OQO Ultra Mobile PC Review - update

About a year ago, I wrote a blog article reviewing the OQO 01+ UMPC.   I rather liked this PC, and indeed still do, though one does need to take into account its limitations.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the power supply, which after a few months stopped working. 

To clarify, the power supply brick has one output (with a peculiar 5 socket plug, of which more later), and two inputs - one is for mains, the other is for 12V car adapter input.  It is the former input that has blown, and this seems to be far from unusual.  It occurred to me that I could update my blog while on summer cycling holiday, with the OQO plus the Vodafone 3G stick (well, at least while I was within transmitter range!).  However, my workaround power supply required the use of a UK mains > 12V power supply to power the OQO power brick.  Tis is far from being portable.

Yesterday, I had another Google search, and found this blog article:[HOWTO] Hacking Power Supply for UMPC OQO model 01+ This guy has figured out how to make a replacement power supply.  I have done this, using one of these power supplies from Maplins:

It's a Maplins Switched Mode AC to DC Adaptor for General Use.

I cobbled together a set of three connectors using the VGA output adaptor I already had for the OQO.  Holding my breath, I connected it, set to 4.5V....and....it worked!  It does run a little hot, but nonetheless, it does make the OQO portable again!