Published on 12/ 8/2006
Those who want to take a break during long weekends will often head out to obscure places that are gadget-unfriendly due to the lack of a readily available power outlet. This is where we learn to take stock of the situation and harness the power of the sun with the SolarPort 4.4. Don't bank on this videotape-sized solar panel charging your device faster than a wall plug can though, so patience is the keyword here. USB gadgets will fare better with the SolarPort due to connector compatibility issues, but a generic power jack is also available. Each $119 package comes with a recharger for AA batteries as well. You can toggle the SolarPort between 6 and 12 volts, depending on the gadgets being recharged. I wonder how gadgets would feel though, being baked under the hot sun along with the SolarPort.