The Elemental Road Warrior– Part I– Earth
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12″ 
14″ 
12″ 
15″ 
17″ In this edition of Road Warrior Wednesday, we’ll take a look at products designed
to protect your portable. Not baggage, mind you — that we’ll discuss sometime
down the road a way. No, I’m talking about protecting your iBook or PowerBook
from the rigors of everyday use. There are those who believe that a notebook
computer should always look like it’s been through Hell a few times and survived
to show its souvenir stickers. If you are one of those people, maybe next week’s
RWW will be more your kinda thing.
For the purposes of this article, we will categorize the forces of nature thusly
— earth, wind, fire and water. This week we’ll be looking at …
Earth, as in dirt and scudge. It can come in many forms and
it gets on your screen, in your keyboard and on the case of your portable. It
sucks. Wipe it off.
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– Check out the fine products from KlearScreen.com. The Singles 12-pack is compact for carrying with you in your pack and contains little moistened towelettes that have been marinaded in iKlear, an anti-static, alcohol and ammonia-free solution that is also non-toxic, non-damaging and non-flammable …sounds like water, but it works a lot better. You can use the various iKlear products to clean any portable’s screen or the case and trackpad of your iBook.
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– Do you have an iBook with some fairly deep scratches. Ice Creme is a two part skin care system for iBooks that helps bring back the luster.
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– TiPaint is a specially formulated touch up paint for the scratches and blisters that have plagued the Titanium PowerBooks since their release. The paint is available in either Light Silver and Titanium to closely mimic the color of the inner and out case surfaces.
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Now that your ‘Book is clean, keep it that way a bit longer by investing in
a screen protector. Your ‘Book’s screen is the most expensive part. I have learned
by experience that any damage to any part of the screen, lid or latch that necessitates
service, means the replacement of the entire top component of your portable
— everything from the hinge up. Once the screws that fasten the case to
the screen bezel are removed, your warranty is void. Apple will authorize no
service that includes the separation of those parts. I’d take that to mean that
the wiring and hardware in that thin little top is a bit touchy. Try to protect
it, will ya?
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– I’ve reviewed these before and I still recommend them. They protect both the screen and the keyboard (another component that is more expensive to fix than replace) and come in many fashion colors including the snazzy new Snow and Asphalt opaque models. I should warn you that you do have to clean them regularly or you will simply be transferring finger oil to the screen from the iSkin just the way you would have with the keyboard
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– This is just too simple. If you’re having a problem with your keyboard touching your screen and getting it dirty, don’t let them touch. Duh! Wildeepz are small squishy rubber cushions that help maintain distance between the screen and keyboard when you close your ‘Book. A guide is provided with the Wildeepz that help you apply them properly so that the cushions themselves do not touch the keyboard and cause other problems.
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– No, that wasn’t a typo. The product name is “ScreensavRz” and it’s a lint-free, ultramicrofiber cloth intended to be used between the screen and keyboard when your ‘Book is not in use. It can also be used as a cleaning/refinishing cloth for minor blemishes and since it is washable, you can use one ScreensavRz for double duty. An excellent product that is even better when used in conjunction with iSkins or Wildeepz.
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Why would you want all three? My personal reason: the iSkin prevents hair,
crumbs and dust from getting in the keyboard, the Wildeepz help align the top
and bottom portion of the ‘Book and prevent uneven wear on the hinge and the
ScreensavRz add extra protection for the screen while coming in handy as a screen
cleaning cloth when the need arises — all things I need.
With the gadgets I’ve recommended here, you should be well equiped to protect
your portable for our first force of nature: earth.
The Elemental Road Warrior– Part II– Wind
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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.
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Speedballs It is that system that I find to be the Speedballs’ biggest flaw. This One solution I’ve found is to stick the fuzzy half of a set of Velcro
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CoolPad The CoolPad uses several cylindrical Lego-like pieces to attach to the Available in black and white.
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CoolPad
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IcePad The IcePad is a transformer: it’s a portable desktop with built in air
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ToteThe Elemental Road Warrior– Part III– Fire & Water
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This week I’ll be wrapping up my series on the Elemental Road Warrior with a
double feature of Fire and Water. If you remember from the previous installments
of this series, I have already found viable solutions to the problem of earth and
its effects on your ‘Book’s appearance as well as wind and how to use its cooling
abilities to your benefit. This week I’ll look at harnessing fire by protecting
your ‘Book from surges and spikes. I’ll also look at controlling the forces
of water by doing my darndest to find ways to keep it the heck out of your ‘Book
in the first place.
First thing’s first …
Fire: You could say that fire is the force that overheats
your processor …you could say that, but you’d really be messing things up
for me if you did. Fire, for the purposes of this series of articles is the
force that powers your ‘Book ó electricity. Why do we need to protect
our portables from a force that is necessary to power them in the first place?
Electricity is great for laptops. But too much electricity or the wrong kind
can damage your ‘Book. Admittedly, this problem usually only occurs when your
‘Book is plugged in via an AC adaptor, but if you’re like me, you spend as much
time powered by the battery as you do powered by the wall socket.
Here are a few suggestions for how to improve quality and regulate the quantity
of power entering your ‘Book.
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Portable – Provides surge suppression (210 Joules, 400 Clamping Voltage) for your AC adaptor and your modem connection in a portable package. Includes a build-in telephone splitter and telephone cord storage spool onboard. The SmartSockets Portable comes with a lifetime warranty and up to $10,000 in connected equipment replacement warranty.
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AC/Car/Air Adaptor – Answers the need for power, surge suppression and various types of connections all in one portable unit. This feature-rich product includes over voltage protection, current limit, over temperature protection and short circuit protection. There are also adapters (sold separately) for cel phones and PDA’s.
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PowerCenter PC 200 – Made by Monster Cable, this portable unit has a maximum 1110 joule surge protection for two AC power outlets, telephone line surge protection and flashy visual and audible indicators for damage, protection, and ground status monitoring. It also beats the Kensington SmartSockets’ warranty by an additional $40,000 for the replacement of connected equipment.
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Now, last but not least…
Water: Water and laptops do not mix. And if you are inclined
to take your ‘Book swimming or give it a sip of your coffee, there’s really
nothing I can recommend that will save you. There are few if any products on
the market that will make you ‘Book watertight without placing it in some kind
of case or bag. The best I can do is suggest a few products that might help
prevent or minimize damage due to occasional wetness.
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Cover – These items made the rounds a while back and seem to have all but disappeared. I was able to find the link above through a Google search but have been unable to get in contact with the vendor to acquire on for this segment. They seem to be a silicon port covers designed for the 12″ iBook but they would probably work on the 14″ also. Might be worth a look.
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– As was mentioned in the first part of this series, the iSkins are designed to protect both the screen and the keyboard and come in many different colors. They are made from a type of silicon and, thought they don’t create a watertight seal around your keyboard, they might prevent some damage if you were to spill any liquid on your open book.
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– Many ‘Book bags these days have mesh pockets that face the compartment where your portable is stored. These pouches are the perfect place to put one of these reusable moisture absorbing Silica Gel packs (just like those “Do Not Eat” packs that come with electronic equipment only better (no, you still can eat them)). Just drop one in one of the mesh pouches near your iBook or PowerBook and it absorbs dampness and prevents condensation. When the crystals become “full” they turn blue and all you need do is pop the desiccant in a 300? oven for 3 hours and, viola, the crystals are pink again and thirsty for more.
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Like I said, there is not much aside from a water-tight case that will save
your portable from being damaged by any liquid that might have the misfortune
of encountering. The best suggestion I can offer is to try and prevent the situation
from coming up in the first place…
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Stainless Steel Travel Mug
I know what you’re thinking: this whole series was just a set up to promote the MacMerc.com Online Store. Not so. I actually wanted to promote some of the cool Barista travel mugs that are available at Starbucks, but they don’t seem to make them available for online purchaseóhello!!! The internet age has started, Starbucks!!! Anyhow, these 15oz stainless steel mugs are really nice and feature a sealed lid and sip cover to keep you from spilling a drop if you happen to tip it over while ejecting a CD or something similar. The mugs are available with the classic MacMerc.com grenade logo/dictionary definition or the wildly popular and ever so cryptic Option-Shift-K (for those who are still wondering, Option-Shift-K is the keyboard combination that allows Mac users to type the Apple logo).
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That brings me to the end of the Elemental Road Warrior, I hope you have enjoyed
this series.
Inside the Road Warrior’s Pack– Tools
Everything I try write seems to go the same way: I start off with a simple
idea that should make a nice little article and I end up with an epic saga.
I wanted to do a simple little piece on the stuff and the gadgets that I carry
around in my backpack with my iBook and then I got to thinking …there’s the
stuff I have, and those things are fine but there are also alternatives to what
I have and some of them are better, maybe cheaper or just as good but better
suited to some of you than they would be for me. Thinking can get you into trouble.
So, like everything else I’ve tried to write as a single simple article, this
is another series and, from what I can tell, it’s going to be an on going series
that will be interrupted by other Road Warrior Wednesday ideas and resumed as
new gadgets come to light.
Enough of the introductions! This week we’re looking at tools. Here’s what
I have in my pack:
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Swiss Army CyberTool – This baby was designed with geeks in mind. It has the standard issue Swiss Army knives, scissors, pliers, can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew and awl but adds to that roster 8 different driver bits (including Torx), a dip switch setter, wire stripper, wire cutter, wire crimper and more (depending on which model you buy).
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MicroïPlus – This tiny Transformer wannabe goes from keychain to pliers/screwdriver set in a few easy twists. Contains two slot drivers and two Phillips drivers in the handles of the miniature pliers
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UtiliïKey – Looks like a very hi-tech key but it is actually a simple knife and driver tool that may not be enough for big jobs but, since it stays on you keychain it is almost always within easier reach than any other tool you might use. Functions as a mini and micro slot driver, small Philips head driver, bottle opener and knife.
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wrenches – I carry a couple sizes of Hex wrenches with me: a 2mm to fit the screws on the underside and a smaller one (1.5mm I think) that fits the screws around the screen. Using them will void your warranty and that sucks, but having a cracked open iBook in the middle of nowhere sucks worse.
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eyelighter – This is simply one of those super bright LED lights fixed to a hook that fits around your ear. Okay. It looks silly and you will look silly wearing it but I can’t deny that it comes in handy and it’s more comfortable than chewing on the end of a Maglite. If you’re everyone’s “computer friend” you will most likely find yourself sprawled underneath someone’s desk, squinting in the shadows trying to see if this person’s CD-ROM drive is set to master or slave. Things will go a lot faster if you can see what you’re doing.
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Those are the tools I have, but I’ve been eyeing those collapsible-pliers multitools
lately. You know the ones? Like the Leathermans? (Leathermen?) I did a little
nosing around and it seems like there are those with very strong opinions for
and those with equally strong arguments against the Leatherman as a brand. With
the exception of my choice of computing platform, I tend to stay away from brand
wars. I don’t even have a preference between Coke or PepsióI can’t be
bothered. The conclusion I’ve come to (with the help of one very informative
salesperson at my local House of Knives) is that, for the Road Warrior, the
deciding factor in choosing a compact multipurpose tool is not about the knives
or the saws but the screwdrivers and specifically the bit sets, the way they
attach to the multitool and the sturdiness of the multitool itself.
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SwissTool X – For sturdiness of the tool, test have shown the Victorinox SwissTool X to have superior steel and more ergonomic blade placement than other tools. Do not be tempted by the SwissTool “Plus” with the wrench and screwdriver bit set. The problem with the SwissTool Plus driver bit set is that it doesn’t actually attach to the multitool itselfóit is a separate tool. What were they thinking? Stick with the standard SwissTool X and read on to find a better way to screw.
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Wave Tool Adapter – The farmer and the cowman my agree to disagree but the SwissTool X and the Leatherman Wave Tool Adapter can be friends. Though it was built to attach to the Leatherman Wave, it actually fits quite well on to the Victorinox SwissTool X and comes with 6 standard size 1/4 inch driver bits. Make sure you ask for the Leatherman Wave Tool Adapter as the standard Leatherman Tool Adapter will not fit the SwissTool.
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Well, that’s it for this week…
12 inch Dual USB iBook Mod– Part 1
Some of the coolest things in popular culture attained their coolness by being
modified and customized. Think about the Millennium Falcon from Star
Wars, any gadget from any James
Bond flick or Ash’s hand/chainsaw from Evil
Dead 2. Modification rocks. I’m not going to teach you how to get your TiBook
to make the jump to light speed or outfit your PowerBook with machine guns but
I will attempt to detail the steps involved in preparing a 12″ Dual USB
iBook lid for a custom paint job.
Be warned that the first step in this process (removing the lid from the back
of the screen) is one that Apple has forbidden its technicians from performing.
It has the potential to damage the delicate wiring of the LCD, backlight, microphone
and Airport antenna. I do not recommend doing this, but I offer these instructions
for your academic pleasure. Also, if you are determined to attempt this project,
I recommend reading through this entire tutorial before
proceeding to dismantle and paint your iBook lid (translation: wait until I
finish writing the second part before you start on the first. Okay?).
As a final warning, let me advise those with little or no artistic skill or
those lacking in patience to seriously reconsider starting a project such as
this. Perhaps it would be better advised for these people to contact DrBott
about purchasing an iSuit.
They come in many
designs, both cool and hideous,and only require that you follow the first
three steps of this outline.
Assuming you have some artistic abilities and patience, you might still be
safer buying a used
iBook lid off of eBay and leaving your trusty iBook untouched until you
creation is complete. Just an idea. Just throwing it out there….
Enough of the warnings! Here’s your parts list:
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What You’ll Need For Part 1:
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Step 1: Remove the lid from the back of your iBook screen
Before
taking your iBook apart, make sure it is off and that the battery is removed
(just in case). The 12″ Dual USB iBook screen lid is held on by four small
hex screws that can easily be removed using a 1.5mm hex wrench (save your screws,
they are easily lost and not so easily replaced). Then with your iBook sitting
open and with the screen facing away from you, place your right and left thumbs
on the lid near the top corners and use your index and middle fingers to peal
the lid clips out of position (be careful not to break them). Slide your hands
midway down the side and use your fingers to pry the lid clips on the side out
of position. Finally, a small amount of effort is all it should require to unseat
the lid clips at the bottom and remove the lid from the screen back.
Set your iBook aside in a safe place where its exposed innards will not get
damaged.
Step 2: Removing the lid clip gasket from the lid
I
found this to be the most difficult part of the process. Have a look at the
inside of the lid and inspect you lid clips. Notice that they are actually a
thin rectangular frame that is held in place by some pretty heavy duty double-sided
tape. You are going to have to fight very hard to remove this gasket or you
will be unable to dissolve that white paint that lies between it and the lid.
If you can live with having a strange white frame around your lid design, by
all means, skip this step.
Assuming that you are going to remove the clip gasket, you must choose your
tools carefully. The trick is to find something that is strong enough to be
wedged forcefully under the gasket, pliable enough to follow the inner curve
of the lid and thin enough to slide under the gasket without breaking itóthe
goal is to remove the gasket in one piece without breaking it and also keep
the scratching on the inside of the lid to a minimum. Some have had success
using a toothpick for this job, I’ve found that the lid from a can of soda (the
part that folds inside the can when you pop the top) did the trick quite nicely.
Try to stay away from screwdrivers or knives as they are very likely to destroy
the gasket and the surface of the iBook.
While
your are concentrating on removing the clip gasket while not breaking it or
scratching the inside of your lid, try to be mindful of the outside of the lid
alsoódon’t scratch it either. It is unquestionably a tricky job and not
for those without the patience to take their time.
Once the clip gasket is removed, gently rub off the adhesive from both the
lid and the gasket. This gummy tape is a bit like rubber cement and you can
easily use a clump of removed adhesive to convince the rest to vamoose buy rolling
the removed clump around the more stubborn bits.
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users only If you are preparing to use an iSuit, place the gasket inside the iSuit lid under the iSuit’s clips and attach the iSuit lid to your iBook by properly reseating the gasket’s clips and screwing in the countersunk Phillips screws that were packaged with your imported custom iBook lid. You’re done. |
Step 3: Remove the Apple
This is just like removing the clip gasket. Use the tool you improvised for
Step 2 to separate the Apple logo from the lid by sliding said tool in and around
where the Apple logo is held down by that same gummy tape stuff.
Clean off the Apple logo and the area on the lid from whence it came just as
you cleaned the lid and gasket in Step 2.
Step 4: Alcoholóyou’re soaking in it
Now it’s time to take your plastic container and place a few folded paper towels
in the bottom of it. Now place your iBook lid with the inside facing up on top
of the paper towelsóthis will protect the outer surface from getting scratched
while you scrub the inside. Grab your bottle of rubbing alcohol and pour enough
of it into the container to fill and cover the iBook lid. Leave it to soak for
15 minutes.
After 15 minutes of soaking lift the lid partially out of the alcohol bath
and gently scrub off the white paint with that old toothbrush of yours. It comes
of remarkably easy, so no need to scratch the plastic. Soak your lid for another
15 minutes if there is any more than just a slight haze remaining and continue
to gently scrub the dissolved paint. This may take some time. Just be patient.
Once nothing but a slight haze remains proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: You’ll wonder where the haze went when you brush your lid with
Pepsodent
…actually any toothpaste should work, I would maybe stay away from tartar
control varieties though. This tip comes from my friend George
from Dive & Sea Sports and it is actually a well known technique for
breaking in new snorkel masks. Just squeeze a small dab of toothpaste on any
hazy areas and use a wet paper towel to buff away the cloudiness. Again, take
your time.
Once you’re done the haze should be gone, but in its place will be some very
fine scratching left by the toothpaste.
Step 6: Now that you’ve used your toothpaste it’s time for Ice Creme
Ice Creme is a two part iBook refinishing solution from RadTech. Follow the
directions provided with the product to buff away the scratches that the toothpaste
left behind. Beautiful. Now just wipe the lid down with a paper towel dampened
with rubbing alcohol.
Conclusion of Part 1: Consider the following
You should now have a crystal clear iBook lid. Some might be content to stop
at this point to re-adhere the clip gasket to the lid, reattach the lid to the
iBook and proudly display their transparent topped iBookóno
shame in that. But if you are tempted to paint your iBook lid, here are
a few points to ponder as you try to settle on your design:
- Since you will be painting the inside of the lid, your first coat will be
the outer most or foreground application of paint when the lid is reattached.
This is the reverse of the way most PC mod’s are painted and is why, if you’re
planning a design with many colors, this mod should be painted with your darkest
color first and working your way back to the lightest color. You should take
some time to strategize how you plan to approach this backasswards style of
painting.
- You have more than just common spray paints to consider. You could use
lamp color to add transparent hues to your lid
. You could use a spraymatte varnish to create an almost sandblasted translucent effect. Have a stroll
around your local hardware or paint store to see what options are open to
you. If you find any really cool ones, email them to me.
- Do not overlook the Apple logo. Any design you conceive will have a large
glowing Apple logo in the middle of it unless you are prepared to opaque it
out somehow. Make sure your take the logo’s placement into account when designing
your paint job.
- Masking. If your design require you to mask off certain areas, do not underestimate
the pain and toil that will come with the process of creating that mask. Try
to keep things simple. The design I have settled upon comes under the “complex”
heading and rather than cover the inside of my iBook with masking tape and
the scratch it all up with an Xacto knife in an effort to cut my mask, I have
created my artwork in Adobe Illustrator and emailed it to a sign shop to have
it cut out of adhesive vinyl. I anticipate that this may be a nightmare to
apply, given the lid’s concave structure, but I would sooner deal with that
than have a lousy mask and a scratched up lid.
That’s it for this week…
USB gadgets for your ‘Book
While I wait for the USPS to deliver the supplies I ordered to complete my
iBook mod, I thought I would share with you all a few of the USB gadgets
I’ve found that you might consider packing with you as you port your portable.
This is a topic I am bound to revisit, so don’t worry if I missed your favorite
doohickeyóI
missed mine too. Just
drop me a note and let me know for the next installment. For now, he’s what
I recommend….
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Drive – These things are so handyóno pun intended. Almost every company that makes digital media makes some kind of USB flash disk or “Thumb Drive.” GMx gave high praise to the Fuji USB Key Drive but others are available. Look for durability in the case designóthe more ruggedized and rubberized the better. Pay attention to the clip and the ring where the lanyard attaches. Some drives have both, some have neither. Make sure your’s has what you need. And of course, look to get the best drive capacity for your money. Give eBay a search for these from time to time.
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– I realize, of course, that you don’t really need a mouse if you learn to master your ‘Book’s trackpad. But some occasions call for dragging and clicking maneuvers that call out for a good mouse. There are quite a few “mini mice” on the market that take up minimal space in your case (I’ve reviewed a Macally and a Swann) and there are also full-size mice with retractable cables fit for the road (the Kensington Pocket Mouse Pro comes to mind).
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Light – If you are not one of the chosen few who can afford a 17″ G4 PowerBook with the fancy-schmancy illuminated keyboard, you will one day more than likely find yourself in a situation where the ambient light is so low that you can’t see the keys of your keyboard. In these circumstances it’s nice to be able to reach into you backpack and pull out a USB powered keyboard light. There are several makes and models to choose from. Try to stay away from those that clip to your screenópressure on the LCD just ain’t healthy. Kensington’s FlyLight is pretty nice.
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Reader – If you’ve got a digital camera a 6-in-card reader can be a lifesaver when your camera’s battery has been drained and you need to access those pics. Also, while you wait for high capacity thumb drives to come down in price, you can improvise using much cheaper Compact Flash cardsóa 128Mb CF card goes for under US$20 these days on eBay. It doesn’t look nearly as cool clipped to your jeans, but when you’re on a budget, you do what you have to.
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With all of these USB gizmos at your disposal and only a finite number of USB
ports on your ‘Book, you will soon be sacrificing the use of one gadget for
another unless you get yourself a…
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hub – I use these things all the time and I have yet to find one that I really like and can proclaim to be the one USB hub to rule them all (the ones pictured to the left are quite good, though). They all seem to sneak their way out of your USB port mid-transfer or or have the USB plug bust off inside your ‘Book under the strain of the multitude of attachments. But if you are a gadget addict like I am, they are a necessary evil.
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Keyspan Goodies
After spending the afternoon grabbing a cup of bandwidth from my local Staples,
I came home to find a package on the doorstep addressed to me. (Gotta love that.)
Thinking it might be my long awaited iBook mod supplies, I hurriedly open the
box to find that, instead, it contained a Keyspan Presentation Remote, a Keyspan
USB 4-Port Mini Hub and a Keyspan Zip-Linq Retractable USB Extension Cable —
not what I wished for, but not too shabby either.
Thank you, Santa!
I guess someone must have read one
of my previous articles on USB gadgets and decided to send me a few for
review. So, with out further adieu, here are my thoughts on this collection
of gizmos:
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Keyspan The documentation (consisting of two 5″ x 6″ pieces of photocopied The software is still in beta and getting the drivers to recognize the
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That situation has not changed. The Keyspan 4-Port Mini Hub has great The Keyspan 4-Port Mini Hub comes packaged with an AC adapter that allows
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And the Keyspan Zip-Linq’s are much more durable. In the time it took
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Keyspan
TheThat’s all for now!
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-Rick
A look at the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag
This may come as a total shock to you all, but I am into gadgets. I also like bringing with me every gizmo that I might possibly need when I go out. I’ve got my SwissTool, my iKlear, my zip ties and my FlyLight. My cell phone, my camera, my mouse pad and my iSight. For the last 6 months I’ve been toting around all that, my iBook and quite a bit more in my Willow PK-02: Thoreau Backpack and in those 6 months I have developed some considerable back pain from all that gadgetry.
Inspired to downsize
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Out of the blue came the Tom Bihn ID Mid-sized Messenger Bag. I went through a bit of inner conflict as I came to the realization that all the gak I used to carry in my Thoreau simply would not fit in the ID. Don’t misunderstand me: the ID has plenty of room for any normal human being with a healthy outlook on what one should be expected to keep with them at all times. It’s just that, with the Thoreau, I was able to keep all the necessary tools for every eventuality packed and ready, with the ID I am forced to pack only for the anticipated events of the day. An exercise I was greatly in need of actually. About the bag The Tom Bihn ID Bag is a messenger style bag, meaning that it has a single |
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Open the front flap to reveal an open-top pouch and organizer for the essential gadgets of the day ahead. On the flap itself is a rather large pocket with a waterproof zipper. The main cargo bay of the ID has snaps for an optional, and highly recommended, Brain Cell laptop sleeve. The Brain Cell is designed to cradle you ‘Book and absorb some of the shock it might encounter on the road. The flat pocket on the back of this bag is the perfect size for documents. |
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Tom Bihn has also thought to give the ID a waist strap that keeps the bag in place as you where it while riding or running for a train. Provision has been made to allow for a Cat Eye flasher to be attached to the bag for extra visibility by motorists at night and Tom Bihn has made the ID available in several eye catching colors that will you similar attention during day rides. |
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Pros and Cons
I really like the size of the ID and although it won’t hold all my iBook accessories
it is sufficient to hold the ones I’m likely to use in a single outing. It is
also very strong, well constructed and light. Gotta like that.
I really like the waist strap because it gives me an added sense of security
to know that anyone who might try to run by and snatch my ‘Book is gonna have
to take me along with it.
The Brain Cell add-on is a nice touch and keeps you ‘Book safe from your other
items while still leaving it accessible.
On the downside, I wish there were some divisions made in the main cargo area.
The organizer in the front of the bag is great but it would be nice to have
similar features inside that accommodated the larger items I carry. And while
Tom Bihn never specifically marketed this bag to wardrivers, being as this is
the Wardriver Wednesday column I don’t feel that it is totally inappropriate
to mention that the bag is not quite big enough to tote an iBook or PowerBook
and a Pringles
Can Antennaóyou are likely to crush your can if you try.
More info
According to their web site. the Tom
Bihn ID Mid-sized Messenger Bag is available in sizes to fit 12″ and
15″ PowerBooks and and the 12″ iBooks. It evidently is too small for
the 17″ PowerBook and 14″ iBook is uncomfortable positioned between
the 12″ and 15″ sizes.
All things considered, I must say that the Tom
Bihn ID Messenger Bag is my favorite of the multitude of bags I’ve tried.
For more information on this and other Tom Bihn bags, check out the
Tom Bihn site.
Moblogging–Wardriver style
“According to the Oxford-English dictionary, the word ‘snapshot’ was
first used
in 1808 by an English sportsman by the name of Sir Andrew Hocker.
He noted in his diary
that every bird he shot that day was taken by snapshot.
meaning a hurried shot,
without deliberate aim. Snapshot then… was originally
a hunting term.”
-One Hour Photo
Over a month ago I
announced that the articles formerly known as “Road Warrior Wednesday”
would take a new name to depict the “edge” that it was intended to
ooze. Since that time I have brought you such terrifying and controversial topics
as USB gadgets, messenger bags and presentation remotes. I know, I haven’t been
keeping up my end of the bargain. Well, this time around, I”m hoping to ruffle
a few more feathers…we’re going MobloggingóWardriver style.
Moblogging?
Moblogging is short for “mobile blogging” which, in tern, is short
for “mobile web logging” It is a activity practiced by a growning
number of people who form a community of web sites that document the events
and experiences of the various lives through the use of digital cameras both
standalone and those that come with some of the latest mobile phones. Mobloggers
take these snapshots and post them on their web sites. They often offer insites
into the meaning the particular image has for them and invite you, the visitor
to leave a comment of your own.
I’ve been moblogging
for a few months now as part of my
personal blog. And, of course, I invite you to get involved and interact
with me there also. But today I have another activity in mind.
Warchalking?
Warchalking is commonly
conducted in the course of wardriving. (If you don’t know what wardriving is,
why are you here? Okay, it’s when you drive around looking for open wireless
internet connections. Happy now?!) A wifi hotspot is often chalked with a symbol
to denote the type of access, the degree of protection that is in play, the
quality of that signal and sometimes the distance to the actual access point
from the chalk mark. That is warchalking.
Moblogging Wardriver style
Now this is a bit of an experiment and how well it works is entirely up to you
wardrivers. What I propose is that you go out wardriving and when you find a
nice, free, unprotected hotspot that, instead of pulling out your chalk and
marking the sidewalk, take out a camera and email
it to the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog. Here’s how:
|
Take a picture of the building from which the discovered signal is Attach that image to an email In the subject line of that email, enter the name of the signals location. Use wardriving software like MacStumbler or iStumbler to find out the Now, in the body of the email, type the information you gathered thusly SSID = Name of access pointChannel = Channel numberSignal = Signal strengthWEP = WEP protected? Yes or No?Router = Router ManufacturerLocation = City, State/Prov, Country(GPS location) Submit that email and watch for your submission |
Again, for this idea to work it hinges on the participation of you wardrivers
out there. Get out there and photograph your local hotspots (protected or unprotected,
public or private) and send submit them as I have detailed ablove. The most
recent submission appears below:
Keep an eye on the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog for wifi hotspots in your area.
Gifts I gave, Gifts I got
(republished from The
Inner-workings of the Merc Mind)
This Christmas I found a few choice items under the tree while also putting
a few there for others to enjoy. Here are a few I can recommend for those of
you looking to spend your returned gift money or the cash Aunt Martha gave you
this year.
 |
iPod
|
 |
Griffin
|
 |
iSkin
|
|
The
|
Gotta go, I think the folks at the Future Shop just figured out that someone
is scamming their wifi signal.
Happy New Year!?
-Rick
