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August 20, 2008

geekery

A USB shawl for those “Little House on the iPrairie” moments

Posted Aug. 20, ’08, 9:14 AM PT by Kate Marshall
Category | Geekery

iShawl original pic.jpgRemember that that snazzy USB snap bracelet? Man, have I got something ten times better, several times larger, and possibly, a few times pricier: the USB heated shawl! This blue blanket of unknown material (please be the same kind of material that Batman’s suit is made out of) attaches to a computer’s USB port to provide warmth to the wearer. For whatever reason.

Ironically, as I’m typing this, I am cold because the humidity broke last night but my air conditioning didn’t get the memo. For $28.95 (gift wrap is $3.75 extra), do I want to clog Darth Vader’s USB port* with something that looks like it was rejected by the Lord of the Rings costume department? Even if the shawl/lap blanket has a button for securing it around my shoulders, all preppy-style? No, probably not.

(yes, I named my laptop “Darth Vader.” Commence with the mockery now)

[Via dvice]


6 Comments

RonFez007 Author Profile Page said:

I don't get it??? It's a hard drive that you wear on your shoulders??? ...or, is it a delicious dessert-topping/floor-polish?

Why Darth Vader? Does it send anonymous love e-mails to Mon Mothma???

August 20, 2008 10:31 AM
Kathryn Marshall Author Profile Page said:

"Why Darth Vader? Does it send anonymous love e-mails to Mon Mothma???"

Because I can, and no, it does not. Also, because I wanted the other computers in the house to fear it.

August 20, 2008 12:27 PM
Dave-O said:

I guess your next machine will be Emperor Palpatine then. What's after that?

August 20, 2008 3:06 PM
Nadyne Mielke said:

My boyfriend gave me USB-powered gloves for my birthday a couple of years ago:
http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1706

They get quite warm!

August 20, 2008 4:27 PM
Nic Broomfield said:

I shan't mock you for having a laptop called "Darth Vader", I have had computers with equally nerdy nicknames.

What I would deride you for is your longing for any USB-powered heating device, be it shawl or coffee mug warmer et cetera. Particularly from the ports of a laptop.

What all these devices have in common is that they steal power from the USB port without registering themselves as a current sink. And to what purpose? To generate heat. Heat is the undesirable by-product of any electronic device, and you want to steal power from your laptop's limited battery reserves to make MORE?

Please don't endorse these battery-wasters.

August 20, 2008 6:28 PM
spiderbat said:

That's nothing compared with the newest USB-powered gadget: an electric car that doesn't start until the driver connects her/his laptop to the provided USB plug!
There's the 1.1 version and the speedier 2.0.

August 21, 2008 12:28 AM

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