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Enlarge ImageThis skinny customer has a built-in charging cable and cutouts so it can ride inside a binder!
EnerPlex
I love a good mobile charger, especially one that’s a little different from the rest.
For example, if it offers a unique option for transport, a superconvenient bonus feature and a dirt-cheap price, well, I’m all in.
How cheap? Check it: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Daily Steals has the EnerPlex Jumpr Slate 5K power bank with tethered Micro-USB cable for $8.99 shipped. That’s after applying promo code CNETSLATE1 at checkout.
iPhone user? Get the Lightning version for $11.99 shipped. Use code CNETSLATE3. Yep, these are exclusives!
These both originally sold for $55. (Actually, the Lightning model was probably $10 more. Hard to tell, because they’re discontinued.) Yeah, that was insanely overpriced, but not uncommon for “boutique” chargers.
The Slate 5K stows a 5,100mAh battery inside a thin, rounded, rubberized frame. It also stows a built-in cable, meaning there’s one less thing for you to pack. (Alas, you’ll still need a power brick and cable to recharge the charger itself.)
And here’s something I’ve never seen before: The charger has holes cut into one side so you can clip it inside a three-ring binder, making it especially ideal for students. Cool!
Finally, the Channel Master DVR+ is on sale. Though it’s BYO storage, and Wi-Fi will cost you extra.
Channel Master
Beyond that, um… it’s a charger! Granted, I’ve seen similar designs hold batteries with twice as much capacity — but no built-in cable. And no binder holes.
CNET hasn’t reviewed it, so I’ll steer you to this fairly comprehensive review of the Micro-USB version.
Your thoughts?
Bonus deal: Channel Master is one of those companies (I’m looking at you, Sonos) that rarely offers a discount. And yet it has a product I suspect lots of people want — and would pay a reasonable price to get.
I’m referring, of course, to the DVR+, an over-the-air TV recorder that hasn’t budged from its $249 price tag since it debuted over three years ago. Too high, Channel Master! Way too high.
For once, though, it budged: For a limited time, Channel Master is offering the DVR+ for $144.44 shipped — the lowest price I’ve seen. You’ll need to supply an antenna, of course, and you’ll also need a USB hard drive. (It’s pretty easy to score a 1TB drive for around $50 these days.) I don’t mind that, because it lets me determine how much storage I get, but what burns me no end is that Wi-Fi isn’t built in to the device. You need a $40 dongle. It’s like charging extra for a keyboard for “the tablet that can replace your laptop.”
So why am I sharing this at all? Because $105 off is still $105 off, and it’s a very rare discount. If this is something you’ve had your eye on, now might be the time to pounce. (That said, the TiVo Roamio OTA comes with 1TB and Wi-Fi, and it’s currently $350 at Best Buy. Decisions, decisions.)
