Laptop + Bed + AlphaGrip

[ShaveMadOx]

Hello all!

I am wondering if anyone has any tips for using their AlphaGrip on a
laptop, while laying in bed. I know it sounds like the ultimate in
slackability, but I was having a serious issue with my grip getting in
the way of my screen. It's not really an issue if you're sitting with
the laptop in your lap, or on a table, obviously. I considered some
sort of lap-desk, but at that point it just seems like it's
eliminating the entire point of a laptop - mobility.

I'm guessing there probably really is no easy solution to this, but
just thought I would throw it out there to the AlphaGrip community.
There's seems to be some serious innovations that people have come up
for their Grips.

Thank you in advance!!

[Geert Bevin]

Maybe this can give you some inspiration:

http://rifers.org/blogs/gbevin/2008/2/4/programming_while_lying_on_back

--
Geert Bevin
Terracotta - http://www.terracotta.org
Uwyn "Use what you need" - http://uwyn.com
RIFE Java application framework - http://rifers.org
Flytecase Band - http://flytecase.be
Music and words - http://gbevin.com

[ShaveMadOx]

Ha ha ha, wow, now that's interesting. I suppose I can't get too picky
on this, but I would probably find that to be a real nuisance when I
needed to get up to use the bathroom/get a drink. :(

I really love the idea of the AlphaGrip, but I have been using my
laptop's keyboard until I find a solution that would really help. It's
almost as though the only thing that's going to work for me is to have
some sort of mount that hangs from the ceiling, lol.

Thanks a bunch, Geert!!

On Feb 18, 12:55 pm, Geert Bevin <gbe...@uwyn.com> wrote:
> Maybe this can give you some inspiration:
>
> http://rifers.org/blogs/gbevin/2008/2/4/programming_while_lying_on_back
>
> On 18 Feb 2009, at 19:29, ShaveMadOx wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hello all!
>
> > I am wondering if anyone has any tips for using their AlphaGrip on a
> > laptop, while laying in bed. I know it sounds like the ultimate in
> > slackability, but I was having a serious issue with my grip getting in
> > the way of my screen. It's not really an issue if you're sitting with
> > the laptop in your lap, or on a table, obviously. I considered some
> > sort of lap-desk, but at that point it just seems like it's
> > eliminating the entire point of a laptop - mobility.
>
> > I'm guessing there probably really is no easy solution to this, but
> > just thought I would throw it out there to the AlphaGrip community.
> > There's seems to be some serious innovations that people have come up
> > for their Grips.
>
> > Thank you in advance!!
>
> --
> Geert Bevin

> Terracotta -http://www.terracotta.org
> Uwyn "Use what you need" -http://uwyn.com

[Doug Sims]

What about using an external monitor and having the laptop off to the
side on a night stand or something. The AG has a 10 ft USB cord, and
you can get a really cheap 10-12 foot VGA cable from monoprice.com and
have a monitor and alphagrip right there in front of you.
There is also the option of a "hospital" tray. One that slides under
the bed and has the tray on top above you. I've seen laptop size ones
like this at CVS.

What kind of mobility are you losing with a lap desk, if you're going
to be laying on the bed? Just make a set-up by your bed for the AG and
a monitor to plug in to when you want to use the computer on your bed.

DougS

[ShaveMadOx]

Thanks for the tips Doug!

I had considered hooking up to the tv. It's just that most the time a
dvd is playing on it. I could possibly get another display in there
though. Unfortunately I have one of the new Macbooks, which requires
me to purchase a near-$100 cord to hook up to a computer display. :
( It's some weird new propriety Apple plug - I think called a "Mini
Display Adapter". This is actually different than the previous "Mini
DVI" plug.

I kind of like the "hospital tray" idea as well. As far as losing
mobility, I just mean requiring additional components, other than the
laptop itself, the power cord, and the alpha grip. It's still not as
bad as carrying my desktop throughout the house though I s'pose. :)
It just seems like when I by expensive things like iPhones, laptops,
or radical new input devices, I end up needing to purchase more.

Thanks again!!

On Feb 19, 11:32 am, Doug Sims <wdsim...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Doug Sims]

Try this link. Mini Display Port isn't proprietary, just new.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428

They will have adapters for that port, but they're not in stock until
3/15/09. So, you may have to wait a little while if you want to go
that route. Unless you want to shell out for a new LED Cinema Display
from Apple.

Glad you liked the ideas.

Doug

[Jefficus]

Going back to the original question, yes I have a suggestion:
rearrange.
I suffer from bouts of back-pain that sometimes lays me out for two or
three days. It doesn't happen often, fortunately, but when it does,
the AlphaGrip lets me stay more productive than I would otherwise be.

The trick is to not hold the grip in front of the screen, but lie down
more comfortably, put the laptop on your chest and hold the grip
BEHIND the screen. This will test your touch-gripping at first, but
before long, you won't need to look at your hands and you'll just be
typing away.

The few times I've been bed-ridden with a flu and wanted to sit more
upright, placing the laptop on a breakfast-in-bed tray got the screen
high enough that holding the AlphaGrip in front of the screen was
still low enough that it didn't block my view. Of course, your mileage
may vary.

[ShaveMadOx]

Hello Jefficus -

Thank you for the suggestion! This is in fact something that I had
briefly tried. Something just didn't seem right at the time of having
the laptop on my chest. Perhaps I will give this another shot. To be
honest, I have had issues simply sitting on the couch, and seemingly
not having a lot of room to place both the laptop and grip in my lap.
It works out that they both fit, it's just not the most comfortable -
part of which is simply paranoia of the laptop sliding off my lap,
lol. I have tried putting putting the grip ON the laptop itself, but
then I'm balancing it on the laptop. Maybe if I made one of those
stands for it. I've also tried holding them in mid-air, like you would
with a traditional game controller, but this isn't really the best
solution. I could also get some kind of ottoman to lay my feet out on,
or, of course, some kind of table or tv stand to put the laptop on.

All-in-all, I'm still just struggling with whether or not the Alpha
Grip is something that really makes things easier on me. Because right
now I am really enjoying the ease of moving my laptop around anywhere
I want, without having extra accessories/cords to worry about. I know
I'm being extremely picky. :(

I keep hearing that the next model will be 5-7% larger, and all I can
think of is it being smaller. I know, people with bigger hands are
probably the ones who want it bigger. (Probably most of the people)

Sorry for the ranting - thanks to everyone for all the tips!!!