Vertical marketing
Griffin highlights the fact that when the iPad is slotted into its Dock, its speaker is unobstructed so ‘you can listen while you watch’ making the PowerDock Dual ‘perfect for bedside entertainment.’ Who could resist?
Well, I’d take issue with that first claim for one, fairly obvious, reason: when docked, the iPad is in portrait mode and while you can watch video in that mode, it’s far from ideal as it squeezes the screen down to a little over two-thirds of its size. Moreover, if your favoured ‘bedside entertainment’ involves listening to music, you’d be better off investing in a speaker dock, rather than relying on the iPad’s puny audio output.
Yes, you can even travel with it, if you must
Perhaps the biggest concern over a dock like this one is the stability of the iPad. The dock connector itself is liable to damage if the iPad isn’t supported at the rear. Despite initial concerns caused by the fact that the PowerDock Dual doesn’t have a fixed back, once the clear plastic supports are fitted, the iPad is, due in part to the wide base, perfectly stable.
Verdict
Shop around and the PowerDock Dual can be found for a little over £30, yet it is hardly an impulse purchase. For around the same price you could buy, say an Idapt i4 desktop charger, which will not only charge Apple devices but various mobile phones, handheld games consoles and USB gadgets too. It won’t, however, hold your keys or your spare change. ®
More Charging Gear Reviews... |
|||
 iDapt
i4 |
 Scosche
Solbat2 |
 Etón
Soulra |
 Solar
Freeloader Pico |
Griffin PowerDock Dual
COMMENTS
There is a more appropriate name for this thing.
iShrine.
That is all.
An excellent gadget
If your new neighbours invite you round for a glass of wine and you see this in their hallway you can do an immediate about-face and bolt for the door.
Why..
.. do I have a mental image of the owner of this piece of tat being Harry Enfields "I am considerably richer than yaouuu" character?
Either that,
or AC was thinking that someone with one of these docks will be the sort of foaming at the mouth uberfanboi that rails on and on about why Apple devices are fantastic at the drop of a hat. I mean really, where does all this anger come from? Chill out! Now, let's play the quote game:
Got a problem with success, have you?
How is owning an iDevice a symbol of success? It's just a symbol of owning an iDevice. I've seen everyone from pikeys to department heads using them.
Why the hell should anyone be ashamed of owning a device that's well-designed, has sold very well, and does exactly what it says on the tin?
Well only if you wrap an elastic band around it or visit a site that doesn't have any flash components.
Apple have never, ever, claimed that their iDevices are Open® in the FOSS sense, so I don't hold that against them. It's certainly a more honest approach than Google, who dismiss Apple's "proprietary" features with one hand, while actively supporting Flash with the other. Hypocrites, much?
How does that even enter into the argument here? But since you asked, Flash may not be FOSS open, but a lot of the interweb runs on it, so if you make a browsing device, I suppose supporting said medium is a good idea. Besides, he's the saviour of the universe!
Aaaanyway, why the ranty mc ranty ranting? So AC doesn't like Apple products...are you just jealous that some people have different tastes to yours?
Sorry, I can't resist.
Only moderate success.
Take two very successful people, I won't use names because you should be able to guess who:
Richest man in the world: Probably uses an HTC or something, certainly _not_ an iProduct.
"Most Powerful Man In The World": Blackberry addict, probably now using a specialist decide with even harder encryption.
Originator of one of the biggest OSs out there: Loves Google phones, apparently. But, then, he's biased because some of his code might be in there.
I know there are counter-examples but I felt like being facetious.
