Hacker News Reader

Comment by fluxem | Hacker News Reader

I think it's a terrible idea. First, marker ink would be smudge all over backpack. Second, it's on the other side of the laptop! You wrote an algorithm on sketchcase and want to implement it. Well, now you have turn your laptop around every time too see it.

View on HN

> Well, now you have turn your laptop around every time too see it.

You can probably use the sticker to cover the screen instead, that should put it on the correct side. :)

But there is a major problem with that "solution"... you would either have to remove the sticker every time you use the laptop, or you would instead have to choose not to use the laptop at all.

Otherwise it's a good idea.

A good solution would be just carry a little whiteboard separated. You can even put that sticker on some table and use it.

There's a product called The Noteboard [1] that's relevant here. It's basically a 7x5 grid of index cards laminated to be a whiteboard that you can toss in your backpack.

I didn't end up using it regularly because the surface doesn't erase as well as a whiteboard, but still a cool product.

[1]: http://thenoteboard.com

"Terrible" is pretty harsh and there are wet-erase markers that don't smudge.

You can come up with holes for any product. I think this is pretty clever and I bet people will buy it.

Calling this a terrible idea is such a typical garbage HN response. Its a cheap creative idea that someone put up for sale. Don't like it don't use it but I am sure it will sell to a bunch of customers that like it a lot.

Pfft, use a mirror.

devlos melborP

You could also use the front-facing camera on a phone as a mirror in a pinch.

>You wrote an algorithm on sketchcase and want to implement it. Well, now you have turn your laptop around every time too see it.

Write the algorithm, take a photos of it, win.

but the camera is on the other side so it's literally impossible

If only you could have a small device in your pocket that can take pictures! :-)

exactly, why not just a sheet of plastic the same size to throw in to the laptop sleeve with the machine

It seems like you'd have to pick up your laptop gingerly, no?

I don't use a backpack and after using this in the past I just wipe it clean after a meeting, nothing more annoying than when people leave writing on a whiteboard after a meeting!

Cool idea, but doesn't seem very practical. I also don't think people carry dry-erase markers with them

i think people who bought this would start to carry dry erase markers. companies also didn't buy dry erase markers before they had whiteboards

Reply on news.ycombinator.com