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Technology trend

By Dallas Association of Law Librarians

I noticed an interesting technology trend while at AALL in DC. More people were using some type of laptop to take notes than ever before. What I noticed the most often:

• Netbooks (usually Acer brand)
• Macbooks
• Mid-sized Toshibas
• iPhones
  

I saw some other types when people were sitting at tables (Sony, Dell, H-P), which leads me to believe think that people who had larger laptops were using them to connect back to the office, but those with lighter laptops were taking notes. I was intrigued seeing people using iPhones to take notes. I love my iPhone, but can't type fast enough on it to take notes.

Some tentative conclusions:

• Battery life for smaller laptops and netbooks is getting better, so you can use for multiple sessions.
• Netbooks are small enough and light enough to toss in a bag, and to balance on your lap.
• People were bringing their personal laptops/netbooks, not their work machines.
  
• Any type of laptop helps keep the lap warm during long sessions in cold convention center rooms.

I had my MacBook Pro with me, and when I had the light turned down and the wireless off, I could usually get at least four hours before it started getting into the danger zone. (Hearing Kenny Loggins in my head.) People using the netbooks could go all day without recharging.

Anyone else have any experience in taking notes directly on a laptop during conferences? I found it was much faster than longhand, and I could read it afterward.

Discuss amongst yourselves now.

Full post as published by Lex Scripta on August 01, 2009 (boomark / email).