iGo Everywhere130 PS00099-0008 Universal 100 Wattt AC/DC Notebook Adapter with Dualpower

by MOBILITY ELECTRONICS

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 2.5 x 1.3 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000SRKJI8
• Item model number: PS00099-0008
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

The most powerful all-in-one power solution. This combination AC/DC notebook adapter plugs into any standard wall, in-vehicle and airline power outlets. Includes the iGo® dualpower accessory to simultaneous charge your notebook and a second gadget such as a mobile phone, MP3 player and more or use the iGo dualpower accessory with the included auto charging plug as stand-alone car charger for gadgets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Good News is..., February 23, 2008

By 

David Becker "dibaz" (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: iGo Everywhere130 PS00099-0008 Universal 100 Wattt AC/DC Notebook Adapter with Dualpower (Personal Computers)

The good news about the iGo Everywhere130 is that it's really heavy duty. The bad news is that it's really heavy duty.

I use my laptop as a desktop replacement and only travel occasionally, but usually for a week or more at a time. My laptop is in use 8 hours a day when I travel to do presentations.

I previously used a Kensington power adapter (Kensington K33197 120W Auto/Air Ultra Portable Notebook PC Power Adapter) which was much smaller and lighter weight than the iGo, cost somewhat more ($120 vs. $100) and had similar features. I love the convenience of having a power adapter tucked away in my briefcase and leaving my massive Dell power brick plugged into the wall. Just like the iGo, the Kensington worked on wall power, car power, or airplane power.

But after a little less than a year, the Kensington began intermittently failing - the charge light on the laptop would go on and off like the connection was loose. Turns out the cord to the laptop was breaking internally at the connector. I had to wiggle it to get it to charge. After a month it died altogether. Kensington, to their credit, offered to replace the cord for free. It took about 7 weeks and three more support contacts to finally get the cord, but I was happy - until another 8 months went by and the charger failed while on a week long business trip. Fortunately my client had a compatible Dell charger or I would have been up the creek. Yes, it was the same problem with the cord.

Since the Kensington had let me down again, I sulked for a while and then saw a mention of the iGo on some blog. Bought it from Amazon (usual perfect Amazon shopping experience) and it arrived in 24 hours with free shipping. Turns out the iGo is manufactured less than 100 miles from me.

So the iGo works fine and, wow, is it heavy duty! All the cords are at least twice the weight and diameter of the Kensington with very thick jackets and big heavy connectors. The unit itself is twice the weight and size - very brick like where the Kensington was flat and slim. To be fair, I should note that the iGo is still much lighter than the Dell factory AC adapter. Well, my briefcase is huge and weighs a ton anyway with my 17" laptop so the extra bulk and weight is not a problem for me. What's nice is that I have a lot of confidence in the durability of the very heavy duty construction of the iGo and its cables.

Another nice plus, that offsets the bulk and weight of the iGo is the "dual charge" capability that replaces my cell phone charger as well. For less than $10 I got an adapter for my Treo directly from iGo - also a good shopping experience on the iGo web site. Not having to take my factory Treo charger from its usual place under my desk is another convenience, plus one less thing in my briefcase, plus plus I can't forget to take it with me! I see that Kensington is now offering "dual charge" capability as well - but they want $28 more (it's included in the iGo) plus $10 for the correct tip for your phone (same as the iGo). That's $40 - for $25 I can buy a complete second phone charger!

I trust the iGo will last longer than my laptop - the multiple cables are so heavy duty they'll probably outlast the pyramids! I recommend this product - as long as an extra 10 ounces or so in your briefcase won't be a problem.

Update October 29, 2010 - As predicted, the iGo outlasted my laptop and continues to function perfectly and reliably with my new laptop after almost three years of use. Well done, iGo!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beware: Unit was DOA and You Pay Shipping!, April 8, 2008

By 

J. Weingarten (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iGo Everywhere130 PS00099-0008 Universal 100 Wattt AC/DC Notebook Adapter with Dualpower (Personal Computers)

Tired of carrying multiple charging units, I purchased this power supply for a trip to Europe. When I arrived and attempted to plug it in, the unit shorted out. It sparked and shut off. I tried to find a shop in Barcelona that carried iGo. I visted them all and none did.

I called support and they sent a replacement for a cable that was shorting. The cable did not arrive before my departure a week later. I had to purchase a replacement power supply while overseas to charge my laptop.

When I finally got around to followiing up on the dead unit, I was told that I could get it replaced. However, I would have to pays shipping for the return. So let me get this straight...

iGo sells a defective product and I have to pay more for the replacement?! This experience has not been good. I cannot recommend iGo. Their product quality and support are not satisfactory.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good when it works, October 13, 2008

By 

D. Crain "nanohead" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iGo Everywhere130 PS00099-0008 Universal 100 Wattt AC/DC Notebook Adapter with Dualpower (Personal Computers)

I've had numerous iGo products, and this one has really dogged me the whole time I've owned it (or them, shall I say)

First and most importantly, it does work and its really the only unit like it that can power a decent 15"-17" laptop, plus charge blackberry, phone and MP3 player with 1 unit. That part is true, and when it works, it works well.

I travel about 300,000 miles per year, around the world. And the iGo 130 has been with me everywhere. Unfortunately, it doesn't have good behavior.

Symptoms and diseases are the following. The DC power out cable that goes to the laptop fails regularly. I have been through several units and these cables always fail at the connector to the transformer. You can think you're charging, just minding your business, but alas, no power is making it to the laptop.

Next, the transformer is a moody and cranky as a 5 year old child. It will just shut itself off. The blue light fades, and it takes 20 rounds of plugging it in and out to get it back to life. Why does it do this?.. who knows. The people at iGo know nothing about anything, they simply cannot help ever. So you just buy a new one is their response.

This transformer situation is really really bad. Most decent laptops (15" and larger) draw 70 watts and up, especially at startup. The iGo 130 is supposed to be able to handle that. But basically, it doesn't and shuts itself off. On certain laptops, it shuts off all the time and is useless. On others, you learn tricks to make it stay on.

Also, the tip situation looks great on paper, but in reality, is extremely frustrating most of the time. iGo regulates their voltage via the tip in a closed loop back to the transformer (hence the multiple wires in the DC wire). The tips they have fit/work sometimes, and sometimes they don't. I've been using a Toshiba laptop lately, and sometimes it works, but more often than not, it doesn't work..... the correct size tip from the sage wise people at iGo.... I've used these chargers on IBM, Alienware, Dell and Toshiba laptops over the past 4 years. It never works the same twice..

Also, for many phones and PDAs, when you attach the charging tip to them, they cry foul and say "not an authorized charger".... I see, so I need your permission to charge the battery in the device I already paid for. Now this isn't really iGo's fault, but it realy is.... They should deal with the Verizon's and ATTs of the world.

Also on this note, many notebooks simply will NOT work with iGo tips because they don't look like "authorized" chargers to the notebook. Many Dell notebooks have this issue. They will power the notebook, but NOT charge it... ridiculous.

iGo customer service/support is incapable of providing real support or answers, always blaming the device vendors. The device vendors say they are not required to support iGo (or any other universal power supply company for that matter).

All in all, using the iGo 130 is a massive compromise and will require you to think at all times. It does indeed work, and usually works fine. But there are lots of things that it does that will irritate you.