Home 2018 February

Photography: The old school way

Sometimes I miss the good old days of film photography.  Knowing how to set the f-stop and shutter speed along with picking the right ISO for the film was an art and not something you just did by pointing your phone and clicking.  I ran across a great project on Kickstarter for a 3D printed Box camera that uses 120 film spools.  The basic black box version will run you $79, but if you want it in a weathered red, blue or yellow it will run you $119.  It comes with a 1/200 of a second shutter and apertures from f5.6 to f32 and a 95mm lens.  It comes with spools where you will manually wind the film and manually advance each picture.  They plan to offer additional lenses in the future to allow for standard, wide angle and telephoto pictures.  Unfortunately, this project is already closed, but you can still follow along and find out when you can get one of your own.  You can check it out on Kickstarter.

Add a secure AirPod holder to the Apple Watch band

If you ever take out your Apple AirPods while you’re working out or while you’re at work and want someplace safer than a shirt pocket to store them, look at the AirPod holder from the SuperheroDIY shop at Etsy.  The holder is custom “3D printed in PLA plastic at high resolution to meet the designed tolerance“.  The shop owner describes the holder as “tight enough to hold them in, but easy enough to get the AirPods out!  It is also small enough as to not interfere with your movements and stays in place on your watch band!”

The holder is available now in your choice of black, red, or green plastic, but the owner says you can request a custom color.  The AirPods holder for Apple Watch band is $9.00 at the SuperheroDIY shop.

Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini Sit-Stand Desktop review

So you’re thinking about the benefits of a standing desk, but it just doesn’t fit into your workspace plans. Maybe you don’t have even have a traditional desk! Here’s where products like the WorkFit-Z come in. It’s a stand that converts any work surface into a adjustable sitting/standing desk. This particular model is designed for organizing yourself in compact spaces. Let’s check it out!

What is it?

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini is a stand that converts your existing workspace into a height-adjustable standing desk.

Hardware specs

  • Footprint = 31″ x 21″ (79 x 53 cm)
  • Fits on desk surfaces 22″ (56 cm) deep or larger
  • Work surface dimensions = 31” by 15.8”  (78.6 x 40.2 cm)
  • Keyboard tray dimensions = 24.5″ x 9.1″ (62 x 23 cm)
  • Device slot dimensions = 11″ x 1.8″ x 1.1″ (28 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm)
  • Range of motion = 12.5” (31.7 cm)
  • Product Weight: 32 lbs (14.5 kg)
  • Total height in “low position” = 5.4” (14 cm)
  • Total height in “high position” = 17.9” (45.5 cm)
  • Maximum load capacity = 25 lbs (11.3 kg)

What’s in the box?

  • 1 work stand, fully assembled
  • 2 leg covers
  • A couple of zip ties for managing cables

Design and features

Construction and Setup

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini is a surprisingly hefty beast, weighing in at a 32 pounds due to its tank-like construction. A beefy metal frame, thick composite surfaces, and what feels like commercial-grade hardware makes for a solid, stable stand for your precious electronics. Corners, edges, and finishing are all nicely executed with an elegant grey wood grain finish on the work surfaces. It’s a well-built piece of gear that will look great in either your home office, your home project area, or your corporate environs.

You can also leave the tools in the drawer because the Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini comes fully assembled out of the box. The only required setup is to attach the two plastic covers to the “feet” of the stand with peel-off adhesive pads. Cut loose the packing straps, and you’re good to go. From unboxing to setting my gear, we were up and running in my office in under 10 minutes.

Layout and Functionality

As the smallest stand in the Ergotron lineup, the two-tiered design of the WorkFit-Z measures in at a space-friendly footprint of 31” wide by 24” deep. The top tier of your monitor and laptop measures 31” by 15.8”, and includes a clever 11” by 1.8” device slot to cradle your tablet and smartphone. The lower tier is an offset 24.5” by 9.1” dedicated tray for your keyboard and mouse. It’s a compact setup, but it does a nice job of organizing all of your work essentials in a small space.

At the lowest setting, the keyboard tray is flush with your desktop and the top surface sits at an ergonomically-friendly 4.3” above the keyboard tray. Squeeze a handle on the right side of the unit to release the brake, and lift (or lower) the unit to the desired height. Movement is smooth and linear and can be set to any position up to 12.5” above the desktop surface for standing operation. It should be noted that the keyboard tray is locked in position relative to the top surface with no additional adjustments.

Finally, the Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini employs some nice little additions to manage cables. The desktop tray includes a pair of holes in the rear panel if you’re still using a wired keyboard and mouse. The device slot also includes a bottom port through which you can thread your charging cables. This allows you to run all of your cables behind the unit, keeping them out of the way of normal operation.

Performance

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini does a great job fulfilling its mission as an accessory that turns your existing workspace into a convertible sitting/standing desk. Given the small footprint, you can use it in a variety of spaces: your office desk, a countertop, a built-in computer alcove, etc. It also looks great, so you won’t mind having it on display in high-traffic areas. 

We tested the stand with two configurations, as you can see from the pictures: a 21.5″ iMac with wireless keyboard/mouse, and a Windows-based setup with a 24″ monitor, wired accessories, a Chromebook, and an iPhone. I also tested the iMac with my 13″ MacBook to test the sizing.

For a compact footprint, the Workfit-Z offers a surprising amount of room for all of our gear. You can fit a monitor and laptop on the work surface with room to spare for your small devices. After testing both configurations with the help of my son, we found that there is plenty of room to work without feeling cramped. Ergotron does offer larger models if you need more space to stretch out for dual-monitor setups or larger pieces of equipment, so you’ll want to do some checking before you settle on this particular stand.

The dedicated keyboard tray does have its pros and cons. It’s not designed to handle a full-size keyboard and mouse but works just fine with the compact keyboard/mouse setup you see in the pictures. It’s also not adjustable and can’t be tucked out of the way, so using the laptop without external accessories can get a bit awkward for extended use. Depending on your personal preferences this may or may not be an issue for you.

The manual lifting/lowering operation is very smooth and works well. The unit is rated at a maximum load of 25 pounds, so you won’t need your big muscles to operate the device. We did find it easier to raise & lower the stand with two hands if it was loaded up, but it’s not a big problem.

I’m extremely impressed with the overall build of the Workfit-Z. It’s a rock-solid stand that’s extremely stable at any height without a wobble to be found. It is so well planted that I have no concerns about the safety of my gear toppling over. I’m also confident that the frame, surfaces, and hardware will last for years without failing. It’s that good.

What I like

  • Compact, organized profile for small workspaces
  • Rock solid, stable construction
  • Looks good enough for the home or professional office
  • Smooth operation
  • No assembly required

What needs to be improved

  • Doesn’t fit a full-size keyboard and mouse; check your gear dimensions first
  • Not ideal for dedicated laptop use over extended periods due to the dedicated keyboard/mouse tray; you’ll be more comfortable using an external keyboard/mouse

Final thoughts

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini is a great solution for converting an existing workspace to a convertible sitting/standing desk. In scanning comparable products, it looks like the $250 price point is in alignment with similar products on the higher end of build quality. I’m OK with the price-to-value ratio here. A desk is a solid investment that gets daily use, so you want to make sure that your solution is solid and safe for your precious electronics. The WorkFit-Z scores on both counts. It’s also got a two-year warranty, which adds a level of confidence to your investment.

My only two caveats about this product are related to your intended use. Depending on your working style, the keyboard tray may get in the way of extended laptop use. It is also the smallest desktop converter in their lineup, so you should evaluate your gear needs (and take some measurements) to ensure that this model would work for you. Other than those two items, I would highly recommend this product.

Price: $249.99
Where to buy: Visit the Ergotron WorkFit-Z page for purchasing information, or check out their store on .
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Ergotron.

 

Hasbro’s Star Wars Ultimate Co-pilot Chewie might just be the most adorable thing in the galaxy

There were a lot of cool things unveiled at this year’s New York Toy Fair, but Hasbro may have topped them all when they introduced the galaxy to the Star Wars Ultimate Co-pilot Chewie. As the newest addition to their FurReal line not only is the 16” tall animatronic fuzz ball cute to look at he also comes complete with 100 different sound and motion combinations. If you touch his stomach he’ll laugh, say hello and Chewie will raise his arms and respond with a roar. And he even has a number of surprising facial expressions. Chewie also has a built-in accelerometer which allows him to react to different kinds of movement. Picking him up, flying him around or shaking him will all elicit a different reaction. Possibly the best thing, or, at the very least the cutest thing is when you rock him in your arms he closes his eyes and goes to sleep complete with a loud Wookie snore.

Hasbro’s Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie is for children ages 4 and up and will cost $129.99. The bad news is the galaxy’s favorite furry smuggler won’t be available until the Fall.

Jamee Miller takes on the challenge of dyslexia and hits a homerun with the Read ‘n Style Pen

Jamee Miller is a small town girl who grew up with dyslexia. She came up with the idea of the Read ‘n Style pen while in college and struggling to read assignments.  She then partnered with the startup company Hidden Abilities to turn the concept of the Read ‘n Style pen into a reality.

It is the first digital pen that is designed to assist with the challenges of reading and comprehension, and it is very easy to use. Once it is fully charged, simply press the button near the top and scan the text that you are reading. The text is then converted into audio and transmitted to the user via a small and comfortable Bluetooth earbud. The earbud along with the charger is included in the package, and ensures privacy, convenience and no disturbance to others. The designers were very careful to make sure that no data is saved on the device. This is an important feature since it allows the pen to be integrated into any testing or a confidential environment, without the risk of cheating or theft of data.

While the Read ‘n Style pen was initially designed to address the challenges of dyslexia, it can be used in other ways such as teaching kids to read, including word and sound association. And for those with failing eyesight, the pen may add some level of comfort and convenience to their lifestyle.

The Read ‘n Style pen is available at Indiegogo for $396.00 with a $70 discount for early pre-orders.