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The Apple case makes it grippy, helps a lot. Took me a few days to get used to it.

I knew somebody was going to say that. Don't work, I spend a lot of time in the gym.

Doesn't sound like you are lifting any significant amount of weights.

I don't think its bad at all, then again I carry around a heavy ass camera most places I go.

When I was doing weddings, the camera + flash + bracket + the heaviest f2.8 zoom is like 5+ pounds. That's without the camera bag and studio flash. Sometimes up and above for 12 hours. Good thing later on I get an assistant. And sometimes the 17" MBP comes with me too.

So no, iPad is not heavy.
 
You like the weight of it? It's light, but would be even better lighter.

I realize the likelihood of it being made lighter isn't good, and my post didn't say that it should be lighter and have a ten-day battery life. My original post asked for suggestions how to make it lighter.

The Apple fan boys seem to think it's perfect, until Jobs comes out with ways to make it better and then the replacement is perfect. If it was perfect there wouldn't be any way to improve it.

I do like the weight of it..... it feels like it actually cost something. It feels like quality. If it was all light and plasticky, it would feel cheap.


/I saw someone walking around yesterday while surfing on his iPad 3G. He was literally walking around and surfing. If he was on an iPhone, it wouldn't have looked so odd. I guess he was fine with the weight as well.
 
But if you really want the iPad lighter, you could always just tape a Zippo to the back. :p

LOL

I do like the weight of it..... it feels like it actually cost something. It feels like quality. If it was all light and plasticky, it would feel cheap.


/I saw someone walking around yesterday while surfing on his iPad 3G. He was literally walking around and surfing. If he was on an iPhone, it wouldn't have looked so odd. I guess he was fine with the weight as well.

Must be me. =p

Last week was on the way to DJ somewhere and just checking out the song collection while I walk from the car.
 
Learn to Hold it differently.

I wondered about people complaining it was too heavy for reading, when I saw little 9 year olds reading heavier Harry Potter hard cover books.

I think the difference lies in learning not to try to hold it completely unsupported. If I read a heavy book. I never hold it up in the air, I am usually just balancing it. Resting it on my leg, or a table etc... It takes almost no effort to balance much heavier things than an iPad.

Other than that, I don't see anything else with a 10" color screen weighing less out there. There simply isn't much room to reduce mass unless you want to make it more flimsy, significantly cut battery life, or build a smaller model.

I would love a 5" Touch with the new 960x640 resolution. That would be portable, light and a great one handed e-reader. (I find the screen a bit too small on the current Touch).
 
I think the difference lies in learning not to try to hold it completely unsupported. If I read a heavy book. I never hold it up in the air, I am usually just balancing it. Resting it on my leg, or a table etc... It takes almost no effort to balance much heavier things than an iPad.

Other than that, I don't see anything else with a 10" color screen weighing less out there. There simply isn't much room to reduce mass unless you want to make it more flimsy, significantly cut battery life, or build a smaller model.

That's my problem. I try to hold the iPad like it's a magazine. Here's hoping that future versions will be as lightweight as the Kindle (without the Kindle limitations).
 
I wondered about people complaining it was too heavy for reading, when I saw little 9 year olds reading heavier Harry Potter hard cover books.

I think the difference lies in learning not to try to hold it completely unsupported. If I read a heavy book. I never hold it up in the air, I am usually just balancing it. Resting it on my leg, or a table etc... It takes almost no effort to balance much heavier things than an iPad.

Other than that, I don't see anything else with a 10" color screen weighing less out there. There simply isn't much room to reduce mass unless you want to make it more flimsy, significantly cut battery life, or build a smaller model.

I would love a 5" Touch with the new 960x640 resolution. That would be portable, light and a great one handed e-reader. (I find the screen a bit too small on the current Touch).

Agreed. Too lazy and need to hold iPad while lying in bed LOL
 
What are you on, they make F1 cars, ocean crossing yachts and parts of the space shuttle from the stuff... i think its more than durable enuff for a tablet... plus it'd look awesome!

Sure carbon fiber by itself is very durable but the points of failure that I'm concerned about is where the carbon fiber mates with something else.
 
I think the iPad is the perfect weight as it is; I would be very unhappy if it was lighter.

After using it for a couple of days you should be totally used to it.

You don't necessarily need to rest it against something, just balance it correctly in your hand(s) and that will make a huge difference. No fatigue!
 
This thread is just too much. "Ways to Make the iPad Lighter" LOLz...I don't think we can change anything to make the current iPad lighter, so I guess we'll just have to wait for ver. 2 and see what Apple can do to make it lighter. If they want to they can do it.

We could drill "speed holes" in the back casing :)
 
I wondered about people complaining it was too heavy for reading, when I saw little 9 year olds reading heavier Harry Potter hard cover books.

I think the difference lies in learning not to try to hold it completely unsupported. If I read a heavy book. I never hold it up in the air, I am usually just balancing it. Resting it on my leg, or a table etc... It takes almost no effort to balance much heavier things than an iPad.

Other than that, I don't see anything else with a 10" color screen weighing less out there. There simply isn't much room to reduce mass unless you want to make it more flimsy, significantly cut battery life, or build a smaller model.

I would love a 5" Touch with the new 960x640 resolution. That would be portable, light and a great one handed e-reader. (I find the screen a bit too small on the current Touch).

Couple of my friends and co-workers hold it from one corner and complain. It's only in common sense to hold with either 2 hands or rest it on something. Even 1 LB of an object the size of an iPad held from one corner for at least 5 minutes is bound to tire the hand.
 
Figbash Acrobat said:
Hmm. Yeah, plexi-glass should work real well with a touch screen!

Also should consider drilling holes into the back. The extra weight removed from the holes will help with the weight considerably.

Or just remove the back entirely.

The op needs some ideas on weight reduction. I'm just trying to help out here.
 
Also should consider drilling holes into the back. The extra weight removed from the holes will help with the weight considerably.

Or just remove the back entirely.

The op needs some ideas on weight reduction. I'm just trying to help out here.

Doesn't the iPad really have two batteries. Are they in parallel, if so you can probably run on one. Then replace back with strategic use of Duct Tape.
 
The iPad isn't that heavy, but would prefer it to be a little lighter. After holding it up for a while my wrists/hands get tired.

Any thoughts on ways to reduce the weight in future versions?

I have a feeling that the glass screen is what weighs the most, and I don't foresee any significant weight reductions in the next few years.

Would love to see a 10-16 ounce iPad.

Well, that glass needs to be there, and the A4 processor is tiny and doesnt weight a thing. Two things that probably adds quite a bit of weight are the aluminium frame and the batteries. So, change the material to carbon, and make smaller, ligther batteries. Last one is kinda meh, personally Id much rather they increased battery life even further than making it lighter once new battery tech comes. Who knows, maybe theyll do both.
 
The iPad is a lot lighter than carrying around my laptop

Wow, thats incredible! Then again, the iPad is not a laptop. Hey, my laptop is a lot lighter carrying around than my desktop!


IPAD MUST STAY THE WAY IT IS FOREVER!!1 CANT FACE QUESTIONS ABOUT POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS!!1 MUST DEFEND MAGICAL DEVICE!!1
 
Sounds like a carbonfiber back would do the trick. Cuts 130gram away, and give a better wifi-connection. Wonder if it'survive a fall though...
... but you'd have to add a fan to replace the aluminum heat sink function of the aluminum back.

According to my kitchen scale, the iPad weighs in the same as a standard 'trade' paperback. Seems like a reasonable weight to me.
 
Sure carbon fiber by itself is very durable but the points of failure that I'm concerned about is where the carbon fiber mates with something else.

Sure it'll look cool but it wont be very functional or any noticeable weight loss. The weight is all in the display.
 
If the iPad was a little lighter I would love it more than I already do, but I think that all tech is a compromise between form and function. I think they have the compromise just about correct.

You can lighten it up by offloading some movies and music. :D
 
That's my problem. I try to hold the iPad like it's a magazine. Here's hoping that future versions will be as lightweight as the Kindle (without the Kindle limitations).

Carrying this on the tube, reading it like a magazine, thowing it on the sofa is all hindered by the design over functionality mistakes in the iPad. It should have least been an upsized 3GS. Not a heavy symbol of wealth. Because after all this is a device for every body not just doctors and business class. Bring on the white carbon fibber model and lighter helicopter grade glass next please. And higher resolution display and arrow keys lol
 
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