TRU iTArm Articulating iPad & Tablet Arm

While I was testing it, I had a lot of people stop and ask about the iTArm, an articulating arm that holds your tablet in nearly any position imaginable. Most were intrigued, but almost all balked at the $99.95 (list) price. The iTArm is an interesting concept, and offers some genuine usefulness for tablet owners, but I never felt completely safe leaving my tablet in the iTArm, and the price is too high.

The iTArm has an industrial look to it that resembles some older articulating desk lamps. A system of interconnected springs and metal arms, with a vice-grip-like base, extend and rotate the arm to various heights and depths. The arm extends to 34.7 inches, which makes it a large addition to your desk or work area. At the end is an adjustable plastic tablet cradle, with two padded tabs on each end and a padded back. The width and depth of the padded tabs are adjustable, but the fit was a little loose for thinner tablets like the Apple iPad?($499, 4.5 stars). The padding itself, while soft, lacks sufficient grip, and I was able to slide several tablets out of the cradle without disengaging the locking mechanism. I tested with the aforementioned iPad, a Lenovo IdeaTab S2109?($399, 2.5 stars), and an Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700?($499, 4 stars). Of the three, the IdeaTab fit best, but only because of its larger and thicker frame.The plastic of the tablet cradle was not very stiff either, and the flex only adds to the somewhat insecure fit. In my tests, a quick screen swipe or poke would leave the iTArm shaking for a few seconds.?

The iTArm is a novel idea, but the execution is off. I tested with a number of tablets, and while they fit in the iTArm, I wasn't completely confident in the cradle's grasp. Rotating the cradle 90 degrees creates a very insecure hold, and a few tablets slipped out of the cradle when rotated to portrait mode with the pads on the sides and not the top and bottom. When it works correctly, the iTArm does improve the ergonomics of tablet use, helping to reduce the neck and shoulder strain that comes from hunching over for long periods. I just wish the fit was more secure?especially given the $100 price.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/a6cBOJrx9T0/0,2817,2407606,00.asp

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