The source of True Power .. er.. for Laptops

So, as everyone knows, laptops don’t use photosynthesis to power themselves. Although this would be nice, it’s just simply not the case. Since my laptop was a gift, I went out and spent the $80 on getting the Targus APA10US. Well, this unit is a double edged sword.

Setup
Upon opening the box, I found several different adaptors as well as the unit itself. This came in a small black bag. What worked is that the bag allowed me to store the pieces I wasn’t using. I looked at the instructions several times. There was no indication of how to setup the unit for my laptop, so I had the difficult and dangerous task of assembling it with the right conversion piece to make sure it would work correctly with my laptop. I managed to narrow it down to two adaptors and had to play guess work as to which one would be compatible with my laptop. I’m very displeased with this because if one of the adaptors put out too much power or inverted the connection, I could’ve ruined my laptop. After I finally found the one that works, I hooked it up and it did manage to supply the power I needed.

Storage
Although the unit comes with its own bag, chances are you won’t use it. Because my laptop has a case with more than enough pockets for whatever, I find that I just store the unit in my laptop case. As for the miscellaneous other adaptors, those have remained with the instructions in the small black bag provided. This has remained elsewhere since there really is no reason to carry them with me since I already have the setup that works for my laptop configuration. More or less, the bag and extra adaptors are something that you’ll just find a nice place to set and forget. The unit itself is smaller than most people’s hand and fits nicely in any laptop case.

A problem I’ve noticed with storing it is when you unplug the side of the adaptor that plugs into your laptop, you risk bending the contacts. As such, I’ve found it most convenient and better for the unit to just leave that plugged in. The other side of the adaptor (that plugs into an AC outlet) is large and sturdy. As such, when storing, I usually unplug this side to make it more compact. For added convenience, there are Velcro straps attached to the cords. These make wrapping them up and storing the unit much easier.

Usage
Well, it might sound odd to hear me tell you how to use a power cord, but believe me, there are some things that should be said. First off, during usage, I noticed the unit itself gets fairly warm. What surprises me is that it doesn’t get super hot like most converters I’ve used for other technology, but it does heat up quite a bit. Because of this, I have found that it’s not a good idea to use this on carpet or anything that absorbs heat. I think some of these issues could’ve been resolved by giving it a means of being raised from the surface underneath it. Most power adaptors I’ve seen have rubber stoppers supporting them. This not only allows circulation for heat underneath, but helps keep the unit cooler. Oddly enough, to keep this unit cooler, I have to put it on its side. That’s correct; I put it on its side because the top and bottom generate the most heat. I just find it odd that a unit would perform better while on its side as opposed to standing right side up, the way it was intended.

Extended Use
I generally have this product powering my laptop for 9 consecutive hours a day. I don’t see any power interruptions nor spikes. The unit maintains a constant heat out put and does stay cooler when I set it on its side. So far, I haven’t had to worry about fire or any other potential hazards associated with an AC converter. More or less, this product is stable enough for any use, however, I would not recommend leaving it plugged in overnight. Even the manual states that the unit should not be left unattended.

Final Verdict
At an $80 price tag, I’m quite satisfied with the Targus APA10US Notebook Power Adaptor. It does everything I want it to do and has an auxiliary port so I can plug in other mobile devices (adaptor sold separately). With the Velcro straps making storage easier, you just can’t go wrong with this item. A 6’ cord making any outlet within reach just solidifies my recommendation. Despite oddities in the way it heats up, I RECOMMEND this model.