Name: Energizer iSurge charging station
What it is: an all-in-one AC adapter that provides surge protection along with three AC outlets, a 30-pin Apple charging dock on top, a USB port on one side and a built-in night light. The grounded plug on the back swivels to fit virtually any power outlet. It’s available in black or white.
The good: A 30-pin Apple charging dock on top, with a USB port on the side, is a gift to an Apple-packing traveler like me. I can charge my iPhone and my iPod Nano simultaneously, while one of the three AC outlets recharges my MacBook Pro laptop’s battery. Because most Apple devices eat power for breakfast, it’s the ideal travel charger/surge protector to take on the road. The swiveling plug has allowed me to use the iSurge with almost any outlet I’ve encountered. The night light has kept me from bumping into furniture in various hotel rooms during the night.
The bad: A second USB slot below the single slot would increase the charging options. An adapter to help balance heavier iPhones on top of the Apple charging dock would be helpful. My iPhone 3GS charged easily on the iSurge, but it was lighter than my iPhone 4S, with twice as much memory onboard. My iPhone 4S wobbles a bit on the iSurge’s Apple 30-pin charging dock, and sometimes stops charging, so I often use the USB port to charge my phone.
Cost: $59.99 (often less online)
Available from: amazon.com, bestbuy.com, sears.com and kmart.com
