John Biggs Takes A Call
One one the reasons we don’t own an iPad yet is because I haven’t quite figured out how to hold and/or position it. After playing with a number of units, I know it’s heavier than say a Kindle but lacks the built in stand that a laptop hinge provides. Apparently, I’m not alone in my uncertainty.
Across the aisle on my flight north yesterday, a fellow passenger seemed somewhat restless in seeking out a comfortable position, while minimizing glare, to watch a video on his iPad. He was using Apple’s multi-positional case and finally settled on what I’d call the ‘typing’ orientation in his lap, but titled up further by his hand.
Surely, we aren’t the only two still figuring out how to optimize this new computing form factor. So I posed the question to Twitter (and, now, to you). Some of the initial responses:
In landscape mode with the Apple case. Works perfectly!
Buy the Apple case. Helps a lot.
Hey, better try my cases at http://aligata.com/ . Genuine leather, natural grain. Durable and beautiful. (I work for Aligata).
Regards,
Tom
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The iPad is something I’ve grown to really enjoy using. That’s after being quite skeptical at first. But as you have discovered Dave, it’s just a bit too heavy to hold comfortably for long periods of time like I do a Kindle when reading. And I imagine it has its challenges in places like an airplane etc – as a laptop does.
If they find a way to lighten the iPad in the future I’d pay for that “feature” alone.
I like the Apple case. It works great on the ferry, bus, and in the classroom. The commute from Kitsap to Seattle is easier now….
Saw an article on macrumors about a product from http://clamcase.com/ that looked pretty cool for when you need it to stand in place. It got a lot of negative posts from the fanboy crowd. Many felt it was like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.
Yup, it’s too heavy to hold one-handed for very long. The Apple case does help quite a bit though and gives you a lot of options. I use it quite successfully on airplanes. Either propped up on the tray table or just using the case to prop up on against the setback/magazine rack. Works great.
FYI, I’ve been thinking Apple messed up and went too far with the battery life and should have gone with a slightly smaller/lighter battery. Thought I would check on this and here’s the numbers I get.
From iFixit.com the battery for the iPad WiFi model is 148g = 5.22 ounces. The iPad starts out at 1.5 pounds which is to heavy. And maybe 10 hours of battery life. I could easily give up a third or even half that, but that would only drop a couple of ounces or so. Not sure that would be enough.
The Kindle 2 at 10 ounces is clearly light enough. The iPad at 1.5 pounds is clearly too heavy. Would an iPad at 1.25 pounds be light enough? Dunno…
I use it with and without the Apple case. The Apple case is great for propping it up to watch video or to type at length. However, when I am without the case I hold it differently for different body positions. When I lay down I use two hands or rest it on my body – – or I lay it next to me if I’m laying on my side with the orientation lock turned on. When sitting up and reading, I cradle in my hand and lower forearm so my fingers are on the side and my thumb and palm are stabilizing it on the back face. All-in-all it took a couple weeks to get accustomed.
If you need to buy a stand that basically mimics a laptop base, then why not buy a laptop in the first place. Plus then you could get true full use of the Internet as well.
iFad Fail! Luckily there are plenty of hipster dofuses out there to keep Jobs busy.
Use it landscape always… without a case, just a screen protector. The cases simply make it to heavy and bulky!