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How to Use a Laptop In the Sun
After the 10 foot snow banks melted and I could actually see grass, a wonderful weather phenomena happened: warm spring sunshine.
I love the sun. Naturally, nothing seemed more tempting than grabbing my laptop and heading outside to sit in the sunshine with a beer and do a little writing. (In moderation – the beer, not the writing.)
Well, I couldn’t see a damned thing. The laptop was on and I was squinting away trying to see what I was doing. Fun? No. Productive? Not at all.
I used Twitter to ask people their solutions – I mean, hey. Everyone else seems to live in warm, sunny places. They must have all the answers to avoid going screen blind, right?
Face the Sun. The most common prevention for screen blindness offered up was to sit facing the sun. Angle the laptop and turn up the brightness for your screen display. (Brought to you by Vegaspenman and RLD002)
Look Cool. Put on a pair of shades while you’re working to help cut down the glare. And sit facing the sun, of course. (Merci, SandieLaw)
Find the Shade. Sit underneath an umbrella, a parasol or a tarp, or find a shady spot where you can work. You may not soak up the sun, but you won’t go blind trying to see, either. (Merci, SHurleyHall, WritingJourney, DebNg and Vingold)
Get a Box. Some contraptions in high-tech styles helped box in your laptop to cut down glare. Another alternative is to find a nice-sized cardboard box, set it on its side and stick your laptop in it to type. Use duct tape as required in true Canadian style (Thanks, Rjleaman, NezSez and DebNg)
Wear Socks. The best answer was to both sit in the sun and be in a dark place. This body sock provided the ultimate answer to isolate yourself and your screen. If you have an Aunt Betty, she could even knit you one. (Innovation itself from Radix33)
Traditional Means. Duh. We can still use a pen and paper. The downside is that while you’ll see and be able to write in the sun, you’ll probably get hand cramps because you haven’t used a pen to write with in years. (Cheers, Humminbird!)
Give Up. Sage advice included realizing that the Sun God is giving you a message. Begone, industrious worker, or revel in the rays. When you really can’t see, call it quits and go have a great day outdoors. (Grazi, Rogueink)
As a matter of fact, I think I will. That beer’s calling me.
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Good God, I was going to jump in here and say something coherent about laptops, but I can’t do it in 1 French, 2. Italian, or 3. Viking, so I guess I will be on my merry way.
Thanks for the tips. I may try again – in the sun that is.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Feed on Some RSS Fruit
Here’s what you need for a laptop in the sun:
http://www.gadgetcentral.com/eyetrek_intro.html
Don’t think they make them anymore though.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..my hero.
@Tei You rock my socks, girl.
Hi James – I find this frustrating too – not that we get much sun in the North of England. I tried the huge umbrella one when I went to Spain and that was the only one that actually worked for me. It needs to be a massive umbrella though.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Dirty Little Secrets 2 – The Investigation
Someone mentioned the invert display function standard with macbooks – there is software called nocturne to do this even ‘better’ which is meant to work well in the sun – I’ve tried it a few times and it’s pretty good.
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/05/turn_your_mac_i.html
This was definitely unique! Thanks so much for the tips. I do wish you had of written this last year when I used my new laptop outside for the first time. I messed around moving the laptop for at least 15 minutes trying to get it to where I could read the screen. I was never able to get it where I wanted it, but I managed enjoy the sun for a little while as I wrote. Thanks to your article, next time I venture outdoors with my laptop I won’t have to waste as much time as I did before, because I’ll know what to do this time around.
By the way, this post was my favorite blog read of the day, which I post at Twitter. In other words, I linked to your article from Twitter announcing it as my favorite blog read of the day. In addition, I’ve also shared it on StumbleUpon, Digg and Del.icio.us.
Thanks again for the wonderful tips!
Misti Sandefur’s last blog post..Research Resources
@ Misti – Aw, that’s very cool of you! I actually tried to work outside last year too, got completely frustrated, pissed off and gave up. But this year, I’m DETERMINED to find that life of luxurious leisure us home-office web workers are supposed to have.
It was my pleasure, James; your post certainly deserved it.
Last year I almost gave up out of frustration myself, but I wasn’t going to let the sun win.
Misti Sandefur’s last blog post..Research Resources
Laptop in the sun . . .
Ah, finally the warm weather has arrived.
Of course, if your laptop overheats, as mine does, you may not choose to hold it in your lap. All sorts of weird things can happen.
Blessings,
Linda
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