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I'm really happy with my new 32GB Nexus 7. I'm wondering whether a device of this size with cellular radio (like the forthcoming Nexus 7) could replace both lar

I'm really happy with my new 32GB Nexus 7. I'm wondering whether a device of this size with cellular radio (like the forthcoming Nexus 7) could replace both larger tablets and smartphones as many people's only portable device? The form factor seems to be right in the sweet spot for portability versus usability, i.e. it's much less bulky than a full-size tablet, is much less expensive and also offers substantially better battery life, whilst retaining a screen large enough for pleasant video watching, gaming and especially web browsing and ebook reading, criteria which even the largest smartphone cannot compete with. I'd love it if there was a Nexus 6.5 and a Nexus 6 to compare with the Nexus 7 though, as I think 7" is definitely right at the upper end of the ideal size range.

hollerith 14y ago
>I'm really happy with my new 32GB Nexus 7. I'm wondering whether a device of this size with cellular radio could replace both larger tablets and smartphones as many people's only portable device? You are not the only one: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57491099-1/google-nexus-7-is-almost-the-only-device-i-need/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57491099-1/google-nexus-... An important constraint IMHO is whether the user can pick it up with one hand when the device is lying flat on a horizontal surface. The iPad does not meet this constraint: although my hands are very large compared to most men's and although I can technically pick up an iPad this way, doing so is very uncomfortable and my grip cannot be particularly secure. Even the Surface RT is smaller (.54 inches smaller to be exact) in the relevant dimension (the dimension that has to be spanned by thumb and middle finger) despite its screen having 1.166 times as much area as the iPad's. (This is possible since the Surface RT has an 16:9 aspect ratio versus the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad). ADDED. Most heavy users of computers will of course want at least one device that meets that constraint (namely, being able to be picked up and held comfortably with one hand) e.g., a smartphone or a 7" tablet or a 7.7" tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy 7.7 or the Toshiba Excite 7 -- the only 2 shipping tablets with AMOLED btw) or (if they have big hands) a 7.9" 4:3 tablet (the iPad mini). I predict that in the years to come many of them who want a second, bigger mobile device will prefer a device with a 11.6" screen (like the small Macbook Air or one of the many Windows 8 tablets with an Atom or Intel Core processor) or a 13.3" screen (like a lot of popular clamshells or the announced-but-not-yet-available Android-ARM-powered Toshiba Excite 13 tablet) over an Asus Transformer (with their 10.1" screens) or an iPad (with their 9.7" screens).
- jonathansizz 14y ago
  I agree, and would add that it's also important to be able to comfortably hold a device in one hand for extended periods. Interesting article you linked to. Add a comprehensive range of productivity applications and improved voice recognition, and we could also replace laptops as well (at least for most use cases, and with a docking station perhaps for all use cases). I can't wait!

hollerith 14y ago

>I'm really happy with my new 32GB Nexus 7. I'm wondering whether a device of this size with cellular radio could replace both larger tablets and smartphones as many people's only portable device? You are not the only one: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57491099-1/google-nexus-7-is-almost-the-only-device-i-need/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57491099-1/google-nexus-... An important constraint IMHO is whether the user can pick it up with one hand when the device is lying flat on a horizontal surface. The iPad does not meet this constraint: although my hands are very large compared to most men's and although I can technically pick up an iPad this way, doing so is very uncomfortable and my grip cannot be particularly secure. Even the Surface RT is smaller (.54 inches smaller to be exact) in the relevant dimension (the dimension that has to be spanned by thumb and middle finger) despite its screen having 1.166 times as much area as the iPad's. (This is possible since the Surface RT has an 16:9 aspect ratio versus the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad). ADDED. Most heavy users of computers will of course want at least one device that meets that constraint (namely, being able to be picked up and held comfortably with one hand) e.g., a smartphone or a 7" tablet or a 7.7" tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy 7.7 or the Toshiba Excite 7 -- the only 2 shipping tablets with AMOLED btw) or (if they have big hands) a 7.9" 4:3 tablet (the iPad mini). I predict that in the years to come many of them who want a second, bigger mobile device will prefer a device with a 11.6" screen (like the small Macbook Air or one of the many Windows 8 tablets with an Atom or Intel Core processor) or a 13.3" screen (like a lot of popular clamshells or the announced-but-not-yet-available Android-ARM-powered Toshiba Excite 13 tablet) over an Asus Transformer (with their 10.1" screens) or an iPad (with their 9.7" screens).

jonathansizz 14y ago
I agree, and would add that it's also important to be able to comfortably hold a device in one hand for extended periods. Interesting article you linked to. Add a comprehensive range of productivity applications and improved voice recognition, and we could also replace laptops as well (at least for most use cases, and with a docking station perhaps for all use cases). I can't wait!