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Silver Slider 2
Product: Silver Slider 2
Maker: George Mosquera
Price: $55 when you send your in, $90 for a premade unit!
Among the different expansion sleeves that iPAQ users can choose from, the GM (George Mosquera) unit is one of the nicest. George Mosquera started to modify the CF Expansion pack soon after its release and now offers several different models of the CF sleeve as well as a PCMCIA and Dual Expansion Pack mod.
The art of reducing the CF Expansion Pack size has been mastered by George
Mosquera!!!!
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Size matters:
The main reason of the growth of the modification "business" was the bulk of the factory units. The Expansion Packs have been the best "invention" in the PocketPC world (well, at least that's what I think), but the extra size, and weight that these sleeves add to your iPAQ has been one of the reasons why many people decided not to get them (or even to buy a different PocketPC).
George Mosquera is now excelling in the art of modifying the CF Expansion Packs. He has the talent (believe me when I call that talent...) to reduce the size and weight of your factory expansion pack, and make it look like a true piece of art!!!!!
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The Silver Slider 2:
Enter the Silver Slider 2, one of the models offered. The main difference between this model and the Silver Slider 3 is in the arm design. You may choose from a variety of mods, including a design with or without arms, that is also slightly smaller than the unit reviewed here.
The SS2 is using the main board of your original CF sleeve, thus keeping it totally functional, and also the front plastic piece. The back plastic cover is elegantly replaced by some bondo (the stuff people use to fix up your car fenders...). This material is perfectly applied to cover all the electronics on the CF board, and the front plastic cover is cut to fit your hand better leaving only the top portion of the sleeve.
The back cover is also used and trimmed around the Compaq logo. This feature wasn't available on the original SS. It adds about 1-2 mm to the depth of the Expansion Pack but looks much nicer than the original SS.
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Getting it:
You have a couple of options here. You can either send your CF Expansion Pack to George and wait a few days in order to let him perform the "surgery" or you can order a pre-made SS2 directly, though the price will be slightly higher. http://ss2andmore.homestead.com/G1.html
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What you get:
You'll receive the SS2 in an original SEALED, CF Expansion Pack box (Compaq). A nice little note is included with the kit, telling you what kind of paint you should use in the event you need to touch up some scratches.
The paint that you will need to touch-up the Silver Slider is the following: Plasti-Kote, part 3701. (www.plasti-kote.com).
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The details:
After recently reviewing the DIY kit, and using the modified CF that I made, I had some good comparisons to make!
CF Pack going thin....
First, if you are planning on doing it yourself, unless you work at a body shop, forget about it! I have been working for several years with bondo (as a hobby, on cars and other motorized vehicles) but working on the small circuitry of the CF sleeve is another story (and I'm not a pro either). Sure you can get a pretty decent job, but you'll have to spend quite some time in order to achieve it! Plus, remember that the material isn't cheap!!! GM uses the best quality stuff on the market, and after talking to him, I was told that you couldn't even find it unless you had some serious contacts!!!
That's what clearcoat is all about... Check out the ultra shiny finish!
George mentioned the process involved in the creation of the SS2 and I was quite impressed; nothing less than 12 coats of paint is applied to the sleeve (primer, paint, and finally clear... Note that the primer is smartly applied to the bare board so the bondo will have a better grip to it).
The Silver Slider is just a beauty. Compared to my own modified CF, it is significantly lighter. My modified CF also weighed as much as the original Expansion Pack, though it was smaller.
I can finally use my Vaja case with the original SS
though I think I'll keep it out, just to show off!!!
The cut of the arms is also perfect, though on the unit I received, I noticed that the arms weren't perfectly symmetrical though GM explained me that the "normal" units do not come that way. This was a mistake made by a person he hired and who messed up 10 units...(he now works for UPS). Well, still it really isn't too bad and there's nothing for me to get mad about!!!!
Comparing the SS2 to the DIY kit was a little more interesting. It was indeed thinner (much thinner actually) than the DIY kit. As far as the finishing job, GM uses a thick clearcoat that makes the SS2 shine. The DIY kit on the other hand is simply painted with a much thinner coat that actually came off my unit after using it in my Vaja case. The clearcoat used on the SS2 should very well prevent this and will also be much better against scratches.
Damn, that's one of a small CF sleeve!
The SS2 and the DIY were about the same weight (I didn't have a scale precise enough to measure this), but one important thing to remember is that the DIY is simply made of two thin (very thin) plastic covers that just replace the original Expansion Pack covers. After using it for almost 2 weeks, I noticed that the DIY is loud! When I say loud, I mean that every time you grab your iPAQ, you'll hear some cracking noises coming from the plastic DIY case. The SS2 in comparison didn't make any noise, it did not even flex when I tried to bend it!!!!!
The SS2 slides into place as smoothly as the original Expansion Pack. Though
the
look is definitely amazing, and the feel is perfect!!!
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Conclusion:
If you'd like to get an Expansion Pack (or if you have one) but are not satisfied with the size, GM is offering an amazing alternative to this by tremendously reducing the size of the sleeve.
It will come at a price, but you will get a true handmade and original Expansion Pack. Also remember that GM has a patent pending on the Silver Slider, and that accordingly to him, the DIY case is just stolen work! Well I have to agree with the statement since he was the first person to come up with this design.
Also, the DIY case is priced at $50 with shipping (though it will not be allowed for sale in the US), whereas the SS2 will cost you $55. For $5 different, you'll be able to get the higher quality of the Silver Slider, and also help George Mosquera to keep running his business and hopefully come with some more of his amazing modifications!!!!!!
After several conversations with George, I was told that he could have very well increased the production in order to satisfy many more customers, but he'd rather lose some potential sales in order to keep the quality of his products at a higher standard!!! Well, I wish some bigger companies were taking that for granted!!!!!
I finally want to thanks George Mosquera for promptly sending me the SS2 for this review!!!! Keep up with the great work!!!
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