Laptop Ultra-Slim vs Smart Phone
This keeps bugging me, the smart phone versus the ultra slim skinny,
but regular old computing - with keyboard - laptop device (for
mobility).
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I lug my traditional laptop into
a local coffee shop at around 4:30 in the morning. Pretty much nobody
is there to see me lug my uncool computing device through the front
doors at the restaurant. Oh, the shame of it, consuming most of my
underarm grip and posture. It's very lightweight, fairly new but just
the same: it's so visibly bulky.
I slink in to the back of the building to occupy the same table as
always and I start writing this. Actually, the reason that I'm up so
early is because I've finished my first daily security check of yours
truly network and those days of the week tend to be lighter in
workload so I take the break to research/write Grist and talk to a
group of old men who also can't sleep, come to the coffee shop to
share grumbles about the state of the union.
Jim, my neighbor, feeds his horses early and he shows up 30 minutes or
so after I. He doesn't own a computer but a Kindle Fire piqued his
interest for its ability to store library books, free, for three weeks
reading borrowed book time. He's an example of the why of smart phones
and smaller hand held devices. That would be his first introduction to
computing after spending years swearing off of computers - period.
But I gotta write, it's what I do, typing, clicking and grinning. I
lift the lid on my grotesque large device and commence. I know,
lifting the lid brings another action to mind but I won't go there.
That's an over top comparison postured by Hand Held snobs. I need fat
finger access to do what I do. I would be hard pressed to type up my
Grist article with the slide-out dinky keyboard on my phone. Possible,
but no thanks.
(I don't even like to "text.")
So, what it boils down to is a device that satisfies what your need is
and in Jim's case he wouldn't need a laptop, ultra-slim, netbook or
keyboard. He wouldn't want to type anything if he could avoid it. He
wants to read. Personally I need to have a command prompt available...
you know, like old fashioned computing, less clicking and grinning,
just a little screen with white letters that make very little sense.
Therefore, if I was in the market to buy a new computing device I'd
have to go lean on friends who own them and take time to find the
who, what, why, how and when of the operation. And possibly, with the
lure of an available new kind of keyboard, a new Microsoft device - I
won't directly mention the model. You know. But, I won't be first to
buy one until I lean on friends to see just how well it all works
before the resulting subsequent service patches arrive via the
Internet and bugs, large, are routed out.
This is computing - too many choices. Pull the string tight and listen
to the reports, lean on friends, consult the 8-ball and buy something.
You'll be buying another before too long. That's marketing's hope.
10/5/2012
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