Kensington 3-in-1 review – power it, charge it, lock it

by Scott Carmichael on

In this product review, I’m going to give you a brief look at three new products from Kensington. Each of these three products has been designed with travelers in mind, and will certainly benefit you on the road.

The three products are:

  • Portable power outlet
  • MicroSaver keyed retractable lock
  • Travel plug adapter with USB charger

Portable power outlet

The Kensington portable power outlet is as the name implies, a portable power outlet.

The device is about 4″x3″ and has a 17″ grounded power cord designed to wrap around the unit itself for storage.

The device splits into 3 separate grounded outlets (one on the front, 2 on the rear) as well as two USB charger ports.

The power outlet even features an integrated surge protector with auto power shutdown and a fault indicator light.

The portable power outlet costs $24.99.

MicroSaver keyed retractable lock

The MicroSaver keyed retractable lock is a tiny notebook lock with a 4 foot retracting steel cable.

To lock your laptop, you simply extend the cable, loop it around something sturdy and use the Kensington lock port on your computer to lock things in place.

Of course, locks like this won’t provide you with 100% protection, but they certainly can delay thieves from removing your laptop. The lock comes with 2 keys and when you are not using it, the lock portion fits snugly inside the unit.

The MicroSaver keyed retractable lock costs $34.99

Travel plug adapter with USB charger

The Kensington travel plug adapter with USB charger is an ingenious little device.

The main unit features 4 different sets of retractable prongs, for various countries around the world. In total, these 4 sets of prongs allow the device to work in over 150 different countries.

Inside the device is a fuse, which should help protect you from overloading the circuits and plunging an entire floor of hotel rooms into total darkness.

The prongs lock in place when extended, and can retracted by pushing a button on the side.

What makes the travel plug adapter special though, is its ability to turn into an international USB charger. By removing the top portion of the adapter and replacing it with the included USB charger, you suddenly have a charger capable of working almost anywhere in the world. Unlike other international USB chargers, this one does not require you to carry a bag full of plug adapters along with you.

The travel plug adapter with USB charger costs $29.99.

Daily deal – Belkin laptop lock/alarm free after $10 rebate + free shipping

by Scott Carmichael on

My daily deal for today is for the Belkin Audible USB Laptop alarm/lock. This device plugs into a USB port on your laptop, and produces a loud alarm if your laptop is disconnected or the cable is cut.

The alarm is activated by removing the included key , and deactivated by inserting it again.

Alarm units like this are perfect if you leave your laptop in a hotel room, or if you need to step away from your table in the airport lounge for a few minutes. The bright orange plug and cable are bound to scare off any thieves.

This item normally retails for $24.95, but Frys.com has it on sale today for just $10, with a $10 mail in rebate. They even throw in free shipping, making it 100% free after the rebate.

Needless to say, deals like this don’t last very long, so don’t delay, and get your order placed as soon as possible!

The deal itself is here and the required rebate form can be downloaded here (PDF form).

(Via Fatwallet.com)

Timothy Ferriss on Packing Light

by Justin Glow on

Our good friend Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-hour Work Week, (read our interview with him here) recently traveled to Maui and wrote up a blog post which explains everything he packed and why. Packing “fashionably light” is what he calls his method of bringing only the bare necessities, and I agree with everything he says.

I, like Tim, have been on trips with friends and family members who “pack for every contingency–better bring the hiking books in case we go hiking, better bring an umbrella in case it rains,” and it’s not fun. You start to feel bad when you have everything you need in a lightweight backpack, and your friends are lugging giant suitcases through crowded streets, and up and down staircases. While I’m always willing to help out a friend, it’s discouraging to know that you spent time and effort packing efficiently, yet you still have to help your friend carry around a heavy suitcase.

Tim and I share the same opinions on packing. I always pack the bare minimum, knowing that if there’s something I forget, or really need, that I can most likely find it wherever I’m going, often at a cheaper price than they sell for back home. Even so, Tim’s packing list still gave me some ideas. For instance, I didn’t know about the Kensington laptop locks which fit 99% of all new laptops. Tim uses it not only to secure his computer, but also his entire bag when the laptop is packed away.