USB Cradle or Travel Cable?

[najibs]

The cradle is only a $30 upgrade, so, my question is...does the cradle only charge via USB connection or can you plug it directly into the wall to charge if you go away and don't have a computer there?

If yes, then what's the point of getting both the travel cable and the cradle? Just that the cable is less bulky?

I'm trying to decide if it's worth getting the cradle or just stick with the cable. I can't have both....

Thanks,
Najib

[BillR]

The cradle accepts AC supply for battery charging.

The advantage of the cradle over the cable is that the cradle can charge a spare battery while not in teh unit. So, if you have a spare battery, you can have one on charge while using the other.

[HighTymes]

cradle can be plugged into the the wall, i am not even sure if it creates a charge through USB for the device. If you have two batteries then get the cradle as it has a spare charging slot in it so you can charge one battery while you use the other. Travel cable seems to just make things less bulky that why they are easier to carry around but can't charge a spare battery.

[tom4cam]

Does anyone with an X30 know if the sync cable that comes standard with the low and mid models will run and/or charge the unit via USB? (or does it use a separate, plug-in adapter for charging?) I have a nifty car power adapter that provides power to USB devices. Will this work to charge the X30?

[maxim3]

The Dell sync cable for the mid model does not charge via USB, but has an external transformer to do the charging.

[tom4cam]

If the cradle can charge the unit through the bottom contacts of the X30 then there should be a way to do this using USB power. Does anyone know of a cable (Dell or aftermarket) that charges via USB? This would be much better than having 1 cable for power and 1 to sync.

[maxim3]

Dell does not offer a single charge/sync cable because USB actually does not supply proper current/voltage to charge the battery. Now I am not saying USB can't charge it, but just doesn't charge as well as the AC transformer. If you look at the spec printed on Dell's AC transformer, that is the rating the battery requires. That rating is higher than a USB port.

If you want the all-in-one charge/sync cable for the Axim x30 (x3i), just check out Ebay for a x3i type cable, and you will find lots.

[M2inOR]

Just recieved my x30 mid yesterday. Ordered a week ago on day of announcement thru the EPP site (only the $30 discount, no extra EPP discount).

Ordered with travel cable as well as with cradle.

Here is what I found out about the charging modes:

- with only USB travel cable attached w/o AC Adapter connected
---- charges only when x30 is OFF (indicated by amber power button)

- with only USB travel cable attached w/ AC Adapter
---- charges whether x30 is ON or OFF

- with cradle attached w/o AC Adapter
---- charges only when x30 is OFF (indicated by amber power button)

- with cradle attached w/AC Adapter
---- charges whether x30 is ON or OFF

So...you can charge via USB as long as the x30 is OFF

I upgraded from iPaq 3100 and 3600.

I am VERY happy with the x30 so far!

[fordem]

The cradle has one significant advantage over the cables - it makes it almost impossible to damage the sync/charge connector in the Axim, something that's very easily done with the cables - and - be warned - it's not covered under the standard warranty.