Xantrex PowerSource Mobile 100 brings the volts

We've seen plenty of mobile chargers in our day, but the Xantrex PowerSource Mobile 100 claims to be the first to power multiple devices simultaneously at different voltage and power levels. The $130 unit includes a pair of USB ports and an AC plug, making it a quite convenient way to power your phone, iPod and laptop all at once. Xantrex promises plenty of power, too: 2 hours for laptops, 12 hours for portable game systems, and a spankin' 72 hours for the iPod nano. Of course, the lithium-ion based PowerSource is a decent bit heftier than a spare laptop or phone battery, but if gadget diversity is your game it doesn't seem you can go far wrong here.

[Via MobileMag]

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 30th 2006 10:31AM]

It's funny, the device shares the same trademark as those [YES!] blue diet pills with tons of second side effects.

[franktronic Posted Aug 30th 2006 11:04AM]

My experience with devices that charge through USB is that they're very picky about the charger. I have a Blackberry 7290 and a Moto PEBL. Neither device will charge when plugged into the other's charger (both OEM). The PEBL lights up like it normally does when you plug it in but it never says "charging". The Blackberry is even weirder; It indicates that it's charging (even though it's not) but it will power the device to keep it running. So basically, you can run it on AC power with a dead battery. As soon as you pull the plug it dies.

I sure as hell hope all devices aren't like that.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 30th 2006 11:46AM]

It's not that the USB is picky, stupid motorola keeps changing what pins they are applying the voltage on, so even though they use a USB 2 mini connector, it's not a USB spec connection (and in some cases could or would damage any actual ubs device plugged into it)

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 30th 2006 2:14PM]

This + solar backpack = the win?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 30th 2006 2:53PM]

I read the specs for this device, and apparently the battery can only supply 65 W, which is *just* about enough for my powerbook. Anything else plugged into it would over-drain the unit. Also, it probably *can't* power a Macbook, which has an 85 W power adaptor.

Still.. I'd love one of these to keep in my bag as portable power.