The Smartphone Experts Micro USB Retractable Sync & Charge Cable for Treo Pro, available at the TreoCentral Store for $11.95, bears an extremely long product name for such a tiny little accessory. It's a charging and syncing solution for on-the-go or at your home or office if you wish to de-clutter and reduce the number of cables you have snaking around your work area. Is it a must-have accessory? Read on to find out what I think in my full review!
Design
As a consequence of being a gadget addict, I have a myriad of various cables and connectors that clutter my desk and wall outlets. Depending on the smartphones and other devices I may be using, each one has it's different cable, it's own type of connector, be it USB, mini-USB, the Palm "universal" connector (universal to Palm only, of course), etc. Cables can be a nuisance, both on and around the desk and in the backpack or briefcase. Enter the Smartphone Experts Micro USB Retractable Sync & Charge Cable for Treo Pro (hereafter known as the "cable"), a small and extremely useful charging and sync cable made for the Treo Pro's mini-USB connection port.
This cable is designed for taking up as little space as possible. It is spring-operated for easy retraction, sports a ribbon cable for taking up the least space possible and for ease of winding up, and when fully retracted is only 4 inches long. The center housing that stores the coiled ribbon cable is made of sturdy plastic with the green and white "Smartphone Experts" label on top. One end of the cable is a standard USB connector that will work in any computer or charging USB port, and the other end is a mini-USB connector designed for the Treo Pro's mini-USB port. This cable is designed with travel and minimal use of space in mind. It fits easily into a pocket, fully extends to 2 feet for the convenience of syncing and charging your Treo Pro, and then retracts again to a modest 4 inches in length for easy storage.
Performance
The cable is designed to both sync AND charge your Treo Pro. If you don't have the standard charger or a travel charger handy, then use this cable to connect to your computer's USB port and charge or sync your Treo Pro using your computer's power. For instance, it's a great companion for your laptop when on the go - as long as your laptop has juice, never worry again when you are sitting at the airport, in between flights, and needing to power up your Treo Pro. Even if you don't travel much, this cable is still a very smart choice. If you want to minimize the number of cables snaking over and around your desk, then use this cable to handle your charging and syncing needs and then put it away again. It's perfect for accompanying you to your office and home again.
The cable is very easy to operate. To extend to it's full length of 2 feet, just hold a connector in each hand and pull the cable apart equally on both sides, and the cable will extend from the spool housing in the center. When you need to retract it again, just pull each end apart slightly and let the spring-loaded housing retract the two ends of the cable back together again. Simple. Keep in mind, though, that it's VERY IMPORTANT to pull BOTH ends EQUALLY when extending and retracting the cable - otherwise you will cause the spring-loaded housing to malfunction.
Conclusion
The Smartphone Experts Micro USB Retractable Sync & Charge Cable for Treo Pro, available at the TreoCentral Store for $11.95, is an accessory that I would call a "must-have" for your Treo Pro. It is small and easy to carry with you, it extends to 2 feet for ease of use when charging and syncing your Treo Pro, and it's perfect for de-cluttering your work and play space. Given it's small size and big usefulness, it would make a great stocking-stuffer for Christmas. Make sure you get one for your stocking also!
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| Pros |
Very small at only 4 inches when retracted.
Easy to take with you wherever you go.
Syncs AND charges your Treo Pro.
Eliminates cable clutter.
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| Cons |
Have to be very careful to pull both ends equally apart when extending.
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