I’ve done away with bulky power chargers for my portable devices completely. While I still need to bring along the plug for my laptop computer, I can just plug in the Zune, my cell phone and other portables with a USB charger that in most cases, doubles as a data cable.

Even in situations where I’ve left the laptop at home, options for charging have popped up as airports, hotels and others install power ports and internet kiosks. Pictured above is a pay internet kiosk that I plugged into at Austin (TX) on a recent trip. It provided enough charge for my Zune so that I could listen to music and watch videos on the trip home.

Many devices already come with a USB charger/data cable (some exclusively), yet some are still sold seperately but well worth it.

*Update 02|27|09

USB Chargers are showing up everywhere. Select Delta 737-800s have USB charger ports below seats in both first and economy classes. Even automakers have gotten into the USB game. I recently drove a Ford Focus from Hertz that had a port in the armrest storage space.