Hack(saw)ing the Surface Pro

I'm taking a break from PowerShell goodness to brag about my new MS Surface Pro.  It's an amazing piece of engineering.  It's small, it's light, it's ...

It's very steal-able.

Sadly, Microsoft (disclaimer: I work for them, but that's pretty much a given, seeing as this is an MSDN blog) did not see fit to include a Kensington lock slot.  I guess when you cram that much technomancy into so small a volume, some things have to be sacrificed.

However, this is over one kilobuck of my own money.  I want to at least pay lip service to securing it.  And, I refuse to desecrate the sleek lines with a self-adhesive shackle.  Fortunately, a Kensington lock slot is a pretty simple shape: a slot 1/8" (3.5mm) in height, and 3/8" (10.5mm) in width.  I would never dare do that to the case, but the kickstand is another matter.

 

The strap of duct tape is just that, a hand strap, similar in function to those found on some cases.  Mind you, the hand strap on those cases is much sturdier, and the kickstand hinge is most definitely not designed to withstand strain.  I use it to keep the tablet from moving when I have it in my hand.  It doesn't bear weight.

Replacement MS Surface Pro styluses cost $30 each.  The stylus clips to the charging port when not in use, though not very securely.  However, where does it go when I need to charge this marvel?  Last time, it took me half an hour to find it - black objects and messy desks mix all to well.  The phone lanyard grasps the clip on the stylus very well, and it terminates on a homemade 1/8" (3.5mm) headset plug.

This isn't a new idea.  I've seen it on many a Droid tablet, and I think it's a great idea.  now, when my precious is charging, the stylus is securely fastened.  And, it's hot pink and cherry red. so it's easier to find.