Devices. We’ve all got more and more of them. And they all need to be charged. And while the number of devices that need to be charged has grown over time but the number of USB ports on my laptop hasn’t. Sure, you can “daisy chain” a couple of them via an external battery back ie. charge the battery pack while also charging a device or two, but no matter how hard you try you still run out of USB ports.
So what can you do?
Luckily there are companies that realise that this is a problem and there is a growing number of solutions on the market.
And no, I don’t mean better battery packs, though they are welcome too!
What I’m talking about are desktop chargers like this one:
Being able to charge 6 devices at once is a hell of a lot better than trying to juggle devices around. Having to choose between charging your phone OR your mobile hotspot is not an easy choice to make, while you’re also trying desperately to get your iPad’s battery life back to something usable.
The Anker desktop charger is really compact, so it can easily slip into your laptop bag or suitcase:
The only thing you might need to deal with is finding a convenient socket to plug it in.
I’ll be taking mine with me on my next business trip and am looking forward to less shuffling of devices!
If they could only put an integrated, sleeker and smaller version of this in the socket end, we would be all set!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swiss-Travel-Products-SWA001-Adapter-Black/dp/B0012SN46G/
Yeah 🙁
Most hotels don’t have that many sockets to begin with and only a few bother with having multiple types
Didn’t realize you had started another site 🙂 But why not.
Had one of those with me at NamesCon – liked it a lot, left it in my room and plugged a number of portable chargers like the Lithiumcard into it while I was on the show floor.
One of the portable devices that I like a lot, even though I haven’t used the router this time is the HooToo tripmate elite – a wifi router with battery pack.
Frank
Does the HooToo come in non-US versions? I can’t seem to find one
Michele
@Michele: Not sure, haven’t seen that either yet. Would be good if it did and had switchable plugs.
Frank
In order for it be useful for someone based in Europe a lot of the time it’d need at least three plug types:
– European two pin
– Irish / UK three pin
– US
Having said that, it’s still very tempting!
Michele
I’ve used this fella for some time & love it, Michele.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-Quad-Charger-Guarantee-UK/dp/B0073JB4QU
Usually enough for my needs. And I usually bring a slimline quad extension lead with me too – always useful in hotels where there aren’t enough power points & they’re usually in the wrong places anyway….