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  • portable versus mobile

    From David Chmelik@dchmelik@gmail.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 11:41:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Portable PC means one you can carry with you, such as laptop, pad/tablet,
    or cellular telephone, but 'mobile' means something that has mobility of
    its own (according to standard dictionaries, just not netspeak) which
    those don't have. If I was Stephen Hawking--that is, a scientist in a wheelchair and could only move part of my face--then those are definitely
    not mobile! Android or similar Linux automobiles and spacecraft/rockets,
    etc. are mobile. My first semi-mobile PC was a full-tower Tyan K8QSD Pro workstation PC that was so heavy its case had wheels. Since I'm mobile myself, if I applied force to the side of that, one could say it's mobile
    like a cart one would have a horse or ox pull.

    I take it this newsgroup is about Android automobile, and spacecraft,
    etc.?
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  • From David Higton@dave@davehigton.me.uk to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:59:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    In message <10nrvto$2clfi$1@dont-email.me>
    David Chmelik <dchmelik@gmail.com> wrote:

    Portable PC means one you can carry with you, such as laptop, pad/tablet,
    or cellular telephone, but 'mobile' means something that has mobility of
    its own (according to standard dictionaries, just not netspeak) which
    those don't have. If I was Stephen Hawking--that is, a scientist in a wheelchair and could only move part of my face--then those are definitely not mobile! Android or similar Linux automobiles and spacecraft/rockets, etc. are mobile. My first semi-mobile PC was a full-tower Tyan K8QSD Pro workstation PC that was so heavy its case had wheels. Since I'm mobile myself, if I applied force to the side of that, one could say it's mobile like a cart one would have a horse or ox pull.

    I think you're talking about the difference between American and English.
    Two different languages.

    David
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  • From Arno Welzel@usenet@arnowelzel.de to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 16:36:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    David Chmelik, 2026-02-27 12:41:

    Portable PC means one you can carry with you, such as laptop, pad/tablet,
    or cellular telephone, but 'mobile' means something that has mobility of
    [...]

    A "pad" or "tablet" is not a PC in the meaning what people usually
    understand as "personal computer". So a "portable PC" is usually a
    laptop but not a tablet with a touchscreen as the only input device.

    "Mobile" on the other hand is the short form for "mobile phone" or
    "mobile device" which is usually defined by its portrait screen format
    and small screen size (usually 16:9 or 2:1 with 320 to 480 px width -
    where "px" is the CSS unit "px" not a physical pixel).

    And of course it is not about the mobility of the device itself in the
    meaning, that the device will move itself like a robot but the
    possibility to use the device with a battery - so you can carry it with you.
    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From David Chmelik@dchmelik@gmail.com to comp.mobile.android on Mon Mar 2 21:15:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:36:41 +0100, Arno Welzel wrote:
    David Chmelik, 2026-02-27 12:41:
    Portable PC means one you can carry with you, such as laptop,
    pad/tablet, or cellular telephone, but 'mobile' means something that
    has mobility of [...]
    A "pad" or "tablet" is not a PC in the meaning what people usually
    understand as "personal computer". So a "portable PC" is usually a
    laptop but not a tablet with a touchscreen as the only input device.

    In fact, it is; see table of contents, futher details: http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Arno Welzel@usenet@arnowelzel.de to comp.mobile.android on Mon Mar 2 23:19:22 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    David Chmelik, 2026-03-02 22:15:

    On Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:36:41 +0100, Arno Welzel wrote:
    David Chmelik, 2026-02-27 12:41:
    Portable PC means one you can carry with you, such as laptop,
    pad/tablet, or cellular telephone, but 'mobile' means something that
    has mobility of [...]
    A "pad" or "tablet" is not a PC in the meaning what people usually
    understand as "personal computer". So a "portable PC" is usually a
    laptop but not a tablet with a touchscreen as the only input device.

    In fact, it is; see table of contents, futher details: http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer

    I intentionally said:

    In the meaning what people usually understand as "personal computer".

    If you ask someone if you can use their "PC" they will most likely not
    assume, you mean their tablet if there is also a laptop or stationary PC
    in the same room.
    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2