Back when I used to drive to work, many times I would spend part of my lunch hour relaxing in my parked car (because there is zero privacy in a retail environment) to catch up on email or browsing and such. For that purpose, I would have gladly bought a commercial version of one of these.
And as a public service announcement for all you Gizmodo kids, remember:
@bosskev: You know... I don't remember using a computer on the no-texting-while-driving map. And since my state does not have any official laws against it....
Yeah, that's because in your state you are allowed to cantilever your laptop off of the legally mandated gun rack. The cupholder is reserved for your Coors Light.
@Bigbadbikernerd: Oh, my goodness (notice how I classily I resisted the cornier if more appropriate "Oh, my stars")! You are right! My heavens (ditto note on previous restraint), I sure hope they can fix this glitch soon! My, my, my!
just to beat everybody to it, from the guys website: "And before you all start writing me and saying how unsafe it is to use the computer while driving, don't panic. I don't use it while driving. I use it while stopped, usually at sales. It's a lot more convenient than trying to balance it on my lap or the armrest."
I can see the use for cooling pads when setting your laptop on your lap, but why is this needed? Are laptops getting so hot that the internal fan or the airflow present when setting the unit on a hard surface isn't sufficient to prevent it from cooking itself?
Now does this cooler blow air or suck air? I have coolers of both kind, and I always wonder the difference in the two, performance wise. I feel the ones that blow down may work better b/c if you "strangle" the intake of a fan, it's performance drops. When the intake is under the laptop, it sucks cooler air under the whole laptop, which allows cool air to get to the lappies intake. Also, the intake for the fans aren't blocked or have a clearence issue.
If you haven't found a book that gets that hot, you clearly aren't reading the right books. The ones I read get quite steamy.
Also, heads up. We haze rookies around here. You won't know where; you won't know when. And Gawker Media will not reimburse you for your therapy bills. This is the only warning you'll get, Probie.
Was there really that much of a demand for a product that allows you to use a laptop while standing? Besides, another competitor beat them to the punch. Their product is called "Table."
It looks to me like this was a labor of love for the designer to create--and it is certainly visually interesting in the combination of materials/colors. So, KUDOS from the "Tinker Toy" kid in me. Still, I have to say this looks ultimately ungainly and impractical, not to mention I'd be terrified to have my laptop perched on this rickety-looking contraption.
Business traveller? It looks WAY too cumbersome and time consuming to set up, say, in an airport waiting area and, even if I'd want to bother doing so, it is WAY too bulky to carry with me. So it's use on-the-go seems unlikely. Besides, once I would have arrived at a destination, there certainly would be tables and/or podiums waiting for me.
Home user? Too many far, far more suitable solutions already exist. Sadly, then, this gets a big FAIL from me.
@Xeno wishes there was a preview button: Its right next to maps in the section no one ever looks in. I was frustrated by bits and pieces of hardware that I buy from home improvement stores and wondered why they dont come with directions, then I realized no one reads them anyway.
07/14/09
Ok next thing to guess..what type of car is he driving? looks like a nissan?
07/14/09
Its also a Tacoma pickup which is featured heavily in the original article.
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And as a public service announcement for all you Gizmodo kids, remember:
Gizzing and Driving Don't Mix.
07/14/09
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07/14/09
Yeah, that's because in your state you are allowed to cantilever your laptop off of the legally mandated gun rack. The cupholder is reserved for your Coors Light.
07/14/09
07/14/09
Hey, Nick and Lite: is on a boat. Aren't both of you guys supposed to have stars? What happened to them? (he asked innocently yet self-servingly)
07/14/09
07/14/09
it's also not showing my friends as heart clicked. darn bugs.
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most states prohibit driver-facing screens above a certain size - in california it is 4" i believe.
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06/19/09
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06/19/09
Welcome the Gizmodo. I'm Ponies.
If you haven't found a book that gets that hot, you clearly aren't reading the right books. The ones I read get quite steamy.
Also, heads up. We haze rookies around here. You won't know where; you won't know when. And Gawker Media will not reimburse you for your therapy bills. This is the only warning you'll get, Probie.
love
Ponies
06/19/09
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What it comes with is a clip that hold the fan while you move the rest of the cooler.
Oh wait, you didn't read the headline, why would you be reading my class "A" snark?
06/19/09
06/19/09
Pretty much like that, yes. :)
05/19/09
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05/19/09
You can find a cheap knock-off of it at Ikea.
05/19/09
05/19/09
Business traveller? It looks WAY too cumbersome and time consuming to set up, say, in an airport waiting area and, even if I'd want to bother doing so, it is WAY too bulky to carry with me. So it's use on-the-go seems unlikely. Besides, once I would have arrived at a destination, there certainly would be tables and/or podiums waiting for me.
Home user? Too many far, far more suitable solutions already exist. Sadly, then, this gets a big FAIL from me.
05/19/09
05/19/09
Oh... oh right... Now I get it.
05/19/09
Thanks for taking the time to investigate.
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Oh wait, did I say that out loud??
05/19/09
And dont even tell me about the directions, since no one reads them (which is frustrating to those of us who go to all the trouble to write them.)
05/19/09
What is this direction of which you speak?
05/19/09
03/02/09