Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sunybcs!boulder!fozzard From: fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops Subject: Re: Any impressions of the new GrIDPad? Message-ID: <15880@boulder.Colorado.EDU> Date: 19 Jan 90 18:57:30 GMT References: <15545@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <15782@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <144@tacitus.tfic.bc.ca> Sender: news@boulder.Colorado.EDU Reply-To: fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder Lines: 50 In article <144@tacitus.tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: >C'mon now. You too can type faster than you can write, and ESPECIALLY >faster than you can print. And have you ever tried copying something by >hand without looking at what you're writing? >Seriously! Buy a cheapo clone and someone's typing tutor program, you'll see. >The results will be worth it! I presume that you have never attempted to teach your mother or an Art History student (excuse the shameful generalizations!) to use a computer - either that, or you are being tongue-in-cheek about this suggestion. The VAST majority of even affluent Americans find typing slow and painful, but writing easy and natural. >>can be used *standing up* by holding it with one hand and writing with the >>other, just like a scratchpad. How fast can you type with one hand? >Now this sounds like a more interesting application. Sort of the Sony >Writeman (no attempt to steal any trademarks here!) approach to life. I >have a picture of some astronmer prodding the bowels of her solar telescope >and taking notes on her Gridpad. I'd bet this application is in the minority, >though. In the minority? Hardly. I'd lay heavy odds that far more people spend time using a notepad or clipboard than even the most common computer applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. >the way, have you checked out the portable Mac? It brings the point-and-click >metaphor to the (almost) hand-held world. The portable Mac is a wonderful machine - easily the most advanced and usable portable machine, yet still falls far short of ideal. What I want is a portable device with the ease of use of a notepad, and the information processing power of a Symbolics or a Mac. I'm not that hard to please :-). It may be just wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that the GRiDPad is a step in the right direction. >Besides, I *DEFY* you to conceive of how the Gridpad is going to support all >those EMACS users out there :-) No hope of satisfying THEM (us!). ======================================================================== Richard Fozzard "Serendipity empowers" University of Colorado/CIRES/NOAA/ERL/FSL fozzard@boulder.colorado.edu (303)497-6011 or 444-3168