[NTLK] Comparing iPad & MP2K weights and dimensions.

[Joel M. Sciamma]

I have been looking at how practical it would be to tote around the  
iPad compared to the MP2K.

 From the POV of weight, the iPad at 680g is actually the same weight  
as the MP2K (675g with two cards) so it’s not a big deal. Whether it’s  
carried with a laptop or by itself the effort is the same.

While the size of the iPad is considerably greater than the Newt, it  
is pretty thin so it would slip into a bag with a laptop very easily.  
Carrying it by itself would be a bit of a pest though. I made a mock- 
up of the iPad in card and a decent-sized shoulder bag is probably  
your only option. Joy of Tech has a very good strip on this :-)

When I take my MP2K to a client, the big win is to be able to walk  
around and take structured notes, something that is going to be very  
hard with the iPad until a good finger-based HWR system becomes  
available. Even then it will not be integrated into the OS to anything  
like the same degree.

The only way to properly support the iPad when you are using it is  
from the back, which is a tad precarious, especially as this seems to  
be another shiny, slippery Apple product.

Given the weight, holding it by the edge and pressing on the screen is  
going to get tiring pretty fast. Try holding the MP2K from one end  
only and write on the screen and you’ll see what I mean. The iPad  
being a lot wider will increase the leverage that much more. To do  
your own experiments, find a hard cover book the same size and weight  
as the iPad and play around with it.

It might be possible to design a case that would make operating it on  
the move more practical but you are having to go against the grain of  
the design and this always makes for tough compromises.

So, as has been mentioned already here, it seems to me that the iPad  
is mainly a sit-down, home/office/vehicle-based product unless what  
you are doing is mainly passive: watching a movie, scrolling through  
your email or book reading.

The same can be said of the not too dissimilar Fujitsu Stylistic that  
we use for our GPS survey work. It runs XP and the direct stylus  
manipulation of the interface works better than anything else but  
despite this, the good battery life and compact dimensions it really  
is too much to carry when conducting a survey, no matter how useful it  
might be. Using it standing up is a challenge and mainly it’s used in  
a car, office or at client premises.

The MP2K OTOH is optimally designed for being used on the move:  A  
grippy surface which can be securely grasped edge to edge and a centre  
of mass that remains within your hand. I have sold many Newtons to  
tree survey teams and they love them because of the HWR and the  
compact dimensions. You can use the Newt with gloved hands of course,  
and in winter, that really counts for something.

There is another minor point to consider. An MP2K on one’s desk  
sitting on a stand takes up very little room next to a desktop or  
laptop but try putting that test book of yours propped up somewhere -  
it’s somewhat harder to accommodate, especially if you want the  
accessory keyboard.

Now consider a future iPad model that is half the size of the  
announced one. Effectively you have an MP2K size device and that could  
be much more interesting for those on the move, even without HWR.

Joel.