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iPad is tiringly heavy & Unergonomic to hold

Built said:
Wow...iPad too heavy? Now I've heard everything.
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After a certain amount of time it starts to feel heavier as your hands get tired.

I mean, at least for us mere mortals. Apparently Macrumors is frequented by many superheroes with superpowers who find holding 1.5 pounds for extended periods of time to be no problem... :rolleyes:
 
I have an device that I am developing that address many of the concerns posted. I'm looking for feedback so if you'd like to give a crack pot inventor a little input check out the "Looking for feedback on my tablet invention" thread. I am not selling. This ergonomic thread is quite heated and the topic seems rather touchy so I image some will think my idea is stund but better to hear it now, I guess, maybe some will find it interesting.
 
Man, you must be weak. Let's beat the OP up and take his ipad from him.
 
Mitchrapp said:
How do you read a book? You don't hold it in the air do you? For long stretches? Of course not. Same with the iPad. Personally I think it's just an excuse.
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Book has two sides and spine. I hold it between four fingers, pinky and thumb hold the front, middle and ring finger brace and support the back. Even if the book is large, I can hold it that way easier than iPad due to the distributed weight.
 
iPad too heavy, or Acolytes too defensive?

I didn't buy one for precisely this reason. I was dealing with a broken right arm at the time, but the fact is if you read much it does become an issue. I read hard covers, library books and they can be quite heavy. Snarky apple acolytes saying "go to the gym" or "quit whining like a little girl" make me think they aren't really the kind of people I want to know. Maybe they are stronger, but everyone doesn't need to be like them to have a valid existence. Perhaps Pelicanflip has no trouble with the weight, perhaps he doesn't read in bed lying down or what ever. But for some people it is a problem. Just cause something is an apple product doesn't mean it can't improve and it is precisely the criticism of the computer experience that has driven apple to produce such remarkable products. Maybe we'll get a lighter 7" iPad that will be a better book experience.

The truth is, the web is a limiting experience. Books are the source of deeper knowledge and it actually makes a difference if it is easy to hold whether it will be read or fully read.

The snarky comments on this thread are a reflection of attitudes that are quite self-absorbed and non-compassionate, at least today. Hope it is only a bad day, but boy, there are a lot of people in a bad mood about how others experience the ipad. Really, take a deep breath, exhale and go for a walk in the park.
 
fidelityrevo said:
I didn't buy one for precisely this reason. I was dealing with a broken right arm at the time, but the fact is if you read much it does become an issue. I read hard covers, library books and they can be quite heavy. Snarky apple acolytes saying "go to the gym" or "quit whining like a little girl" make me think they aren't really the kind of people I want to know. Maybe they are stronger, but everyone doesn't need to be like them to have a valid existence. Perhaps Pelicanflip has no trouble with the weight, perhaps he doesn't read in bed lying down or what ever. But for some people it is a problem. Just cause something is an apple product doesn't mean it can't improve and it is precisely the criticism of the computer experience that has driven apple to produce such remarkable products. Maybe we'll get a lighter 7" iPad that will be a better book experience.

The truth is, the web is a limiting experience. Books are the source of deeper knowledge and it actually makes a difference if it is easy to hold whether it will be read or fully read.

The snarky comments on this thread are a reflection of attitudes that are quite self-absorbed and non-compassionate, at least today. Hope it is only a bad day, but boy, there are a lot of people in a bad mood about how others experience the ipad. Really, take a deep breath, exhale and go for a walk in the park.
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Most likely few of those comments come from avid readers. Holding anything in a reading position for an extended period will generate muscle stress. At 1.5lbs. the iPad is comparable to a small hardcover book and it will cause fatigue. Changing positions, bracing, leaning or otherwise supporting it like we do when reading a book for hours at a time helps.

All this sitting in front of a computer has increased my abdominal proportions providing a naturally occurring support structure for iPad reading. :)

Cheers,
 
Our society has and is becoming more and more wimpy. All I know is the iPad is 100 times better than textbooks. I have used many a book that weighs much more than any iPad. Maybe Apple should hire someone to carry iPads for people too. I am sure the first lawsuit is out there waiting for someone who gets iPad "tunnel syndrome".
 
To each their own I guess, but truth to be told, I do wonder how one can label the iPad as unergonomic and heavy considering all the amazing -- magical if you will -- things it holds.

I am at this very moment holding the whole freaking Internet in my hands (sans Flash) as well as over 30 books. Good god, if I have to hold about 700 grams of technology in my hands to access all this, so be it.
 
saunterer said:
To each their own I guess, but truth to be told, I do wonder how one can label the iPad as unergonomic and heavy considering all the amazing -- magical if you will -- things it holds.

I am at this very moment holding the whole freaking Internet in my hands (sans Flash) as well as over 30 books. Good god, if I have to hold about 700 grams of technology in my hands to access all this, so be it.
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What you have are people who take solace in being professional whiners. If you looped half a pound from the iPad by reducing the battery size and weight, they would complain that it does not last as long and that they would gladly accept additional weight to increase battery life. Bottom line, they live only to complain and to post about it.
 
The iPad can do many things and weights 1.5lb (24oz) while the Kindle DX weights 1.2lb (18.9oz) and can only do ebooks and 'experimental internet'... So I think the extra 0.3lbs you have to carry is not too much for all the extra features it has.... It's the first version and of course newer versions will be most likely smaller in thickness and lighter...
 
Let's put the snarky remarks aside. Can't we agree that the IPad is remarkably light and ergonomically pleasing for all that it does, but it would be nice if it was lighter. You know it will be some day, but for now, it's way lighter than anyone could have imagined.
 
Spoken like someone who has no knowledge of ergonomics

If you type a lot for a living (business, software engineering) and you're older than 18, you'll quickly realize that ergonomics aren't a joke. So it's really really silly to talk about "wrist exercise". Yet this comes up time and time again. Be it the 14 year olds on gaming message boards or message boards like this. If you don't fall into that demographic, then you are just being difficult to defend your chosen product.

If someone says "this is uncomfortable to me" or "given my experience, I think this looks like an ergonomic nightmare" you don't tell them to "life wrist weights". You tell them to immediately stop doing that thing causing the RSI and adjust to a similar activity that meets their needs without causing the strain. Once you go through occupational therapy you learn that there are tradeoffs that must be made.

I use a Kindle for reading because I got tendonitis so bad in my thumbs that I was told to avoid gripping things between my thumb and index finger. This is, incidentally, how you generally hold a paperback with one hand or how you pinch the sides of a heavy book that's hard to hold apart. So I listened to them and now I can read pain-free on the Kindle.

Will the iPad be bad for me? Hard to say. Maybe, maybe not. But I'll NEVER say something flip like that to someone else experiencing pain. Imagine being unable to do pretty much every hobby that requires use of your hands. Video games, reading, cycling, whatever. Imagine that and ask yourself if it's worth taking seriously.

nateo200 said:
Wrist strength and endurance is allot more important that just what you watch on your iPad it :D. I understand what you mean but I'm pretty sure you just need to start doing some wrist curls every night and you'll be good. One handing an iPad isn't a good idea either....this isn't an iPhone.
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DNAppleGold said:
Let's put the snarky remarks aside. Can't we agree that the IPad is remarkably light and ergonomically pleasing for all that it does, but it would be nice if it was lighter. You know it will be some day, but for now, it's way lighter than anyone could have imagined.
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Honestly, that's the problem. Were the iPad really just a content device, a color Kindle like device with music and video capabilities and the weight to go along with it, I think it would be a perfect fit. I want my tech books in color. And I want to stop carrying the paper versions. So I'd go for this. The tech isn't there yet and until it is I'm not going to compromise for the new shiny.
 
PrestonCrawford said:
Honestly, that's the problem. Were the iPad really just a content device, a color Kindle like device with music and video capabilities and the weight to go along with it, I think it would be a perfect fit. I want my tech books in color. And I want to stop carrying the paper versions. So I'd go for this. The tech isn't there yet and until it is I'm not going to compromise for the new shiny.
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What are you talking about?

Honestly, unless your tech book is a 'cookbook' Bash/Python or something of similar A5 size, one tech book is heavier than an iPad. The fact it does all of the other things it does is a bonus to me, and a real selling point too. The moment Apple put pdf support into iBooks, it became a better proposition for storing tech books. I'd have real problems carrying around the physical versions of the books in my library, so it's great for me.
 
steviem said:
What are you talking about?

Honestly, unless your tech book is a 'cookbook' Bash/Python or something of similar A5 size, one tech book is heavier than an iPad. The fact it does all of the other things it does is a bonus to me, and a real selling point too. The moment Apple put pdf support into iBooks, it became a better proposition for storing tech books. I'd have real problems carrying around the physical versions of the books in my library, so it's great for me.
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I'm saying it's just not light enough yet. I agree that it would be perfect for storing a truckload of tech books. I just wish it were lighter and wouldn't mind if it did less. Basically I want the Kindle DX with a few extra features.
 
Complaining about 22 ounces???? (iPad Wifi 1.5 pounds. ipad 3G 1.6 pounds)

Not ergonomically suitable for typing? Buy a stand.

Still too heavy? Don't buy an iPad. Period. Some people need to get out more, for sure.

All I can say is..WOW...
 
Built said:
Complaining about 22 ounces???? (iPad Wifi 1.5 pounds. ipad 3G 1.6 pounds)

Not ergonomically suitable for typing? Buy a stand.

Still too heavy? Don't buy an iPad. Period. Some people need to get out more, for sure.

All I can say is..WOW...
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Are you listening to yourself? Your tone is very angry. "All I can say is...WOW..". "Some people need to get out more".

Not only are you being insulting, but you're completely missing the point. The OP complained about iPad ergonomics. I chimed in while doing a Google search for whether the Kindle DX was suitable for reading technical books from an ergonomic standpoint. Consensus seems to be it isn't and iPad is better, incidentally.

Anyway, while searching for this I found a website where someone is getting attacked for having the audacity to complain about the iPad's ergonomics. I give my personal experience and I get this? Do you understand how ridiculous you sound. Some people (adults) work a lot. When they work a lot they start buying gadgets for reasons other than fun. If those gadgets make their life worse in some ways, those gadgets aren't worth the money. This is really very simple. If you love your iPad no one is telling you you're wrong or stupid. I'm simply saying that in case someone stumbles on this thread, it's worth noting that there are other level headed people out there who really wanted to love the iPad, but found it to be ergonomically worse than the giant books I was attempting to replace it with.

Please try and think about what you type before you say it. There's more to life than slamming people anonymously.
 
PrestonCrawford said:
Are you listening to yourself? Your tone is very angry. "All I can say is...WOW..". "Some people need to get out more".

Not only are you being insulting, but you're completely missing the point.
Anyway, while searching for this I found a website where someone is getting attacked for having the audacity to complain about the iPad's ergonomics. I give my personal experience and I get this? Do you understand how ridiculous you sound. Some people (adults) work a lot.
Please try and think about what you type before you say it. There's more to life than slamming people anonymously.
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Now who's sounding angry? :rolleyes: I find your hypocrisy comical.

Go take your meds, bro.
 
I don't understand why people are complaining.

I bought a case that props my iPad up. I never have to hold it. It's better than a book because you actually HAVE to hold the book open. If I'm reading the only time I have to touch it is to turn a page.

:confused:
 
I have to say I love how some people complain about the weight. Last thursday me and my Girlfriend had took a day free from studying. this means curl up in the sofa , me with the iPad she with the iPhone and the we turn on whichever series we last downloaded. This thursday we watched House MD for 12 hours straight. And I used my iPad 11of those hours, all this time I held it in my hands, and nope... never thought of it as being heavy.

I dont neccesarily think you need a gym membership. But you must be doing something seriously wrong if you feel it is heavy and difficult after only 15 minutes.
 
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