esasaki's Full Review: Dell PA-12-AUTO-AIR-SLIM AC Adapter (DK138) AC Ada...
I recently switched laptops from a Thinkpad X40 to a Dell Latitude XT tablet. Since I'm frequently on the go, one of the essential companions to my Thinkpad was the auto/air power adapter kit, which let me juice up my batteries in-car and in-flight.
So when choosing the Dell, the availability of an AC/DC adapter kit was an absolute must for me. Enter the Dell PA-12/DK138 Slim Auto/Air/AC Adapter. It's a 65-watt power adapter for Dell laptops that should fit recent-vintage Dell laptops.
The kit comes with the power adapter itself, a 4-inch cord with AC plug, a 3-foot cord with AC plug, a 3-foot cord with DC cigarette lighter plug, a 3-foot cord with DC airplane EMPOWER plug, a 5-foot extension cord for the laptop side, and a Targus-built travel case.
The adapter is, as the name suggests, both thin and light, especially compared to the brick of an combo adapter that my old Thinkpad used. It's heft and size is fairly comparable to a classic iPod-like player at about 8 oz, 5" x 2.5" x 0.6". There's a permanently attached laptop cord connector that's about 1-foot long on one end. The opposite end has a connector to attach an AC cord, and the side perpendicular to those ends has the DC connector. There's a green power light on the face.
The DC cord connectors use a twist-lock style system that keeps the cords from accidentally coming loose from the adapter. The AC connector doesn't use twist-lock, but the cords do fit snugly enough. I would guess that they didn't use a twist-lock because of the risk that someone would trip over the AC cord and you'd want the cord to disconnect. The risk of tripping in an airline seat or car is much smaller :)
This is a 65-watt power supply, meaning that it going to charge batteries slower than the full-sized 90-watt adapters. Also, certain high end laptops with major power draw will probably throttle back when connected to a 65-watt adapter.
Although the input cords are on the short side, with the included DC extension cord, you have a minimum of about 6.5' of reach from power outlet to laptop to a maximum of about 9', depending on the cords you use.
The adapter comes with a case that will carry all of the assorted cords and the power adapter itself. It's a fairly straightforward zipper case that resembles a small toiletries kit. Aesthetically, it looks kind of cheap, with a lightweight nylon and a glued-on, round, silver Dell badge.
Another minor gripe is that cable management is a mess. There are no cable tie straps that are typically found on other Dell power adapters to neatly bundle the cables for travel.
Overall though, the adapter does what it's supposed to do, and compared to other auto/air adapters I've used, it is indeed slim and light. Recommended.
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