[Simon]

I'm getting a Trepo 180g soon. Now I saw that it comes with a hotsync cable with USB plug.

Since USB is a powered bus I first thought it would also charge the Treo over USB when it's plugged into my Mac.

But I then saw a pic which shows that there is something like a power cable running into the USB plug of the hotsync cable...

So what's the deal? Is this just additional (maybe notebook people don't want to lose battery power due to USB charging)? Or do I really have to plug in two cables to get power and hotsyncing?

If so, are there any third-party cables that offer charging over USB? I had one for my old Palm Vx. It had a USB plug and did hotsync as well as charging all over the single USB connection to the computer.

Does something like that exist for the Treo as well? It sure comes in handy when you're travelling. Hook it up to any computer with USB and you charge.

[Sven G]

You need an additional cable like the one in the pic below (I got it free with my Treo because of a special deal bundle); that is, an USB Sync Charger, which conveniently also doubles as a car lighter charger - here's a Belkin model...

[Simon]

Sven, thanks for the info. Do you have any idea where such a cable could be ordered via Internet? I checked belkin.com, but they won't ship to Europe.

I'm still quite puzzled WTH Handspring or Palm don't include such a cable right out of the box.

Could anybody mind charging the device while it's plugged into the computer?

[Sven G]

Well... try to search for Palm/Handspring/cellulars/computers hardware resellers ("traditional" or online) in your country or city; personally, I got my Treo 180 + Sync Charger bundle online through MediaWorld - but I don't think they ship outside Italy...

[Edit:] I just checked Handspring's UK site: they have a Where to Buy web page which should address your question.

[SciFrog]

Got my hotsync cable on eBay with a Car adaptor. They are pretty cheap and work great, very nice not to carry the AC plug when you travel with the Treo and your laptop, especially when you know how bad the Treo battery is...