Palm 3173WW Vehicle Power Charger Reviews

• Here's My Solution To The Connector Issue

  
  By A21GX99SJHL7DF on 2006-06-19
  I won't reiterate the other reviews, but I found the plusses to be:
  1. Rapid charging - seems to get the Treo up to 99% quickly.
  2. Really reasonably price.
  The disadvantages are:
  1. The cord is not very flexible in terms of stretching - it tends to coil tightly on cold mornings, which exacerbates disadvantage 2.
  2. The power connector to the Treo is not up to the job.
  I experienced the same problems reported by many of the other reviewers and decided to look at the connector more closely. The problem is that the connector is not durable enough for repeated insertions and removals. (Imagine that you are a Treo charger connector. Put your arms on your waist. Now have someone push you through a manhole. Your arms have to come in to your body to fit through. Eventually one wrist breaks. The Treo connector works the same way.)
  
  You can do a couple of things to resolve this. It's possible to pull out the broken arm of the connector with a sturdy safety pin or awl. You have to do this periodically. The other approach is to use needle nose pliers to pull the connector out further, as it tends to sink into the handle (the part which does not go into the Treo) with use. Close inspection may also show that the handle halves are separating slightly as you insert the connector - sometimes just firmly gripping the handle part will keep the whole unit together enough to make a good connection.
  
  So...I love my Treo. I think this power adapter is a good buy as long as the connector stays in good shape. But the connector is definitely the Achille's heel of this unit.
  
  Note to Palm, if you ever read this: Replace the connector with one similar to the USB signal and power connector -- that is a much more stable design. And offer an upgrade for those of us who are suffering with this one!
  
  SEPTEMBER 2006 UPDATE: I was travelling and needed to get a charger, so I bought an official Palm charger at a higher price than this one. I've found the connector on the original Palm to be superior to this unit. Other differences include a more flexible cable with a nicely designed integral clip, and a green backlit panel to indicate that it is on rather than the basic red LED in this unit. Even with the price savings, I can no longer recommend this unit - the official Palm product is worth the price difference.
  
  

• very happy

  
  By A33FS5H3CPDR6D on 2005-08-01
  The vehicle charger is terrific
  
  It is very tough, and plugs into the Treo easily ------ also, unlike older Treo chargers, it never disconnets easily from the Treo, once placed
  
  it also charges quickly
  
  and the price is cheap - you can't go wrong on this one
  
  Happy buying!!!
  
  

• Does not stay plugged into Treo 650

  
  By A1EGD8EGNINP52 on 2005-12-31
  I've had the same experience as posted previously by others: the plug does not stay connected to the Treo so after a few seconds it stops charging until I reposition it. And the cycle continues everytime the power adapter is jostled in the slightest.
  
  

• Item falling apart after 2nd use

  
  By A1R2AQQNR2297M on 2005-11-22
  Device is literally falling apart as I use it. The device will not stay plugged into my Treo unless I position the treo and charger propped up against something in the car. The part where the charger connects to the phone easily comes apart and needs to be snapped back together and even where it connects to the accessory power outlet it wants to split apart at the seams.
  
  Since this was bought from a 3rd party seller I'm wondering if I was given a knock-off brand since I did not see Palm anywhere on the packaging. I figured that the picture was outdated and now think I DID just get a cheap charger made by a cheap competitor.
  
  

• READ THESE REVIEWS BEFORE YOU BUY!

  
  By A2D5PL0MU40VXL on 2006-02-15
  I didn't and I got burned like everyone else posting here. The Treo 650 power charger is junk, pure and simple. The plug of the charger doesn't fit the phone and always pulls out. It's hard to actually "charge" the phone if it can stay plugged in. They should remove this from Amazon -- it's a disgrace that this garbage can be sold.
  
  
• Not original Palm equipment - Poor quality
  By AR475GAQKMPC1 on 2006-08-11
  Very disappointed in this item. Returned it for refund. As stated above, this is not an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) item. It is a poor quality knockoff that arrives in a cheap plastic bag, not in the usual Palm official packaging. When I inserted the adapter's plug into the Treos jack, the adapter would not stay connected. Buyer beware!
  
  
• Shoddy Workmanship
  By AT6TOSQRO2R6M on 2006-02-08
  This unit broke apart the first time I inserted it into the car's lighter plug. It is still barely operating, but who knows for how long? Also, the cord is too short and taut to use the phone while it is plugged in, and as other reviewers have said, the cord frequently falls out of the phone. I strongly recommend avoiding this prouct and buying one of the many alternatives that exist.
  
  
• Barely Adequate
  By A16EJ37JPUMW3U on 2006-03-20
  if you simply need a charger, this works fine. I used it with two different 650's without a problem. The issue for me is that the coils of the cord are so tightly wound, that it's virtually impossible to use the phone without unplugging it. It's advertised to stretch from 2 feet to 6 feet; you'll be lucky to get it to 3 feet.
  
  
• The charger never works!
  By A1KZIJ382XNCVH on 2006-03-04
  I don't normally post reviews, but this thing really is useless. I could never get it to charge my Treo and so it was a big waste of money.
  
  
• works well not very rugged
  By A16FKJV9ZSF0A on 2006-03-10
  This item serves my needs for charging my Treo 650 in my car. But I am a little leary of storing in any area that it may be subject to the weight of another item. The case is very light weight, even fragile.
  
  
• Hold the Phone, D. Mease!!!
  By A3HV45Z519U2GL on 2006-09-24
  I don't know from whom you bought this, but I bought TWO and BOTH were Palm products, bubble-packaged and factory-fresh! I will admit that I voided the warranty (on a $10 product) by removing the stupid, ugly, "CE" sticker on the top (visible side with the glowing green...dumb, dumb, dumb by Palm...I also remove "'Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law' unless the ultimate consumer" tags that hang from my chairs), it works great. Maybe D. Mease should buy from Amazon and not from "Cellular for Less" with some outlet on 42nd Street in Manhattan??? Trust a real finicky consumer here...these are the real deal. Thanks, Amazon!!!
  
  
• poor quality
  By A3TOA6F2IF86GX on 2007-03-25
  ok for the price that i paid for it but did not hold up very well to every day wear. The end piece had broken off a month after received. It's hard to say if I would recommend this product or not. Just seemed of very poor quality.
  
  
• Simple! It works!
  By A1T6ZAZ7J09GV7 on 2005-09-06
  I mean.... it's a power adapter. I plugged it in and it worked. The good thing is that it did not interfere with the electrical system in my vehicle, so.... I guess it's great!
  
  
• Won't stay connected to the phone.
  By A1KCCJLY3L2NYW on 2006-02-02
  I have had the same problem as some of the other reviewers of this product. The charger will not stay plugged in unless I turn the phone upside down and balance it the cupholder.
  This is a 3rd party product that wasn't well manufactured.
  
  I guess I should have been wary of an items that cost less than the shipping charges.
  
  
• Not Original
  By A1MGOJCDSUWL3N on 2006-04-27
  This item is advertised as an original Palm accessory, in fact below the description is the usual "Other products by Palm" hyperlink, and the image shown is also that of the original charger. But what I got is a generic imitation. The listed price (US$29.99) is the same as the original at the PalmOne store, but with a huge discount. Is that the catch?
  
  
• works well and IS made by PALM
  By A1VOGCCELJHV60 on 2006-06-07
  This IS made by palm. It is not some generic, made in china adapter as someone else had posted. It comes in Palm retail packaging as well. Works just fine. Stays plugged in fine and charges without any issue.
  
  
• I hope the company makes a better product
  By A1XMBRMWFHOBKY on 2007-01-10
  A week after I purchased, the item broke. Don't purchase product.
  
  
• Brand spankin' new
  By A2CYFKEUW87IJ7 on 2007-03-21
  Came in the original Palm inc. case, perfect condition, works like a charm.
  
  
• Same as on the Palm website, 80% less on Amazon
  By A3R56AWX8PRQLP on 2007-04-01
  After reading the other reviews, I was a bit worried about what I was getting for this price. Fear not. This is the Palm Vehicle Power Charger listed on Palm's website, packed in a Palm blister pack with all the pretty bells and whistles. I'm going to guess that several Amazon merchants put the various third-party knockoffs under this item rather than a separate listing, which would explain the prices that don't seem realistic. To get around this, buy it directly from Amazon and you'll be getting the authentic version for 80% less than Palm's website.
  
  I'm still waiting to see if the connector holds up, but at this price I don't really care as long as it doesn't break my phone. If it really is as fragile as some say, with Prime you can just get another one for less than you pay for a sandwich. And besides the 650 and T5, this also works with the Treo 750, 700p, 700w, 700wx, 680, TX, LifeDrive, and E2. Cheers.
  
  
• Not the real deal
  By AEK56SQ3ESESN on 2007-10-04
  Note that this is NOT an official Palm product. Perhaps other people received original Palm packaging, but I got a third-party knock off. Given that the product was advertised as "by Palm," this is incorrect.
  
  
• It is what it is
  By A3VBXPGW3WZ4Z1 on 2006-03-15
  This charger gets the job done for a great price. It's pretty basic, and it's not premium and doesn't have any cool special features, but it's all you really need. I didn't give it 5 stars because it's just the basics. Works great!!
  
  
• Take your Palm with you
  By A2UTZ4O5E2W4DK on 2006-12-15
  This makes your Palm something you can take with you on a trip; it'll charge many devices in the Palm stable, like the TX, which can use it for 12 volt power on your boat or car.
  
  
  
• Not Long Enough
  By A19WR71FT3LZ76 on 2007-01-02
  The Palm vehicle power adapter is a great buy for about $20. The only negative thing I have to say about it is the cord length. It may be stretchy, but sometimes not long enough to use and charge at the same time. The first one I bought, the cord came out of the socket and snapped the wires. I am happy to say I have not had any problems with the second.
  
  
• Failed after3 months
  By A26A1E8OHGRC6L on 2007-01-10
  Started having issued with the quality of the product after 3 months. The plastic housing started coming appart and had to reassemple components to make it work again.
  
  
• Didn't hold up
  By A3VDMM4DZIGZ9R on 2007-01-12
  The power connector on the phone end wore out and wouldn't stay connected without nursing. Better to visit a service provider like Cingular or Verizon for a good charger.
  
  
• acceptable, but rather mediocre construction
  By A1CYTBE7LLUQ8F on 2007-02-20
  After a few weeks of use, I can't say that I've experienced any of the problems experienced by other reviewers. However, seeing and feeling the quality of this charger, I'm guessing that it may be only a matter of time before it breaks. I have a much sturdier car charger for my Motorola RAZR, but I paid more thant double the price. Unfortunately I did not have the time to visit a store and physically inspect different chargers this time. You may be rolling the dice if you go with this charger. If you have time to go to an electronics store, I'd recommend physically inspecting the charger. It may cost a little more, but will potentially save you time, effort, and money in having to replace a flimsy charger.
  
  
• Not manufactured by Palm
  By A25N7IPXV6L3TI on 2007-02-27
  The product description says that it is made by Palm. However, the one sold by Accessory Export LLC is manufactured by somebody else. I hesitate to use it on my Treo 650 - for fear of damaging it...
  
  
• Works great with Centro
  By A1FQC5W7FTRSLC on 2008-01-14
  Read reviews on other Palm adapters with problems, but this model works great with my Palm Centro.
  
  
• It's Treo's fault, not the charger's fault
  By A2IAVGS1WBUWC3 on 2007-01-01
  As other reviewers have noted, this charger won't stay connected. Furthermore, the hot leads are supported by a sub-millimeter-thick plastic base that breaks off at the slightest stress, rendering the thing useless from that point forward. But this isn't the fault of the charger, whether it's a branded or an aftermarket model. This is just an inevitable product limitation that has arisen due to a design fault within the smartphone itself. I see no way around it but to keep buying the cheapest possible replacements for when the inevitable breaks occur. If anyone else has a different solution, please share it.
  
  
• Not A Good Option
  By ANL4SKAOY0UQM on 2007-04-06
  I have had very limited success using this with my Treo 650. The connector to the phone works fine but the connector to the vehicle power supply never seems to fit just right. I end up turning and slowly pushing and pulling until the light "lights" up and then am disappointed at the first bump in the road when it disconnects. I quit using it in frustration and am looking for an alternative given the amount of time I spend in my vehicle and my phone usage.
  
  

• Palm 3261WW Form Fit Case for Palm Treo
• PalmOne 81554PLMIN Treo 650/700 GPS Kit
• Iogear Gmp1001W6A Mobile Pocket Power Multi-Charger

• Palm 3184WW Battery for Palm Treos 650, 700w, 700p, and 700wx
• Palm Horizontal Case for Treo 650 and 700
• Brand New Palm Centro 690, Treo 650, Treo 700w, Treo 700p, Treo 700wx, Tungsten T5, Tungsten E2, LifeDrive, TX Home / Wall/ Travel Ac Battery Charger
• Palm TX Handheld
• Palm Treo 650, 700w, 700p, 700wx Silicone Skin Case - Black