So lets say I join the bandwagon and buy HD Rack and a Pentium Mobile Laptop with long battery life to do events like weddings.

How do you folks film while carrying around a laptop?

Is there some sort of an apron you can put on a tripod to hold the laptop steady?

How about a monopod? Anythign to hold the computer in place?

What about free holding the thing? A backpack that has good airflow to prevent overheating?

Thsi direct to tape thing sounded great till I started thinking about all the logistical problems.

Peace, Rolland

There are several approaches.

One company makes (sorry I can't remember who or where it is) an adapter that attaches to a tripod that is made for a laptop. It hangs to one side and is open for access (a must).

Another company makes a stand just for laptops. This means you basically carry an extra tripod.
This is the one I use (I don't do many events):
http://www.instand.com/

And here is a thread on DVinfo that talks about a home made solution:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=65383&highlight=laptop+tripod

Well thanks, but all the options mentioned in that previous thread suck.

None of them integrate a laptop AND a camera on a single tripod.

Looks Like I will have to do a bit of inventing!

Capturing to a laptop is not a universal solution.

Someday I will probably get a "Firestor" or similar device. But in today's market, I can almost buy a laptop for what an outboard capture solution would cost and have tons of additional functionality. It is just not quite as convenient.

When my camera is on my shoulder, I use tape. However, when I'm shooting from a tripod, I almost always use my laptop. In my situation, it is the easiest, least time consuming, and most straight forward method for capturing video.

I don't spend the same amount of time moving video to my editor that I spent shooting. In fact I spend almost no time in transfer. I have immediate access to all of my shots, right on my laptop. And, if I want, I can run additional software for notation about shots, clips, lighting, etc. and even get Internet access, all while I am viewing my last shot.

Like I mentioned previously, someone makes a special device that attaches to the tripod, that holds a laptop. And the other thread, about a "home made" solution is also a laptop holder, on a single tripod solution.