Power Adapter options? Returning from Mac...

So I have been away from Thinkpad\Lenovo for a few years and the one thing I think I have gotten really accustomed to is the Apple power adapter. Not having "two tails" and being able to wind the cord on itself is a blessing for travel. The Lenovo power bricks are making me insane! The AC cord has nowhere to go at all and the DC cord only has a lame velcro for winding.

Please help! I've got a U260 now and a T410 on the way. Looking for any and all ideas about how to improve this situation.

Don't even get me started on the mag-safe connector. I'll definitely have to learn to live without that one.

 

The ultra slim adaptor

 

I've got a T520 on order. I don't want to carry the Lenovo brick around with me, so I'll leave it plugged in at home. My travel charger will be the Targus APM69US (don't have it yet, will probably get this weekend). The AC prongs are mounted on the brick (which is small), so you don't have a cord from the outlet to the brick. It will charge two devices at once, and tips for most popular devices are included with the charger. If you need a different tip and Targus makes it, they'll send it to you for free. Staples has it for $109.99, it can be had for less online. It seems to get mostly positive reviews.

 

This one: Lenovo - Laptop and desktop - Batteries & Power 41R4493 (US)


????

This thing is bigger, bulkier, and has even more cables! I'm really trying to find some way to end up with a nice compact self contained cable organized adapter like:

 

Ohhhh. Now we are talking, that has some promise! I'll investigate further.

 

That targus is what I use and I bought one of them on office depot for 70 dollars and there was a deal site not too long ago selling these for 25 dollars.

 

I find the Apple wall-warts really awkward and unbalanced.

There are certain ways of wrapping the cord with the stock Lenovo adapters and then using the integrated velcro strap to hold it in place. When I feel like it, I arrange both wires together into a neat bundle and use the velcro in a figure eight around both the adapter and the wire bundle. When I'm lazy, it's just *wad*.

 

I used to love the MagSafe adapters right up until I had one separate and spark and another start to melt.

Then I stopped loving them and became terrified of leaving them plugged in unattended. Just my $0.02...

As far as the ThinkPad adapters go, I've never really had a problem packing them. Tip: unplug the AC portion from the brick itself and secure the whole thing with the velcro. You can cut down on the footprint a good bit that way.

 

Agreed on removing the AC cable to wind up. Sadly, the velcro on the U260 adapter is to short to make it around anything other than just the DC cord. Can't make it around the adapter itself or the AC cord. Sad.

I seem to recall some AC side plugs that were basically JUST the plug, or a REALLY short plug instead of the long AC cord. Any ideas on if these still exist? Where to pick one up? I'll have to start scouring ebay.

 

The ThinkPad adapters have a full ten inches worth of velcro strap, which should be more then plenty.

 

Also Velcro Straps can be bought on the cheap on amazon.....

 

You can get Velcro straps from Lowe's, Home Depot, AutoZone, etc, too. I saw some in the grocery store (Publix) tonight.

 

I see no reason you have to unplug the AC, it's probably even easier without doing so. I've posted before on this issue, see my old post and picture here.