- 2003.07.03
This is one of those articles I write from time to time where I
think I've invented this cool thing but someone else has already
figured it out. So I'm once again going to post this idea just to find
out who makes the thing so I can buy one. I did the usual searches, but
you know how that goes.
Here's my idea. After six months of toting my TiBook back and forth
to school, I decided to use an old printer stand to support the TiBook
and get the screen up to something like a normal human viewing angle.
So I set the laptop on the printer stand (it looks pretty good,
actually, though I'm no judge of aesthetics) and plug in all these
cables.
There's the problem. I have to twist the laptop around, drag the
cables around the stand, plug them in, and then spin the thing back
into place. It's inelegant.
What is needed is a sticker you can see from in front of the TiBook
that would show where all the ports are on the back of the machine,
either with words or symbols. All the ports could be labeled in the
small space between the keyboard and the screen.
There are only two problems. One, it ruins the clean appearance of
the laptop. If you saw my house or room, you'd know that I'm not in one
of these House and Garden "minimalism is beauty" groups. I live
in clutter. Don't like it, but you learn to cope.
The other problem is that this is the hottest part of the laptop
when the battery is on full charging mode, so the sticker will curl up,
turn yellow, catch on fire, or something. So I guess it can't just be
paper stickers.
Anyway, I'd say you could sell a few thousand high quality stickers
like this, and your cost would be zippo.
Asking price is a link back to the Mac Lab
Report and a free sample for review.
Thanks!
is a longtime Mac user. He was using digital sensors on Apple II computers in the 1980's and has networked computers in his classroom since before the internet existed. In 2006 he was selected at the California Computer Using Educator's teacher of the year. His students have used NASA space probes and regularly participate in piloting new materials for NASA. He is the author of two books and numerous articles and scientific papers. He currently teaches astronomy and physics in California, where he lives with his twin sons, Jony and Ben.< And there's still a Mac G3 in his classroom which finds occasional use.
