REVIEW COMMENTS: RoadWired Pod

[Dave]

One accessory bag I've been using for a couple of months is the RoadWired Pod. Several people have been asking about the Pod recently and how much can really be stored inside it. For those coming along to the Summit, you'll get a chance to take a look at the Pod up close. For those who can't, here's the review

[DavidW]

Thanks, Dave. I was one of the people that had asked after the Pod and your review confirmed that it is the right solution.



The only UK supplier I know of is Proporta - search for "Roadwired Pod" (without the quotes).





I've ordered a Podzilla today from Proporta; they've just started carrying it.



I decided to go for the bigger bag, as I want the ability to carry my iPAQ 3970 with PC Card Expansion Pack Plus, my HP/Compaq folding keyboard and, ideally, my digital camera (FujiFilm FinePix 4700 Zoom) at the same time, also my Haicom HI-303MMF GPS, PC Card / CompactFlash adapter, Wi-Fi card, memory card adapter, spare memory cards, spare stylus, batteries - well, you get the idea!



I think Podzilla will be large enough to carry various bits and pieces I need to carry around because of my disabilities (spare tablets of rather a few types, for example, also wet wipes and a supply of plasters, both of which are essential when using a manual wheelchair).





I got a tape measure out earlier, which indicated that I would probably get the iPAQ and the camera into the central compartment of the Pod (the dimensions of that compartment are on RoadWired's site - 6.5 inches by 3.5 inches by 4.0 inches), but it would probably be tight or even too large by the time I'd accounted for the divider. I don't think the keyboard will fit in the front pocket - I think it's too tall and it's certainly too tall for the side pockets.



If I could get the iPAQ, keyboard and camera in the Pod, I don't think there'd be much space left for anything else.





If Podzilla turns out to be way too large, I'll send it back to Proporta and order a Pod instead. However, I think it will be large enough to carry all the bits and pieces that now get thrown in the travel bag I strap round my waist in the chair, as well as being a better case for my electronic gadgets. The travel bag is getting tatty now, too.



At the moment, I'm using a camera bag for all the add-ons, and a Compaq expandable case for the iPAQ (the velcro on the expandable case is a pain - it's too loud in meetings!). My headphones and my mobile phone don't fit in either of those cases, and I usually land up digging through all the loose items and the two cases in the travel bag! Yesterday's trip to London showed just how impractical all this is getting - if I carry on like this I'm going to land up dropping and breaking something (or at least needing help to pick it up again) or, even worse, squashing something expensive. It's also very impractical to dismount the navigation system and take it with me at a petrol station or similar; I just don't like leaving things in the car.







David

[DavidW]

Podzilla arrived today from Proporta, and it is the right bag for my needs. Pod would have been too small.





I've used the Podzilla divider to divide the main compartment into three. One segment swallows the leather wallet that contains my cheque book, fountain pen and various medical papers, also my Compaq folding keyboard. The next segment houses my my iPAQ 3970 in my PC Card Expansion Pack Plus, and the final segment takes my digital camera (FujiFilm FinePix 4700 Zoom).



The only slight shame with using the Podzilla divider in this way is that there's no easy way to deal with the unwanted velcro ends at the top of the divider. It would have been better if RoadWired had included provision to velcro these ends down to the divider.





I can't think that lot would go in a Pod - in fact, I think the keyboard is right at the size limit of a Pod. Even with that lot in Podzilla's main compartment, there's enough space in the main compartment to stuff an iPAQ mains adapter in as well, also I can leave my HI-303MMF in the iPAQ (with the antenna horizontal across the top of the camera).







The other compartments have swallowed my Haicom HI-303MMF in a PC Card adapter, a Wireless LAN PC Card, a PC Card memory adapter, a few spare memory cards, a couple of AA batteries, some Sony headphones in their roll up case, my Nokia 6310i in its Nokia leather case, a Nokia wired headset - and Podzilla has space to swallow quite a few more odds and ends. I'm considering getting a USB based charging solution so that the original mains chargers for both phone and iPAQ can stay on my desk when I travel.



There's now a pile of discarded cases on my desk! I suspect that, most of the time, my travel bag will stay at home as well.





Highly recommended - and when I've got the setup fully optimised, I'll try to take some pictures.







David

[hogbreath]

Hi

It would appear the only "Pod" bag colour available in the uk is black, could have purchased a navy/blk from the states but this would have cost more....

Pete :o

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