Monster Cables’ reputation for overpriced cables and indefensible trademark lawsuits precedes it wherever it goes. That said, its Outlets to Go power strip is useful, cheap, and small enough to carry in any purse or manbag.
It’s basically a miniaturized 3 or 4-port power strip with a short cord. It doesn’t block other ports on the outlet panel it’s plugged into, it’s more durable than the fatter, long-corded equivalents that are widely available, and it has a surge protector. $8 at Radioshack, it’s not even expensive.
Belkin’s Mini Surge is a similar product, which adds two USB outlets to the mix, but it’s a wall-wart and it’s also twice the price.
I’ve actually been sitting on this review for ages, but Joel posted a positive review of something else by Monster today and someone got upset that we’d say anything positive about Monster. I didn’t want him to think that he was any better at antagonizing our own readers than I am.
(Seriously, folks, don’t buy Monster cables.)
Update: Monster’s Outelts to Go also now has a USB port.
Monster® Outlets to Go™ 4-Outlet Power Strip (Black) [Radioshack]
Antagonizing fail! (so far)
Not to barge in with something serious
, but most dollar stores have four outlet power strips with a switch/light and a six inch cable. Very light weight. Very compact. They are about $2 each. They are great gadgets for…
- international travel (any travel)
- immediate outlet sharing
- testing an outlet to see if it is active
- making room for wall warts in an existing strip
- modification to make special adapters and cables
(like plumbing on a light socket or an IEC connector – but observe all safety precautions and safety codes)
I think Powtech makes one… PT-7800
Muji sell a similar gizmo in Japan (I haven’t seen a Muji store in the USA so I don’t know if it’s available there, and it’s definitely not applicable here in the UK).
It’s basically a white plastic block about six inches long, with four two-prong sockets spaced along one side. At one end there’s a recessed two-pin mains plug. It’s sold alongside extension cords that let you plug it into a wall socket — I bought one, along with a six inch extension cable. It’s really light, really compact, and works nicely with modern airline seatback power sockets (the 110 volt variety, not the old weird 24 volt DC variety). Although it’s no use here in the UK (land of gigantic fused 230 volt plugs) it’s a standard part of my international travel kit.
The lesson I’ve learned from airports, hacker conventions, and anywhere else that AC power ports are at a premium of competitiveness, is to carry a Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger. I think they’ve even been featured here on BBgadgets before, and I’ve seen them quietly turn up everywhere from OfficeMax to the Apple Store to Crutchfield.
They’re even mentioned and linked to in the post!
d’oh!
I’ve got the belkin minisurge and love it. It’s got $75,000 of equipment insurance on it, and since the prongs rotate 360 degrees, I’ve always been able to plug it in without blocking other outlets by putting it on the top, bottom, or side outlet and turning the body of the device away from the other outlets. And the USB ports are insanely useful for me, since my cell phone charges by USB. As long as I’ve got the belkin and a mini-USB cable with me, I can charge my phone! To me, the main selling point of the belkin was the equipment protection. It’s a nice little bit of piece of mind IMO.
PowerSquid FTW!
They must have priced it wrong. I’m sure it was supposed to be “$80″.
you should probably look up the price before saying its priced wrong. Just doing a google search I found many different places under $20 without even clicking on any links!!!