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View Full Version : Pocket PC, Tablets, and an Old Fart


pilgrim
06-18-2003, 12:34 AM
I will be the first to admit that I have my first pair of bifocals this year, and am strongly considering Lasik surgery very very soon. Having wore glasses all my life has been not exactly fun. But, I am nearsighted, and I can read my PPC easily without glasses. Anything past arm distance, however, the glasses are necessary.

Part of the Lasik byproducts, in people over the age of 40, is that we lose the ability to focus our eyes closer. The doc said, after Lasik, I would need reading glasses to read both a book or a PPC.

So, my question to y'all out there, if there are any other old farts who have contemplated this, have you considered going to a Tablet PC or what? The screen size of the PPC will be ok if I read glasses, but I could possibly use larger print on a tablet thingie.

Actually, a device somewhere in between a PPC and tablet would also be nice. About the size of the DVD players we can rent in the airport.

Wearing glasses to read a PPC is ok, I suppose, just another step before hitting the "On" button. Still, larger print, or larger screens, would be nice as well.

Right now, I would pay a price premium for a device with larger screens, and up-to-date technology. A 5" x 7" tablet would be very nice, or a thin Tablet probably better. I lose the pocket size, which is unfortunate, but I usually carry a notepad around anyway.

Or, perhaps a very very small Palm / PDA / Appointment reminder unit for the pocket, and a Tablet for Pocket PC tasks.

Is there a forum on these somewhere, in depth, and using current technology? I would prefer the newer stuff, as opposed to getting set up with an Amiga equivalent (a great machine for its time, but no longer made).

A pocket sized device for simply calendar use (such as a Palm), coordinated with my desktop AND tablet PC, would be fine. I would carry the Palm or Ipaq 2xxx series with me all the time, and then use the Tablet for writing or viewing stuff such as documents and performing word processing.

While I have a keyboard for my Ipaq, I will say that the screen real estate is smaller than I desire. Yes, a Tablet is bigger, and more difficult to carry around. But, if in business one carries around a binder or a pad of paper anyway, it is ok.

Lighter than a Laptop, I would be looking for something with some expandibility, but mostly screen size and memory. And, Pocket 2003 (or equivalent for a tablet...)


Any thoughts, comments, or (constructive) Rude remarks to an old fart?

Kati Compton
06-18-2003, 12:57 AM
Two of my friends have had Lasik and they're pretty happy with it. I don't think they have a problem focusing closely. However, make SURE you have an experienced doctor with a good reputation. There are several sites on the Internet where people complain about the horrors of Lasik gone wrong. And there's a LOT of people where this has happened.

I don't know whether or not Lasik is the best answer for you, but I will tell you that I would not do Lasik. I am fine now with contacts. While it would be nice to not need them, to me, it's just not worth the risk of ending up with something potentially non-correctable that's worse than I am now. I will be faced with having to get reading glasses when I am 40 (I am far-sighted). I'm not looking forward to it, but I'll deal with it then.

But why would you go from bifocals to reading glasses? Seems like a sideways jump and not an improvement to me.

Nuthin' wrong with being 40. Get the technical devices that you think will work best for you with whatever vision choice you decide.

PS - the Toshiba has a big 4" screen - but the screen QUALITY isn't as good as the new models. I'd consider the 54xx or 55xx series ipaq if you go the Lasik route. And for other reasons than yours, I'd REALLY like a 5x7 or 5x8 tablet too!!!!

Possum48
06-18-2003, 10:17 PM
got used to the bi-focals. Like you I have worn glasses since a young age. So why do the Lasix thing. It may or may not mess up your sight as you have explained.

You are still going to need glasses anyway so I don't see the reasoning for the Lasix. And besides the "older" chicks just love guys with glasses especially bi-focals.

Just going with what you have now will solve all your problems as to what PPC, Tablet PC or whatever to carry around.