I am wondering if anyone has developed or thought about a small, lightweight stand for the AG? I tend to set my AG down a lot during the day for many distrations and interuptions (phone calls, calculations, etc.). I have found that the desk stand that comes with the AG is a little annoying to use every time. I have actually set the stand on the floor and that makes it a little easier to use, but I would really like something like a tripod attached to the front to allow it to stand up on my desk so I wouldn't have to try and balance it in the desk stand.
My only idea right now is to attach some kind of "leg" into the free USB port that would allow it to sit there without lying on the USB cable. (which is what happens when I am in a hurry) This would make the AG a tripod itself, which might work if I can imprement it well.
My other option is to lay the front down so that the back is facing up, but if I don't pause it before I do this, then I tend to hit a lot of buttons when I pick it back up.
It is not too hard to screw something into the bottom of the Alphagrip, especially into one of the rubber bases. I have done this myself.
One solution would be to buy a small Panavise micro mount (about $15). One end of this is a base that you can screw onto your desk; the other ends with a ball joint that has a camera bolt on the end of it. Find a way to attach the camera bolt to the bottom of your alphagrip and you'll have a detachable mount that you can swivel to any angle you want. Probably the best way to attach the bolt to the rubber base is to buy a headless screw (or just saw the head off a screw) and a bolt-to-screw connector. Your hardware store should carry these.
This may work for me, but it sounds like this would be a device that is screwed to my desk. I don't want to physically mount it to the desk (since I use it in my lap most of the time), I just want to be able to set it down without half of the keys being pressed in the process, or it be a precise activity of putting it in the exact place every time. I also want something that I can easily remove from the unit completely; so that traveling with the AG is not a chore (i.e. it will still fit in my laptop case). I am also wondering if anyone has had any problems with the operation of it after making these modifications. I don't want to screw some metal into a wire or circuit board.
Carl Andersen wrote: > It is not too hard to screw something into the bottom of the Alphagrip, > especially into one of the rubber bases. I have done this myself.
> One solution would be to buy a small Panavise micro mount (about $15). > One end of this is a base that you can screw onto your desk; the other > ends with a ball joint that has a camera bolt on the end of it. Find a > way to attach the camera bolt to the bottom of your alphagrip and > you'll have a detachable mount that you can swivel to any angle you > want. Probably the best way to attach the bolt to the rubber base is > to buy a headless screw (or just saw the head off a screw) and a > bolt-to-screw connector. Your hardware store should carry these.
Am I missing something? Why not just set it down in a 3-point stance; two legs and the USB cable. The AG isn't heavy enough to put an undue pressure on the USB cable/connector.
> This may work for me, but it sounds like this would be a device that is > screwed to my desk. I don't want to physically mount it to the desk > (since I use it in my lap most of the time), I just want to be able to > set it down without half of the keys being pressed in the process, or it > be a precise activity of putting it in the exact place every time. > I also want something that I can easily remove from the unit completely; > so that traveling with the AG is not a chore (i.e. it will still fit in > my laptop case). I am also wondering if anyone has had any problems with > the operation of it after making these modifications. I don't want to > screw some metal into a wire or circuit board.
> thanks for the suggestions, > --Doug
> Carl Andersen wrote: > > It is not too hard to screw something into the bottom of the Alphagrip, > > especially into one of the rubber bases. I have done this myself.
> > One solution would be to buy a small Panavise micro mount (about $15). > > One end of this is a base that you can screw onto your desk; the other > > ends with a ball joint that has a camera bolt on the end of it. Find a > > way to attach the camera bolt to the bottom of your alphagrip and > > you'll have a detachable mount that you can swivel to any angle you > > want. Probably the best way to attach the bolt to the rubber base is > > to buy a headless screw (or just saw the head off a screw) and a > > bolt-to-screw connector. Your hardware store should carry these.
I've tried that and the cable has gotten a noticeable crease at the end of the connector. With the factory cable, the magnet on the on cable (noise filter or whatever it is) causes the cable to bend to a sharp angle when the AG leans on it. This may not harm anything, but the standard cable that comes with the AG is pretty thin and I don't want to chance ruining this very handy 10' cable. My original point I was trying to make was that the 3-point stance seems to me to be the easiest and most natural way to set it down, but I just want to come up with something that won't damage anything and won't look like its been hacked together.
I guess an easy/temporary solution would be to reinforce the USB cable with some tape or stick or something of that sort. Does anyone else rest theirs on the cable in this manner? If so, has it been any trouble?
Lee Tumbleson wrote: > Am I missing something? Why not just set it down in a 3-point stance; > two legs and the USB cable. The AG isn't heavy enough to put an undue > pressure on the USB cable/connector.
> On 5/25/06, *Doug Sims* <wdsim...@gmail.com > <mailto:wdsim...@gmail.com>> wrote:
> This may work for me, but it sounds like this would be a device > that is > screwed to my desk. I don't want to physically mount it to the desk > (since I use it in my lap most of the time), I just want to be able to > set it down without half of the keys being pressed in the process, > or it > be a precise activity of putting it in the exact place every time. > I also want something that I can easily remove from the unit > completely; > so that traveling with the AG is not a chore (i.e. it will still > fit in > my laptop case). I am also wondering if anyone has had any > problems with > the operation of it after making these modifications. I don't want to > screw some metal into a wire or circuit board.
> thanks for the suggestions, > --Doug
> Carl Andersen wrote: > > It is not too hard to screw something into the bottom of the > Alphagrip, > > especially into one of the rubber bases. I have done this myself.
> > One solution would be to buy a small Panavise micro mount (about > $15). > > One end of this is a base that you can screw onto your desk; the > other > > ends with a ball joint that has a camera bolt on the end of > it. Find a > > way to attach the camera bolt to the bottom of your alphagrip and > > you'll have a detachable mount that you can swivel to any angle you > > want. Probably the best way to attach the bolt to the rubber > base is > > to buy a headless screw (or just saw the head off a screw) and a > > bolt-to-screw connector. Your hardware store should carry these.
How about reinforcing the cable by putting a plastic tube (maybe 6" long) over the cable. Cut a slot on one end, so that the cable leaves the tube at the slot, so that the end of the tube sits on the table, without bending the cable.
The tube should be large enough to go around the magnet and the USB plug and just long enough to completely cover the plug and magnet, while allowing the cable to go out the side of the tube, rather than the end.
> I've tried that and the cable has gotten a noticeable crease at the end > of the connector. With the factory cable, the magnet on the on cable > (noise filter or whatever it is) causes the cable to bend to a sharp > angle when the AG leans on it. This may not harm anything, but the > standard cable that comes with the AG is pretty thin and I don't want to > chance ruining this very handy 10' cable. > My original point I was trying to make was that the 3-point stance seems > to me to be the easiest and most natural way to set it down, but I just > want to come up with something that won't damage anything and won't look > like its been hacked together.
> I guess an easy/temporary solution would be to reinforce the USB cable > with some tape or stick or something of that sort. > Does anyone else rest theirs on the cable in this manner? If so, has it > been any trouble?
> Lee Tumbleson wrote: > > Am I missing something? Why not just set it down in a 3-point stance; > > two legs and the USB cable. The AG isn't heavy enough to put an undue > > pressure on the USB cable/connector.
> > This may work for me, but it sounds like this would be a device > > that is > > screwed to my desk. I don't want to physically mount it to the desk > > (since I use it in my lap most of the time), I just want to be able > to > > set it down without half of the keys being pressed in the process, > > or it > > be a precise activity of putting it in the exact place every time. > > I also want something that I can easily remove from the unit > > completely; > > so that traveling with the AG is not a chore (i.e. it will still > > fit in > > my laptop case). I am also wondering if anyone has had any > > problems with > > the operation of it after making these modifications. I don't want > to > > screw some metal into a wire or circuit board.
> > thanks for the suggestions, > > --Doug
> > Carl Andersen wrote: > > > It is not too hard to screw something into the bottom of the > > Alphagrip, > > > especially into one of the rubber bases. I have done this myself.
> > > One solution would be to buy a small Panavise micro mount (about > > $15). > > > One end of this is a base that you can screw onto your desk; the > > other > > > ends with a ball joint that has a camera bolt on the end of > > it. Find a > > > way to attach the camera bolt to the bottom of your alphagrip and > > > you'll have a detachable mount that you can swivel to any angle > you > > > want. Probably the best way to attach the bolt to the rubber > > base is > > > to buy a headless screw (or just saw the head off a screw) and a > > > bolt-to-screw connector. Your hardware store should carry these.
That is more like what I was thinking. I may try a toilet paper tube first since I can use scissors to cut and hack on it. If that works well I will make a more permanent stand with some plastic pipe. I'll be on vacation next week so that seems like a good time to just tinker with a few ideas. Thanks, --Doug
Lee Tumbleson wrote: > How about reinforcing the cable by putting a plastic tube (maybe 6" > long) over the cable. Cut a slot on one end, so that the cable leaves > the tube at the slot, so that the end of the tube sits on the table, > without bending the cable.
> The tube should be large enough to go around the magnet and the USB > plug and just long enough to completely cover the plug and magnet, > while allowing the cable to go out the side of the tube, rather than > the end.
> Maybe a 3/4" dia PVC pipe?
> On 5/25/06, *Doug Sims* <wdsim...@gmail.com > <mailto:wdsim...@gmail.com>> wrote:
> I've tried that and the cable has gotten a noticeable crease at > the end > of the connector. With the factory cable, the magnet on the on cable > (noise filter or whatever it is) causes the cable to bend to a sharp > angle when the AG leans on it. This may not harm anything, but the > standard cable that comes with the AG is pretty thin and I don't > want to > chance ruining this very handy 10' cable. > My original point I was trying to make was that the 3-point stance > seems > to me to be the easiest and most natural way to set it down, but I > just > want to come up with something that won't damage anything and > won't look > like its been hacked together.
> I guess an easy/temporary solution would be to reinforce the USB > cable > with some tape or stick or something of that sort. > Does anyone else rest theirs on the cable in this manner? If so, > has it > been any trouble?
> Lee Tumbleson wrote: > > Am I missing something? Why not just set it down in a 3-point > stance; > > two legs and the USB cable. The AG isn't heavy enough to put an > undue > > pressure on the USB cable/connector.
I think the tube is a good idea. I think the cable (which is thinner than most) would eventually have problems if it's used to support the AG-5's weight too often.
FYI, we've asked Sejin to produce a sturdier desk stand which we plan to sell to our customers at cost. I think the tube is a better idea though because you'll be able to set the AG-5 down anywhere.
We considered making the bottoms of the AG-5's "legs" flat so you could set it down and have it stand vertically without a desk stand, but we thought the edges would bother you when holding it in your lap (or on your stomach when leaning way back). Plus, we didn't think it would be as aesthetically pleasing as the rounded bottoms.
-----Original Message----- From: alphagrip@googlegroups.com [mailto:alphagrip@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Doug Sims Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 4:40 PM To: alphagrip@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: Easy Stand?
That is more like what I was thinking. I may try a toilet paper tube first since I can use scissors to cut and hack on it. If that works well I will make a more permanent stand with some plastic pipe. I'll be on vacation next week so that seems like a good time to just tinker with a few ideas. Thanks, --Doug
Lee Tumbleson wrote: > How about reinforcing the cable by putting a plastic tube (maybe 6" > long) over the cable. Cut a slot on one end, so that the cable leaves > the tube at the slot, so that the end of the tube sits on the table, > without bending the cable.
> The tube should be large enough to go around the magnet and the USB > plug and just long enough to completely cover the plug and magnet, > while allowing the cable to go out the side of the tube, rather than > the end.
> Maybe a 3/4" dia PVC pipe?
> On 5/25/06, *Doug Sims* <wdsim...@gmail.com > <mailto:wdsim...@gmail.com>> wrote:
> I've tried that and the cable has gotten a noticeable crease at > the end > of the connector. With the factory cable, the magnet on the on cable > (noise filter or whatever it is) causes the cable to bend to a sharp > angle when the AG leans on it. This may not harm anything, but the > standard cable that comes with the AG is pretty thin and I don't > want to > chance ruining this very handy 10' cable. > My original point I was trying to make was that the 3-point stance > seems > to me to be the easiest and most natural way to set it down, but I > just > want to come up with something that won't damage anything and > won't look > like its been hacked together.
> I guess an easy/temporary solution would be to reinforce the USB > cable > with some tape or stick or something of that sort. > Does anyone else rest theirs on the cable in this manner? If so, > has it > been any trouble?
> Lee Tumbleson wrote: > > Am I missing something? Why not just set it down in a 3-point > stance; > > two legs and the USB cable. The AG isn't heavy enough to put an > undue > > pressure on the USB cable/connector.
An old/broken USB stick? If your'e more into DIY, get a single USB plug (80 Euro Cent here in Germany = 1 US-Dollar) and 5 mm (1/5") steel/aluminum/plastic rod. Crimp the plug with the rod instead of a cable, fit the sleeve and possibly glue it together.
If you want something really fancy, use a translucent pipe, connect a few LEDs with a resistor to the power pins of the USB plug and fit them in the pipe. Close as above and you have a glowing stand.
Sadly you can't use those EL wires as they require a bulky inverter.
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