I’ve found a material that provides a very good, non-slip footing for the Pronto. It is a Rubber Splicing tape made by 3M/Scotch. I’ve used it for about a month on my Pronto and am very satisfied with the results and “permanence”. It is not absolutely permanent and will not leave any mark or residue on your Pronto should you wish to remove it.
The product I used is 3M/Scotch Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape (130C). [see link below]. I have also, in the past, used a linered type of this tape that would probably work just as well, maybe in some ways “better”. Both tapes have no adhesive and rely on the rubber’s inherent ‘stickiness’ to adhere to any smooth surface once it is stretched a little bit. This stretch-to-activate is a negative attribute of the linerless type of this tape, in that it sticks to itself very well and must be stretched a good bit to take it off the roll which distorts it a little. If I remember correctly the linered type does not suffer from this distortion, as it does not stick to itself as you pull it off the roll. The liner is easily removed (it looks much like a snakeskin) and then the tape can be applied and stretched just enough as it is applied.
I have the Docking Station, and what I did so that the tape would not interfere with the fit to the dock is this: (You might want to do this in a room away from the components that the Pronto controls)!
Unplug the Dock from its cord, gently “clamp” the Pronto in the dock with your fingers and turn it upside down. Take a Dry-Erase marker and trace the edge of the dock onto the bottom of the Pronto to give you a straightedge to butt the tape against as you apply it. Extend these lines up to the case split on both ends and both sides then separate the Pronto from the dock.
Start the tape ABOVE the split and (stretching a bit as you go) pull it down along the marked straightedge. If you put a little extra stretch as you go around curves you will find that the tape will conform nicely to the Pronto’s curves. Don’t stretch too much, you want the tape to stay as “thick” as possible, this will aid in it’s “gripping” surfaces you set the Pronto down on later.
Once you have the tape stretched and stuck from end-to-end of the Pronto, take a razor blade or Exacto Knife or any SHARP knife and gently rock the blade against the tape along (and into) the case split. Don’t “saw” at it, as this will stretch and distort the tape. Remove the excess and press the tape onto the bottom of the Pronto, at this point it should already be firmly attached to the Pronto, but just double check to make sure there are no “wrinkles” along the edge . . . And you’re done!
If you don’t like the look or feel the tape is easily removed by lifting a corner and pulling. NO adhesive residue is left behind, as there is no adhesive on the tape.
I originally tried using only a thin “runner” down the Pronto’s “feet” but it rolled off too easily. I now use the full 3/4 inch width of the tape and it is **GREAT**!!! It doesn’t look bad at all, it grips tabletops like a champ (leaving no residue there either). In fact the longer it remains in one place the better the “stick” is. It also helps greatly to keep the Pronto from sliding around on fabric (this is enhanced by using the full width of the tape), and it does not pick up lint. A quick wipe of a damp cloth will remove any dust that you may feel is limiting its “grip”, but even this isn’t necessary, the dust is not permanently stuck, as there is no adhesive.
This tape can be found at Electrical Supply stores, possibly at a home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. It’s not cheap (but not really that expensive either) at about $15 a roll and a roll would certainly do a large number of Prontos. It’s certainly cheaper than a new case or screen!
This link should take you to the 3M/Scotch site that describes it:
[Link: products.mmm.com]Hope this helps some of you out there with “Slippery Little Devils”.
MIKE
(If the above link doesn't work try this one, and "Search 3M" for -- Scotch 130C Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape --:
[Link: 3m.com]
