Does the Definition of Portable Depend on Your Size?

[KaminKevCrew]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm personally 6'6" (or more, I haven't checked in a while) tall. Depending on how much I've been exercising, I'm 225-260lbs. So I'm pretty much huge. Anyway, when I go to buy stuff like laptops, and backpacks and phones, etc. it seems to me that my definition of portable is very different from most people. I'm happy carrying a 10+lbs, 17" laptop around all day in a backpack that weighs 20 or 30lbs. I like the way that larger backpacks fit on my back, and I like to use the full size of the laptop compartment. I'm perfectly happy to carry a full-size over ear pair of headphones around with me wherever I go, and I find that 5"+ phones are a fine size. 

 

Am I the only one that gets their gear depending on the size (given that all else is equal, I would rather have a 17" laptop than a 15"), or does everyone else do this?

[Enderman]

No its just personal preference

small people can prefer large phones and laptops and large people can prefer small phones and laptops

it absolutely doesnt matter about your size

I would get a 17" notebook because I want a larger screen more than I would want lighter/smaller size

[brokencross]

A 17" laptop isn't portable by any means. And 15" is stretching it a bit.

[RainColt]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm personally 6'6" (or more, I haven't checked in a while) tall. Depending on how much I've been exercising, I'm 225-260lbs. So I'm pretty much huge. Anyway, when I go to buy stuff like laptops, and backpacks and phones, etc. it seems to me that my definition of portable is very different from most people. I'm happy carrying a 10+lbs, 17" laptop around all day in a backpack that weighs 20 or 30lbs. I like the way that larger backpacks fit on my back, and I like to use the full size of the laptop compartment. I'm perfectly happy to carry a full-size over ear pair of headphones around with me wherever I go, and I find that 5"+ phones are a fine size. 

 

Am I the only one that gets their gear depending on the size (given that all else is equal, I would rather have a 17" laptop than a 15"), or does everyone else do this?

I'm a pretty average 6'2 and for me I find that it's not the size of the screen that matters but the fit and feel in the hand, I liked my Z1 but then the Z2 felt clumsy and hard to reach the far top corner, but the Z3 I now have is perfect. I personally would probably go 15 inches just because it seems easier to haul around but I'm not a laptop kinda guy.

[LogicalDrm]

Portable is just term to descride devices that can work with internal battery power. Mobile on the other hand is more on personal preference. I too feel like over 15.4'' laptop is closer to desktop than laptop.

 

I wish I could use similar terms as we have in here. For under 15.4'' laptops are "carriable" and over it would be "dragable".

[KE2012]

My definition of portable is 'can I carry it in my bag' for laptops and pocket for mobiles.

[Kyuubixchidori]

I'm 6 foot 200lb. And I get hot easily, so my portable I like to be very light+small. I always kept my back pack sub 10lb.

I think size is a large part of it, but not 100%, with anything there will be the odd one out, but for the majority I see it as true

[Bouzoo]

Portable is just term to descride devices that can work with internal battery power. Mobile on the other hand is more on personal preference. I too feel like over 15.4'' laptop is closer to desktop than laptop.

 

I wish I could use similar terms as we have in here. For under 15.4'' laptops are "carriable" and over it would be "dragable".

 

A 17" laptop isn't portable by any means. And 15" is stretching it a bit.

I carry a 15.6'' on my back almost every day and it really isn't a problem (good backpack makes a huge difference). Almost bought a G750 but that would by no means be a portable thing. I personally don't see a point in 13'' or 14'' laptops, yeah I know, space & weight but for me there is no purpose. It really depends on the person.

[nicholician]

For me, I wont take a laptop that's over 5 lbs and has anything over 15.6" screen, since I'm a pretty small guy. I also won't accept a phone whose screen size is more than the low end of 5", anything else is just too big for me.

[KaminKevCrew]

Thanks for the opinions everyone! It's actually pretty enlightening to hear everyone's opinions on the matter! Thanks!

[Goldensapling]

I'm like 5' 8" and my idea of portable is "will it fit into my backpack, if yes, then it's portable" lol

[KaminKevCrew]

I'm like 5' 8" and my idea of portable is "will it fit into my backpack, if yes, then it's portable" lol

Well, something like that would depend greatly on the size of your backpack then, so what size is your backpack?

[Goldensapling]

Well, something like that would depend greatly on the size of your backpack then, so what size is your backpack?

It's fairly small, I can fit a full-sized keyboard inside barely. I would consider something around 15lb inside to be my max

[KaminKevCrew]

It's fairly small, I can fit a full-sized keyboard inside barely. I would consider something around 15lb inside to be my max

Interesting. I think that my max for carrying around all day would be around 45lbs, maybe a bit more. But I'm also crazy, and I really like having all my stuff with me at any given moment... (For reference, one time I filled my Everki Beacon up with a 17" laptop, full size hard mouse pad, 2 mice, an N64 with 2 controllers, and 6 games, a full size laptop, 1 pair of In ears, and a pair of full-size headphones, although the full-size headphones were strapped to the outside. Oh, and I had the Ifixit pro toolkit, and a few other odds and ends...)

[Goldensapling]

I really like having all my stuff with me at any given moment... (For reference, one time I filled my Everki Beacon up with a 17" laptop, full size hard mouse pad, 2 mice, an N64 with 2 controllers, and 6 games, a full size laptop, 1 pair of In ears, and a pair of full-size headphones, although the full-size headphones were strapped to the outside. Oh, and I had the Ifixit pro toolkit, and a few other odds and ends...)

An N64 at all times? Are you challenging people to Goldeneye all the time? Shouldn't you be carrying a Tube-TV then as well?

[KaminKevCrew]

An N64 at all times? Are you challenging people to Goldeneye all the time? Shouldn't you be carrying a Tube-TV then as well?

I just meant that I did that once, but I had all of it in my backpack all day when I was walking around. Typically though, I would have everything mentioned except the n64, but with a 360 controller or two, and a couple of extra sticks of ram.

[Goldensapling]

I just meant that I did that once, but I had all of it in my backpack all day when I was walking around. Typically though, I would have everything mentioned except the n64, but with a 360 controller or two, and a couple of extra sticks of ram.

You might just have the most useful backpack setup I've ever seen.

[TetraSky]

My personal idea of portable is

Does it fit in a pocket or in a backpack.

Pocket - It's portable.

Backpack - It's somewhat portable, but I ain't carrying a backpack if I don't need it for anything else other than for carrying my devices, which is next to never.

 

A 8inch tablet is pretty much the limit for portable for me. (I don't wear jeans, so I have pretty big pockets, also got a large inside pocket in my coat... but I'm obviously not wearing that in this heat)

[KaminKevCrew]

You might just have the most useful backpack setup I've ever seen.

Well, when your laptop seems to have a habit of causing ram to fail, you start to carry around the needed tools...

[Jumper118]

for me if it will fit in my car i would say its portable, so a 900d is very portable. phase cooler is portable. everything pc related is really.

[Tedster]

Yes, it depends on size and preference. At times my backpack's so heavy I go from 170lbs to about 200lbs walking.

[Dabombinable]

For me portable is any laptop that fits in a normal backback while weighing around 2Kg or less. (My 14" ultraportable for example is actually portable, the Asus 15" notebook however isn't as portable due to its weight which isn't helped by the glass screen and very heavy construction)

[Sauron]

For me anything with a battery can be considered portable. There's this dude at my university who made a ghetto case out of a suitcase and mounted a monitor on it (badass as hell) but I don't think that qualified because it still requires a power outlet, meaning on a bus (for example) it's not going to work.