What's a TechSling?

[drfish]

Thanks for the additional info. The design was based on a caseless Nexus 7 - since it is taller than the Kindle Fire. Looks like I should add 1/2" in each direction...

[TheEmrys]

Thanks for the additional info. The design was based on a caseless Nexus 7 - since it is taller than the Kindle Fire. Looks like I should add 1/2" in each direction...

That would probably be perfect.

[Dposcorp]

Dp, didn't you get the 7" one I put in the mail? I thought you had brought it to the BBQ (sent t Ben's address). The Note fits in the zipper pocket but we don't have a plan to make a tablet side any smaller than the 7" model at this time. Regarding the clips I'll take a look around at some options and see what could work. I think that suspender style clips would necessitate replacing the webbing the d-rings are on with elastic - is that what you think too?

I think a suspender style clip that can attach to the D-rings, as a option, would be good. I always like to have as many options as possible, so instead of making a permanent change, it would be better to have things that can be added or removed as needed.

Think of a modern video card; not every needs "X" number of each type of output, but adding a few adapters in the box makes the buyer happier, since it gives them options.

Check out this PowerColo 7870 Eyefinity 6 Edition Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814131474

Not everyone needs or wants 6 mini display ports, but when you toss in the different adapters it makes all the buyers happy.
In the case of the video card, you get 2 x Mini DP to Single Link DVI Cables, and 4 x Mini DP to DP Cables. (they should have had a HDMI adapter as well imo.

Maybe not the perfect comparison, but my point still stands I think ; having suspender style clips or belt loop attachments as options might be a good idea, as well as different size/style pouches, for those that want a zipper'd pocked or open pocket on both sides.

I think of the "Tech Sling" as mainly the harness, with interchangeable options / accessories. That may not be what you are going for, but it is what I am picturing in my mind.

[drfish]

I think a suspender style clip that can attach to the D-rings, as a option, would be good. I always like to have as many options as possible, so instead of making a permanent change, it would be better to have things that can be added or removed as needed.

I've requested some samples to test out some ideas. Do you recall my double sided Velcro suggestion? Obviously it won't be possible to incorporate every suggestion out there so a little hacking might be required.

[drfish]

So this is the best option I've come up with so far. Please ignore the shininess of the clips, if we ever decided to move forward with this concept they would be in a nice matte black. They are just your standard everyday suspender clips attached to the sides with 1" elastic instead of nylon webbing like the current d-rings are. Since I never tuck in my shirt/wear a belt I wouldn't personally use these - the backstrap is better for me - but what do you think? Would you miss the d-rings?



BTW, in case some of you are following this thread but not the TR BBQ thread I wanted to point out how I used the TechSling to help LiveSteam parts of the BBQ this year. Yes that is a webcam zip tied to my hat.

[drfish]

Thanks for the additional info. The design was based on a caseless Nexus 7 - since it is taller than the Kindle Fire. Looks like I should add 1/2" in each direction...

That would probably be perfect.

You should the new one tomorrow. After reviewing the pictures again I'm concerned it still might be a little small but we'll see.

[Dposcorp]

After reviewing the pictures again I'm concerned it still might be a little small but we'll see.

That's what SHE said!!!!!!!!

[TheEmrys]

So this is the best option I've come up with so far. Please ignore the shininess of the clips, if we ever decided to move forward with this concept they would be in a nice matte black. They are just your standard everyday suspender clips attached to the sides with 1" elastic instead of nylon webbing like the current d-rings are. Since I never tuck in my shirt/wear a belt I wouldn't personally use these - the backstrap is better for me - but what do you think? Would you miss the d-rings?

D-rings... yeah. Those clips look like scratches and scrapes waiting to happen. I like the D-rings a lot. I would think it would be nice to use nylon clips with a carribeener-type attachment on either side with adjustments for the nylon might be a bit more elegant.

[drfish]

This clip could also be an option but since its plastic I'm not sure I could ever trust it to hold up to the leverage involved in a cam action like on a suspender clip. Looks nice though.


The problem with building a separate strap is that the hardware required already more than spans the gap by itself so unless you have a very tall torso you wouldn't be able to use them anyway.


At this point I still think the best option are cable organizer straps. Again, I don't tuck in my shirts so I would use the backstrap regardless.

[drfish]

Disclaimer: Obviously I started this thread and my company makes TechSlings, that said the following post is what I think I would honestly share with you guys as if I was just some random guy that bought a TechSling and wanted to geek out with his friends out about how he was using it... I post this now because I've recently settled on my standard load-out and I find it pretty impressive and quite useful - I can give a general update in a followup post if people are curious about how the project is going (but there are some details I can't share).

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...




We must make a list!

1 ) Samsung Focus (standing in for my Lumia 920 since I needed to use it for taking the pictures)
2 ) AC adapter with USB port
3 ) Asus Vivotab Smart (running Win8 Pro)
4 ) Asus Transleeve Keyboard
5 ) Anker 10k mAh battery pack
6 ) Capacitive Stylus
7 ) Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse
8 ) Flat USB cable

I had all this on me during a meeting yesterday, I was wearing a t-shirt with an unbuttoned shirt over it - the meeting was about rolling out tablets to the sales team and I talked for about 10 minutes before revealing that I had all the hardware I was telling them about tucked under my arms the entire time and no one knew! It was pretty neat and I have to admit I felt a little bit like a magician as I kept pulling "rabbits" out of my "hat." I swear that's not a sales pitch and as proof I'll share that I don't think I quite sold our sales team on wearing TechSlings themselves but I think they "got it" so who knows - we'll see what happens when they get their own tablets...

The only thing that kind of irks me about my load-out is that the battery pack doesn't have a solar charger, I was really going for the completely untethered [zombie apocalypse ready] solution but none of the packs that had panels integrated really did it for me (not that a tiny integrated panel would be much use on a 10,000 mAh monster anyway). I suppose I could fit something like the SolarMio Pro that Geoff put in his Christmas guide in the tablet side but I wouldn't want to take it everywhere like the rest of the stuff, maybe the modular approach is better.

So yeah, otherwise its really nice. I don't wear it all the time but I actually do find myself reaching for it on my way out the door pretty frequently. As some of you know my wife and I have been making daily trips to the hospital to visit our daughter in the NICU for a couple months now, this means I usually end up leaving work fairly early in the day - having a full PC on me (without feeling like I'm lugging one around) has been nice on a number of occasions when the need to remotely solve some random problem comes up after I've left for the day. I'd give more examples of where I've worn it but that's literary the only place I've spent any significant amount of time other than home and work since I got the Vivotab and needed a way to keep it with me.

Anyway, I just couldn't help but share (regardless of my connection to the product).

[Dposcorp]

That actually looks like like a nice load out for someone who wont be at a desktop for hours at a time.
You could set up a office anywhere, and you are not carrying a laptop bag.
Its almost like wearing laptop backup, but in stealth mode. Job well done.

[drfish]

Stealth Office, I like it. Thanks!

[jihadjoe]

This will be awesome when you walk into a meeting looking totally helpless and unprepared, and then boom you whip out your junk and everyone gasps in awe.
"Where was he packing that?"

So when are you gonna put this into production?
I'm throwing money at the screen and nothing's happening.

[Khali]

Interesting. I cobbled together something similar a while back for work. I needed to carry around a control pad, for industrial robots, that was about half again as big as a keyboard kindle. Plus some small tools, various cables, and some replacement sensors. What I came up with used a custom made padded pouch for the control pad and some large sized ammo magazine pouches on the other side. I used some Military load bearing suspenders for the shoulder straps, this gave me a way to run a strap around my back to keep the pouches from swinging forward while I bent over from time to time. Granted I was in a Industrial setting more than a office/IT environment. The get up was handy because about 3/4 of the robots did not have any where you could lay anything down once you got into the safety cages around them.

[drfish]

jihadjoe,
Lol, yeah, that's how it works. You can actually order them already, right from the TechSlinger website. They just released the official mini version designed for the iPad Mini and Nexus 7 and similar. Of course YMMV with what you can do with your load-out and I want to let newcomers to the thread know that some of the features in my swanky plaid version aren't standard, specifically the back strap and the dividers inside the zipper pocket. Also my tablet side is the as of yet unreleased 11.6" compatible model so what you can order today is strictly for iPad or iPad Mini size or smaller tablets (there's extra room enough for even fairly bulky cases though). Phone wise its built around the iPhone with a case but some larger phones without cases will fit (my Lumia 920 is very snug, but it works).

Khali,
Necessity is the mother of invention. TechSlinger was born under different circumstances but similar needs.

Edit: BTW, there are a couple legit reviews for the TechSling online now, this one from iLounge and this one from The Gadgeteer. As a bit of a review snob I really like the attention to detail in The Gadgeteer review as well as his commentary on the stigma of wearing one, specifically the need for a "hero" to wear one (I'm thinking Barney Stinson). The iLounge review isn't flattering but it's more of a reflection on the concept than the product - and that's just fine, its not for everyone.