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Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Good for frequent travelers, kind of pricey for everyone else

Written by JR from West Caldwell

Mar 7, 2008

If you're a frequent traveler between countries with different plug configurations (as I am between the UK and Europe) then this a nice set of adapters to have since they slot cleanly on to the brick of almost any Apple laptop and save carrying around a load of bulky extras.

But, as others have pointed out, they *are* expensive if you only travel internationally a couple of times a year. In that case, I'd just grab something in the airport that looks reasonably well-made.

Finally, as some people have discovered, these are not voltage converters, they are adapters only. They change the *shape* of your plug without doing *anything* to the electricity running through them. A voltage adapter is basically a *very* heavy block with a lot of wire wrapped around it (to upgrade or downgrade the voltage). They're impossible to mistake for a plug adapter: the simple test is if it seems like it's made of lead then it's a voltage adapter, if it's light and plastic it's a plug adapter.

*Most* Apple laptop bricks are rated 100-240V and 50-60Hz, which is sufficient for *most* of the world. But note the two 'most's -- your brick will say what it's rated to cover on the underside of the brick (look for the word 'Input'), and if it doesn't have the full range listed above then you may well fry your system when you plug it in abroad. The US and Canada are 110V. Western Europe is 220V. The rest of the world you'll need to check.

There's also no replacement for double-checking what is in use in your destination country.

154 of 234 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

POOR QUALITY CONSTRUCTION! BEWARE!

Written by TS from Harrisville

Feb 18, 2008

This kit is great if you do indeed travel the world on a regular basis, but it seems impractical to buy so many plugs if you are going one place.
AND, they are made very cheaply. After only TWO weeks of use one of the prongs broke off and I am now stranded in Poland with no way to charge my MacBook... thanks Apple.

187 of 323 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Works great in Australia!

Written by AR from LAKE VIEW

Feb 9, 2008

I travel from the US to Australia frequently and this plug adapter works great with my MacBook. I have had absolutely no problems from it and contrary to what I've heard from others, you do NOT need an additional power voltage converter. The one that comes standard with the MacBook does the job! Great investment!

144 of 219 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

totally worth it!

Written by BG from edmonton

Feb 6, 2008

I moved to the uk from canada for school and will be moving to italy for my last year. so far I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this product. I have had no problems at school or at home, I'll also be travelling around europe during my school breaks and I am quite confident that they will perform the same as well!!! totally recommended, I dont know why all products dont come this way!

127 of 218 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Not quality!

Written by LW from VISALIA

Feb 4, 2008

I am abroad more than I am in the US, so I was excited about this pack, but my first week using the European converter, one of the pegs broke off. And this is just with normal light travel. I was very upset, and had to find an alternative way to charge my computer.
Now to replace it I have to buy the entire box set again (which I refuse to do)...what I mostly need is the European outlet, so it is ridiculous that Apple doesn't offer individual adapters.
I was let down a great deal by this product.

113 of 176 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Good Product.....No need for converter

Written by DD from Wake Forest

Jan 28, 2008

I was a little confused by some of the reviews i read here regarding adaptors and converters etc so I called Apple Support. They were very helpful. I am going to the UK for vacation and I wanted to make sure I could use my Mac Book there with this kit. I CAN. Basically, a converter is not necessary IF the mains transformer that came with the laptop states the range of voltage input on the side that corresponds to the country you are visiting. This kit consists of the adaptors necessary to plug your mains transformer in to the wall. My mains transformer states 100-240v (220-240 in the UK) and I will use the UK prong configuration adaptor. Simple...so simple.

97 of 133 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Great product!

Written by DC from Bedford Hills

Jan 7, 2008

I just spent the past three years in Africa, with my iPod and MacBook (OK, only the past year and a half with the MacBook), and this was a godsend. I love the simple change-out system. The modular design for all Apple products is great. Having both European (two prong) and British (three prong) plugs helped immensely where I was. When I traveled, I just had to switch out the adapter.
Well done, Apple!

322 of 626 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

oooo

Written by MB from Surrey

Jan 6, 2008

Great but alot of money and you first need to buy a converter to convert the power which can cost alot of money!

356 of 680 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Travel Kit Awesome

Written by YE from Miami

Jan 3, 2008

This kit is really awesome, right now i am in Bulgaria and use the adapter for Europe and fit perfect without any problem in home and also in every coffee shop, i am also use the MagSafe airline in Alitalia and AA with no problem at all. Thanks for the product.

316 of 608 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

great

Written by JP from Houston

Jan 2, 2008

this product is great

36 of 79 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Shouldn't fry your appliance; But some countries have unreliable power peak

Written by GT

Dec 8, 2007

Since this is an adapter and NOT a converter,
and since most apple (and non apple) laptops, iPods etc have a built-in converter
rated 110 to 240 volts,
frying your laptop/iPod etc:
A- Has nothing to do with Adapters
B- Should not be an issue because what matters is the big white block (transformer/converter), not the shape of the plug in the wall.
C- In practice though, you can still fry your laptop because regardless on the `official voltage' (110 for the US; 220 to 240 in most of the world) distributing electricity at a constant rate is not simple. Think `powergrid and outage' from Canada to NYC and entire east coast a few years ago.
So if you travel to places with not-so-reliable infrastructure (ex: remote islands, frequent storms with lightening e.g. SE Asia Mansoon, or simply less developped countries), you need a Surge Protector i.e. typically a muliplug which contains a fuse which will prevent `Peaks' (surges) from frying your electronics. During a surge, the fuse blows, rather than your laptop.
Note that it's best to buy a quality surge protector rated for 110 to 240 volts (40ish dollars & up depending on how many plugs you get) because you can then plug all your appliances in it (Cell, laptop, iPod, Camera etc.) and yet need only one single adapter (per country, not per appliance) to plug the surge into the wall i.e. Surge Protector and World Travel Adapter Kits (apple or not) are complementary products.

Also, if a surge protector is too cheap, or bought at a local market, you run the risk of getting a `fake'. It looks like the real thing, sometimes a bit lighter, but the fuse is fake & the wiring itself is sub-standard, even compared to the cheap std multiplug from your local drugstore: so you may save a few bucks, but your expensive equipment is NOT protected AT ALL!

Finally, 2 common cases of frying are:
1- The generator on a remote island delivers voltage slightly above the normal or slightly non-uniform: typically it results in your electronics wearing up and `dying' not so suddenly, but much faster than usual.
2- During lightning or after a blackout, the initial flow of electricity will not be within the norms (Though not exactly the same, it may help to think of the yellow water coming out of a faucet after the water was shut-off for a while), a spike of electricity can then fry your plugged-in laptop instantly (unless you have a reliable surge protector, in which case its fuse fries rather than your laptop).

Summary: get a good multi-plug surge protector and you'll both protect your equipment AND reduce your need for plug adapters to one per surge-protector.

409 of 545 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Using the adapter kit in India

Written by DP from Seattle

Dec 6, 2007

@GC: I'm not sure where in India you were, but I'm just wrapping up a trip to Mumbai, where I found that most of the receptacles were of the UK style. I had no problem using my kit here.

116 of 188 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Works well but....

Written by GC from Houston

Nov 7, 2007

I've used this all over Europe, UK and China and found it great. The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is that my next trip is to India and the kit doesn't have a plug for that country. Wake up Apple! World business and tourism makes India a prime destination.

401 of 602 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

World Travel Adapter

Written by BL from Downingtown

Oct 21, 2007

This was kit was helpful because we were moving to Italy and our daughter was moving to London. However, Apple would really make us all happy if we could just purchase a specific adapter. The KIT is so-so if for example each family member owns a mac and is in the same country... Of course we can buy our own converters, but the ones designed by mac are the nicer.

320 of 539 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Great Kit

Written by DS from Harker Heights

Sep 24, 2007

This travel kit is great and a good way to keep your thing from fryin' if you get a cheap power converter. It has worked great with no problems in the countries of England, Holland, Egypt, Jordan, America, Lebanon, and Mexico. We'll try a few other countries next year. But so far so good.

317 of 544 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

About to buy second kit.

Written by HB from New York

Aug 27, 2007

I work for a touring company and travel outside of the US very often and for months at a time. I have found, now that I have so many apple products, that I am in need of a second Travel Kit. It has been working well and many of my co-workers love to borrow the adapters from me.

148 of 253 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

No converters required - Variable Voltage Input!

Written by EC from Windsor

Aug 24, 2007

In response to other reviews, no voltage converter is necessary--you WILL NOT fry your computer. This is because the transformer (the "white box thingy" on the cord) can take a variable voltage input. It says "100-240V 50/60Hz" -- you can use anything within that range and the electronics inside will figure out the rest.

279 of 374 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

FYI

Written by TT from Tampa

Aug 22, 2007

I took a chance buying this product.The country i was visiting was not on the list.Just to let everyone know this product will work in the philippines.I hope this info will help someone else.SWEET!!!!!!

104 of 165 people found this useful