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How big does an electronic gadget has to be to not be portable to you? Some people do think that even large-screen phones are stretching it, while others are perfectly content with a 15" laptop being carried around, so "portable" seems to have a definition that varies with the person.
Me? "If it fits in my backpack, it's portable."
1 – GalliumGrantIf it fits inside my pocket, then it's portable.
That's probably the biggest reason why I don't like the DSiXL and the 3DSXL. It's unnecessarily large for a portable system. I tried playing it one time and I could barely get it to fit. Nothing that uncomfortable is good. :I
I don't carry around large bags with me wherever I go. I'm destructive, so I only carry a bag when I need it so I can have it for a longer time. Surprisingly my school bookbag has been holding up well since 7th Grade, but it's done after this year. Laptops and tablets I see as portable depending on the occasion. Sure, they're easy to transport, but only with the right equipment. (Even then I still dislike having to keep track of my bag in a room or building full of untrustworthy people.)
I'd say if you have to hold it in your hand while you go out, it's not portable.
I agree with Turtwig X, unless its something that requires like a lot of wires or has no battery, if it's small enough to fit in a backpack it's portable.
1 – BigN64|
If it fits inside my pocket, then it's portable.
That's probably the biggest reason why I don't like the DSiXL and the 3DSXL. It's unnecessarily large for a portable system. I tried playing it one time and I could barely get it to fit. Nothing that uncomfortable is good. :I |
It mostly depends on the device for me. Usually, however, I see it that as long as it can be carried on hand/bag/whatever, it could be considered portable in some way.
1 – SpikyEaredPichu96Y'know, that brings up a point. In the past, a portable version of something simply used to refer to something that could be moved from one location to another with relative ease. Portable computers often lacked batteries, but you could use them anywhere with a mains outlet simply by carrying it around like a briefcase.
I know Nintendo sells a kit designed to allow you to port the Wii between home and additional locations. I believe it is a bag with a handle that comes with an extra set of hookups.
Pretty much like everyone else if I can easily carry it in a backpack or something it's portable, and small enough to fit in my pocket then it's ultra-portable.
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Y'know, that brings up a point. In the past, a portable version of something simply used to refer to something that could be moved from one location to another with relative ease. Portable computers often lacked batteries, but you could use them anywhere with a mains outlet simply by carrying it around like a briefcase.
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While on this topic, I present the Commodore SX-64. This was the first portable computer with a color screen (all of 5 inches). It weighed 23 pounds and the stand doubles as a carrying handle. It didn't run on batteries, but will still portable in the sense it could be easily packed up and used anywhere with an outlet.
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I'd label anything that requires a mains connection and more than 5 minutes of setup as not portable. Sure, I can haul my Wii to my friend's house but it requires setup and mains power. I'd call my 17" laptop portable since it runs on a battery, though, despite being significantly larger than a Wii.
Portable and pocketable are two different things to me.
When I was riding the bus all the time, portability meant pocketability. Now that I drive, if it can fit in a backpack, or even in my car, it's somewhat-portable.
The largest device that I routinely take places in my pocket is my Kindle (Standard, touch version)
The largest device that I used to take places was my 17 inch laptop (I now have a 14/15 inch one, so it's a bit easier to lug around)
1 – Eagles