Power Bridge flips the strip upside-down, instantly kills ugly
By Darren Murph 
posted September 7th 2009 5:58AM
posted September 7th 2009 5:58AM
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posted September 7th 2009 5:58AM
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Simplifies electric shocks.
Why didn't I think of that?!
but it doesn't look like it'll cover power bricks...
I didn't get what xconan meant at first, but then I looked at my power strip and saw the power adapter for my speakers.
ya know, this is one of those things that you wonder why you didnt come up with it yourself.
Because it's stupid. For one, you have to flip it over to plug in things and second, I see this falling over all the time.
Yeah, for some reason that thing just makes me think fire hazard. I know most carpet is no where near tall enough to stick up far enough to go in the sockets, but that's what crosses my mind when seeing that thing. Combined with how connectors vary in size and shape, I'd chalk this one up as only good in a perfect world.
How many people can actually see their power strip, unless their under their desk doing "something"... I'll stick with my APC H10.
i think this is meant for permanent setups like for an entertainment system, computer lab, or those power bars you stick to the wall to have like 5 million different types of lamps powered up in your living room. id love to have this for my entertainment system, and the unusual time where i have to plug something new in, i wont mind flipping it upside down, seems to be pretty easy.
i don't think it can fall over at all, the beauty of it is that all the cords pass through those bridges on the sides that give it stability, and don't pull it into a direction in which it can tip over. in fact i have that problem with normal power strips, where the cord's force is so heavy that it moves my power strip around.
as far as adapters that are built into connectors and stuff, well, they don't play well with normal power strips either, so cant expect this to compensate from them. plus, its the first of its kind, give it some kudos where kudos is due.
This actually looks safer than a normal power strip. It would make it harder to spill coffee, or drop a paper clip, into the contacts.
Actually Belkin already makes something similar that I think is better. It does look bulkier but it completely hides the cords and plugs. Also it has a plug on the outside for ease of plugging in a charger or something that you don't keep permanently plugged in.
I have one and it really cleaned up the mess of cables under my desk, or at least made it look less cluttered. Also it's designed quite nicely, with a separate area for wall warts, and a separate area for regular plugs.
http://www.belkin.com/surgeprotection/concealed/
Yeah, I've got that belkin and its nice. Typical power strips suffer from the rare, but occasional flip'd switch by the foot, of knocked plug sideways pulsing the power.
I think this accomplishes the same task as the Belkin, but as the artical states -way more simplistic. Nice.
This thing actually looks pretty awesome to say the least.
Looks like the designer wanted to make his power strip match his Slingbox.
Conceptually, great. But it won't work. Out in the cruel real world, cables are of different thicknesses and, uhm, floppyness. This power strip will be flipped over or at the very best, not rest flat on the floor unless very heavily weighted. Best solution for tidyness is to mount a regular strip under ones desk at the rear.
Here I thought I was the only one looking at the function over form on this one.... Thanks for verifying my thought that humankind MUST have some rational people left.
I have at least two transformer/adapters plugged into my powerstrip as well - as someone noted above, won't work.
That and there are alot of different size plugs like the one for my printer it the same size as the bricks on my wall
Its a shame Billy Mays isn't around to hawk it...
It won't fit a MacBook power adapter. Happy now?
you ruined my day :-(
What?
http://www.notebook-ac-adapter.com/images/APP004.jpg
There are people who actually plug the brick into the wall? :O
The Engadget bloggers (at least one) posted pics of his bag all emptied out, and he, like all good MacBook owners, leaves the extension+grounding cable attached.
You know what won't fit there though? Most WinMo phone charging adapters.
@Think Deaf: What are you trying to say? I was referring to the size of the brick.
@Richard Lai
I *think* that he's trying to point out the fact that all MacBooks come with a regular plugin cord that fits on the brick for grounding that would go in there just fine.
Great! Now I *really* can't see which power cord goes to which device!
Surely the fact that the power strip is behind the entertainment unit is sufficient?
In that case, use your hand, pick it up, turn it around and have a look. After that, flip it again, and put it down. Retract hand.
As opposed to, oh I don't know, LOOKING AT YOUR PLUGS?
Instant 1:1 ocular feedback, motherfuckers.
all by itself the stairstep layout is wonderful, now THAT is actually really practical, shrinking the length of the device compared to how long it would be with wall-warts plugged in; the inversion of the thing isn't really quite so great but does have the neat advantage of putting the cable management routing thingy into a single piece integrated into the moulding rather than the movable part like on some power adapters like belkin's ones (which are also smaller and don't really work so well).
And what if you want to briefly plug something in to charge it up, like a phone? I could see it being a pretty big flaw if you have to turn it over just to plug something in.
Just buy one of those one-foot "extender" power cables. Done.
Clearly, if you are going to be frequently plugging in and unplugging things then this isn't the solution for you. Regardless, it's a bit hyperbolic to call this a "pretty big flaw" - it is a minor inconvenience only, surely.
@TheIcemanCometh >> "Just buy one of those one-foot "extender" power cables. Done."
Then you should just get one of these to start with: http://www.powersquid.com/
Nice, not really practical though.
This thing might be the best technological invention of this decade!
Because it's stupid. For one, you have to flip it over to plug in things and second, I see this falling over all the time.
Thats just genius... ordering 8973948345 of them riiight nao...wait... where do my adapters go now?
Won't work for AC adapters. Particularly those with UK plugs.
yep, looking into the ugly tangle of cables under my desktop computer, I see 4 wallworts (ac adaptors) and 4 normal plugs stuck into my surge supressor outlets.
What this means is that the average computer owner would have one streamlined multiplug outlet (which falls over), and the same ugly tangle of messes with ac adaptors plugged in.
Now if only all the manufacturers could jump onboard the green plug intelligent power supply bandwagon, and ac adaptors go the way of the dodo (ok, just get a bit rarer), the computer plug in situtaion would be more streamlined and less ugly.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/switched-on-green-plug-tries-to-replace-the-worry-warts-part-2/
Better solution to this upside down power strip might be if someone could make a daisy chain type of plug in, so all your components plug into each other, and you only have one cord running up to your desktop). All of the stuff on your desktop shouldn't draw more juice then a14 gauge cord can provide.
Perfect for a fish tank setup.
Beautiful. And just make a taller and wider version for plugs that need more space...
So I actually have to bend over to unplug stuff now? dang.
nah...just kick it over with your foot and continue yanking the cords.
Andir3.0: Do you really do that? It's very dangerous.
Not that I do it myself or anything....
The sarcasm tag wasn't REALLY needed, was it?
No, no it wasn't :p
What about the big box plugs. Do they fit? I'd like to see a photo with some of those in it.
This is a great concept (fyi: fires are cause by loose splices, loose conductors, or overloaded circuits that dont trip the breaker), i would buy one. What they really need to do is figger how to make the wall warts smalller
Very simple yet elegant solution. However, if you have small kids or pets I found this concealed surgeprotector which is very handy
http://mymediaexperience.com/2009/08/quick-tutorial-how-to-arrange-and-hide-cables/
Darren nice jab at Monster