On Sun, Jan 5, 2014 at 7:15 PM, SS <[email protected]> wrote:
> The Kindle, iPads and 7 or 8 inch devices are too big to fit in one's > pocket and too small to serve as a laptop. Well, that is at least partly wrong. I have a Nexus 7 (similar dimensions to the iPad mini & Kindle devices). It fits comfortably into a wide range of pockets. The ones on the back of your pants are OK for transport but you have to remove it before sitting down. Cargo pants, jackets with internal chest pockets, or vests (waistcoats I mean, for Commonwealth-speakers) all typically have pockets that comfortably contain such a device. As for laptop use, the N 7 (and I assume the others) works fine with a Bluetooth keyboard and is thus a perfectly serviceable laptop unless of course you need Photoshop or Emacs or whatever (and Emacs is coming - it runs but not well, yet). My 58-year-old vision is unremarkable and I found the screen perfectly usable. Also, for those of either gender who carry purse-like objects, this size of device fits comfortably into most things other than a little opera clutch. As for the full 10-inch-ish original iPad format, you're entirely right, it has a real portability problem. It’s easy to believe that these devices are found unsatisfactory as dead-tree replacements by all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons. But pocketability probably isn’t a good one. -T > For many people I know, they > are a fashion statement requiring separate carriage - that is as a > "third device" separate from phone and laptop. Among the more silly > sights I see nowadays is a person taking a photo or video using an iPad > - with a huge rectangle hiding his head. Sillier than that is the sight > of a photoframe size Samsung wotsit being held to one's ear. These are > compromises being made to gain the advantage of a biggish screen and a > debatable degree of portability minus the advantages of a proper keypad > for dedicated writers. It won't go in your pocket or handbag. It's not > for your desk. It's a diary sized thing that replaces the diary of the > pre-1980s era, and offers book functionality. Like roundworms and > tapeworms, it exists simply because it can exist. One can do without > it. > > I find the Kindle/iPad format singularly useless for me. They are > neither here nor there, and the books I want are unavailable. They > cannot be accommodated in my pocket, which necessarily must carry keys, > wallet, glasses and pen. Incidentally I have used my last two smart > phones to read about 10,000 pages in books. I am comfortable with the > small screen and a good smart phone does everything I need apart from > allowing me to type comfortably, for which I need only one larger > device, with no need to squeeze in a third "in between, neither this nor > that" format. > > shiv > > >
