In message
, at
19:46:33 on Tue, 15 Mar 2011, john b remarked:
But I agree that the "laptop on a rush hour train" scenario is far from
ideal.

True, but only because the tables are a little bit too high. *It's still
usable, I see the evidence all around me every morning and evening.

You seem to be assuming people have a seat. And that the tables exist at
all (or are more than bump on the wall that can't even take two coffee
cups).

This is why I have two laptops - a brick, which is basically for
transportable purposes (but runs FAST), and a netbook, which weighs
next to nothing and can quite merrily go on my lap when there are no
tables. And only cost GBP200.

Almost always, when I'm on a train I'll be needing my full-size laptop
at the destination. Although I go to great efforts to have a lightweight
but powerful machine as a result.

Using it standing up might be a challenge. But IMX any journey that's
long enough for a laptop to be worth bothering with is also one where
you're likely to end up with a seat - either because you're coming in
from Far Away, or because you're coming in High Barnet / Stanmore on
an inner-suburban line.

The hour that's least likely to reward me with a seat is the first hour
*out* of London - going into London is usually easier to get a seat
because as you hint I'll have boarded when it was lighter loaded. But
another 1hr trip I do from time to time (KX Thameslink to/from Gatwick)
can get pretty busy too.
--
Roland Perry