Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!seismo!sundc!netxcom!ewiles From: ewiles@netxcom.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Flat Displays and Portable Computers Message-ID: <285@netxcom.UUCP> Date: Mon, 2-Feb-87 10:52:01 EST Article-I.D.: netxcom.285 Posted: Mon Feb 2 10:52:01 1987 Date-Received: Tue, 3-Feb-87 20:31:29 EST References: <1191@ucbcad.berkeley.edu> <191@its63b.ed.ac.uk> <38@cerebus.UUCP> <1052@ius2.cs.cmu.edu> <275@netxcom.UUCP> <938@valid.UUCP> Reply-To: ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles) Organization: NetExpress Communications Inc. Vienna, Va. Lines: 79 In article <938@valid.UUCP> markp@valid.UUCP (Mark P.) writes: >...[heavily edited]... >There is >no feel, and the spacing will be all wrong-- completely wrong for touch-typing, >and a waste of valuable screen area that would be better used by providing >more lines than just 24 (I normally use my Ann-Arbor in 36x80, and this is >barely tolerable). >... Ok, Ok, I agree now! Having a touch sensitive screen keyboard is not a perfect idea. >... >For times when the information is flying by, there is no substitute for a >keyboard. It must be quiet, but with a good tactile feel. It must be >designed especially for lap-top use, since the small area typically occupied >by student desks will be filled by the display/base unit. People don't need >to watch their fingers as they type, anyway. >... Agreed... >... >Dealing with the physical size issue should not be a problem. Students are >used to carrying backpacks or similar devices. The overall size of this >device can be made to be no thicker than 3 or 4 stacked 8x11 notebooks. >... I remember quite vividly the difficulty I had trying to carry all the books I had to have, along with 3 to 4 8x11 notebooks that were only 3/8 inch thick. Now you want to remove those and replace them with an equivalent sized device which will in all likelyhood be much heavier??? No thanks! The prime design constrains for me are: - Size. Approximately 8 x 11 x 1 inches. In it's complete, packed-for-movement form. - Weight Not to exceed 5 lbs, preferably < 2 lbs. - Durabilty. Remember, it's being slung around all over the place! - Ease of Use. Which includes having to set up and take down for each class. You usually have only 5 to 10 minutes to get from one class to the next, so if it takes 2 minutes to set up and the same to take down, I can't use it. (A minute isn't all that long.) > ...[suggestions for design and packaging]... > ...[nice picture]... Your discussion on packaging and some of the details on interface is interesting. But, can you do it within the above limits? I suggest that the 'chord' keyboard which has been discussed in this news group would go a long way towards reducing the size of the device. And towards making it easier to use, the chord keyboard frees the other hand to use the electric pencil for graphics. The unfortunate thing about it is that it probably wouldn't sell. Too many potential customers are wedded to the 'standard' keyboard, and would refuse to take the time to learn a new way. Even if it were an improvement, I've seen that happen myself! :-( >... >Anyway, I have tried to come up with some more constructive ideas. Such an >electronic notebook could be a useful product, but I fear that its price would >dictate a fairly small market, considering the utility of its prime >competitor, the "analog" notebook. In the meantime, it certainly makes for >interesting discussion. :-) Yes, it does doesn't it! And you may be right about the price. But look what's happened to the micro market and you may get the idea that such a product would start out rather expensive and end up reasonable rather quickly. Consider also that a notebook that can keep your notes legible indefinitely, can be reused quarter after quarter, and allows you to easily edit your notes would be worth a little more. [If one existed, I'd buy one now, and I'm not even in school anymore! I'd use it for conference meetings and such.] Enjoy! -- Edwin Wiles seismo!sundc!netxcom!ewiles Net Express, Inc. 1953 Gallows Rd. Suite 300 Vienna, VA 22180