Wow! Where was this contraption back when I was still into drinking with my buddies? Described as a Hot and Cold Personal Fridge, I am left with the images of couch-bound people who’s only reason for getting up is to use the facilities.

Can you remember back when the first (somewhat) affordable portable travel coolers came out? Sized like conventional ice chests, these devices would keep food and beverages either hot or cold by using a vehicle’s DC power port. At the time, these gadgets weren’t exactly cheap, but the convenience of being able to travel with a portable refrigerator made them seem worth the cost.

I can recall many cross-country trips during the early 90s when I would drive from New Jersey to Texas to see my mom. My daughter Sarah was always along for these trips, and at the time she was just a toddler. Once we had made the 1800 mile drive, we would have at least a solid week of hotel stays ahead of us. Having a cooler that could make the transition from my 4-Runner to the hotel room was very handy. At the risk of sounding like a MasterCard commercial, I can definitely attest that having a place to keep Sarah’s drinks and snacks cold was truly priceless.

Of course, time marches on, and as happens with most technology, even the portable refrigerator has been miniaturized. Today, I am taking a look at the Hot and Cold Personal Fridge available from Merconnet. Similar to other portable personal refrigerators that have been available since the late 90s, this version will run from DC power in the car. With an optional AC adapter, it will also work in the home or office.