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(More customer reviews)So I have a bunch of these type of things, Xantrex Powerpacks, Solio etc... and most of all them have done well with small electronics - PDAs, Phones etc... but fail in reality when running a laptop, usually because they rely on inverter technology then use the laptop power supply.
The PPU916 from Lenmar charges directly from your laptop power supply (in fact many such power supplies, so you can have it charging on one from an old laptop without having to disconnect your current laptop etc...). It is compact as a laptop charger and is remarkably low weight compared to other such devices with older battery technology.
It charged quickly and has a nice multi-led panel that shows how full it is and whether it is charging or has reached capacity - all works well.
Output to the laptop is handled via a short dedicated cable with multiple tips. I found one in the supplied pack to handle my Gateway netbook and Dell Latitude D830. It also has a USB output so you can charge other electronics via their own USB connector - most surprisingly I found that this worked well with my iPhone 4 which is usually very demanding of its power sources.
Not using the laptop power adapter to run from the Lenmar has the advantage that you can keep down the bulk. Just a netbook, small cable and the thin battery and you are good for a long time.
On the iPhone 4, I had it running the device while playing music and taking calls etc... and even after several hours of doing this, the Lenmar still hadn't dropped below the maximum 4 leds. I imagine it will run that phone for days based on this - great for folks spending time away from AC power etc...
With the Gateway, (which already runs nearly 10 hrs in full power saving mode) it connected quickly and securely and the charging light came on and the netbook charged well. Again I got took the netbook from 70% to 100% without a drop in the meter on the Lenmar. I estimate a good 3-5 hrs runtime added if not more. Great for meetings when everyone else is running to try and get their power cords into a wall socket!
With the large laptop, a Dell Latitude D830, which the website states to be compatible, I didn't have so much luck. I got a tip to fit, but even when the Lenmar was completely full, the charging sign went on and off with the display flickering every few seconds as it alternated between automatic power modes, thinking it had power then no power etc...the charging light never stayed on.
It is possible that you could configure the power modes to avoid the flickering, and maybe you would extend battery life with the Lenmar plugged in, but it didn't exude confidence that this would work.
So overall, as an extender for small electronics/small laptops, I heartily recommend it - but for large devices - proceed with caution and if that is your only intended use, consider somewhere with a return policy.
One last gripe, the operating instructions point to a website location lenmar.com/adaptertips (and then adaptortips later on), where you are supposed to find the mapping between tips and devices - neither was a valid link however and there was nothing on the site to guide you to it. I had to just use trial and error - although it wasn't that hard.
All in all - if it works for your devices I think $99 is pretty good when you look at what else is out there!
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