Griffin Technology PowerMate USB Multimedia Controller & Input Device

Introduction:

  Today I have for you one of those products that when you see it, most people's first reaction is "Oh, I gotta have that!". Those exact thoughts ran thru my mind the first time I laid eyes upon the shiny brushed aluminum exterior and blue LED under-glow.

   It's called the PowerMate: USB Multimedia Controller & Input Device. Such a device, with only one button (or dial in this case), really makes you think that it can't possibly be that functional. However this product is different. It's programmable. You tell it what to do, and it does it! I don't want to say the options are limitless, but let's just say I bet it works in a lot more programs than you think it does!

Specifications:

Package contains
PowerMate
40” USB Extension Cable
CD-Rom containing all necessary software
One Year Warranty

System requirements
Mac: Mac OS 9.0.4 or greater, or OS X, USB port
PC: Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 or XP, USB port

Works with
iTunes
Internet Explorer
iMovie
Windows Media Player
WinAMP
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office (incl. Word & Excel)
Final Cut Pro
Adobe Premiere
And most other applications*

Physical specifications
Height: 1.3 in. (33.4 mm)
Diameter: 2.1 in. (53.8 mm)
Weight: .26 lb. (.11 kg)
Cable Length: 22"
USB Extension Cable Length: 40”
Solid polished anodized aluminum

* Using key-command combinations. That means if your keyboard can do it, PowerMate can do it, too.
 

A Closer Look:

  The retail package is what you would expect to see at your local Best Buy or electronics store. It's consumer friendly, although there isn't much too it. However that's part of the beauty of this product: it really doesn't need much to work properly.

  There is a 20" USB cord permanently attached to the PowerMate and they've also included a 40" USB extension cable for those lengthy installations out there. I'm not crazy about the cable setup like this. 20" is almost too short, and when you add the 40" extension, it was a bit of a mess for me personally. 

   The first thing I noticed upon removing the PowerMate from it's packaging was the weight. It's a chunky piece of hardware. Griffin says it's a quarter-pounder on their site and it feels every bit of that.

   They also included a very high friction base on the PowerMate, so when you place it on your desk, it's not going anywhere. You can spin the dial all you way without worry of it's sliding around. There is some kind of soft silicone base on it that just sticks where you place it. Honestly it's a perfect base. I can't think of a better solution for stability.

  And speaking of the dial, it feels like it just fell off a $1000 Hi-Fi surround sound systems front fascia. Quality is practically an understatement for this item. Superb brushed aluminum chunk with the ability to spin it infinitely in both directions and also a one click push button. If you use it to control your volume level and you're playing some tunes, it's beefy enough to smack it to mute the tunes to grab the phone. Hell, I could probably run it over with my car.