Yesterday, a distressing thing happened.
I had an email from the iLap people telling me once again that they couldn’t help me with my problem. You see, a couple of years ago I bought one of these wonderful things. I mean, it really is wonderful. I spend a lot of time using the laptop, and I use it on my lap! Yeah, I know, crazy, huh? And the problem is that they get hot, and then you get hot, and there have actually been reports of people getting burns on their legs (and other parts) from the things. So I bought an iLap, which is a lightweight, angled platform which rests on your lap and provides air circulation for both you and your Mac. Sorry, Windows users, you’ll have to find your own solution!
Anyway. When the iLap arrives, you get four neat little silicone ‘dots’ to stick on it. These provide air space for the computer, and they also stop it sliding forward and ending up in your … um … lap. So, over time, these little dots started sliding forward, very gradually, with the weight of the computer - gravity doing its funky stuff, you know - and eventually came off. I found that even with cleaning and resticking, they didn’t stay stuck, so I contacted the dealer and requested some more, and they told me they didn’t keep them. I wrote back and asked what was I supposed to do, buy a whole new iLap? And the email I got yesterday just said again, we can’t help you, try Rain Design, who actually make the thing. I will do that, and I’ll let you all know what happens.
The most distressing thing is that it’s the second time this has happened lately. I’ve bought a good product, which works really well, but relies on a fairly cheap part to make it work really well, and when that part has failed, I’ve found that it’s not replaceable.
The other thing was a polished wood raised dog feeding station. This thing is designed to hold food and water at a convenient height for tall dogs, who may or may not have neck and/or spine problems. Because it is wood, the stainless steel bowls that are supplied have a rubber ring around the edge which is removable for cleaning. Now, you will gather from the ‘polished wood’ part and the ’stainless steel bowls’ part that this piece of furniture was not cheap. But can I buy replacement rubber rings, now that one has perished and fallen off? No. I cannot.
We live in a disposable society, and that has to change for many reasons. But for crying out loud - when you are left with a perfectly good piece of kit in full working order except for a cheap and easily replaceable component which is, for some reason, unavailable to buy? That just makes me want to smack someone.
My temporary solution to the iLap problem is to glue some cheap and cheerful stick-on pads and cover them with Hi-Tack craft glue. Those are the black things you can see stuck to the iLap in the picture. It works, but it’s ugly.
Update! A very nice lady from Rain Design is going to put some in the post for me! Isn’t that nice of her? Restores my faith in human nature!
Have you thought of using hot glue around the edges of those stainless steel bowls? (What! She screams. Are you crazy???). Here’s what I mean…flip the bowls over, apply a bead of hot glue around the underside of the rim, LET COOL, then set the bowl into the wooden holder. It might work, although obviously, you’d have to replace it often.
Okay, okay. I’ll shut up. Dumb idea. lol
Kari
Karis last blog post..Our Pride and Joy
Not a dumb idea at all, but the rubber fits all around the edge (it’s like a v-shape in section) to stop the water coming over. OK, it doesn’t work to stop all splashes, but it helps. The hot glue would at least cushion the rim though - I’ll suggest it to OH!
Regarding a comment you’d left on my blog a couple of days ago: “I’ve never seen a rose rock, but I love it! I assume these are natural rock formations that you can just find? What are they made of? Looks a bit like soapstone?
The lantana - is that the shrub that attracts hummingbirds?”
The rose rocks were formed by sandstone and barite crystals (I say that like I really know what barite actually is! lol). Yes, they are natural rock formations, and the red ones are found exclusively in Oklahoma. Some other states have rose rocks, but none have them in the red color (which is native to Oklahoma soil). There’s also some in the middle east, but they were formed with a different kind of crystal. There. That’s the extent of my rose rock knowledge. lol
As to the lantana, yes, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. It’s a perennial and comes in a multitude of colors. I have several “confetti” colored plants, as well as some orange/yellow ones. It even comes in red, which I do NOT have, but would love to get. And that’s the full extent of my lantana knowledge. (Gee - I’m not very knowledgable about things, am I??)
Thanks for your interest, though. And let this be a lesson to you…be careful what you ask for. You might just find yourself BORED SILLY with the answer!
Kari
Karis last blog post..Our Pride and Joy
Well, I bought a scanner a couple of years ago and it hasn’t work for the last year. I have called Canon a couple of times about it and their response is. “Try turning it off and on again. That didn’t work? Oh, well, just buy a new one then, since it will be cheaper than getting that one fixed” Great. Let’s just say if I do buy a new one, it won’t be a Canon! I still have the not-working one on my desk - I just can’t throw it out, it seems like such a wicked waste.
Don’t Bug Me!s last blog post..Shining my green halo
Kari - that was actually very interesting! If I ever come to Oklahoma, I’m going to want to bring home a rock rose!
DBM - Was it just out of guarantee? Don’t you just LOVE when that happens? I just want to throttle someone. Yes, it is a wicked waste.
The new scanner we have is an HP. I swore that I’d never buy another HP because of the way the software infects your computer, putting stuff all over the place that you don’t even want or need and then fails to work and refuses to update … but this one is an HP. Why? Because when they work they’re fantastic printers and this one did exactly what I wanted at the right price. I do think some have built-in redundancy though, which has just got to stop!
“it’s ugly, but it works.”
I’ve heard that said of me before…
I use a Roadtools Podium Pad, which is a smaller stand, but it swivels. I then put this on a laptop desk. Things stay really cool.
Anyway, the Podium Pad has little rubber ‘feet’, which, when they fall off, (and they do) cause it to rock incessantly. I just go out to Target and get replacements and voÃla, fixed.
You could try beating the service clerk over the head with the thing. It would make you feel better AND would create useful, laptop computer sliding ridges.
Daniel
Daniel Coxs last blog post..Take care of your own damn lawn
Ugh..I tried to get something similar for my lappy but everything I tried the whole thing just slid off. I gave up and bought a laptop table from Ikea! Not quite the same but no more sore legs:o)
gemmaks last blog post..Fancy these in your back garden?
Daniel! ROFL! I like it. ‘Useful, laptop computer sliding ridges’.
I’m going to look up the Podium Pad.
Gemma - I’m gonna look at the laptop table from Ikea, too, even though I detest Ikea!
Johnny looks comfortable sk
sandy ks last blog post..Uh- Oh Look Who’s Here !!! The Blog Critic !!!Yipes ~
He does, Sandy, doesn’t he? He obviously likes my desktop.
when you are left with a perfectly good piece of kit in full working order except for a cheap and easily replaceable component which is, for some reason, unavailable to buy?
Pfiu’, for a moment I thought you were talking about me! Then I realised it was a laptop…I know what you mean, I find these un-holy experiences so annoying, it’s a good job these days the customer service is done via call centres. Good for them anyway.
DeaFulgoras last blog post..do you kung-fu?
DeaFulgora - LOL! No, not you! Did you see the update? I get new silcone pads through the mail! Yay me!
Maddening! Seems things break down in direct correlation to how much you paid for them (more expensive things break much faster) and/or how much you actually need them (if you need them very little, they’ll still be around in a landfill 100 years after you’re gone). I myself do not have a laptop but if I ever get one I’m buying this nifty rubberized lap desk made just for the purpose … saw it at Barnes & Noble. I don’t know if it helps the machine be cooler, though … I just know it helps it to stay put and not burn your … uhm, lap. LOL!
Jennys last blog post..Can You Smell The Puppy Breath?
I’ll have to have a look in Barnes and Noble when I’m in the US!
It’s a very annoying fact that things break sooner if they’re really expensive, or if you really need them.
And no-one wants a burned .. um … lap. LOL!
Couldn’t you use a towel? Or a pillow? Or a board?
Annas last blog post..Great Blogs = Too Much Competition
Anna - Hi there! The trouble with a towel or a pillow is that they’ll both make the thing overheat … even with a board (straight onto your lap), it’s going to get hotter that they should. Apparently, they need air, which is why the iLap has a hole cut into it.
Everything is disposable these days, I swear. Or, as you found out, it can be pricey, but come with cheap parts. It’s also something the b/f and I disagree on. I would rather have the more expensive version, better quality, better warranty, etc. whereas he, will just run out and buy the cheapest thing he can find because we need it now. Drives me nuts.
jts last blog post..Still Manic Monday
JT - we tend to choose something in the mid-price range, not too cheap, not too expensive. But of course, there are things - like the iLap - which are unique, so not much choice! Actually there seem to be a few more laptop supports about now, than when we bought that one!
Hi Jay,
I hear you. Often a good product is make with parts that break or wear out. It gets distressing as we don’t want to throw the whole thing away.
I noticed that a lot with electronics. I now call cell phones “throwaways” as they are cheaper to replace than to have fixed.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..The Law Of Attraction In Action
Hi Barbara - I’m so impressed that going straight to the manufacturer got me the part I needed - and free of charge, too! They’re posting them from San Francisco to the UK and won’t take any money. Kudos! I wonder how often that would happen if we went straight to the top?
Cell phones? Gah! I now have three that were bought in the US to use over there, but when I go back, I can’t reactivate them. What’s up with that? It’s cheaper to buy a new one, but we spend half a day of our holiday in a bloody phone shop!!
shucks i use my lap on my laptop too and it does get hot. i need something, but i keep thinking that it will just be clutter, lol. i know what you mean though with those sticky things, they come off and it’s a (censored)!
Naturals last blog post..What My Clothes Reveal About Me
I think I’ve met my soul sister. You should see my desktop. It looks like yours except minus Johnny. Instead I have a picture of Ryan Gosling. I think it annoys my kids that I don’t have a picture of them on it, but I know what they look like. I see them all the time. I might forget what Ryan looks like and I wouldn’t want that to happen.
Jens last blog post..Friday Eye Candy–Johnny Depp
Hi Jen - nice to see you over here!
Unfortunately, Ryan Gosling reminds me of my brother … but I know exactly what you mean about the pics and knowing what your kids look like! You should read Why The Depp Effect. It’s worth it just for the picture at the end, which I know you’ll relate to!