[Air-L] ipad, laptop, desktop

Jim Parker drjparker at gmail.com
Sun Jan 15 08:31:58 PST 2012


On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 10:30 AM, Jim Parker <drjparker at gmail.com> wrote:

> People didn't like the feel of an electric typewriter compared to a manual
> typewriter, people didn't like the feel of a computer keyboard compared to
> an electric typewriter, fill in the blanks. People probably didn't like
> writing on paper instead of chipping away at stones.
>
> -jim parker
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 10:27 AM, Abby Waysdorf <
> a.s.waysdorf at students.uu.nl> wrote:
>
>> Anecdotally, but interestingly considering where the debate here is
>> going, here's a report of an iPad keyboard being easier to use for an
>> elderly woman:
>>
>> http://thehairpin.com/2012/01/an-84-year-old-sends-her-first-text-message
>>
>> Abby Waysdorf
>> Utrecht University
>>
>> On Jan 15, 2012, at 5:09 PM, Mark D. Johns wrote:
>>
>> > I wonder if this is a generational thing, or if it is somehow tied to
>> > typing skills. I learned touch typing in the late 1960s -- first on
>> > manual, then IBM Selectric typewriters. When I switched to computers
>> > in the early '80s the keyboard seemed very natural and I've never seen
>> > it as a problem to be surmounted.
>> >
>> > I use a Nook Color as a reader and occasionally to skim through email
>> > or web surf, but I hate typing on it. An iPad would be just as bad,
>> > I'm sure. I sat next to a guy on an airplane a few days ago who was
>> > typing on his iPad using only his thumbs, very much like people text
>> > on a cell phone. He was moving at a pretty good clip, but not nearly
>> > as fast as one could type on a keyboard. I've never seen anyone do
>> > more than hunt and peck successfully on a tablet. Perhaps touch typing
>> > is possible, but the adaptation would have to be difficult.
>> >
>> > Adding an accessory keyboard to an iPad seems to run against the
>> > concept. At that point one has the same weight and bulk of Charles'
>> > Macbook Air (or the ultra-thin knock-offs of it just coming on the
>> > market). That would seem a more versatile choice to me, should my
>> > institution stop insisting on supplying me with bulky, 7 pound Dell
>> > laptops.
>> > --
>> > Mark D. Johns, Ph.D.
>> > Associate Professor, Communication Studies
>> > Luther College, Decorah, Iowa USA
>> > -----------------------------------------------
>> > 2011-12 Director, Luther Study Centre
>> > 23 Haslemere Road
>> > Nottingham NG8 5GJ
>> > United Kingdom
>> > -----------------------------------------------
>> > "Get the facts first. You can distort them later."
>> >     ---Mark Twain
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 5:18 AM, Peter Timusk <ptimusk at sympatico.ca>
>> wrote:
>> >> Just some comments from my experiences and  a question about labour,
>> as I am
>> >> starting to kick at Apple glee clubs that seem to be popping up at
>> >> conferences. I am enjoying the iPad effects on writing thread though.
>> >>
>> >> I have used keyboards since 1978 starting with Texas Instrument's
>> keypunches
>> >> typing code and chemical formulas. My fingers are also used to playing
>> 4
>> >> string electric bass guitar. I didn't start to type English sentences
>> into
>> >> computers until 1994 or so. Before that I never had access to word
>> >> processors. I have some limited experiences trying to type up essays
>> with an
>> >> IBM Selectric ( electronic typewriter) in the 1980's when I also
>> started to
>> >> learn touch typing from library books. Apparently teaching programmers
>> to do
>> >> touch typing is a real money saver. Word processors saved my education
>> late
>> >> in life. I think too fast for writing.
>> >>
>> >> I wonder how members of this list feel about the company Foxcomm that
>> makes
>> >> most of our Apples, IBM's and Dells, etc.? Their workers are working in
>> >> miserable conditions. Some of the scholars I have read on this list
>> also
>> >> have looked at labour conditions in the ICT business world.
>> >>
>> >> Someone on this list recently pointed me to a book on the
>> sustainability of
>> >> the Information age and I am reading that book.
>> >>
>> >> I briefly used an iPad at a family member's ( and Apple stock holder)
>> house
>> >> last month. Today I tried to use a display model Blackberry Playbook
>> in an
>> >> office supply store. In both cases, I had to ask people how to get
>> around on
>> >> the device.
>> >>
>> >> When I was writing a thesis I was doing it in LaTeX code on a Macbook
>> and an
>> >> eMac. I used a template published by my university. I have also tried a
>> >> mediawiki Intranet web site for note keeping not on the world wild web
>> but
>> >> on a home network running apache web server on my macbook.
>> >>
>> >> These days I just write papers in Word and do PowerPoint and am not
>> fighting
>> >> any software battles at work.
>> >> We are not allowed to use iPads at work. I work in government and
>> cannot
>> >> even take work home because of confidentiality.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Peter Timusk
>> >> at571 at ncf.ca
>> >> ptimusk at sympatico.ca
>> >> web: www.crystalcomputing.net
>> >> blogs www.cyborgcitizen.org
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org
>> >> [mailto:air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Charles Ess
>> >> Sent: January-14-12 11:17 PM
>> >> To: Barry Wellman; aoir list
>> >> Subject: Re: [Air-L] ipad, laptop, desktop
>> >>
>> >> Well ... FWIW ...
>> >> After a year of trying, I've given up on using the iPad as a "serious"
>> >> computer - but my reasons are likely more idiosyncratic than not.
>>  Can't get
>> >> used to a virtual keyboard - congrats to those who can!
>> >> Was intrigued by the Zagg keyboard, but for the first generation iPad,
>> the
>> >> keys are too small and too closely spaced together for my somewhat
>> largish
>> >> hands and touch-typing trained fingers.  But the OS and memory
>> limitations
>> >> were the final straw - when I work, I often have scads of applications
>> and
>> >> files open in ways that the iPad just can't do.
>> >> I can see using the iPad as a writing machine on a commute when you
>> have
>> >> little else to have to access or deal with - but I commute on a bike
>> most of
>> >> the time, so that's not a good idea for me ...
>> >> Still use the iPad as a reader - i.e., with Kindle, Nook, and other
>> apps.
>> >> Great for that.
>> >> Sorry you don't "do Mac" - my recently acquired MacBook Air has turned
>> out
>> >> to be surprisingly satisfying.  Following the example of many wise
>> >> colleagues, I got it initially as a travel machine.  But contrary to my
>> >> initial expectations, it is has enough zip, memory capacity, and
>> storage
>> >> capacity to serve as my main machine.  While not as compact as an iPad
>> with
>> >> a keyboard - it's not much heavier, and is far more capacious,
>> including a
>> >> full-sized keyboard.
>> >>
>> >> Apple didn't pay me to say any of this.
>> >> Best,
>> >> Charles
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On 1/14/12 7:15 PM, "Barry Wellman" <wellman at chass.utoronto.ca> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Perhaps because I've been using one for 55 years, but I don't know why
>> >>> anyone would abandon a proper keyboard for a glass iKeyboard.
>> >>> Real keys seem more natural to me than glass keys or even handwriting
>> >>> (for churning out long prose.
>> >>> And using a clip-on keyboard with an iThing seems kludgy. Besides, the
>> >>> OS is awful, wonders of Siri besides.
>> >>>
>> >>> So when I am not using my desktop (just bought a 27" screen for better
>> >>> editing), I am using a laptop (my old Lenovo Thinkpad X60) and eagerly
>> >>> awaiting the advent of proper ultrabooks this summer. (Don't do Mac;
>> >>> netbooks underpowered).
>> >>>
>> >>> Just my .02. I ain't gonna argue with anybody, but curious to read
>> others'
>> >>> thoughts on this list.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>   Barry Wellman
>> >>>
>> >>> ______________________________________________________________________
>> >>> _
>> >>>
>> >>>    S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, FRSC               NetLab
>> Director
>> >>>    Department of Sociology                  725 Spadina Avenue, Room
>> 388
>> >>>    University of Toronto   Toronto Canada M5S 2J4
>> twitter:barrywellman
>> >>>    http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman             fax:
>> +1-416-978-3963
>> >>>    Updating history:
>> http://chass.utoronto.ca/oldnew/cybertimes.php
>> >>>
>> >>> ______________________________________________________________________
>> >>> _
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
> ...it's a crazy quilt reflected in a fun-house mirror! - Zippy the Pinhead
>



-- 
...it's a crazy quilt reflected in a fun-house mirror! - Zippy the Pinhead



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