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Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Works for Switzerland

Written by RC from Centereach

Jul 7, 2008

I bought this product a couple of months ago assuming that it would work for both France and Switzerland (via the 2 prong European plug). I then read a few reviews saying that it didn't work for Switzerland. I did some research and the Swiss indeed use a different plug. However the standard European 2 prong plug included in the world travel kit fits into Swiss outlets. Some other 2 prong adapters do not since the Swiss outlet is sometimes set deeper into the wall.

To make a long story short, I spent quite a while trying to find a Swiss adapter plug for my laptop before I left - to no avail. Then I tried the Apple one when I arrived and it worked just fine.

The only downside is the kit is expensive... but so is everything else associated with Apple.

87 of 100 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Adapter or Converter?

Written by EM from Cordova

Jun 6, 2008

After living in Europe for 30 years I think I can be of some help concerning Adapters vs Converters. The key is to look on the back of the AC power adapter. Most Apple portable computers are: INPUT 100-240 V., 50-60 HZ. This means this machine has convertible voltage. USA has 110 voltage. Europe and most other countries are 240 voltage. Thus 100 - 240V. This also goes for hairdyers and other traveling appliances. ALWAYS check your power on your machine! Thus all you need to travel with a convertible voltage Apple is an ADAPTER. Voila!

502 of 604 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Works fine, but label the adapters!

Written by SG from Allen

Apr 17, 2008

I travel quite a bit, and the adapters work fine with my MacBook Pro and iPod. I've taken them to China, Japan, Taiwan, and Europe. India is next.

Keep in mind, the MacBook Pro's AC power adapter supports 50-60Hz and 120-240VAC, so a voltage converter may not be necessary.

My only complaint is the adapters aren't labeled. You have to keep the little instruction booklet handy so you know which adapter to bring with you. For example, the adapters for Korea and Continental Europe look similar, but they're different. It wouldn't have been hard to write "UK" on the UK adapter,etc. Or, if Apple is concerned that various countries will completely swap out their electrical infrastructures too frequently making the adapters out of date, they could put a big letter or number on each one, and then provide a table that maps the number or letter to the country.

242 of 385 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Gets the job done!

Written by VA from Midway

Mar 28, 2008

With the negative reviews, I was worried that it would fry my MacBook. It hasn't though. I have only used the European adapter; but, so far, it has worked great!

237 of 421 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

it's very good

Written by AJ

Mar 19, 2008

i like it

223 of 521 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Perfectly functional product...

Written by AR from Arlington

Mar 18, 2008

Contrary to the negative reviews on this product and accounting for the possibility that a few of these folks got the occasional lemon, I think this product works just as advertised:

1) They're adapters - as advertised - not power transformers or "convertors." An adapter simply adapts the plug shape not the power output. That's why these plugs are designed to fit the little white power supply (called a "power adapter" by Apple - possibly confusing) that came with your Mac, which will take a relatively wide range of wall voltages offered overseas. That said, CHECK YOUR POWER SUPPLY SPECIFICATIONS BEFORE YOU PLUG IT IN AND CONNECT YOUR MAC. Make sure it'll take the wall voltage offered at your destination.

2) The plug adapters seem fairly robust and they'll put up with normal... normal punishment. Even better - again - they fit perfectly in the little slot in the "power adapter" that came with your beautiful little Mac, unlike cheaper plug adapters.

3) I travel quite a bit and the price is reasonable. I've used and worn out more than a few cheaper, less sturdy plug adapters. Do yourself a favor, spend an extra $10 - $15 on this product for your Mac and travel happily without unnecessarily frying anything valuable. (My only concern: This might be a bit pricey for the struggling student or artist, who might benefit if each plug adapter was available individually.)

Regards,
AR

219 of 370 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

great plug!

Written by KS from san jose

Mar 10, 2008

very useful!

172 of 341 people found this useful

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

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

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

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

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

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

Useful for Mexico

Written by DE

Jul 28, 2007

I found the Apple World Travel Adapter kit very useful as I no longer have to go looking for adapters on most countries. As for Mexico, you can use the one intended for North America. As for those countries which are not included, for example Switzerland, at least is easier to find an adapter if you already have an european plug.

86 of 130 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

This is a pretty good product

Written by CM from Buffalo

Jun 20, 2007

The only problem i have with this product is it does not have or it does not say what adapter can be used in mexico. Other than that its a great product!

67 of 134 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Does the Job

Written by LB from Columbus

Jun 8, 2007

As advertised, you get a selection of adaptors for Apple's standard wall wart. Worked fine for me during a trip to NZ with my iPod. Getting ready to head back there permanently with a Powerbook and I expect it will continue to serve me well in NZ and elsewhere. A rugged travel/carrying case would be a nice addition.

57 of 79 people found this useful

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Not bad!

Written by SP from Washington

Jun 1, 2007

It is absolutely useful if you travel around the world. It fits perfect to original adapter. However, I wish each plug list the countries that you can use-some are very confusing even you look at the manual (e.g., Europe and Korea)
It would be much convenient to list countries on each kit.

58 of 89 people found this useful