Review: Innergie MCube 90

If you are a traveler, you probably bring many electronic gadgets alongside you: media players, smartphones, notebooks, netbooks, etc. With all of those various gadgets comes many different power cords needed to keep them powered up and operational.

There are many different products available that attempt to solve this power problem, offering a simple way to power all your mobile technology. However, very few of these products can accommodate the power constraints of a notebook. Innergie's mCube 90, which runs about $100, is one of these devices.

Innergie's mCube 90 is compact, stylish looking, and only weighs 9.28 oz, making it lighter and smaller than most of its competition. It can power many various USB powered devices as well as notebooks. The concept is that for those who carry many different electronic devices around, this one adapter will be sufficient for your power needs. (Side Note: The device must be connected to a power outlet to function.)

Innergie's mCube 90 is equipped with three different cables: a notebook output cable, a wall cable that connects to a regular two prong power outlet, and a detachable adapter for use in cars. The notebook output cable comes with several varieties of adapters that will suit many various notebooks.

The mCube 90 is also equipped with a USB port that can recharge your media player, phone, other small electronic device. Innergie offers USB cables with changeable tips for $8-$10, depending on which device you are using.

Despite some adaptability, the mCube 90 has a rather low repertoire of note books that it is compatible with. The notebook must use 65Watt power, and the output voltage must be within the range of 18V-21V. For me, these constraints leave four out of five notebooks that I own out in the cold. My ThinkPad T43 does not have the appropriate voltage level, same thing for my Asus EeePc 701 and my Sony Vaio VGN-S360.

Innergie's mCube 90's compatibility list can be found on their website.

While Innergie's mCube 90 is a convenient idea, its actual usefulness it still limited. Only a specific range of notebooks are supported, and the mCube 90 will really only help those travelling with multiple notebooks. Also one hundred dollars seems like a hefty fee for the convenience of not having to carry a few small cords.

However, the car adapter may prove to be much more useful for people who are constantly on the move. (Note: the mCube 90 DC is available for $50 and comes as a car adapter only version.)