iPad Accessories Roundup
Company: Kensington
Product Page
The folks at Kensington have a few items to help the millions of iPad owners who are saddling up their horses to ride with their trusty iPad’s in hand. In this roundup we take a look at these products and let you know if they will get you to the barn or not.
POWERBOLT MICRO CAR CHARGER $24.99
The PowerBolt has been upgraded to handle the 2.1 Amps required for iPad charging. It includes a detachable USB cable which can double as a charge and sync cable for your iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. The PowerBolt also includes an ultra-small adapter that fits into the receptacle.
Everything seemed great with this product. It is well made and up to the normal Kensington quality standards. There is a problem with the adaptor design, however.
The problem is that the design is, believe it or not, too small. The minimum depth required for charging to take place causes the adapter to be inserted too far into the receptacle to easily remove it. In order to remove the adapter, the USB cable must be removed and a finger wedged in between the top of the adapter and the receptacle opening. If you insert the adapter beyond the minimum charging depth, it will be very difficult to remove. Once the adapter is inserted, everything works fine.
MyMac.com Review Rating: 5 out of 10
SLING BAG $19.99
This is a over the shoulder messenger bag with an outer pocket for smaller items and an inside main compartment for a few larger items. The main compartment also sports a padded safety compartment for the iPad or a 9†– 10†netbook.
I found the Sling Bag to be comfortable and roomy. I have tested a few messenger styled bags designed for the diminutive iPad. Most are small and provide very little room for any support gear for your iPad. The Sling Bag from Kensington, provided an above average amount of additional space. I was able to fit more than many of the other bags I have tested.
In terms of design, this is a rather plain bag, but its simplicity is a plus. Still, I would like to have seen a little more imagination in the design. However, if you need a simple bag that you can pack with a reasonable amount of gear, this might be the bag for you.
MyMac.com Review Rating: 7 out of 10
REVERSIBLE SLEEVE $9.99
Like many of the sleeves for the iPad which have flooded the market, the Kensington Reversible Sleeve, is made of protective neoprene. This is a very slim sleeve. It may not provide as much protection as some of the thicker sleeves, but it will take up less room in your smaller iPad-centric bag. Additionally, the reversible design of the sleeve provides some color options, black and gray.
Like its iPad accessory siblings, the Kensington Reversible Sleeve is made well and performs as advertised. It is slim and will take up little room in your bag, but this slenderness is not free. It will cost you some protection. It is one of the more affordable iPad sleeves on the market, so weigh the pros and cons and, if you dare, pull the trigger.
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