGS-W on the internet using the BT connection and the keyboard for online chatting. Talk about a battery burner! Just bought "Jack", which looks like another battery taxing, but worthwhile game. Graphics are incredible, but you have to pay the piper somehow
Really can't complain since the fix though, as games used to do the same thing to all my devices, even my first IIIe with LodeRunner.

[altema]

Originally posted by palmhiker
Seriously, this is a pretty good solution in that you can charge a handheld multiple times with something that really only takes up slightly more room than an extra battery.

Another cool thing is that it can be charged from nothing to full faster than you could possibly drain your device. On top of that, if you drop them both into your cradle, the PTG will pass all the power to the handheld so it tops off first, then charge itself.

[cbowers]

For reference, as expected, I get 1.5 recharges on a Tungsten C.

Also worth mentioning is that while it has Hotsync pass-through, it seems to interfere with Keyboard functionality. The Ultrathin keyboard signals a hotsync on each keypress, as if the driver wasn't enabled.

[robrecht]

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you, Ed, for focusing some attention on this accessory!

Second, I have been dreaming of using this with a keyboard on cross country flights but am now very concerned about cbowers post below. Can anyone address this issue in more detail?

Third, why can't the $20 9v thingies usually be used to recharge while the handheld is in use? Could the $20 9v thingies be used with the wireless keyboard?

Sorry for so many questions, but I have been desperate for some in-depth reviews of this accesory by users with lots of hands-on experience.

Originally posted by cbowers
For reference, as expected, I get 1.5 recharges on a Tungsten C.

Also worth mentioning is that while it has Hotsync pass-through, it seems to interfere with Keyboard functionality. The Ultrathin keyboard signals a hotsync on each keypress, as if the driver wasn't enabled.

[imported_azdude]

FYI---

Yes $99 is a bit excessive. How's $53???!?!?!?!?!

http://www.buy.com/retail/product_jump.asp?sku=10346226

EDIT: Not quite as reputable as buy.com, but here's a link for $45.00

http://www.evalueadded.com/datasheet.asp?mid=78373

[robrecht]

Originally posted by cbowers
Also worth mentioning is that while it has Hotsync pass-through, it seems to interfere with Keyboard functionality. The Ultrathin keyboard signals a hotsync on each keypress, as if the driver wasn't enabled.

cbowers, sounds like the 2.1.5T drivers may solve this problem for you.

Read this over at PalmOneCity:
http://www.palmonecity.com/forums/sh...&threadid=1207

[Ed Hardy]

Originally posted by robrecht
Third, why can't the $20 9v thingies usually be used to recharge while the handheld is in use? Could the $20 9v thingies be used with the wireless keyboard?

Well, you've got a battery hanging off the bottom of your handheld, which isn't very convenient if you are trying to use it, especially the ones that connect the battery to the handheld with a wire. You really don't want that swinging around when you are used the device. The 9V adapter I have is a solid piece, but it still tends to lose its connection to the handheld if I don't leave it alone to charge.

And all the 9V chargers use the HotSync port, so it isn't available to connect a keyboard.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by Ed
And all the 9V chargers use the HotSync port, so it isn't available to connect a keyboard.

Of course, that's why I was asking 'bout Palm's wireless keyboard being used with one of these $20 9v thingies. thanks