Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowl
...if something isn't small enough to fit in a jacket pocket i.e. a phone or a smaller ebook reader then the portability simply isn't that relevant since you end up having to put the device in a bag anyway.
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That will be true for a lot of people, but I have a (large and heavy) work laptop which I have to carry around all the time both in town and when traveling. About all I have room for in addition to other gear and papers is a netbook. Even then it's pushing it a bit, but still worth it. Anything bigger or heavier is just not practical for me. And, similarly, the advantage of not having an A/C adapter in the bag is significant as well, because I've generally already filled all the nooks and crannies.
One thing that does worry me is how vulnerable the iPad would be. I feel relatively comfortable with a netbook, but even then I worry a bit. The iPad has a strong front glass from what I hear, but torque seems like it would be dangerous for any tablet, and if I carry it in my bag I wonder what stresses it would have to endure.
So something with a hard case or clamshell design would be nice in the "perfect world". (And in the future I may return to the small laptop form factor for work. It doesn't perform as well, but it's sure a lot easier to carry around every day. But every generation the small laptops are more capable, so I might be satisfied with the tradeoff next time around. Plus, it would give me a lot more room for a second device.)
It's so hard picking the perfect devices with so many constraints, isn't it!?
