OESF Portables Forum
General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: speculatrix on December 31, 2006, 11:10:14 am
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so, been here in Chandler/Phoenix AZ with no luggage for 48 hours, trying to save power in my PDAs and laptop, but british airways still don't know when bags going to turn up.
is there anyone in the Phoenix area who might possibly be able to loan me a charger for a zaurus (or a tomtom GO adaptor, mains or in-car), a charger for Palm Zire, and a charger for a Sony TX2?
or can recommend a place to go buy such things without being ripped off price-wise? I can probably make some sort of claim against BA or travel insurance.
sigh.
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Well... i know that ipaq chargers are easy to come by... maybe you can find one of them for cheap for the Z
Late
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Rather than duplicate what you already have, you might think about picking up a PSP external power supply like Meanie suggests on his page.
http://www.users.on.net/~hluc/myZaurus/ (http://www.users.on.net/~hluc/myZaurus/)
He mentions a Joytech PSP Power Extender. I imagine there are other brands, but the PSP seems to have the same power requirements and connector. I imagine that you can plug that in and use it to charge your Z as well as provide extra power if you are away from an outlet. Good luck.
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Phoenix / Chandler does have a lot of stores. Radio Shack and or Fry's Electronics would have all you need. Actually the best deals would be at fry's
http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&lr=&clien...&ct=result&cd=2 (http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jy8&q=frys&near=Phoenix,+AZ&radius=0.0&latlng=33448333,-112073333,8465835965490108289&sa=X&oi=local&ct=result&cd=2)
3035 W Thunderbird Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85053
(602) 445-8800
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Hi,
thanks for the idea.
I went to Radio Shack and bought a thing called the http://www.igo.com/ (http://www.igo.com/) which is a universal charger where you change the connector and it also changes the voltage. Not too cheap but getting the Palm and SonyPSP tips made it cheaper than individual chargers; might get the Palm T3 widget too.
Went to best buy and their USB cables are US$30 - ten times the price I'd want to pay!!! Found an open box special which was only US$12 but when I got it home it was the wrong type of cable (label on box was correct). Managed to buy the wrong type of cable too in Radio Shack (usb retractable cable). Sigh.
Still not been able to get a Sony TX2 PSU... but am able to use daughter's PC so it's not too desperate (would be better if her grandfather hadn't broken her broadband wireless adaptor as then I could use my Z from my room).
I'll give Frys and CompUSA a go... and when I next go shopping for clothes in Target/Walmart/whereever I'll see if they have usb cables. There's still a backlog of 10,000 bags in London so looks like I'm going to be lucky to get my luggage any time soon.
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Sorry dude. Hang in there.
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Which USB cable are you talking about?
You're not looking for a Host cable, are you?
Or are you looking for a mini 'B' cable, like the one that comes with the Palm Zire?
I call this one a "sync" cable, because that's why Palm included it with the Zire, (to sync with)
I also use this "sync" cable with my Zaurus C3100. It works in both Storage mode and TCP/IP over USB
If you can find a "Walgreens" drug store, you can get this very nice USB kit in the camera dept. for about $12.99
It's a Red bubble package that hangs on a peg behind the camera counter.
"USB 2.0 - 6-in-1 Cable kit. General Electric (model # H09720)
It includes a 48 inch extension USB cable and 4 adapters. The adapters are:
1. Mini 'A' host (this is confirmed to work as a host cable, I use it when not using the one I got from StreamlineCPUs)
2. 5 pin Mini 'B' (what I call a sync cable)
3. 'B' male (large kinda square connection that's on large drives)
4. 4 pin mini 'B' male (for use with some digital cameras, looks like the large square one, except smaller)
It also includes a carrying pouch.
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It also includes a carrying pouch.
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More like a "magic beans" pouche...
Late
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That's where I got my USB cables from.
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If you can find a "Walgreens" drug store, you can get this very nice USB kit in the camera dept. for about $12.99
It's a Red bubble package that hangs on a peg behind the camera counter.
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Hi Jon,
sorry for long delay in replying, been very busy... I'm really here to visit family, playing with Z and doing email is a gap-filler
I will look out for a Walgreens, that sounds like a really useful usb kit to have. I think by the time my luggage turns up I will be able to set up a usb cable shop on ebay!!
went to frys yesterday (n y day) and bought
1/ a retractable regular usb cable, much better for my daugher than the non-retractable one I was going to give her (which is in my luggage) (US$15).
2/ a belkin retractable cable kit which included the item above as well as retractable modem and ether cables, much more convenient (US$29)
3/ a sony charger; wasn't much different price from the Targa and other brands but guaranteed to work etc (US$85)
4) a firewire cable (US$20 I think)
I also managed to fix my in-laws wireless broadband router, so now I can surf using the Z or my laptop.
so, I am now a happy bunny cable and power wise, although it's cost me about US$160 to get thus far, and dupe everything I already had. I need to make sure that in the probable event of my luggage not turning up in time I can leave my daughter with a working Palm which can be charged up and synchronised. I also want to be able to show her how to make a DVD from the camcorder footage I've taken, hence the firewire. Luckily the camcorder has a huge battery good for 90 mins, more than enough.
thanks to all for ideas and community support. I've never done so much shopping on holiday!!!
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I suppose with the Christmas holidays, maybe stores stocked up, but I was able to find the Joytech PSP Power Extender that Meanie shows on his site for $13 and change. I ordered two. Previously, I had seen them for around $40. The ones that I ordered only came with the battery device and you use your Z power adapter to charge them. That may have been the difference between what I bought and the few I had looked at previously for around $40.
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Joytech PSP Power Extender that Meanie shows on his site for $13
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hmm, I shall look for one of those. I've been wondering about buying a 2nd battery for my 3100, the battery extender might be more flexible
thanks for letting me know. might be worth posting a note to the "bargains" section.
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I use a couple of these and they seem to work out well....hxxp://zzz.semsons.com/pocpowban.html
cycle_55
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I use a couple of these and they seem to work out well....http://www.semsons.com/pocpowban.html
cycle_55
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hmm, interesting; shame it's a bit big!
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I use a couple of these and they seem to work out well....http://www.semsons.com/pocpowban.html
cycle_55
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hmm, interesting; shame it's a bit big!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=150029\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
It is true that it is a bit big but it does cut out a lot of stuff for me as I now carry no other chargers and it also charges my camera batteries.
cycle_55
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I am in Phoenix.......im sure your gone now....wish I would have seen the thread earlier.
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I am in Phoenix.......im sure your gone now....wish I would have seen the thread earlier.
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Hi,
I'm here till Monday AM.
A Phoenix Z owner? I did post a message a while back in the USA regional forum; I don't think many people look at local groups, there just aren't enough Z users around I guess.
My luggage just arrived, contents intact, one suitcase's contents quite damp luckily NOT the one containing chargers and cables etc.
thanks to all for help, ideas etc
Paul
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Just to close the saga. When I returned, I put in a claim to British Airways for everything I bought (except CDs and DVDs!), split about 50:50 between clothes + razor and computer equipment for a Sony laptop charger, the universal charger with PSP and Palm adaptors, Belkin retractable cable kit, firewire cable etc etc.
I also claimed for the damaged suitcase, and for an excess parking fee incurred because of luggage handling delays arriving home.
BA paid up the full amount by cheque* for the clothes and ALL the computer gubbins, but refused to pay for a new suitcase (because I didn't claim within 7 days of flying, which would have been nearly impossible as I didn't get the suitcase until 6d 20hours after arriving) nor the parking. So, I am moderately happy!
* it's vital when claiming against an airline to quote the Montreal Convention and insist on cash payment not vouchers, otherwise (as many found) they will send vouchers which can only be redeemed against full-price fares!
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* it's vital when claiming against an airline to quote the Montreal Convention and insist on cash payment not vouchers, otherwise (as many found) they will send vouchers which can only be redeemed against full-price fares!
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The Montral Convention ???
That works in the USA, right ? Thanks for that tidbit of information. I wish I knew that - cause 2 years back when my parents came to visit us, by BA, they lost their luggage and then when it was found back (some other passenger had mistakenly taken the look-alike suitcase), there were gifts missing, that they had bought along for us and friends.
Nowadays with air-travel being such a hassle, its good to know these points.
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You may also want to check out some of the psp external battery packs. Some come with chargers, so you get more batt life and a charger to go!
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I'm coming to Phoenix again end September, this time I'm hoping to arrive with my baggage!
Any up for a meeting?
Can anyone recommend (or help me avoid) a place to stay in Chandler or thereabouts? Just need a clean, basic place (with free internet if possible )
I'm also wondering if there's any IT conventions at all in the area or something so's I can write off some of my expenses for my business