AcBel Power King

Power is one of the crucial factors when deciding a netbook. My Wind was one of the early models when netbook started to flood the market. Comparing it to other recent models, it's shameful to say that its battery dies after a mere 2 hours whereas others can easily survive as long as 10 hours. So I have no choice to bring the power adapter along with my Wind whenever I am mobile.

Since I usually travel on business class when I am on business trip, I have the convenience to use my Wind for long hours as the seat comes with a power outlet. And I damaged the power brick when I was flying back from Houston...

Notice the little bump? It was my mistake that I did not know the wire was stuck beneath the seat and I pulled it too hard till the wire got disconnected from the soldered joint in the power brick. I needed to push the wire towards the adapter whenever I need to charge the Wind and gradually the wire got swollen after pushes and could never charge anymore. RIP.

I did not wait until the power brick hold its last breath, I had been searching high and low a replacement immediately after I returned home from the trip. I called up local MSI distributor and dealer, I was quoted around RM120 for a replacement. I don't think it's a good price after searching few online sites such as here and I could get a universal one, one can charge universally all laptops and perhaps my next netbooks rather than get the replacement from MSI that only capable to charge Wind, some more the alternative is at cheaper price. This was something perfect to me taking into the account of price, universality (to charge different brands) and its size. However it takes 7+ days to reach my doorstep and I doubt the struggling adapter could last that long. So on the next day, I went to Low Yat hoping to find that but failed, eventually I found another one...

The AcBel Power King Universal Notebook Adapter and its specification...

Compare to MSI original power brick that I posted earlier...

It's 1V lesser than MSI original, but the output amp is double, from 2A to 3.95A. Plus, this universal adapter has the "overclock" feature...

I am not an electrician nor am I a good student to remember what I learned in school, but I used the simple W = V x A formula, original MSI power brick can deliver 20V x 2A = 40W whereas this adapter is rated 65W = 19V x 3.42A or be overclocked to deliver additional 10W, so I believe it should perform well to re-energize my Wind.

Since it's universal, it's compatible with quite a number of notebooks including the "potential" brand for my next netbook...

Plus a 3 years warranty...

Unboxed the package...

A black traveler bag, the user manual which repeats what is printed on the box, the power cable, the brick / adapter and 9 different tips to make it a universal power adapter. Again, re-verify the power rating on the brick...

Just like what printed on the box. Let's compare the size with MSI original brick...

It's only slightly longer than MSI's, good size to be a travel charger. And the weight is about the same. In addition, I felt the wire quality is better than MSI's one with its solid feel and it's also thinner...

The one on the left with cable tight is the new wire.

Now I have to pick the right tip...

The green colored tip should fit. Let's plug it in...

Cool! It's charging my Wind that has been in "coma" for 2 days!! Errr... Not really cool as it warms up when charging, the heat level is similar to the heat generated by original brick.

This is the other thing I like about this adapter...

Compare to MSI's original brick...

Which protrudes out no matter how you align it.

I bought it at RM99 from one of the stores in Low Yat. Most of the stores tag the same price so you don't have to really look for cheaper price, unless you walk to Imbi Plaza which is RM4 cheaper at the store that I bought my Wind. I have been using it for a month plus and is happy with it.