Oy! What's in your gizmo pack?
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 464
NYTA, I've used it in the UK. You need to slide one piece over the other to make it a 3 pronged unit like so:
As an aside, if you were to visit India and need to fit your adaptor into a 3 pronged socket there, you would slide it in the other way around because you have a circular plastic prong at the other end.
Here is a comment for an Amazon reviewer that may help (original link here). The link to their instructions is here. Many people don't know one of the blocks actually slides on top the other and locks in place to become a 3 pronged plug. The PDF shows how (see the HK/India section)
As an aside, if you were to visit India and need to fit your adaptor into a 3 pronged socket there, you would slide it in the other way around because you have a circular plastic prong at the other end.
Here is a comment for an Amazon reviewer that may help (original link here). The link to their instructions is here. Many people don't know one of the blocks actually slides on top the other and locks in place to become a 3 pronged plug. The PDF shows how (see the HK/India section)
Use in UK/Ireland:
Several other reviewers have said that this adapter does not fit into the sockets in the UK & Ireland. This is just simply a misunderstanding where the assumption was that the UK & Ireland are in Europe and so the user configures this adapter to fit a Continental-European socket. The correct format/configuration for this adapter is to follow the instructions for Hong Kong/India (former British colonies) to be used for the UK & Ireland. Additionally, there is a safety feature built into the new British-style sockets where one must push the top pin into the slot to open the slots for the 2 bottom pins. To conclude, this works in the UK, but you must follow the directions for Hong Kong/India.
Several other reviewers have said that this adapter does not fit into the sockets in the UK & Ireland. This is just simply a misunderstanding where the assumption was that the UK & Ireland are in Europe and so the user configures this adapter to fit a Continental-European socket. The correct format/configuration for this adapter is to follow the instructions for Hong Kong/India (former British colonies) to be used for the UK & Ireland. Additionally, there is a safety feature built into the new British-style sockets where one must push the top pin into the slot to open the slots for the 2 bottom pins. To conclude, this works in the UK, but you must follow the directions for Hong Kong/India.
Last edited by arjunrc; Mar 8, 2014 at 10:53 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 431
I recommend that anyone interested in adapters goes the a-la carte route.
For what you'll spend on 1 convoluted 'all in one' adapter you can get multiples of the individual adapters you use in the countries you travel to the most.
For me, the Hong Kong/UK and Europe adapters are the only ones I've ever needed (Chinese hotels have the HK outlets too) so I purchased 3 adapters for each of those 2 countries and I'm all set. Better than a bulky all-in-one which only gives you a single adapter for the country you're in and almost always is too heavy to remain in the wall anyway.
BJ
#33
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
Do any of you have a dedicated charger only for travel? I travel every other week and was thinking about getting a second charger and set of cables just to keep in my bag so I won't have to remember to grab it as I leave home.
#34
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Monoprice or Anker seems to be the favorites here
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-solution.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-solution.html
#35
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 431
I have so many old iPods, iPhones, and iPads that I have multiple sets of the larger 10W bricks and the smaller wattage variant along with the cables. So bringing one Apple iPad brick and one Apple small charger allows me to charge not only my iOS devices but also anything else needing USB.
Since I always travel with my Ultrabook, I always have four USB ports that can charge. In my hotel room, the notebook is the first thing that is plugged in the wall and thus I wind up with enough USB charging capability at the desk right away. I use the individual Apple chargers for charging my iPhone on the nightstand as my iPhone is my alarm clock and I like to do some online news reading as it helps me to fall asleep.
BJ
#36
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SIN / SFO
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,215
I'm a bit late to the party, but here goes:
All of this fits comfortably in a Timbuk2 Uptown TSA-Friendly Laptop Backpack with room to spare for whatever else I need at hand.
I've put a longer version of this up on my website: A Nomad's Gear Bag.
- Ram Suction Mount for iPhone
Since I use my phone as my satnav when travelling, having a way to mount it in rental cars is critical. This suction mount sticks to just about anything and breaks down into three parts for easy packing. - Anker 15000mAh Portable Dual USB Charger
Great for charging my iPhone, iPad, and other devices when there's not an outlet handy (e.g. long flights on UA 747s). - Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
I sometimes run into places where I still need to connect to a wired network, either because it's the only option or it's just so much faster. Some client sites also require wired connections for security. - SanDisk Extreme 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive
While I usually use Dropbox to transfer files these days, there are times where it's just easier to throw a PPT or video on a flash drive. Also useful for minor computer repairs such as reinstalling OSes. I also keep a Ubuntu image around to throw on here if I need to use a potentially insecure public computer. - Assorted Cables
Lightning and micro USB cables. - Anker 36W 4-Port USB Charger
Charges two Apple and two Android (or other) USB devices at full speed. Best one I've found, and I've tried a bunch of these. - GorillaPod Mini Tripod
Works great with my iPhone and okay with my A7r. Not only good for photos but also works as a backup phone mount for cars and/or other strange places. - Bose QuietComfort 20i Headphones
These were a big upgrade from the old, bulky QC15s. Not only are they much, much smaller, but they are more comfortable to wear on long (6+ hour) flights, they charge off micro USB, and seem to do an even better job at noise cancellation. - Apple 60W MagSafe Charger
Technically, this charger is only for the MacBook Air and 13" MBP, but it actually works just fine with my 15" MBP and is a good bit more compact. I guess it charges a bit more slowly, but I can't say I notice. - Apple 12W USB Charger
An extra 12W USB charger in addition to the Anker. I went with the 12W for versatility, but I primarily use it for keeping my phone next to my bed while charging other stuff at the desk. - Another Micro USB Cable
Because you can never have too many of these (okay, within reason). - Apple iPad mini with Retina Display, 128GB
Good for reading Kindle books, watching movies/TV shows, and random web surfing and emails. I'm very jealous of the people that can essentially use their iPads as laptop replacements; unfortunately, my work requires a ton of specialised software. - Sony A7r Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
I used to shoot with a D600 but recently switched to the A7r and couldn't be happier. It's amazingly tiny, especially when paired with the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 lens shown here. Adds very little bulk to my bag and takes amazing photos. - Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15"
The first Retina MBP was a bit of a kludge, but the latest generation shines. I can do almost everything I can do on my workstation, and it's surprisingly thin and light for how powerful it is. 7-8 hour battery life, too. I wish it was as tiny as an Air, but again, work means I need the power.
All of this fits comfortably in a Timbuk2 Uptown TSA-Friendly Laptop Backpack with room to spare for whatever else I need at hand.
I've put a longer version of this up on my website: A Nomad's Gear Bag.
Last edited by Scifience; Mar 23, 2014 at 8:23 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
-A Kenu Airframe, so I can see my phone GPS while I drive.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 431
Here goes, after 20 years of domestic and international travel, these are my essentials:
A. iPad 4G LTE 64GB - Movies on the plane, Adult video at night, Slingbox DVR at breakfast. An indispensable media tool.
B. Sony Pro 13 Ultrabook - At under ½ inch thick, under 2½ pounds, and with 8 hours of continuous battery life, it's just about the best Windows notebook for the road warrior. I have to keep checking my backpack to make sure its there. That's how light this thing is.
C. $1,000 Cash - Always good to pull a stack of cash out and place it on the tray table as you're filling out your immigration paperwork, let's the person next to you know what's-what.
D. Mini Massager - A great conversation starter to lie on the tray table next to the $1,000 cash if the person sitting next to you is an attractive female.
E. BMW Keyfob - Hey, you need to put it somewhere, might as well be where you can use it as a deal-sealer if the $1,000 cash and the mini massager didn't do the trick.
F. Rolex Submariner - For emergencies only, if putting this on the tray table next to the BMW keyfob and the mini massager and the $1,000 cash doesn't seal the deal, nothing else will.
G. Luminox Navy Seal - For walking the mean streets of Tsim Sha Tsui or Amsterdam's red light district, leave the Rolex in the safe and wear something light and non-attention grabbing, matches the flip-flops you get after coming out of the Kobe Sauna on Mody Road.
H. Tera Grand Retractable Ethernet Cable - Nice and compact, for those times when the hotel's wi-fi is brutal and there's no cable for that beckoning hi-speed port just inches away.
I. Tera Grand Retractable HDMI Cable - New to the market, allows those of us with HDMI notebooks and an HD Slingbox to put the New York Jets on the hotel flat-screen at 4AM so you can start your day depressed and aggravated.
J. ASUS Micro Wi-Fi Router - Allows you to create your own private wi-fi network so that once signed onto the hotel internet-entry page on the notebook you are one-click away from getting all your iOS devices
K. iPhone Suction Car Mount - Small and light, allows you to put your iPhone in a rental car for free turn-by-turn navigation.
L. Mophie Juicepack - Double your iPhone's battery life in this rechargeable pack molded into a sleek phone case. A must-have for any road warrior, far superior to the basic brick batteries that you can't hold up to your ear and use during charging.
M. Monoprice USB Ethernet Adapter - Modern ultrabooks lack Ethernet ports to keep the size/weight down.
N. Sony HDMI To VGA Adapter - Modern ultrabooks lack VGA ports to keep the size/weight down.
O. Wrigley's 5 Gum - The world's best gum with the longest-lasting flavor, Willy Wonka himself couldn't do it any better.
P. Dr. Dre Beats Earbuds - Active noise cancellation is overrated, these passive earbuds seal your canals from noise and provide the deepest bass of any earbuds on the market.
Q. Sony Vaio Power Supply - The ultrabook charger isn't very compact so a tight case is a good idea to keep its footprint minimal.
R. Spyder "Gaiter" Neck-Up - A great winter accessory, weighs nothing and packs down smaller than a single sock. It's a headband, a scarf, and a face protector, not just for skiing but walking Chicago in January when the wind can give you frostbite in minutes.
S. Apple Bricks and Cables - I carry both bricks and both cables as I like to keep my iPhone and iPad by the bed on the nightstand and charge them both overnight so they're fresh for the morning.
T. Asia and Europe Wall Adapters - Forget those bulky all-in-one adapters that force you to carry around plastic for countries you never visit, just get a few HK/UK adapters and the European adapter and you're all set. Note it's key to find the HK/UK adapter that can take a US 3-prong power cord and its mis-matched left/right tabs if you want to charge your notebook during your travels.
U. Monoprice 3" Lightning Cable - Lastly, I carry a tiny lightning cable with me in trendy black color so that if my phone needs a quick charge or I need to transfer a photo to my notebook I have something light and unobtrusive in my backpack.
That's it. Hope its insightful.
BJ
#39
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 132
Here goes, after 20 years of domestic and international travel, these are my essentials:
A. iPad 4G LTE 64GB - Movies on the plane, Adult video at night, Slingbox DVR at breakfast. An indispensable media tool.
B. Sony Pro 13 Ultrabook - At under ½ inch thick, under 2½ pounds, and with 8 hours of continuous battery life, it's just about the best Windows notebook for the road warrior. I have to keep checking my backpack to make sure its there. That's how light this thing is.
C. $1,000 Cash - Always good to pull a stack of cash out and place it on the tray table as you're filling out your immigration paperwork, let's the person next to you know what's-what.
D. Mini Massager - A great conversation starter to lie on the tray table next to the $1,000 cash if the person sitting next to you is an attractive female.
E. BMW Keyfob - Hey, you need to put it somewhere, might as well be where you can use it as a deal-sealer if the $1,000 cash and the mini massager didn't do the trick.
F. Rolex Submariner - For emergencies only, if putting this on the tray table next to the BMW keyfob and the mini massager and the $1,000 cash doesn't seal the deal, nothing else will.
G. Luminox Navy Seal - For walking the mean streets of Tsim Sha Tsui or Amsterdam's red light district, leave the Rolex in the safe and wear something light and non-attention grabbing, matches the flip-flops you get after coming out of the Kobe Sauna on Mody Road.
BJ[/QUOTE]
That totally made my day!! Too funny
A. iPad 4G LTE 64GB - Movies on the plane, Adult video at night, Slingbox DVR at breakfast. An indispensable media tool.
B. Sony Pro 13 Ultrabook - At under ½ inch thick, under 2½ pounds, and with 8 hours of continuous battery life, it's just about the best Windows notebook for the road warrior. I have to keep checking my backpack to make sure its there. That's how light this thing is.
C. $1,000 Cash - Always good to pull a stack of cash out and place it on the tray table as you're filling out your immigration paperwork, let's the person next to you know what's-what.
D. Mini Massager - A great conversation starter to lie on the tray table next to the $1,000 cash if the person sitting next to you is an attractive female.
E. BMW Keyfob - Hey, you need to put it somewhere, might as well be where you can use it as a deal-sealer if the $1,000 cash and the mini massager didn't do the trick.
F. Rolex Submariner - For emergencies only, if putting this on the tray table next to the BMW keyfob and the mini massager and the $1,000 cash doesn't seal the deal, nothing else will.
G. Luminox Navy Seal - For walking the mean streets of Tsim Sha Tsui or Amsterdam's red light district, leave the Rolex in the safe and wear something light and non-attention grabbing, matches the flip-flops you get after coming out of the Kobe Sauna on Mody Road.
BJ[/QUOTE]
That totally made my day!! Too funny
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 464
Hi Scifience, thanks for chiming in. A picture is worth a 1000 words, so love the neatly laid out picture too.
Some comments:
Have you looked at the Kenu Airframe that was listed above in this thread? I am looking to purchase that.
I've seen a lot of good worked about the Anker. Have you owned the Skiva quadfire before? Besides the fact that people seem to report that the Skiva's casing is not robust is there any other difference? What about Anker did you like that was missing in the others you tried?
I hear you. I started with the Bose QC3 then left it for the Audio Technica earbuds with mic+NC because it was more compact and was easy to sleep with it. And then I upgraded to the Bose QC20i, which is absolutely incredible in all ways. While the ATs were good, the QC20is are incredible.
I own a 13" MBP - not the new ones - 2011 early - I use a 60W too since the start. Never had an issue too.
Yup, I often dream on never having to carry my laptop. With the logitech keyboard folio attached, it really has replaced my needs for meetings where I only need to create and present powerpoints. But If I am on a long travel, just the mini won't cut it. Also, its quite a pain adapting powerpoint ppts to keynote - some slides are always broken. I don't have the liberty to create them in keynote to begin with because I work for an org. where most people use powerpoint.
Some comments:
[*]Ram Suction Mount for iPhone
Since I use my phone as my satnav when travelling, having a way to mount it in rental cars is critical. This suction mount sticks to just about anything and breaks down into three parts for easy packing.
Since I use my phone as my satnav when travelling, having a way to mount it in rental cars is critical. This suction mount sticks to just about anything and breaks down into three parts for easy packing.
[*]Anker 36W 4-Port USB Charger
Charges two Apple and two Android (or other) USB devices at full speed. Best one I've found, and I've tried a bunch of these.
Charges two Apple and two Android (or other) USB devices at full speed. Best one I've found, and I've tried a bunch of these.
[*]Bose QuietComfort 20i Headphones
These were a big upgrade from the old, bulky QC15s. Not only are they much, much smaller, but they are more comfortable to wear on long (6+ hour) flights, they charge off micro USB, and seem to do an even better job at noise cancellation.
These were a big upgrade from the old, bulky QC15s. Not only are they much, much smaller, but they are more comfortable to wear on long (6+ hour) flights, they charge off micro USB, and seem to do an even better job at noise cancellation.
[*]Apple 60W MagSafe Charger
Technically, this charger is only for the MacBook Air and 13" MBP, but it actually works just fine with my 15" MBP and is a good bit more compact. I guess it charges a bit more slowly, but I can't say I notice.
Technically, this charger is only for the MacBook Air and 13" MBP, but it actually works just fine with my 15" MBP and is a good bit more compact. I guess it charges a bit more slowly, but I can't say I notice.
[*]Apple iPad mini with Retina Display, 128GB
Good for reading Kindle books, watching movies/TV shows, and random web surfing and emails. I'm very jealous of the people that can essentially use their iPads as laptop replacements; unfortunately, my work requires a ton of specialised software.
Good for reading Kindle books, watching movies/TV shows, and random web surfing and emails. I'm very jealous of the people that can essentially use their iPads as laptop replacements; unfortunately, my work requires a ton of specialised software.
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 464
Hi BJ, thanks for the very entertaining post. It sometimes gets a little hard to decipher what you actually believe in and what you are kidding about
Just one question:
That Massager - its so tiny - besides using it to start a conversation as you say, how do you really use it and is it effective?
Just one question:
That Massager - its so tiny - besides using it to start a conversation as you say, how do you really use it and is it effective?
Last edited by arjunrc; Mar 16, 2014 at 12:44 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 431
BJ
#43
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SIN / SFO
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,215
I've seen a lot of good worked about the Anker. Have you owned the Skiva quadfire before? Besides the fact that people seem to report that the Skiva's casing is not robust is there any other difference? What about Anker did you like that was missing in the others you tried?
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 464
I'm wondering if it will benefit replacing my skiva with the anker or mono price. They seem to have more wattage. My iPad mini retina takes a long time to juice up.
Here is my config (proposed) - I haven't yet purchased the 3 outlet splitter