Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

Radio Shack Visor/Palm stuff!

Radio Shack now carries some PDA stuff, and some just for Visor's and Palms, even though their main focus is the Compaq IPAQ. (And, no, I do not work for the Shack in any way.)

Screen protectors for Palm III and Visor, #25-940. A pack of 12 with a 'credit card' applicator is $14.95. These are thin, crystal clear, and self-adhesive.

The ones I tried did not quite go to the edges, but they covered the screen pretty well. The one I tried went on easily (although be very careful not to crease or kink the film as you apply it- it will hold that crease forever! It also removed smoothly- the fact that it did not fit tight made it pretty easy to take off.

Not too bad a deal. They seem as if they would hold up as well as most others, the cost is not too bad, and they do what they say. The packaging is minimal but smart and easy to toss in your kit. The bag they come in has a recloseable strip and the instructions are on the applicator.

The 'Sticky Pad' (no Radio Shack number on my package, price was about $6.95?) is a 4" x 6" piece of black leather-look material that 'clings' to your dashboard or another clean surface, then provides a 'clingy' surface to hold your PDA, cell phone, glasses, etc. It can be removed, washed, etc.

I use this kind of stuff a lot when working with wheelchairs, and the basic idea usually works well as long as you keep it reasonably clean- dust and crud build-up reduce the 'cling'. However- this is a low cost, low-tech way to keep your stuff where you need it in your car!

PDA Case (25-931) and pouch (25-930) are decently made and priced (19.99 and 14.99 respectively), but sized for the larger Pocket PC's. The case uses Velcro. Although too big for my Visor, it was not big enough for any accessories. The case is made by CD Projects.

The Shack also carries several kinds of screen cleaner (I really like the "Anti-Static Screen Cleaning Gel, #26-322), etc. The manager at my local one said he 'thinks' that there will be more things coming- a screen cleaning kit and maybe a repair kit, styli, etc. as Palm-OS PDA's continue to grow in popularity.

I think it is about time! The Shack used to be the cutting edge place for electronics, then lost that edge for a long time. They could be the best place to go for parts and accessories for a variety of electronics stuff- if only they could keep their price/quality ratio balanced!

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

Radio Shack Screen Protectors Update:

These Mylar-like plastic screen protectors scratch pretty easily. Using a Pentopia Chameleon Stylus and drawing small circles, I could usually see some haze in a couple seconds, and it quickly developed into full scratches.

The effect is greatly accelerated if there is any dust on the screen.

In actual use, the hazes in the Grafitti area became noticeable in a couple days, and annoying in a week (the texture of 'writing' over the scratches and haze bugged me).

The cost/use ratio is still not too bad- 12 for $14.95 with a couple weeks life per screen means that the bag will last 4-6 months for someone like me.

Brando Screen Protector Update:

The Brando protector (www.brando.com.hk), $12 for 1 (reuseable, washable, etc.) remains my preferred protector, however...

When you wash it, it is a major pain to ensure that there is no dust being trapped under it- it will pick up lint, hair, dust, etc. from anything you touch after you wash it- and it is really hard to get this debris off.

After several weeks of use, the screen protector, other than some trapped dust, looks brand new with only the slightest hints of wear on the face!

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Sumner, WA
Posts: 70

Re: Radio Shack Visor/Palm stuff!

quote:

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Originally posted by Madkins007
The 'Sticky Pad' (no Radio Shack number on my package, price was about $6.95?) is a 4" x 6" piece of black leather-look material that 'clings' to your dashboard or another clean surface, then provides a 'clingy' surface to hold your PDA, cell phone, glasses, etc. It can be removed, washed, etc.

I use this kind of stuff a lot when working with wheelchairs, and the basic idea usually works well as long as you keep it reasonably clean- dust and crud build-up reduce the 'cling'. However- this is a low cost, low-tech way to keep your stuff where you need it in your car!

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Okay, what do you mean you use it a lot with wheelchairs? I'm curious, as I'm in a wheelchair, and hey, anything to protect or even ATTACH my visor to my wheelchair would be good. Otherwise, it goes in a jacket pocket or on my dog. (Don't laugh, I mean his BACKPACKS!).

Dana

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

We use a lot of non-skid materials (such as Dycem brand mats) in a lot of different ways. The stuff is pretty aggressive, but I would not trust it as the main mount for something like this.

Mounting a Visor to a chair would depend a lot on your specific situation, but let me bounce a few possibilities off you! (Please recall that most of my clients are pretty involved, so a lot of what I have to do take a lot of tinkering)

- If you have a mounting arm for a comm. device, computer, etc., add a small platform and attach the Visor there with the dread Velcro, an attached snap-on style cover, etc. If positioned well, you should be able to use it with the other device still in place.

- Full-size laptray? A great place to store things safely on these is attached under the tray! Rig up a simple storage box for your Visor and attach it under the tray where you can easily reach it. The storage box can be Velcro'ed on and designed to be removed as a unit if you want.

- Want to tinker a bit? Take your tray and determine the best place for the Visor to sit for you to use. Cut a hole in the tray at that point and rig up an open box under the tray. Rig it so you can put a cover or plug back on the opening to give you a smooth surface that will also protect the Visor between uses. Lay the Visor in the opening. Make this idea 'cooler' by laying the Visor on a piece of plastic that you can elevate and prop up to give you a better angle, then tuck back underneath to fold back down.

- No laptray? Use a protective case and rig up a mounting site between you and the armrest. A case with a spring belt clip, for example, would probably snap over your clothing guard or clip to a pouch on the armrest- or you could install a piece of webbing to act as a 'belt' for it to clip to. Belt clips can be added to most cases if necessary.

-Install a padded case or pouch on the side to hold your Visor and other items. Cases for cameras, CD players, game machines, etc. work well for this.

- Go to a neck pouch. This is a solution we use a lot for wallets, cell phones, and other valuables. This is independent of a chair, keeps the items close by pretty much whatever you do, and is not too bad if you choose a pouch with a comfortable strap.

There are, of course, a lot of other possibilities. You can E-mail me if you want to discuss it!