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What a load of crap! (Excuse the technical jargon.) The laptop bricks are
now 50-60 Cycles and 110-240 VAC. Even if you used a transformer, you are
still feeding the battery. The only reason your laptop was sluggish was
because it was suffering from jetlag. Trust me, I know that feeling.
Kind regards,
Denys. . .
Denys Beauchemin
HICOMP
(800) 323-8863 (281) 288-7438 Fax: (281) 355-6879
denys at hicomp.com www.hicomp.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Geiser [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, 04 June, 1999 12:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Travelling to Europe -building a checklist
Gavin writes after me,
> > Most laptops can take dual 125/240 voltages. Take an
> adapter only if your
> > laptop will go both ways. If not, the transformer will
> work, but the laptop
> > will show signs of sluggishness (cycle differences - we're
> 60, they're 50).
>
> While the 50Hz effect will be quite noticeable with any device that
operates
> with an AC synchronous motor (the canonical example being an electric
razor),
> I seriously doubt that your laptop derives its 400MHz clock by dividing
down
> the 60/50Hz AC line frequency.
>
> Your laptop will run at the same speed in Europe as it does in the US.
Au Contraire, Gavin... I had the unfortunate opportunity to see this first
hand, on my first trip to the UK. When using a 220 to 125 step down
transformer (because I didn't know better that the laptop could take 220
easily), the mouse was erratic, apps ran noticably slower, the whole unit
was a pain to deal with.
So, I can say with certainty (since I did it), that if you use a
transformer
to step 220V AC down to 110-125V AC - with 220 running at 50 cycles and
110-125 running at 60, you will see a noticable difference, and slowdown
(not a whole lot, but definately noticable).
The best thing is to check the laptop to see if it's dual-power capable.
Most major brands made today are dual-voltage capable, and just use a plug
adapter. Save the transformer for your shaver.
Regards,
Joe
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