Sep 5 2004

SendStation PocketDock series

I’ve got to thank Dr.Bott
LLC for turning me onto the SendStation
PocketDock series. If you own a dockable iPod (3G or 4G) or an iPod mini, one
or all three of these little guys will probably be of interest to you.

The PocketDocks solve a problem of versatility that crept into the iPod line
when the 3G iPod was introduced. You see, when you’re trying to whittle down
the size of a piece of technology, you can only go as small as your component
parts will allow you to. And though hard drives and batteries are getting slimmer
and higher in capacity all the time, the ports that feed them have pretty much
stayed the same. With the 3G iPod, Apple introduced the iPod Dock which interfaced
with a new slim docking port on the iPod. This thin port took the place of the
FireWire port found on the first two generations of iPods and, though it allowed
the iPod to drop a few dress sizes, it made it so that you would need to carry
a proprietary cable with you on the road–you couldn’t just use the same FireWire
cable that you might carry around for other purposes. Also it forced those who
had invested in a variety of FireWire add-ons for either of the first two generations
of iPods to repurchase the 3G versions of all their favorites.

This is where the PocketDock FireWire steps in…

PocketDock FireWire

pocketdockinuse SendStation PocketDock seriesThis
is the original. The one that started it all. It allows you to convert
just about any FireWire cable with a standard 6-pin plug into a fully
functional iPod cable. The PocketDock FireWire even has buttons on the
side like the original cable that release the PocketDock from the iPod.
It works wonderfully and, though its housing is slightly larger than that
of the cable that came with your iPod, it still manages to fit even when
the iPod is encased in a Radtech
PodSleevz or even a Contour
Design Showcase(3G case tested).

It is a very welcome addition to my PowerBook case but thank God
I have a FireWire port on my ‘Book. What would I do if I needed a USB
connection? SendStation has an answer for that too…

PocketDock Combo

PDUSBinuse SendStation PocketDock seriesYou
may only synchronize your iPod’s music with your Mac with the supplied
cable. That’s fine. But the iPod can be so much more than a music player.
It is, after all, a hard drive and can be used as such to ferry files
around with you from home to office and from office to client. The PocketDock
Combo will open up transfer options for you by giving you the choice
of FireWire or USB. And since you never know which one you’ll need you
can carry this tiny little gizmo along with you without taking up a lot
of space in your luggage …for that matter, put it in your pocket as
its name suggests.

This second PocketDock is slightly bigger than the original and is too
big to fit into the iPod when it’s in most cases. It will fit with a Radtech
PodSleevz or any case that completely exposes the iPod base for docking.
Another difference between it and the original PocketDock is the absence
of the side release buttons. The PocketDock Combo doesn’t have the one-way
barbed latch that the original PocketDock and even the Apple iPod cable
have so there is no need for release buttons. The new latch design grabs
hold of your iPod firmly but with a bit of a tug you’ll be able to dislodge
it when you need to.

Okay, these are all great, but the iPod Dock has a line out also.
None of these have that so you still have to carry you dock along with
you, right? Wrong…

PocketDock Line Out

PDLOinuse SendStation PocketDock seriesThis
is the biggest of all PocketDocks but when you consider it completely
replaces the Apple iPod Dock for portability on the road, it is actually
quite small. The PocketDock
Line Out also comes with two free cables (a 3.5mm plug to 3.5mm plug
cable and a 3.5mm plug to stereo RCA cable) so that you are prepared to
plug into a variety of sound systems. And of course it still allows you
to connect to your iPod using a standard 6-pin FireWire cable. Slick.

I think every iPod owner should get themselves at least one PocketDock.
I’d seen them on the shelves and thought them to be a bit pricey for the
limited uses for which I could see myself employing them. But, now that
I’ve had some time to play with them, I’m finding them coming in handy
more often than I envisioned.

Get some today!

MacMerc’s Field Manual Breakdown:
SendStation PocketDock Series

Price:
PocketDock FireWire $18.95 US
PocketDock Combo $22.95 US
PocketDock Line Out Pack $29.95 US

Performance:
Simple job done well and done right. The original PocketDock turns any 6-pin
FireWire cable into a replacement iPod dock cable. The other two PocketDocks
do that and more with an improved latching mechanism.

Compatibility:
Compatible with dockable iPods and iPod minis as well as FireWire and USB equipped
computers and various stereo systems and speakers.

Complaints:
Might seem a bit pricey.

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