TiStrap V3

PowerBook Strap: TiStrap V1 TiStrap V3
Other Projects: Coat Mods Coat Hanger Ring Table DeLorean
And while we're here... Kittens

Who needs a laptop case when you can carry all the accessories in your coat? This is the third version of the TiStrap; the original two can be found here and here. I upgraded my old 800 MHz G4 Powerbook Titanium to a new aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz G4 Powerbook, so of course I needed a new shoulder strap mount, the now improperly named TiStrap V3 (AlStrap just doesn't sound right...).

The aluminum Powerbooks have a radically different hinge design from the Titaniums, so the old mounting system wasn't going to work. I looked into using the two or all four of the long screws on the bottom of the Powerbook, similar to how the new model Powerbook handle mounts, but I didn't want the computer to be tipped forward on the desk.

For this mount I decide to use two of the screws on right side of the Powerbook, which normally perform the mundane task of holding that part of the case together. The original screws are pathetically short, and I had trouble finding longer screws of the right diameter here in Vermont. As such, I simpyl scavaged two of the shorter mounting screws off my old Powerbook strap mount. I cut a piece of straight aluminum with a hack saw and drilled two holes for the screws, plus a larger hole for the strap that holds the ring. The strap and ring arrangement are very similar to the original two Powerbook strap designs; a sewing machine and a soldering iron (to melt the frayed webbing edges) hold it all together. The screws are, of course, secured with thread locker.

The mount seems to hold quite well; I'm hoping to avoid a repeat of the original design's failure. I'm considering some sort of hook into the security lock slot just behind the mount, just in case, although I'm having trouble coming up with what I'd do there.

The aluminum mount matches the aluminum case quite nicely. The ring is under your wrist when you type, but it isn't really in the way, and as the webbing wears it should move out of the way easily.

1/8" thick straight aluminum cut down and rounded with a file is used as the mounting hardware. Two small holes for the new screws and a larger hole for the webbing were drilled into the strip.
Two of the shorter screws from the old Powerbook mount replace the extremely short screws originally on the Powerbook.
A 1" wide strip of webbing was run through the larger holes and is sewn into place.
A 1 1/4" diameter ring on the end of the webbing is used to attach the shoulder strap to.
Webbing tends to unravel over time; a few quick taps with the edge of a soldering iron is all that is needed to melt the frayed ends and keep them together.
The Tempurpedic sohulder strap is attached to a carabiner and wrapped in wire to keep the caribiner clear. The carabiner in turn clips onto the ring on the laptop for quick removal. I highly recommend the Tempurpedic shoulder strap for anything shoulder-carried; it does not cut into your shoulder like other straps. You can get one from Brookstone for about $30. It's easily worth it. (Incidentally, I discovered the hard way that Tempurpedic doesn't survive freezing temperatures; it gets solidly stiff and will snap in half when you try to bend it.)
When worn, the laptop dangles at about waist height. The excessive swinging that would normally occur is dampened signifigantly by wearing a trenchcoat over it. OK, that links to my old coat; I now have a very nice AbbyShot Stampede Duster, which they were good enough to customize with an extra 20 plus pockets.

Before mounting The tiny screws were the ones that were orignally on the Powerbook. The larger ones are the replacement screws.	Final mounting Two longer screws and some lock tight secure the mount to the case.	Full view of final mounting This helps give an idea of the size of the mount.
3/4 view of final mounting The sepia coloring came from using a single halogen light, which was bright enough for the camera to disable it's flash. For some reason this tinted the image instead of color balancing as white.	Shoulder strap hooked up A full view of the Powerbook hooked up to the shoulder strap, and other random crap on my desk.	Shoulder strap attached to ring The shoulder strap is the same Tempurpedic strap used for the V1/V2 straps.