I'm trying to figure out how to power my laptop in my Vanagon. I have a
Compaq 1247 and I'm looking at the adapters on their website and I have two
choices. One is a power inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter and
then has a box that has a standard american 120V type plug socket on it for
$49.99. A bit bulky compared to the other option which is:

The other choice is an adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter and
plugs directly into my computer for $99.99 There is a small cigarette pack
sized box in line before it plugs into the computer which seems less bulky
than the inverter. This one says "A must for a commuter" as it Charges the
battery.

But neither says you can run the computer off the cars power source--only
that it charges the computer's battery. The inverter does say it will power a
printer etc. (which I don't have) but again only says it charges the
computers battery. Maybe to recharge the computer battery is all I really
need since then I could run it off the computer's battery. But it seems to me
I might get in a case where the computer's battery has been run dead and I
will want to use the computer without waiting for the computer's battery to
recharge.

Will both of these units power the computer with the bus's battery?

Sorry this isn't so Vanagon specific, but I swear a Vanagon is the only
vehicle I own (not counting the old 54 Chevy pick up and that has no
cigarette lighter--and no battery right now)
TIA
Jeff
83.5 Westy
NYC