As all METARs know by now, I will be having open-heart surgery in November.
I expect a 5 day hospital stay. I won’t be strong enough to handle a laptop and I don’t want to strain my eyes using my phone.
Recommendations? A tablet?
Wendy (cross-posted to “Help with this stupid computer” board)
Tablets and iPads coupled with good noise canceling headphones can make hospital bed reading and video watching much easier and more restful. Pick what is easy for you to manipulate, view, and control.
d fb
Be radical. Leave the electronics at home. Take a book, or some magazines.
I had my car in for maintenance a few weeks ago. I took along a magazine to read. I commented to the other people waiting, how everyone else had a “device”. I was the only one going old school, with a paper magazine.
Steve
FWIW, I’ve had an iPad-mini for a few years, and am happy with it. The mini is larger than a phone, but smaller than the full-sized iPad. It works well if I am sitting on the couch and want to check something on the internet. I use a stylus with a lanyard that is attached to the headphone jack. A stylus is more accurate than my fingers on the touch screen.
The iPad-mini also syncs up well with iTunes on my regular computer, if I want to listen to music or audio podcasts. The bluetooth works well with a separate bluetooth speaker, but in the hospital it might be better to use headphones.
Good luck with your surgery.
_ Pete
I really like my MacBookPro, the smaller 13" version.
I wish you a quick recovery!
Denny Schlesinger
I like my Microsoft surface. You can buy a keyboard for it and it pops right on it for a laptop. Keep it off for a tablet. When I am traveling I take it with me and it is small and compact. Perfect.
Good luck with the surgery.
You might find you get more mileage out of audiobooks/podcasts etc than anything readable. Even the TV. My husband found that there were so few positions with the pillows etc that was even marginally comfortable in those first post-op days that reading was next to impossible. Fortunately for him there were enough news programmes, talk shows etc that provided him with outlets for his opinions so I got a little peace with my earphones in.
I strongly agree. Good noise canceling headphones, just for the silence they can provide, are almost miraculous in their ability to cut stress and enable rest when it is difficult. Then add in podcasts, audio books, and gorgeous music….
d fb
Although you rejected a laptop, you may wish to consider a Microsoft Surface. They are small and light, come with a fully functional keyboard and a touch screen.
I should mention, I touch type so a physical keyboard is very high on my list of requirements. Typing on a screen is just too slow for me. The Surface however, is not that much bigger than a useful tablet.
That said, I also have an iPad. The iOS vs. Android ecosystem is hotly debated and no need to get into here. But, I also have an iPhone and I will go to the mat arguing that iOS is easier and nicer to use than Android–but more expensive. So pick your poison.
However, there are aftermarket Bluetooth keyboards that for a fraction of the cost of name-brand almost turn your tablet into a laptop.
VeeEnn’s husband’s experience is valuable.
Set the world aside for a few days.
If you do get a tablet subscribe to Jon Kabat-Zinn. There is a reason. Healing is better with meditation. Pain management is better with meditation.
You do not need to closely watch Jon to follow his instructions.
He was the first person to study meditation and chronic pain management. The symptoms were cut in half.
Considering the cost of painkillers in real terms the subscription is a small cost.
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jon-kabat-zinn-teaches-mindfulness-and-meditation
I apologize if there is any assumption here that you have not done meditation when you have. The quality of Jon’s instruction is worthwhile. It can not be found easily elsewhere online.
My monthly subscription to Jon’s class at the end of the trailer is $10. The entire package of master classes was $180 per year.
One of the most interesting things about Jon’s class is going through the 20 lessons repeatedly. You will hear things later that you did not know where said the first time you view the videos.
My recommendation is a light iPad and definitely good bluetooth noise cancellation headphones (indispensable). I love my Bose, but there are other good ones.
I also highly recommend a USB charging station ($15 on Amazon) so your phone, iPad, headphones, etc can be charged without you having to get out of bed. Also you’ll only need to use 1 outlet for all your devices.
With the iPad, you can read books, magazines and browse the web. Listen to podcasts, music you’ve downloaded, play games, and watch movies or TV shows.
Sending positive thoughts to you for successful surgery and a speedy recovery and many handstands yet to come.
I second this choice.
If you use Windows, especially one with a touch screen you already know how it all works
Mike
I have several iPads and love them; my latest is their latest, with “official” keyboard because I touch type. I cannot comment on any Microsoft product because I don’t use any of them (I know you do), my only warning would be to ignore the tablet offering of Amazon. I have one of those which is pretty well useless.
I do have a couple of Kindle’s in various locations, and like those OK.
I’ll agree with the tablet suggestion. Everyone is saying iPad, but I would suggest using something that matches your phone. If you use an iPhone, an iPad would be a good choice. Everything will be familiar. If you use an Android phone, get an Android tablet. Once again, keep it familiar. You don’t need technology frustrations intruding on your recovery and recuperation. If you use a Windows computer at home, the Surface might be a good choice as well. If you don’t, that’s going to be an unfamiliar device, so I’d skip it.
They’re all good tools, so I’d focus on familiarity.
–Peter
PS - The folks who suggested a charging station and noise cancelling headphones are smart.
@ptheland thanks for the good advice.
I have an Android phone and an Amazon Fire TV. I think I’ll get the Amazon Fire HD tablet. The screen looks like my TV and I should be able to run Netflix. It’s not very expensive and I don’t expect to use it very much once I’m healed.
Wendy