Tablet PC / Monitor Mount - Any Ideas?

[Xzin]

Problem: I need to use a tablet PC with a Chaise Lounge.

I need to be able to move the tablet PC around. Fixing it in place is easy. Adding movement is the tough part.

You try using the tablet for long periods in a chaise lounge or on a couch.

I have solved how to mount the tablet PC to a sturdy, removable VESA mount. But I need to move it around and be able to also fix it in place when using the pen.

http://blogs.menupages.com/chicago/chaise.jpg

+

http://www.techshout.com/images/le1700-tablet.jpg

= :(

I was thinking articulating monitor arm but those don't articulate vertically. Their reach is limited.

Cost isn't a factor but at some point it just gets overly complicated.

Is there any "off the shelf" solution out there? Nothing is coming to me.

Ideally it would be counterbalanced such that it would be secure in any position, but with enough force, able to be easily moved.

[Ellay]

Could I get an mspaint drawing of what your describing :) the movement and placement that is.

[Gallo]

Do you need to have it fixed in place? Seems like a simple lap pillow would help you tons.

[simpletom]

why not just use a laptop, mine goes everywhere with me like its a lifesupport.

when i saw your 2 photos i thaught that your latest plan was some really high tech pshycyatrist idea :p

what you want is somthing like those bendy arm desk lamps but with a tray attached to it rather than a light?

[Shogun]

Humanscale do some mounts that articulate, and can be moved up and down on their stands. All the banks I go into in the UK use some form of Humanscale VESA mount. Only problem you're going to have is when you want the screen to offer resistance when using the pad etc. I can see what you're talking about though...

What about having it on a pole that uses compressed air to raise/lower itself like you get with office chairs/desks.

Does it need to be totally mobile or just 1 or 3 positions for it? that would be easier, 1 height, rotate it out of the way. Then sit down, swing it in and have something lock/click it fixed once there, then to put it back to position 1 you pull/push it one direction and then return it to the out of the way spot. Not sure that makes sense, can see it in my head though ;)

[Nitro]

I spent about 2 years at Microsoft working on Tablet PC's.

<3 Tablet PC's

If im not mistaken that looks like a Motion LE1600/LE1700 in the pic. You can get a FlexDock for it and mod to your needs. Mabey attach some sort of free swing monitor mount to that and you get the movement from the monitor mount and the extra up/down direction from the FlexDock.

https://store.motioncomputing.com/TABproducts.asp?SolutionCatID=26&LevelID=3&TabID=1

https://store.motioncomputing.com/mt/DEFAULT//images/productimages/access_le1600_flexdock.jpg

[Nitro]

You try using the tablet for long periods in a chaise lounge or on a couch.


btw, using a tablet pc in any other way other than in your hands in a normal sitting position or on a table infront of you close to your chest your arms will get very tired very fast. (if you plan to use it for pen input)

[Diamndzngunz]

Now xzin you showing off again? hehe.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ergotron.com/Products/DeskMounts/tabid/71/ctl/Product/mid/396/PRDID/68/language/en-US/default.aspx

I used two of these particular arms mounted on the edge of a table, and sat the lcd over a Laz-e-boy chair. They worked great, had just enough tension to stay in place and could swing up, down, in, and out, all day. After using these I would say it the tension could be set just right to allow writing on a tablet. All you would need is some kind of sturdy post and three inches of edge to mount it on. I wouldn't count on these lasting 10 years under heavy use, but the medical quality ones should if durability is a concern.

[Skuggomann]

Maby jsut get soem CUSTOM MAEIID shit?


i think youl have a problew with makign it movable and then fixing it in place tou :S and i see no clear solution to this :S

[Suribusi]

If I had to accomplish a task such as this, I would:

Cut out some of the padding between the butt and knees for the mount, likely about 4-6in before the knee bend. Save this cut out and mod it to be snapped back in place to fill the hole (velcro, magnets, shoulder joints, whatever you like) in case you put your custom mount/arm away for storage and want to retain the original look/feel. For example if you invited Suribusi over and wanted to have an extra chair. :wink:

Mount the arm to the base of the chair at the location of the cut out. It could be just holes in the base to screw it down to an apparatus on the underside. This would also be a good application for shoulder joints, but more care would have to be taken to ensure stability with this route, over screws. You would have the advantage of eaisly switching between pad and mount since they use the same method for attachment.

You could easily sit in the chair without discomforting yourself by a 3 foot object sticking up from between your legs (although if you're like me, then you are already used to it :lol: ). Then when you are all done, you could assemble or disassemble it, even while sitting down in it.

This also gives you the advantage of a wider range of mounting arms since the distance between the base of the mount to where you will most likely be needing it is much shorter/flexible.

-S

[Xzin]

It is a Motion, best tablets out there on the consumer market. Pricey though.

I might buy a Wacom Cintiq 21" and use that... 1600 x 1200 would be pretty sleek. But it is heavy. 18.7 lbs. without stand. But it does have a standard VESA mount.

But for the meantime, I have the mount:

http://www.ram-mount.com/index_files/ram138mot8_small.jpg

There is also a VESA adapter plate too.

http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/images/products/accessory/60-579-200_sm_thm.jpg

But I am still using it without the mount.

My biggest problem is after a few weeks of trying to sit/lay/etc in bed/couch/etc - my neck, back and side starts to hurt. I can lay on my side for a while but eventually that strains my shoulders and neck. I can lay on my back and try to hold it up or prop some pillows under my neck but again, the angle is awful and it hurts my neck. A tablet PC is great but the way it forces you to sit isn't working for me and it would be nice to be able to "relax" with it and not use it at a traditional desk because, well, it is a tablet PC.

Then again, it would also be nice to be able to articulate it into a normal desk as well.

But for the time being, the problem to solve is how to use the tablet while "relaxing" without discomfort.

The Ergotron LX has promise:

http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/images/products/lxArm/LX-Notebk-anima3.gif

But I am not sure it is adjustable enough (total height/depth range) and mounting to it is going to be a pain but possible. So I will keep searching and do some mockups. Any other suggestions are always appreciated.

Seems like a pretty big problem to me. But one that is certainly solvable.

[Lance]

Raid your local hospital for one of those those tables they use for eating in bed and attach a mount to that. :D

[Lost Ninja]

Was going to suggest the sort of mounts used in hospitals and dentists. I forget the make (UK/EU anyway) but I have used a sample monitor mount very similar to the ergotron mentioned above and seen product literature that showed similar mounts in use in Hospitals/Dentists.

[Wilbur]

You need a hover-computer.

[Skuggomann]

You need a hover-computer.

jea jsut moint a jet enjin to it ;)

[neux]

What about this?http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/images/products/nfArm/45-185-194anim.gif
Links:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16850000336
http://www.ergotron.com/Products/tabid/65/ctl/Product/mid/387/PRDID/9/language/en-US/default.aspx

[Sam DeathWalker]

http://www.bizchair.com/nan-jn-2780-gg.html


http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/9847?ovchn=BIZ&ovcpn=&ovcrn=9847&ovtac=CMP&CS_003=2362739&CS_010=9847


Me I would do it myself:

get some 1/2' pipe from homedepot and they have those round things that let you screw a pipe to a wood or flat thing with 4 screws in it, then just build up a pipes until you are where you want to go, and maybe use these:

http://www.scaffoldexpress.com/Dual-Purpose-Scaffolding-Swivel-Clamp-p/se-swc.htm

Humm lots of adjustable items:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-8-Galvanized-Scaffolding-Cheeseborough-Swivel-Clamp_W0QQitemZ330200316944QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m330200316944

Those locking pins things make the hight adjustable ... humm