[Accessory] Silver Slider Plus Pack

[The Half-Ling]

Silver Slider Plus Pack (GM's HP Plus Pack Modification)
www.silverslider.biz
By: The Half-Ling

First Impressions:
After months of great, hardly noticed use out of my Dual Silver Slider III I decided it was time for a change. Because the 5xxx series iPAQ is notorious for poor WiFi battery life I decided to invest in a power pack for my machine. Originally I wanted to modify a CF Case to fit an extended battery but because I was told that was impossible I took the next best thing, I bought an expansion pack with a battery. Because of the marginal price difference I invested in GM's Silver Slider Version...and found out it was worth it!


http://www.spam-ce.com/reviews/ACCESS_SSPlus/swb1.jpg


Style:
The style of the SS Plus Pack is just stunning as always. The Silver Sliders are hand painted for an uncanny resemblance to the actual iPAQ casing. It feels very smooth, much better than the standard iPAQ metal making it a worthy case. One of my favorite features of GM's SS cases is the 'new case smell' that lasts for a couple weeks. It is like buying a new car lol...actually I think I just like how it makes me feel kinda woozy. :-p

Power:
The power behind the SS Plus Pack is one of the most handy iPAQ features I've ever invested in. Putting in the Silver Slider Plus Pack doubles my battery life without adding much more space than a standard CF Pack. The only real gripe I have with it is that HP designed the case to have a low battery warning so when the first battery on the case starts to go low an annoying pop-up comes up when you still have a whole nother battery to keep your machine running. The silver painted battery has an amber LED to give you the charge status of the power pack (like the iPAQ's). To give you an idea of how much power it has, at tops battery pack reads 22h 22m r! Not bad...


http://www.spam-ce.com/reviews/ACCESS_SSPlus/swb2.jpg

Use:
Pocket-ability with the SS Plus Pack is Superb. No bigger than HP's standard CF case, the SS Plus fits nice in your pocket while providing you with the style and power you desire. GM's custom cut sleeve sides allow easy iPAQ holding even with that awkward horizontal clear screen cover.

Overall:
The SS Plus is a little pricey, but when you think about it you get a slick, sexy CF Case and an extra battery so it is really a good deal.

To sum up the Silver Slider Plus Pack I would have to say: Power, Style, and Portability...

Pros: Kickin' Battery Life, Sleek Silver Sexy GM Style, Good Price

Cons: HP needs to fix battery notification problem

Final Appreciation: 9/10: anyone with an iPAQ and a CF Card who desires more power should seriously consider this case...

[dh]

I can't believe this, after months of complaining about how dumb the Ipaqs with expansion sleeves were, I find myself thinking that this combination might just be the ultimate PPC. 5550 with all that memory, CF and extra power!!

I've not been able to really get a feel from the photos as to the actual size of this. You obviously find it to be nicely portable.

Hmmmm........

[Dave Beauvais]

Thanks for the nice review. Great photos, too! That is, indeed, an impressive looking accessory. It's too bad I like to carry my iPAQ on my belt because these things don't fit in many good-looking cases. :|

--Dave

[Janak Parekh]

Half-Ling, do you know what the difference is between this and HP's "regular" CF+ pack? I have the "regular" one, and the biggest difference seems to be the paint (which I know looks awesome -- I bought an SS2 years ago). Thanks! :)

--janak

[theon]

Nice review... Been contemplating getting the sleeve and an audiovox card to convert my 5450 into a mobile. Dang... Been trying not to buy it but this review might just do it... :wink:

[The Half-Ling]

Half-Ling, do you know what the difference is between this and HP's "regular" CF+ pack? I have the "regular" one, and the biggest difference seems to be the paint (which I know looks awesome -- I bought an SS2 years ago). Thanks!

--janak

GM does some work on the sleeve sides take a look...he shortens the arms that wrap around the machine in order to make it easier to hold...Im not sure what else he does but he makes it real thin and real nice...Mine is no bigger than my normal CF sleeve

Jake-

[tonyrxman]

Overall:
The SS Plus is a little pricey, but when you think about it you get a slick, sexy CF Case and an extra battery so it is really a good deal.


Does anyone know how much this is?? I went to the site but
couldnt find info about the SS Plus Pack????
Did I miss it on the site???

[The Half-Ling]

A more direct link http://www.clubweb.net/silverslider/html/SS%20Plus.htm

Jake-

[TopDog]

GM does some work on the sleeve sides take a look...he shortens the arms that wrap around the machine in order to make it easier to hold...Im not sure what else he does but he makes it real thin and real nice...Mine is no bigger than my normal CF sleeveI've used the original CF+ sleeve from HP for about a year with my old h3850, and from the pictures it looks just like you say, he has trimmed the arm a little bit and spraypainted the thing in silver. There is really not much else to do on this sleeve, HP has done a great job (except from the battery-notification problem, I too had that).

If I had an iPAQ h30/50-series today, I would buy this thing :-)

[griph]

Half-Ling, do you know what the difference is between this and HP's "regular" CF+ pack? I have the "regular" one, and the biggest difference seems to be the paint (which I know looks awesome -- I bought an SS2 years ago). Thanks! :)

--janak

Agreed - how much extra is it over the standard - style - vs - value? There seems to be minimal reworking - side arms and paint job.

[griph]

Agreed - how much extra is it over the standard - style - vs - value? There seems to be minimal reworking - side arms and paint job.
Replying to my own message! $150!!
:jawdrop:

[The Half-Ling]

Skinnier...The Standard Plastic is replaced I believe...
+Compaq's CF Plus Pack is 99.99 and the slim battery which is included in the SS+ is an extra 29.99 so the price difference is about 20~...

It's a matter of prefrence...

Jake-

[nosmohtac]

these things don't fit in many good-looking cases. :|

--Dave

I really like my Galanteya H3 case, which is designed for an ipaq+cf sleeve combo. I use it with a memplug dual CF sleeve, which is a little bit thinner than the standard cf sleeve. The problem is, when you wrap a leather blanket around this, it is no longer anywhere near slim. It's huge.

I have a 34 inch waist, and I couldn't sit down at the movie theater without taking it off of my belt.

I agree with you Dave, if you could wear the SS on your belt without sliding it into another (sleeve)case, It would be a near perfect setup.
I know one guy who uses the standard cf plus expansion pack, and added one of those swivel clips, with the double back sticky tape, to the back of his. I just don't trust them that much, and I think it a bit tacky (no pun). :lol:

[gorkon280]

When I heard GM had a SS mod for the CF+ I asked him to e-mail me some pics. I was not impressed. I personally think that the CF+ is fine as it is and unless GM could do something different, I would not buy it. The regular CF+ does add a bit of thickness and of course it's not silver, but there's not much that can be done to help out already great sleeve. I am still hoping for a hack or a driver update to DITCH THE EXTERNAL BATTERY MESSAGES! GRRR! I don't care about any batt message except for the internal battery when using this sleeve. Also, why do they deactivate the sleeve when the battery in it is dead? I mean of you take the battery out, the sleeve works fine. They even have a plastic cover to protect the contacts.

[griph]

Skinnier...The Standard Plastic is replaced I believe...
+Compaq's CF Plus Pack is 99.99 and the slim battery which is included in the SS+ is an extra 29.99 so the price difference is about 20~...

It's a matter of prefrence...

Jake-

I paid £65 ($99) for the CF+ Jacket and it included the slim battery and replacement cover - I believe you only had to buy the extended battery separately. Therefore the difference is $51 AFAIAK or a 50% hike. Your preference .... not mine. ;-)

[TopDog]

Also, why do they deactivate the sleeve when the battery in it is dead? When I used this sleeve, I too got those irritating messages, but the sleeve never got deactivated... I could still use the CF-slot even if the battery was "dead", sure you're not thinking of the PCCard-sleeve, that won't work at all without battery?

[noldus]

...When I used this sleeve, I too got those irritating messages...
You can install this 2KB CAB-file (don't remember where I downloaded it from, I have used it for quite some time on my HP 928WDA which has two batteries built in...and therefor has an annoying battery-warning when You still has 50% left, and it works great) http://www.sleddogs.no/MerlinPowerWarningFix.CAB

After installing it, You will get a new Notification Event under "Settings/Sounds & Notification" called "LowBatt". This means that one can customize the "low battery" warning. I have for example turned off all options available, and only will get the "low batt" icon on the menu bar...which I prefer (others might want a warnings sound, so forth, and can chose this).

[TopDog]

http://www.sleddogs.no/MerlinPowerWarningFix.CABRonny? Du vet jo at jeg ikke har iPAQ lenger :mrgreen: Lunsj imorgen? Vi har alltid bra lunsj på fredager!

[noldus]

Ronny? Du vet jo at jeg ikke har iPAQ lenger :mrgreen: Lunsj imorgen? Vi har alltid bra lunsj på fredager!
:)

Sure thing Gaute, I'm all for lunch tomorrow! :)
...but U should E-MAIL me such "off-topics" messages...not too interesting for everybody else to read "internal Norwegian messages"! ;)

...ooops now I did the same thing! :)

Won't happen again, me promise!!!

[TopDog]

...but U should E-MAIL me such "off-topics" messages...not too interesting for everybody else to read "internal Norwegian messages"! ;)Nah, this topic is dying anyway ;)

Around 11:30? Talk to you tomorrow!

[georgem]

That the cf plus sleeve costs me $113.00 with tax, $5.00 to ship it with tracking number, $9.00 in materials and other costs to get this done on each one.

So my HUGE profit is $23.00! If you don't want the service that's okay but don't say it does not make much of a difference when you don't have one.

This work that I do on the HP Cf plus is my number one seller right now so I guess it does make a difference to people who really use the cf plus a lot. I now let the customer send me their cf plus and I charge $38.00 shipping included.

I use to tell people that said my work makes no difference to send their sleeve and I would give them a good discount just so they can see for themselves but those days are over. I welcome anyone that appriciates work that NO ONE else is doing for ipaq users.

Thanks for reading, now the topic can die.

GM

[gorkon280]

I don't think I need to touch and feel one to know that it just does not look like it is much thinner. Weight does not matter That much...as long as it is under a pound, I don't care. Your previous sleeves saved significant bulk. This one does not seem much different. It's not your fault that the way it's made does not allow much wiggle room. Just because I and others don't like it much, does not mean we do not look forward to your next attempt. I am glad people are buying any way! I personally do not buy with my heart. I buy things I need. Since I am happy with the stock sleeve, I have no reason to buy. Now if you (or someone else) comes out with a sleeve that cuts the size in a considerable manner, or maybe even a sleeve thar works with the high cap internal, that would be a feat and I'd buy!

[dh]

While I'm sure the HP CF+ sleeve does the job just fine, there are many people who are prepared to pay a bit more for improved quality.

I've never been a sledder, but I find myself interested in this concept of CF and additional battery.

One thing I would like to see are pictures of the SS CF+ with the Ipaq in place. Also, does anyone have the dimensions of the complete package so I can compare it with my Axim?

I've had small busineses myself and it's always great to see someone innovating and bringing good stuff to the market. I'd rather spend my money with George than HP any day.

[KuroNeko]

Looks great. But I don't need the battery pack.

Does he have an original "old" Silver Slider (just CF expansion) but with the cover? I've held out on a CF expansion just because I had to give up my standard but terrific protection cover (much more compact & easy than leather or aluminium cases with flip covers)

Neko