Wardriver Wednesday

The Elemental Road Warrior: Part II: Wind

4952 reads Printer Friendly Page

Compatibility Legend

12" G3 iBook
14" G3 iBook
12" G4 PowerBook
15" G4 Titanium PowerBook
17" G4 PowerBook

Last week's Road Warrior Wednesday was the start of a series in which we'll examine several products designed to protect your portable. You'll remember that I categorized the forces of nature as earth, wind, fire and water and last we took a look at earth and products that help keep up your 'Books's appearance. This week we'll be looking at ...

Wind: Wind is one of the few forces that doesn't usually harm your portable. Wind is good. Wind cools the hard drive and the processor and keeps everything at a comfortable temperature ...unless there is a lack of wind ...a lack of circulation. Then we can have a problem.

Here are a few suggestions for how to improve the flow of air around your 'Book.

Speedballs - I have to admit, when I first saw these, I didn't think much of them. These semispherical shock cushion risers looked a little odd to me and I didn't give them the attention they deserved. Now that I've had the opportunity to use them, I really like them. PostWorx.com manufactures Speedballs in white, silver and gun metal gray and they snap on and off using a strange Velcro-like product.

It is that system that I find to be the Speedballs' biggest flaw. This system is similar to the Bristle Blocks you might have played with as a child with the difference that Bristle Blocks only connected when correctly aligned. These bristles are distributed randomly so, while some of the bristles align and lock, others collide and get crushed. This happens each time the Speedballs are reattached.

One solution I've found is to stick the fuzzy half of a set of Velcro dots to the underside of your 'Book. The bristles on the Speedballs actually cling quite well to Velcro.

+: Small, removable and effective. Great for tabletop use.
-: Attaches using and odd Bristle Block-like, pseudo-Velcro that takes a bit of damage every time the Speedballs are reattached. Not as effective when using your 'Book on your lap.

CoolPad PodiumPad - With the Speedballs we saw the creative use of Bristol Block technology and now with the RoadTools CoolPad we see the wonders of Lego.

The CoolPad uses several cylindrical Lego-like pieces to attach to the back of the swivel base and add the right amount of elevation for your needs. Its greatest strength is that, because of its building block solution, it requires the least amount of space in your backpack for greatest amount of tilt on the table. You can't go too far wrong with a CoolPad.

Available in black and white.

+: Adjustable and sturdy. Packs flat. Great for the desktop.
-: Not as convenient for use on ones lap.

CoolPad Traveler - This is a more streamlined version of the CoolPad described above. It does not have the building blocks to adjust the tilt and does not provide nearly as much elevation as its less mobile cousin, but it is quite small and the platform still swivels.

+: Built for traveling
-: Doesn't offer as much elevation as other products. Too small to offer stability under larger PowerBooks.

IcePad - After looking at all the other products on this page the main thing that strikes me about the IcePad, even when it is folded down, is this thing is huge. But there is a purpose behind its enormity and, if these features are of value to you, you may not grudge the space it takes up in your tote.

The IcePad is a transformer: it's a portable desktop with built in air channels while also having the versitility to fold in half and become a wedge shaped riser.

+: Very versatile. Great for tabletop and laptop use.
-: Takes up much more room than other products.

Tote & Tilt - This item from Cyber3.com does a fine job of offering a little lift to the back of your 12" iBook or 15" TiBook while doing an even better job of serving as a handle with which to tote around your 'Book. It requires the removal and replacement of a few of the screws holding your beloved portable together and comes packages with all the necessary tools and parts to do so.

+: Offers elevation and a very useful handle.
-: Requires slight disassembly of your 'Book. Does not work well when used on ones lap.

  


All personal comments should be sent to the author. All other discussion should be done in the Forums

[ Back to Wardriver Wednesday | Sections Index ]