So a few days ago I got the email ad for Twelve South's new HoverBar. I have to admit that the marketing got me and touched my inner geek:
The HoverBar is designed to clamp to any of the current generation of Apple displays. It ca also clamp to anything that isn't more than about 1" in width. Well I don't have an Apple display, but I've got a pretty nice LG IPS screen, so without too much thought of how I'd use such a thing as the HoverBar, I plopped down $80 and ordered one. My HoverBar arrived via the Brown Suited Santa (UPS) about two days later. Here it is:
Like all other Twelve South products I've seen/owned, the HoverBar is extremely well made. The clamp is a rubber-lined very solid block of aluminum with an oversize machine screw for torquing down on whatever you decide to clamp it to. Most of the clamp is hidden away underneath my desk. It's got two mounting holes for the arm, so you can change the angle by 90 degrees if you so choose.
The iPad (sans case) snaps into a lightweight plastic bracket which in turn is secured to the gooseneck arm via a ball and socket interface.
From there, you can adjust the tension of the ball/socket easily using a threaded collar on the back of the contraption.
The HoverBar comes with four plastic clamps that you can use to route cables up the gooseneck arm. Unfortunately, I can see these getting lost unless you're gentle with the cables you set in the channel. I think Twelve South could have done a better job with these.
One thing to note is that the iPad oscillates when you touch it. I don't think there's anything Twelve South can do about this, because you're putting the iPad on the end of an 18" flexible arm. If you're doing to be doing heavy typing, use a keyboard. I find myself having to use a gentle touch on the iPad when doing whatever on it while mounted in the HoverBar. Not a showstopper for me, though.
All in all, the HoverBar is a pretty cool accessory if you don't mind plunking down the cash. I use my iPad for referencing a ton of various regulations at work, so I may transfer the HoverBar to my office for that. This would have been awesome to have back when I was working on my thesis, since I could have put the references up on the iPad and kept hacking away at my work on the computer. This will also be very good for FaceTime. Mostly, however, it's just a neato way to keep the iPad off the desk.
Pros: Well built, unique mounting solution, frees up desk space
Cons: Poorly designed cable management, iPad must come out of case (if used)
iPad becomes wingman for your Mac.
HoverBar connects iPad 2 to your Mac, creating a dynamic duo. An awesome, Tony Stark - inspired, desktop workstation with a beautiful Apple display and a killer touchscreen computer hanging by its side. HoverBar presents more ways to use iPad more often. Collaborate on a project with FaceTime, monitor the weather and interact with your favorite apps. HoverBar rescues iPad from the computer bag.
HoverBar connects iPad 2 to your Mac, creating a dynamic duo. An awesome, Tony Stark - inspired, desktop workstation with a beautiful Apple display and a killer touchscreen computer hanging by its side. HoverBar presents more ways to use iPad more often. Collaborate on a project with FaceTime, monitor the weather and interact with your favorite apps. HoverBar rescues iPad from the computer bag.
The HoverBar is designed to clamp to any of the current generation of Apple displays. It ca also clamp to anything that isn't more than about 1" in width. Well I don't have an Apple display, but I've got a pretty nice LG IPS screen, so without too much thought of how I'd use such a thing as the HoverBar, I plopped down $80 and ordered one. My HoverBar arrived via the Brown Suited Santa (UPS) about two days later. Here it is:
Like all other Twelve South products I've seen/owned, the HoverBar is extremely well made. The clamp is a rubber-lined very solid block of aluminum with an oversize machine screw for torquing down on whatever you decide to clamp it to. Most of the clamp is hidden away underneath my desk. It's got two mounting holes for the arm, so you can change the angle by 90 degrees if you so choose.
The iPad (sans case) snaps into a lightweight plastic bracket which in turn is secured to the gooseneck arm via a ball and socket interface.
From there, you can adjust the tension of the ball/socket easily using a threaded collar on the back of the contraption.
The HoverBar comes with four plastic clamps that you can use to route cables up the gooseneck arm. Unfortunately, I can see these getting lost unless you're gentle with the cables you set in the channel. I think Twelve South could have done a better job with these.
One thing to note is that the iPad oscillates when you touch it. I don't think there's anything Twelve South can do about this, because you're putting the iPad on the end of an 18" flexible arm. If you're doing to be doing heavy typing, use a keyboard. I find myself having to use a gentle touch on the iPad when doing whatever on it while mounted in the HoverBar. Not a showstopper for me, though.
All in all, the HoverBar is a pretty cool accessory if you don't mind plunking down the cash. I use my iPad for referencing a ton of various regulations at work, so I may transfer the HoverBar to my office for that. This would have been awesome to have back when I was working on my thesis, since I could have put the references up on the iPad and kept hacking away at my work on the computer. This will also be very good for FaceTime. Mostly, however, it's just a neato way to keep the iPad off the desk.
Pros: Well built, unique mounting solution, frees up desk space
Cons: Poorly designed cable management, iPad must come out of case (if used)
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