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Forseti · Apr 9, 2003, 03:58 PM

I was at Palisades Apple store and saw this portable battery charger that looked like a half cylinder. I wonder what the use of this is when an extra battery can be purchased for around $120, same price as this thing. And I think I read "3 hours of battery life" so I see no benefit whatsoever..?

Aykew · Apr 9, 2003, 05:27 PM

Couldn't find details of what you were talking about on the web, but it sounds like it's a spare external battery 3 hour battery that connects to your powerbook where the regular power adapter would normally go. Actually sounds like kind of a cool product, and it has several advantages. Foremost, you can charge both it and the powerbook's battery at the same time (assuming it has it's own power adapter), whereas you'd need to charge one powerbook battery, then the other. Also, when you go to another body style of powerbook (liek if you went from the 15" TI to the 17" or the 12" powerbook... or an iBook, you could still use the external battery, whereas your old battery would only be compatible with the old computer.

The only thing that concerns me is capacity. Is it really 3 hours, or is it a "3 hour" like Apple's battery is "5 hours"? If it's 3 real hours, sounds like a great product! Can you dig up some more info? Manufacturer, model number, etc?

LosJackal · Apr 9, 2003, 05:39 PM

iGo Juice is just a power adapter. But it adapts not only to AC but also car and airplanes.

Very convenient if you need a second power adapter. My wife has one, works fine with her 15" and my 17". But the plug seems to come loose from the computer once in a while.

http://igo.ententeweb.com/mapfiles/juice.asp

Wet Jimmy · Apr 9, 2003, 06:29 PM

Here might be an appropriate place to ask -

Does anyone make such a thing as a desktop battery charger that would be suitable for a Powerbook 17 battery? If I've lost you, what I would like to do is use the notebook and it's internal battery, while beside me on my desk I have my spare battery charging away so that in within three hours I end up with two fully charged batteries instead of charging one internaly, then swapping it out and charging the next.

Anyone have any ideas?

weldon · Apr 10, 2003, 10:09 AM

I saw this device in United's in-flight magazine the other day. I've always wanted to get an airplane adapter, but never wanted to spend the money for a single function device that I would only use a couple times (battery life on the PB 12" is pretty good). But I like that this unit can replace the AC and car adapters as well. So I wouldn't need to carry the Apple AC adapter, I would just carry this one unit with the appropriate cords (or all of them if size and weight isn't too bad).

I think it's a great idea and it might be the first time I actually buy a third-party power adapter.

dccski · Apr 10, 2003, 10:20 AM

compusa has them for $99 until saturday

nobitacu · Apr 10, 2003, 10:34 AM

yea... I'll have to get myself something like this next time I travel on a plane.

Ming

mrmister · Apr 10, 2003, 11:20 AM

I'm confused--is it both an adapter AND a battery?

Aykew · Apr 10, 2003, 12:01 PM

Nope, just a power adapter... but a pretty well designed one! It's got multiple tips for different types of computers, and it works with Auto/Air/Wall sockets.

azt33 · Apr 10, 2003, 12:34 PM

I found this at the website of Apple. Is this what you meant?

BTW, new to the forum, seriously considering a 12" PB/SD/640MB