Kevin's Watch

Of late [actually for quite a while] the back and leg problems I suffer make it quite difficult to remain at my table in front of my laptop for sustained periods. As a consequence I tend not to be able to stay with threads that become long and involved, simply because I cannot spend the half or so hour 'catching up' before I post.

I have decided that pretty soon I will have to re-arrange things such that I can sit in an easy chair [feet up etc] while I do my 'Watcher stuff' each day. But I don't have shed-loads of money and thought that maybe one of the e-readers [like the Kindle Paperwhite] that has some internet capability might be a feasable alternative to getting an i-pad or tablet which can still be pretty expensive. What different things do peeps use for the Watch that might be suitable for wireless viewing from an armchair [bearing in mind that my sight is not brilliant and so the screen size has to be sufficiently large for me to see it pretty clearly]. Does anybody use a Kindle [paperwhite or fire] for their Watching?

peter, all i can say is that I hate trying to post without a real keyboard. So if I was in an easychair I would want a laptop. I don't think those tablets-with-keyboard things work well in the lap. And on-screen keyboards are right out for me.

That mid-sized device is actually the hardest to type with. I find that I can type best on a real keyboard, second fastest on my phone (2 thumbs instead of 10 fingers) but slowest on a tablet as it's awkward to type with fingers (keys are not spaced the same as a full size keyboard) and too wide to type with thumbs.

Maybe one of the smaller tablets might work for you? I know there are some budget brands that while they are not full featured, they are cheap. Can't think of the one my nephew bought, but I don't think it was too bad - pretty much just internet access but access the Android store for apps.

(BTW to peter, why can't you sit back in your easy chair and put your laptop on the ... top ... of your ... lap? )

I am the queen of bad backs. What I have found works for me is an easy chair with a FIRM back. Then I place my laptop on a laptop cooler and onto my lap. It works very well as long as I get up and move around periodically AND take a good walk every day to stretch things out. It is not good to stay seated for more than an hour no matter what chair you are in.

An iPad works for me, for both reading and posting.

Or just don't worry about catching up. You'll die before you manage in some of the threads here. Just reply to the original post, and 7 times out of 10 you'll probably bring us back on topic.

--A

I make myself sound absolutely crocked, but in reallity it's not so bad . I absolutely agree that typing [even for a two finger typist like me] has to be done on a keyboard - but in fact it's the actual reading I'm more interested in [example; I came across the Ukrainian thread in the Tank the other day that is well into it's nth page and would really like to read how the thread has developed alongside the crisis]. I think I would always come back to a table to actually post - but for the sustained reading periods I'd like a nice sit down and a cup of tea simultaneously . I've been toying with the idea of a Kindle [of whatever variety] for ages and wondered if I could combine the two. But is it's internet facitity good enough to download the Watch to, albeit just for reading purpouses alone?

[Wikipedia is another example where I'd like to be able to sit in comfort and just read for sustained periods]

I very often use my 7" Galaxy Tab. I have no problem typing with the Android swype system. Works extremely well. And I can do things of good length by writing it on the Write app, then copy & paste the whole thing. Write app does not need to be online, and automatically saves every character as you type it. No worries about Watch glitches obliterating hard work.

peter wrote: but for the sustained reading periods I'd like a nice sit down and a cup of tea simultaneously

Not sure why you can't sit in a comfy chair with the LAPtop on your lap.

peter wrote:but in fact it's the actual reading I'm more interested in

I've been toying with the idea of a Kindle [of whatever variety]

I've got the Fire [the basic, original one], and it's ok for watch reading. Have to hold it horizontal, and scroll often, but no biggie.

"Text Reflow" is essential, in whatever kind of tablet/browser combination you get.

peter wrote:I make myself sound absolutely crocked, but in reallity it's not so bad . I absolutely agree that typing [even for a two finger typist like me] has to be done on a keyboard - but in fact it's the actual reading I'm more interested in [example; I came across the Ukrainian thread in the Tank the other day that is well into it's nth page and would really like to read how the thread has developed alongside the crisis]. I think I would always come back to a table to actually post - but for the sustained reading periods I'd like a nice sit down and a cup of tea simultaneously . I've been toying with the idea of a Kindle [of whatever variety] for ages and wondered if I could combine the two. But is it's internet facitity good enough to download the Watch to, albeit just for reading purpouses alone?

pssh... no you don't sound silly; this makes sense. I was tracking with you the first time.
But then... I, too, spend enough time reading that the 'read for awhile and then reply at another time' thing is completely natural.

I'm not a frequent laptop user, so I notice... if you're typing something out on a laptop, I'm pretty sure you're not as relaxed as if you're casually holding a book or tablet... your eyes are pointed in a different place... your posture and everything is different.
(I always get uncomfortable really quickly when using a laptop.)

otoh, I have like no familiarity with these devices, so I'm completely useless for answering your question.

Always a pleasure to hear from you Linna, usefullness or otherwise .

I like the sound of the Galaxy Android, but the only problem here is that my front room has windows with sun directly onto the spot where I sit so 'screen glare' [did I just make that up - well you know what I mean] is a real problem. Given the location and my intention to use it for reading I really need it to have a matt screen like the Kindle {does the Fire have a matt screen?]. I seriously like the idea of the Android's 'automatic save' however - that could make it worth the money on it's own!

Yes - the laptop in lap option is a possible, still leaving the sun problem to solve however, and I don't like the idea of sitting with the curtains drawn on nice days at home; it seems a bit......weird? Also, I just don't find a laptop a comfortable thing to hold - I guess I'm essentially trying to replicate the 'book reading' feel as closely as it can be done, which again brings me to a Kindle or electronic reader type thing again. A friend of mine has a 'Paperwhite' and I think I'm going to see if I can borrow it to see how it works. I'm not sure it has the 'horizontal hold' option which could be a pain.

[Have developed a really bad habit of putting everything in 'inverted coma's' when I post, to the point where I don't even realise I'm doing it any more. I've just edited out a few of the least necessary ones - but look, I've even put the word 'Paperwhite' in them above. Hell - [like 'Brittney', I've done it again!]

peter wrote: {does the Fire have a matt screen?]

No. And my sister has one of the newer HD ones...it doesn't either.

You can get a non-glare screen protector for just about any of these devices, peter. It's a little tricky to put on, but the clerk at the shop where you purchase the device is probably a pro at it and can do it for you. (The Verizon Store guy did mine on my first iPhone. I thought he was being kind of a presumptuous jerk when he just went ahead and did it, although he was nice about it. And then I got my Kindle and tried to put one on myself.... )

I've avoided responding because I own *way* too many electronic devices. I typically use the all-in-one desktop at home, but I've got a bare-bones eInk Kindle for reading (which you can allegedly type on, but it's extremely tedious -- akin to the old days of texting on a flip phone, except worse ) and an iPad (full-size, not mini) for which I bought an external keyboard that's kind of crappy. (I got the iPad to replace a netbook that I bought for traveling and found to be virtually useless -- too bulky and too underpowered. Anybody want to buy it off of me? I'll let it go cheap! ) Turns out I don't mind typing on the iPad itself, although I don't bother trying to touch-type on the virtual keyboard. I may get a different external keyboard and see whether that makes the experience any better.

I've also had a laptop, but I never took it off the desk. I've never been comfortable with typing with the thing in my lap. I shift too much. And the angle for the keyboard is wrong -- I've already got issues with carpal tunnel syndrome, and I worry that typing in a weird posture with the keyboard on my lap would make it worse.

As far as advice goes, peter, I think you've hit on the solution -- borrow your friend's device and see whether it suits you.

As far as I know, peter, if you want an e-ink screen (and thus have a great reading experience in the sunlight) you can't also have a touchscreen. I *can* browse Kevinswatch on my classic Kindle, but it's a pain in the arse. There's also no smooth scroll or smooth zoom either. You will probably want to have a touchscreen LED display on your device ... and move the chair to a shady spot.

I sometimes use my phone to browse the internet, but usually I hate reading or writing stuff on devices that don't have a mouse.

Vader wrote:I sometimes use my phone to browse the internet, but usually I hate reading or writing stuff on devices that don't have a mouse.

One of life's great joys (not!) is trying to correct a typo in a Facebook post or text on my iPhone. I can't get the thing to select the single letter I want to fix. Either it selects the wrong word entirely, or I have to delete a bunch of text and try again.