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This will solve the "spotify didn't actually download my offline playlist" problem, but unfortunately there is rarely room to use a laptop on the plane unless y

This will solve the "spotify didn't actually download my offline playlist" problem, but unfortunately there is rarely room to use a laptop on the plane unless you're flying business.

gruez 4y ago
>unfortunately there is rarely room to use a laptop on the plane unless you're flying business What do you mean? I've flown before and 14" or 13.3" laptop fits just fine on the seat tray.
- cpuguy83 4y ago
  It depends on the plane. A lot of planes have seat rows that are so close together. Forget about it if you have a little extra around the waist.
- crazygringo 4y ago
  It certainly does. However, if you're even moderately tall, it's impossible to use the trackpad without elbowing the person next to you in the ribs, since the front of the laptop is basically touching your stomach once you open the laptop at enough of an angle to be able to see its display. (This is on a 13" MBA.) If all you're doing is watching video then it's fine. But trying to get real work done is incredibly awkward. The only way I'm able to do anything is to use a separate Bluetooth keyboard I hold underneath the tray over my knees. But that means exclusively writing or other things I can do solely with the keyboard, without a mouse/trackpad. Also, forget it if the person in front of you reclines. It's game over.
  - gruez 4y ago
    >it's impossible to use the trackpad without elbowing the person next to you in the ribs that's what the trackpoint is for, if you have a thinkpad ;)
  - glowingly 4y ago
    My experience with largely with 14" laptops. I am moderately tall, IMO. I will admit to using a Thinkpad. For other laptops I've had, I use my thumbs + tap-to-click. Also a healthy dose of KB. I am buried in the console, so I will admit that a more graphically driven user may not appreciate thumbing the touchpad and navigating by KB. Sometimes, the options for edge-inertial-scrolling, tap then hold to drag (i.e. click dragging with a mouse), etc seem to mostly be limited to synaptics touchpads and sometimes features disappear with OS or driver updates. Really annoying, when those features are what make marginal touchpad usage shine, IMO.
- LeoPanthera 4y ago
  I can only speak for United Economy and a 13" MacBook Pro, but while it will "fit" on the tray, the screen must be completely vertical for there to be enough room, and if the person in front of you reclines their seat even slightly, it becomes unusable.
neither_color 4y ago
This is actually one of the few cases where the ipad pro really shines for me. It's a great economy tray table "computer"
bastawhiz 4y ago
I think we're well past the point of debating whether WiFi on planes is useful for people. Just because some folks don't feel like they have room to use a laptop hardly means the airline industry doesn't pull millions in revenue selling abysmal connections for $15-20 a pop. Some of us just want to watch YouTube on our phones or scroll Instagram or message friends on Telegram. If this is a competitive price for airlines and the service is good, you can bet it will sell.

This will solve the "spotify didn't actually download my offline playlist" problem, but unfortunately there is rarely room to use a laptop on the plane unless you're flying business.

gruez 4y ago

>unfortunately there is rarely room to use a laptop on the plane unless you're flying business What do you mean? I've flown before and 14" or 13.3" laptop fits just fine on the seat tray.

cpuguy83 4y ago
It depends on the plane. A lot of planes have seat rows that are so close together. Forget about it if you have a little extra around the waist.
crazygringo 4y ago
It certainly does. However, if you're even moderately tall, it's impossible to use the trackpad without elbowing the person next to you in the ribs, since the front of the laptop is basically touching your stomach once you open the laptop at enough of an angle to be able to see its display. (This is on a 13" MBA.) If all you're doing is watching video then it's fine. But trying to get real work done is incredibly awkward. The only way I'm able to do anything is to use a separate Bluetooth keyboard I hold underneath the tray over my knees. But that means exclusively writing or other things I can do solely with the keyboard, without a mouse/trackpad. Also, forget it if the person in front of you reclines. It's game over.
- gruez 4y ago
  >it's impossible to use the trackpad without elbowing the person next to you in the ribs that's what the trackpoint is for, if you have a thinkpad ;)
- glowingly 4y ago
  My experience with largely with 14" laptops. I am moderately tall, IMO. I will admit to using a Thinkpad. For other laptops I've had, I use my thumbs + tap-to-click. Also a healthy dose of KB. I am buried in the console, so I will admit that a more graphically driven user may not appreciate thumbing the touchpad and navigating by KB. Sometimes, the options for edge-inertial-scrolling, tap then hold to drag (i.e. click dragging with a mouse), etc seem to mostly be limited to synaptics touchpads and sometimes features disappear with OS or driver updates. Really annoying, when those features are what make marginal touchpad usage shine, IMO.
LeoPanthera 4y ago
I can only speak for United Economy and a 13" MacBook Pro, but while it will "fit" on the tray, the screen must be completely vertical for there to be enough room, and if the person in front of you reclines their seat even slightly, it becomes unusable.

neither_color 4y ago

This is actually one of the few cases where the ipad pro really shines for me. It's a great economy tray table "computer"

bastawhiz 4y ago

I think we're well past the point of debating whether WiFi on planes is useful for people. Just because some folks don't feel like they have room to use a laptop hardly means the airline industry doesn't pull millions in revenue selling abysmal connections for $15-20 a pop. Some of us just want to watch YouTube on our phones or scroll Instagram or message friends on Telegram. If this is a competitive price for airlines and the service is good, you can bet it will sell.