Need help re:Dell adaptor
 

Just received the Dell 700m I ordered after reading http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=dell

Few things I didn't realize - the 12" screen is measured diagonally and is shorter than my other 12" screens

Hard to adjust to the 1/2 size period key (and some others)

BUT - the adaptor comes with a grounded plug (3 prong) unlike all my other laptops which means I will have problems with adaptors I use overseas. After 70 minutes (!) getting shunted around with Dell they told me I could order another adaptor if I gave them the part number and they would supply iit at no cost BUT they could not give me a part number and the only adaptor I can find on their website has no picture (and I presume would be the same as the one I have). I can't substitue the cord from the adaptor to the wall with one of my others b/c the Dell has a different connection.

Does anyone know if there is a Dell adaptor that has an ungrounded plug? (Other solutions are klutzy or expensive (?juice)

You could look on eBay to see if someone is selling a 2-prong compatible adapter. But most likely the wattage requirement or other aspects of your laptop's circuitry are what requires the 3-prong grounded plus. In other words, a 2-prong power adapter might be unsafe.

Um... okay maybe I'm an electronics dunce but what does wattage have to do with if it needs to be grounded :confused: ? I thought grounding had to do with safety issues. I'm all for being educated ;)

I think you will have to get international adapters that take 3 prong American plugs, or get a 99 cent cheater plug at your local hardward store. Of course you can always just get an extra power cord and pull out the grounding plug. (FWIW-all of my international adapters take 3 prong plugs).

The 700M has a chip that makes 3rd party power supplies incapable of charging the battery.

Will this work? http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=135430