RE-Reworking My Small System... AGAIN

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Next up is the keyboard. A keyboard for the Surface Pro is not essential, as I can (and do) share the keyboard (and mouse) attached to my main DJ computer using Microsoft’s (free) Mouse Without Borders app. It works great as long as the main computer is up. Before I got the WeGO controller, I had a keyboard (attached to the tablet cover), which made it into a small laptop. However, with the WeGO, there’s no way to attach that keyboard, so I ordered a little mini keyboard. It’s only intended to be used as a stop-gap, as I can simply move the nano receiver (for the main computer’s wireless mouse/keyboard) to the Surface Pro if I know the computer is out of commission. The little mini keyboard is a Bluetooth device, and looks to be about 10”x4”. The description for it did not list the specific dimensions, so that’s just an estimate based on this picture...

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... Once I know the exact dimensions, I can make the platform for the whole WeGO/Surface Pro/Keyboard setup, and that’s what I’ll mount on the platform at the end of the robotic arm. The keyboard shipped but no tracking info is available... HATE that!
 
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I had a lot of fun playing with the new DDJ-WeGO3 last night. New gear is always fun, even toy gear.[emoji1] I wasn’t really expecting much from this controller, but I’m really surprised. The online reviews don’t do it justice. This little controller ROCKS. It’s got a little BLING too. Now, it’s NOT gonna impress anybody, because it DOES look like a toy, but I’m pretty impressed with the way it functions. It’s a little awkward at first with the way some of the controls (push buttons) are organized around the jog wheel, and using the jog wheel to control effects is really pretty weird... not sure how I feel about that yet, because it’s weird.[emoji1] So far this little controller is feeling like a winner. It makes using DJay Pro SO MUCH better that I think I could actually use it for an entire event; not just a temporary get-by.

Now I need to figure out how to transport it. I can always get one of these...

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... but maybe something that would hold the Surface Pro too would be better, rather than carrying it in a separate bag. Since the WeGO is the same size as a 15.6” laptop, there’s a ton of options for laptop cases. Maybe a hard case of some sort would be a nice option???...

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I'd go with the soft case and the hard case for the cognac ..
 
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Still waiting on my mini keyboard. Can’t really make a platform for the WeGO/Tablet until I know what size it needs to be (including the keyboard and mouse). Having too much time to think about this stuff is NOT GOOD, because it’s got me considering a TOTAL redo of my Small System.[emoji1] Not because there’s anything wrong with my Small System. Having added the WeGO actually makes this system more failure proof than my Large System. No... I’m thinking that my Small System is a good candidate for a podium style system due to its compact size and simplicity. However, the Floating Facade, while it still hides the cables on the back of the rack, doesn’t really hide the WeGO and Tablet at all. I guess I could just make a wider Floating Facade???[emoji1]
 
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DJ Bobcat said:
Still waiting on my mini keyboard. Can’t really make a platform for the WeGO/Tablet until I know what size it needs to be (including the keyboard and mouse)...
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Picked up a piece of plywood at Lowe’s the other day from which to make a platform for my WeGO/tablet. The mini keyboard still hasn’t come, and with no tracking info available, I have no idea when it will come. Also, the description on Amazon includes NO dimensions. It does, however, include this pic...

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... so assuming my hand is similar in size to the one in the picture, I took some measurements that should be pretty close, which tells me the keyboard is around 10”x4”. With that info, I’m gonna go ahead and cut out a platform. I’m too impatient to wait. Might not have time until after Thanksgiving, but it’s gonna happen soon.[emoji4]
 
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DJ Bobcat said:
Picked up a piece of plywood at Lowe’s the other day from which to make a platform for my WeGO/tablet. The mini keyboard still hasn’t come, and with no tracking info available, I have no idea when it will come. Also, the description on Amazon includes NO dimensions. It does, however, include this pic...

5a61fd9b10c1303cf274abd1d06ed105.jpg

... so assuming my hand is similar in size to the one in the picture, I took some measurements that should be pretty close, which tells me the keyboard is around 10”x4”. With that info, I’m gonna go ahead and cut out a platform. I’m too impatient to wait. Might not have time until after Thanksgiving, but it’s gonna happen soon.[emoji4]
Click to expand...
... UNLESS .. it was photoshopped into the hand ... :)
 
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The mini keyboard evidently came yesterday, only I didn't check the mailbox until this morning, It's DEFINITELY MINI!:laugh:... It's even smaller than I anticipated. It's 8 1/4"x3 1/4". Not built too well either. The back is a flimsy piece of tin, but HEY!!!.... I think it will work since it's only real purpose is to use it with the Surface Pro in a pinch. I took a pic like the one I posted earlier from Amazon.com. My hand must be much larger than the one in the Amazon pic...
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DJ Bobcat said:
The mini keyboard evidently came yesterday, only I didn't check the mailbox until this morning, It's DEFINITELY MINI!:laugh:... It's even smaller than I anticipated. It's 8 1/4"x3 1/4". Not built too well either. The back is a flimsy piece of tin, but HEY!!!.... I think it will work since it's only real purpose is to use it with the Surface Pro in a pinch. I took a pic like the one I posted earlier from Amazon.com. My hand must be much larger than the one in the Amazon pic...
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I've had this mini BT keyboard in my laptop bag for a couple of years now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JO80LTY All I've ever used it for is the occasional long email on my phone. It's pretty study though and the built in trackpad doesn't hurt. It reminds me of typing on an old school slider phone - which FWIW is a much better user experience then these damn touch screen keyboards, IMHO.

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Now that I have the mini keyboard and I know the exact dimensions, I can cut the platform for the WeGO/Surface Pro/Keyboard/Mouse. However, I have a decision to make first. The tablet holder I bought will work, but I have another option. I own a docking station for the Surface Pro. It’s the perfect width, but much deeper than the folding tablet holder. The best thing about the docking station is it would eliminate the need for a USB hub and USB Ethernet adapter (and a few associated cables). The only down side is the extra bulk and figuring out how to attach it to the platform. I need to think about it a bit I guess.

I had a little incident to deal with this morning first... My main home server crashed this morning... dead power supply. It’s one of the few cabinets I have left that still uses a full size ATX power supply. Fortunately I have a couple of spares. Changing out a power supply isn’t difficult... just a little bit of a PITA.[emoji1] Gotter done though, so everything is back working again.
 
Big Dan said:
I've had this mini BT keyboard in my laptop bag for a couple of years now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JO80LTY All I've ever used it for is the occasional long email on my phone. It's pretty study though and the built in trackpad doesn't hurt. It reminds me of typing on an old school slider phone - which FWIW is a much better user experience then these damn touch screen keyboards, IMHO.

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I saw that keyboard when I was shopping for the one I bought, and seriously considered it. We’ll see how this one does. Who knows???... I may be shopping for another one soon.[emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
DJ Bobcat said:
I saw that keyboard when I was shopping for the one I bought, and seriously considered it. We’ll see how this one does. Who knows???... I may be shopping for another one soon.[emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Forgot to mention one mildly annoying thing about this keyboard is the charger isn't the standard Micro USB. It's the next size up -- that was standard about 10 years ago on MP3 players. The name escapes me maybe Mini USB.
 
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Big Dan said:
Forgot to mention one mildly annoying thing about this keyboard is the charger isn't the standard Micro USB. It's the next size up -- that was standard about 10 years ago on MP3 players. The name escapes me maybe Mini USB.
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The mini keyboard I bought does have the standard micro USB charging port/cable. I just paired it up with my Surface Pro and it works fine. Again, it’s not like I’m gonna use the keyboard all that much... mainly just to enter a word or two to search for a track in the music library. I think it’s gonna work out OK.[emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Finally getting around to making a platform upon which to mount my WeGO and tablet on the robotic arm attached to my Small System rack. First thing is to prototype it with a piece of (white) cardboard...

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... I decided to use the docking station, but It makes it a little heavy in the back, so I’ll have to find a way to force the front to sit flat on the robotic arm’s platform. I think a simple screen clip underneath should do the trick...
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Using the docking station to hold my Surface Pro provides the most stable platform, but the weight is a bit of a negative, plus the tablet only fits on it without the cover. I’ve dropped the tablet a couple of times and the cover protected it from any damage. That has me a little concerned, but I guess I’ll just need to be careful handling the tablet until it’s locked onto the dock.
 
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New monitors from Samsung coming that might work in your systems ...

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steve149 said:
New monitors from Samsung coming that might work in your systems ...

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That’s definitely a cool monitor, but at 27 and 32 inches, those would be too big for me. My current Large System uses dual 22 inchers, and they are as big as I’d ever dare to go. I’m actually trying to downsize a little with this Podium System. Because of the aspect ratio, I would still need dual monitors with those Samsung’s. The 29” LG Ultrawide is much smaller... actually not much different than having two 15” monitors side-by-side. I’m worried that it will be too small for me.
 
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Just a quick update before I go out to cut the platform using the template I made out of white cardboard yesterday. I had forgotten to mention that one reason I decided to use the docking station for my Surface Pro was because this didn’t work...

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... Great little tablet holder, just too small for a 10” tablet. My tablet got knocked off that holder several times with not too much of a bump, so I couldn’t go that route. It works perfect with my iPhone or my iPad Mini though, so still a good acquisition.

Time to go cut a platform.[emoji4]
 
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OK... That wasn’t too bad. Got my platform made...
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... cardboard prototype is on the right. The new wood platform is on the left. Took me almost as long to clean up as it took to cut out the platform, even though my carpentry skills are a little rusty[emoji4]. It’s amazing how much sawdust gets in the garage even when the saw is outside in the driveway pointed away from the garage. I even got it sanded and ready for paint. I’ll give it a coat of primer, sand it again, the paint it black. Then I think I’ll spray some of that black rubberized paint on it that I used on the folding keyboard shelf on my Large System. That stuff worked nicely. Don’t have time to paint it today though. I have a prior commitment.


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Got the primer coat on the top side of the platform done this morning. Kinda cold outside in the garage today, so paint drying takes a little longer than normal. If I can get both sides primered this morning, hopefully I can get the top coat on this afternoon.[emoji4]

Update (1 hour later): Got the top side sanded and the back side painted. Have it sitting in the sun to dry. Still only 49 degrees outside, but the sun is shining, so having been painted black, it should absorb that sunshine and dry pretty quickly.
 
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