Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The IMP1000 is the second NEW Trent battery pack I've owned and used. I've used (and reviewed) the previous model (IMP880) for several months now. This review will be written from the perspective of comparison of these two models.
Pros:
1. Capacity... 11000 mAh is simply enormous, and provides "charge it and forget it for at least a week" use for any purpose I can foresee. I've been running the IMP1000 on its initial charge for a week now (usage details in "review section", below) and have just gone from medium to low on the capacity LED's.
2. Finish/durability... I noted in my review of the IMP880 that the rubberized coating was not durable; even though I handled it carefully, it was worn away easily (particularly at the pack's edges). The hard, glossy, color-molded-in finish of the IMP1000 should fare much better. Time will tell, but so far, so good.
3. Ease of use... No "long press vs. short press" power button functions. I haven't had any trouble using the IMP880, but simpler is nearly always better (something Apple does very well, and NEW Trent targets Apple customers, so this is a good fit).
4. Accessories... The retractable USB cable seems more robust than the one included with the IMP880. I haven't had the same problem with the microUSB connector slipping into its rubber shell that I wrote about with the IMP880 yet, either.
5. Packaging... The IMP1000's packaging is much classier than the IMP880's. Apple has set a very high standard in this regard. Apple customers expect a great "out of box experience", and the IMP1000 won't leave them with a bad first impression. The internal packaging didn't self-destruct from the inside out, as my IMP880's packaging did.
Cons: (please note that many of these are personal opinion)
1. Size and weight... Yes, it has higher capacity than its predecessor, but the trade-off between size and weight with current LiPo technology may have been reached with the IMP1000. Only time and user feedback will tell. I'm personally fine with the IMP1000; other users may not be.
2. Blue LED lighting... The trend today with both home and personal electronics seems to be bright, obnoxiously-glitzy LED power and status indicators, usually in blue. The capacity LED's are fine, but the power indicator is bright enough to light up an entire unlit room, much less the inside of a car at night, and can be very annoying/distracting during use. Small, "pin-point" LED's are sufficient here; I believe many other users will concur.
3. Finish... Yes, it's better than the IMP880's, and shiny ("piano") black is "in" these days... but why not a color-molded-in, matte black finish that hides fingerprints and scuffs, instead? Shiny black products look great when brand new, but never look that good again. Matte black ages much more gracefully.
4. No "DC Out" port... I like the connection flexibility afforded by the IMP880's "DC Out" port. I understand that the similar-appearing "DC In" and "DC Out" ports could be a source of confusion for some users, but the ability to charge two devices simultaneously via the splitter cable is a nice feature. How about supplying a USB splitter cable so we can do the same with the IMP1000 (assuming the pack's safety circuitry would adequately protect against excess discharge rate)?
Review/Suggestions:
I have been using the IMP1000 to power my HTC EVO ("Supersonic") 4G on the Sprint network for nearly a week. This otherwise stellar device is notorious for its one glaring shortcoming--terribly insufficient run-time on its supplied internal battery pack. Having a portable (self-contained) power option like the IMP1000 is, in my opinion, the first (and absolutely essential) accessory any smartphone user should purchase (particularly for Apple devices with non-removable batteries). The simple freedom from running out of power is very liberating. No more searching for an electrical outlet when out to lunch or dinner, or cutting conversations or browsing short as the power meter plunges through amber, then red, as the device quickly goes belly-up. As mentioned at the outset, I have yet to recharge the IMP1000 in the first week's use. The IMP1000's 11000 mAh capacity is 7.3 times the EVO's 1500 mAh, so this certainly stands to reason.
A few suggestions...
1. Market aggressively to non-Apple users. I see you've started doing this since marketing the IMP880. Most Android smartphones have serious battery capacity issues--get the word out to them!
2. The naming scheme of these products is confusing. Why name an 8900 mAh pack "IMP880", and why name an 11000 mAh pack "IMP1000"? I think it would have made more sense to call them "IMP8900" and "IMP11000", respectively.
3. See points 3 and 4 in "Cons", above.
I am very pleased with the IMP1000 and the improvement it represents over the IMP880. It is well worth its $100 ($80, on sale) price tag, and represents a superior value to carrying spare packs for removable-battery devices (and is the only way to go for Apple users who can't swap packs). On-board extended packs make devices bulkier and usually require special battery doors and cases, which limit options greatly. The IMP1000 is also a superior value because it isn't device-specific.
External packs are the most versatile, convenient, and sensible power solution for mobile devices. When used thoughtfully, such as connecting the pack when not using the device and disconnecting during use if you find the cable annoying, or carrying the pack in an outside pocket such as a jacket, so it can remain connected without carrying in-hand during "emergency" use, external packs are simply the "way to go". The IMP1000 breaks new ground for capacity and convenience--highly recommended!
Click Here to see more reviews about: New Trent iCruiser IMP1000 11000mAh External Battery Pack and Charger for iPad 2, ipad, iPhone 4 4G 3Gs 3G (AT&T and verizon) , iPod Touch (1G 2G 3G 4G), HTC Android EVO, Blackberry, Kindle DX, Samsung Galaxy S, Droid, Nintendo, Sony PSP and much more
