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what are your thoughts on ipad ergonomics.?

A

AJ.G

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 26, 2010
99
0
Beijing.
how is the ipad for every day use?
does it integrate well with the way you work -physically-
as in is it a good device to lie down on the couch, yet still be able to make a decent keynote, all in good comfort?

do u guys see what im tryin to ask??:p:p
how are the ipads ergonomics basically?

does it really adapt itself to you- as advertised?
 
AJ.G said:
how is the ipad for every day use?
does it integrate well with the way you work -physically-
as in is it a good device to lie down on the couch, yet still be able to make a decent keynote, all in good comfort?

do u guys see what im tryin to ask??:p:p
how are the ipads ergonomics basically?

does it really adapt itself to you- as advertised?
Click to expand...

The ergonomics are horrible. Every position that I have found to be feasible and comfortable will take its toll over time.
 
It is fine for what it is. It is great for casual periodic use. It is not great for hours long marathon sessions.
 
It sucks holding it in hands.. But I still can't put it down :eek:

The thicker-towards-the-center design makes it harder to hold it.
 
I actually find the ergonomics to be great. I use this thing for about an hour at a time usually. I have no issue holding it
 
likemyorbs said:
I actually find the ergonomics to be great. I use this thing for about an hour at a time usually. I have no issue holding it
Click to expand...

typically one hour would not cause an ergonomic issue, unfortunately the device isn't designed to prevent RSI's, so for heavy typing the keyboard should be used with the proper length
 
^Agreed, I find it very comfortable to use while lying down. Much better than the iPhone. I have not gotten any soreness what so ever. People who say they get sore after holding need to work out more. I've even gotten the hang of the typing. :cool: for short sessions of course.
 
whocaresit said:
It sucks holding it in hands.. But I still can't put it down :eek:

The thicker-towards-the-center design makes it harder to hold it.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was going to write. On all counts. But if I think about it more, the benefits over a traditional laptop type design is that it is easy to get right up close and personal to the screen, just move your hands closer. It's also potentially better on your back because you can avoid the praying mantis laptop hunch. The downside is that to get these benefits you have to hold it, and pretty well with both hands too. I don't yet have a case, and i'm sure some of those will help, but the aluminium back as well as its shape is not the best in this respect. While a book suffers similar limitations, a soft cover book or magazine is lighter and holdable with one hand. That makes a difference wrt long term fatigue.

So yeah the intimacy is addictive, and is something that you probably wouldn't "get" just by playing with it in the store or seeing the ads etc (they try, but I didn't really buy the message until I used it myself).
 
I wanted to use the iPad naked as Steve and Jonny intended, but quickly gave up - a case that offers a variety of viewing/typing positions is essential. Apple's own case does a good job; Yoobao's V3 is even better.
 
fobfob said:
...It's also potentially better on your back because you can avoid the praying mantis laptop hunch.
Click to expand...

I almost laughed so hard that i shot my drink through my nostrils, especially because that is the pose I have to adopt all day at university as I am too tall for the crappy lecture theatre seating.

fobob said:
... the aluminium back as well as its shape is not the best in this respect.
Click to expand...

This has been my chief gripe too. This is why I am playing with the idea of getting an adhesive backing made of 3M Di-Noc as it has a faux carbon fibre structure which should aid finger traction as well as looking rather spiffy.
 
AJ.G said:
how is the ipad for every day use?
does it integrate well with the way you work -physically-
as in is it a good device to lie down on the couch, yet still be able to make a decent keynote, all in good comfort?

do u guys see what im tryin to ask??:p:p
how are the ipads ergonomics basically?

does it really adapt itself to you- as advertised?
Click to expand...

I think over time it becomes much more physically integrated with your way of doing things. Certainly it takes some time getting used to.. For example, its a bit heavy at first but that really goes away at the end. But unfortunately it still depends on what you are doing--- for the most part short typing on iPad is fine. w/o wireless keyboard I find it useless for typing longer things...
 
I love my iPad but the ergonomics could be better. I frequently use if for 6 hours straight, occassionally putting it down briefly to go and get a drink or something but even then I'm away from it for such a short time that I don't switch it off, I just put it on a table still switched on and, when I come back to it, it's still on because it hasn't reached the 4 minute switch-off timer. (One thing I can't criticise is the battery life.)

As for ergonomics though, it could be improved, namely:

I agree that the curved back makes it harder to hold. I hope that the next generation looks more like the iPhone 4, I think I'd find that easier to hold securely for extended periods, especially with one hand.

It is too heavy, especially for the amount I use it. I believe that the weight is almost exactly 700g; it would really benefit from losing at least 200g of weight and a 300g reduction would be even better.

Most of my usage is ebook reading so I'm not doing much typing on the device, just looking at the screen.

- Julian
 
I can understand the discomfort of it, but how can it get better and still look beautiful. It's a tablet. Just get a case. Plus it still beats sitting at a pc or lugging a laptop, so who cares.
 
Ive barely touched my Mac since getting my ipad. And when I was on a 2hr flight the other day which got delayed, it was great for movies, and whilst we were waiting In parking the 3G capabilities came in handy for some browsing whilst I waited, and then watching films on the flight with 80% battery to spare.
 
Ok, everything else to one side. And let's all be totally honest here.

Basically a tablet is NOT a good design to input data with.

It does not take a rocket scientist to work out that the best design anyone could ever come up with would be for the visual area to be the same as the input area.

Hands are more naturally placed on a flat/slightly angled surface as your hands/arms are coming out away from your body with your palms facing downwards.

As when you sit as a desk, you would have the input device on the top of the desk.

The screen should be angled up, at a right angle to your eyes.

No-one would mount their keyboard upright in line with their monitor, and no-one would lay their screen down flat on the desk facing upwards.

We all know this as it's obvious.

Given a separate keyboard and mouse you would never mount them on the same plane.

A desktop and a laptop both allow the user to fix both items at the natural and most comfortable position for use.

That's why we all have things set out that way. From an old Vic 20, Apple II, across all laptops right up to iMac 27" and Mac Pro's.

The Tablet is a poor design, but it's a compromise and something we have to live with if we want a tablet format.

Any change to the Tablet design and you are edging back towards a laptop again.

It could be argued a Laptop is in most ways a far better design than a Tablet, but the Laptop is old and the Tablet is a new toy and has a lot of excitement which is forgiving basic issues such as this.

If we had been using Tablets for years and Apple had just bought out the worlds 1st laptop, everyone would be going GAGA about how incredible it was that you could set the REAL input area and the screen at the perfect angles for both your hands and your eyes. :)
 
I have the Apple case, i purchased when I initially got the iPad. The case only gives me a better grip as the case does on my iPhone which is far too thin, small & lightweight for my large hands.

I find that I switch the iPad from hand to hand every few minutes or fatigue begins to set it.

But the iPad is far more comfortable to hold & use than my laptop or my desktop :D when I want to just relax in my recliner & surf baby...:cool:
 
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