Posts Tagged kensington
Keep Your Laptop from Walking: Kensington MicroSaver DS Keyed Lock
I’ve seen some pretty flimsy laptop locks in the past. But Kensington’s MicroSaver DS Keyed Lock for Ultra-Thin Notebooks definitely doesn’t fall into that category.
The Kensington MicroSaver DS lock just feels rugged coming out of the box. It’s designed for even the thinnest of laptop computers and has a sturdy, keyed lock that Kensington describes as “nearly impenetrable.”
It attaches to notebooks through the industry-standard Kensington security slot found on just about all models. Then, it can be easily wrapped around a piece of furniture or other object to keep your laptop where it belongs. The five-foot cable is made of carbon steel,which keeps its strength in a thinner design.
The T-bar locking mechanism is patented. The lock head also pivots and rotates for easy setup. Two keys are included.
This is the ideal lock for travelers who may need to step away from a hotel room for a few minutes or others who are using their computers in coffee houses or other public places. Consider it an inexpensive insurance policy, because losing a laptop is expensive, not to mention data-security worries.
The Kensington MicroSaver DS Keyed Lock for Ultra-Thin Notebooks retails for $49.95, with discounts available from Amazon. Kensington offers a lifetime limited warranty on this lock.
The Kensington MicroSaver DS is the kind of serious laptop lock that can keep travelers and their computers from being separated.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear on August 23rd, 2010
Power Everywhere: Kensington International Travel Plug Adapter with USB Charger
Going to a foreign country and not being able to charge or power your gadgets—well, that’s just not acceptable.
Kensington’s International Travel Plug Adapter with USB charger is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to adapting to the many different types of plugs you’ll encounter on international trips. And it saves space since you won’t have to carry a bag full of adapters. This one adapter will fit plugs in more than 150 countries and can be used as a wall adapter or for USB power.
Choosing the right plug is as easy as pushing a button and sliding it out. It works from China to Mozambique—the list is long.
The USB converter makes this gadget even handier as more devices can be charged with USB cables. A Kensington power adapter I reviewed earlier doesn’t have the USB feature, so this one will be my new go-to adapter for international trips.
This travel adapter won’t break the budget, either. The retail price is $29.99, with a significant discount at Amazon and
Buy.com.
One note—this adapter is made for consumer and electronic equipment such as a laptop, MP3 player, a smartphone or alarm clock. It’s not designed for high-powered devices such as hair dryers.
If you travel internationally, the Kensington 33346 International Travel Plug Adapter with USB Charger should be along for the ride. It will keep your gadgets going just about anywhere.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on August 10th, 2010
Travel Essentials: Power Strips with a Plus
One of the standard, go-everywhere pieces of gear in my suitcase is a power strip. That’s because I got tired of searching behind beds, nightstands and desks in hotel rooms looking for plugs to power and charge all the gadgets I carry when traveling.
Two companies, Voltage Valet and Kensington, are making power strips even better for road warriors. Not only are they light and compact, but they offer another bonus—USB ports for charging more gear!
Kensington’s Portable Power Outlet is a solution that turns one outlet into five. There are three AC plugs and two USB outlets. I’m able to charge my MP3 player and smartphone at the same time using the USB plugs, with three AC plugs still open for the laptop, Bluetooth headset, a charger for camera batteries and other gear.
The AC cable wraps around the power strip for neat packing and it weighs less than half a pound. The plug unit is about four and a half inches tall, three inches wide and just over an inch deep. The list price is $24.99.
One limitation with the Kensington is that it works with a maximum of 125 volts, making it less useful for international travel. But Voltage Valet’s PS2 Travel Power Strip solves that problem by handling up to 240 volts. The PS2 does not convert or reduce voltage to the AC plugs. So be sure whatever you plug into it can take the higher voltage if you’re in a country that uses 240 volts.
The Voltage Valet model has one USB charging port, instead of two on the Kensington unit. The PS2 weighs half a pound and measures about five and a half inches high, two inches wide and one and a half inches deep. The cord wraps around the strip and plugs into one of the AC outlets for easy carrying.
The price is comparable to the Kensington at $25.00. Voltage Valet also makes a big assortment of plug and voltage adapters that are part of my gear on every international trip.
Either of these power strips would be fine for travel in the U.S. But if you’re traveling in other countries, the Voltage Valet PS2 gets the nod because of its ability to handle higher voltages.
Get Kensington’s Portable Power Outlet at Buy.com or get it at Amazon.com.
For now anyway, the only place to find the PS2 is at VoltageValet.com.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, Travel Light on January 4th, 2010
Many Plugs in One: Kensington All-in-One International Travel Plug Adapter
If you do much international travel, you probably have an assortment of plug adapters to keep your gear going.
I’m all about saving space and weight when packing, and that’s why I carry the Kensington 33117 International Travel Plug Adapter. The ingenious design lets me plug in my gear in 150 countries and gives peace of mind that it will work just about anywhere.
The first thing I do when making plans to visit a foreign country is check the Internet to see what kind of plugs I’ll need. And the Kensington has become my go-to adapter.
Push a button and slide out an adapter and it converts plugs to fit outlets anywhere from Poland to Mozambique. It’s small and well-built.
Keep in mind this is a plug and not a voltage converter. It will handle 220 volts. But if your gear doesn’t work with higher voltages, you’ll need a separate transformer.
Many chargers and power supplies for laptops, cell phones and other gear will handle 220 volts. But check to be sure to avoid frying your gear, which would be awfully inconvenient in another country.
I’m a fan of Kensington products and also carry their power adapter with interchangeable tips for my laptop, cell phone, MP3 player and other gadgets. This one adapter can replace several bulky power supplies and chargers when you’re on the road. (The power adapter will accept 240 volts, so it works well with the plug adapter.)
But back to the plug adapter—it’s reasonably priced at $19.99 retail and is available at many online merchants and office-supply stores.
With so many different plugs in one device, it’s like the Swiss Army knife of plug adapters. I highly recommend the Kensington Travel Plug Adapter for international travelers.
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Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on September 7th, 2009
