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Improve breakable thin wire in power adapter connector

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products, Laptops submitted by tovare Jul 18

In the power adapter for my XPS 1330 there is a small needle-like wire in the (male) connector. This pin easily bends and breaks, requiring replacement of the whole power adapter.

A pin would normally be exposed to artifacts that could bend it during normal use because there isn't any location in the carrying bag, and there is no protective cap to place on the end when transporting the equipment.

I urge you to please look at the power adapter construction and consider one of the following actions:

A. Use a stronger alloy for the 'needle' in the male connector.

B. Provide a small protection cap that can be attaced to the cable (male connector) and easily put on when transporting the adapter. And please make this available to existing owners.

C. Provide a glue-on fixture for the socket which adapts the socket to adifferent and more appropriately designed connector.

Thank you very much ! 8 Comments »

Develop science / sci-fi concept for laptops.

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas, Laptops submitted by tovare Jul 1

I was inspired by a post about rulers for monitors.

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/10089844/Ruler_for_the_monitor

Here's the idea:

Make a new laptop concept in the direction of Casio G-Shock, Swiss army knifte, Leatherman Tools, Fluke etc. A computer is the finest scientific tool you can purchase, you could make a concept which recognizes this and add additional instrumentation.

* Light sensor (Could be helpfull for choosing cameralens etc and to answer if the office enviroment needs more light etc.).

* A GPS reciever.

* Picking up other signals than bluetooth and Wifi (Such as FM, AM, HAM, Alien communication etc.)

* A tilt sensor which can be used as a level.

* Temperature.

* Alttitude sensor

* Barometer

* Thermometer

* Humidity sensor (also to protect computer).

* Laser measuring device.

* Electrical meassurements (Like a fluke multimeter).

* Geiger counter.

... and much much more.

The end-user-experience should be like in a science fiction movie where the hero can figure out anything from the computer. Think: What would Dr. Rodney McKay in Stargate Atlantis like? :-)

This product would be for the love of technology, engineering and a bright future.

A good product has a good story: You should have science fiction authors develop the concept with you! Bring science teachers in on the development as well !

Thanks for reading and vote this up for some more attention :) 19 Comments »

Proximity sensor for keyboard backlight activation on XPS laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by tovare Jun 19

One of my consens with keyboard backlight is that it would light up the PC too much in the dark for instance when watching a DVD. Varius timeout modes from last keyboard activity is clumsy, because then you need to say hit one of the arrow-keys (although it would have been fun to see a keyboard once with an actual ANYKEY).

So here is my idea:

It would be cool in a sci-fi sort of way if you could add an infrared proximity-sensor which activated the backlight, so that when your finger approached the keyboard the keys would light up when in the dark.

Now, bring out your laptop, turn off the light....and visualize it. Cool huh? 2 Comments »

A superthin flashlight that fits in the SD slot on XPS laptops.

XPS products submitted by tovare May 20

The XPS M1330 has a remote control in one slot, which is a neat trick, but I would like a flash-light in the SD slot for lighting up the keyboard and also be usefull for lighting other objects.

I realize the form factor is tiny, but I imagine a strip of ultrasmall surface mounted LED's in one end of the SD-card and a superthing batterysource. The oppisite end could have a paper-clip like metal fastener for attaching the light to the top of the screen or a piece of paper (or a book). When the 'paperclip' is rotated to enable attachement, a joint in the lower part SD card would be adjustable allowing adjustments to the verticlal alignement of the light.

From bottom to front, you have the metal-wire (paperclip), then the joint (where the 'paperclip' locks the joint), then a longer portion cointaing the battery followed by the LED strip.

I realize some development would be required, but I think this would be slightly superior to the LED found on Lenovo T60 laptops, because you would also be able to read other things with (although the strength of the light, would be somewhat dimmer due to the microscopic led). 5 Comments »