Today's Guest Author is Scott Bassett, Michigan appellate lawyer and also a technology consultant. Scott makes these observations about the iPad:
"I think Apple is missing a chance to expand its market dominance in tablet computers by not making a 7 inch version of the iPad. For portability, a 10 inch tablet (or 9.7 inches in the case of the iPad and iPad 2) is too large. It doesn't fit in a purse or a man's inside suit jacket pocket. I am on my second 7 inch Android tablet (Archos 70) after the first (a cheap Augen GenTouch from Kmart) proved less than ideal due to a resistive rather than capacitive touch screen. Both fit in my inside suit jacket pocket (as I discovered when I brought the Augen to last year's SBM Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids).
"The newer Archos is thinner and lighter, providing for an even easier fit. When I fly up to Detroit, Lansing, or Grand Rapids for my appeal arguments, it is inconvenient to bring a bulky paper file with me on the plane (not that I have many huge paper files anyway - I scan almost everything I received to searchable PDF). The trial transcripts, exhibits, and other documents, including briefs, reside on my Archos tablet in PDF format. I can review them while waiting at the airport, on the plane, or while at the C of A waiting for my case to be called. The 7 inch screen is easily large enough to read the documents without being too large to prevent me from tucking the table back into my inside suit jacket pocket when done.
"Liz Sadowski provided a link to an article Tablet Users Face Off: iPad versus Slate Shootout published in the ABA’s Law Practice Management section’s magazine on iPads vs Android tablets. As this article says, most Android tablets that lack their own 3G or 4G data connections can be easily tether to a cell phone for Internet connectivity. My Archos has a built-in tethering app that connects via Bluetooth to my cell phone for Internet connectivity without having to either buy a separate app or pay a separate tethering fee. Once set up (using an easy to follow wizard), tethering is activated by a single touch on the appropriate icon on the home screen of the tablet. Leveraging your cell phone's data connection this way saves hundreds of dollars over the life of a tablet when compared to buying a data plan for a 3G or 4G enabled tablet.
"I think the iPad 2 is a compelling device in many ways. But I think a 7 inch version would be even more useful to mobile lawyers."
See an earlier post on this blog by Scott about Microsoft's LiveMesh. Scott ("Scooter”) also plays bass for The Bare Assets Jazz Quartet, an all-lawyer combo that entertains at charity, Bar-related, and other functions.
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