Xantrex Technology on Tuesday introduced its PowerSource Mobile 100, a handheld power system that can juice up your laptop, iPod, cell phone or other electronic device, and includes an AC power output and two USB outlets. It costs $129.99.
About the size of an average laptop computer battery, the PowerSource Mobile 100 weighs about one pound. It comprises a 100-watt DC to AC invert with a lithium ion battery. You plug in your laptop or other device to the AC outlet, and compatible peripherals such as the iPod into one of the two USB ports (at the same time). The PowerSource provides a portable source of electricity for when you can’t get near a wall outlet — such as when you’re traveling in an airport, or a passenger in a vehicle.
A laptop can work for about two hours with the charge the PowerSource retains, according to Xantrex. A portable DVD player, three hours; a portable game console, 12 hours; an iPod nano, 72 hours. It can provide about 12 days’ worth of standby power for a cell phone and about 34 days of standby power for a RIM Blackberry.