This is interesting - although it still looks roughly laptop-sized? I remember, way back, having a device (forgotten its name) by Hewlett Packard: it was about the size of a large pencil case, decent-sized screen, light (obviously); and would fit easily in a v. small bag (evening bag, included!). Sadly, in the way of tech, it lost the ability to communicate with other devices and systems. But I do wish someone would would come up with something similar, again - with built-in (or at least a bit more) longevity.
Since to Neo or Not to Neo seems to be the question this autumnal Sunday morning it set me thinking... hop to Lichfield, skip to Johnson & jump to Johnson on distraction... and so to here quoted, from whichever of the eight volumes of Johnson's (London, 1765) The Works William Shakespeare are his annotations on the great question
"To be, or not to be? Of this celebrated soliloquy, which bursting from a man distracted with contrariety of desires, and overwhelmed with the magnitude of his own purposes, is connected rather in the speaker’s mind, than on his tongue, I shall endeavour to discover the train, and to shew how one sentiment produces another. Hamlet, knowing himself injured in the most enormous and atrocious degree, and seeing no means of redress, but such as must expose him to the extremity of hazard, meditates on his situation in this manner: Before I can form any rational scheme of action under this pressure of distress, it is necessary to decide, whether, after our present state, we are to be or not to be. That is the question, which, as it shall be answered, will determine, whether ’tis nobler, and more suitable to the dignity of reason, to suffer the outrages of fortune patiently, or to take arms against them, and by opposing end them, though perhaps with the loss of life. If to die, were to sleep, no more, and by a sleep to end the miseries of our nature, such a sleep were devoutly to be wished; but if to sleep in death, be to dream, to retain our powers of sensibility, we must pause to consider, in that sleep of death what dreams may come. This consideration makes calamity so long endured; for who would bear the vexations of life which might be ended by a bare bodkin, but that he is afraid of something in unknown futurity? This fear it is that gives efficacy to conscience, which, by turning the mind upon this regard, chills the ardour of resolution, checks the vigour of enterprise, and makes the current of desire stagnate in inactivity."
Which discursion has served me well in opening a brief window of time in which to consider the overwhelming question which I have found placed before me this morning, to which I now say the answer is yes: Samuel Johnson would undoubtedly have been delighted to have had a Neo - bought on Ebay and delivered FedEx Express to his door from the future - to play about a bit with. Whether he'd have taken to using it regularly, well, that is quite another question.
Next time I happen to be passing the seated figure of Dr Johnson perched upon his statue plinth in the ancient marketplace of Lichfield I'll now be sure to look not once but twice... in half hoped expectation that there it will be, his Neo on his knee!
For all with imagination to perceive: James, is now thinking, how do I update the record, saying Samuel's now taken delivery of a Neo, straight out of some distant future but -superfluous as it is unsurprising for me to record - he's pulled a new compound hyphenation into the language from the Void Beyond THE Dictionary Pale : building on Neo, the antique etymological roots of which he approves, he's christened his latest gratefully received gadget as Go-To-Neo-Gizmo!
Your guessing quite right Annette: Sam's presently, here in the Market Place, reviewing words beginning with G, wearing sunglasses against the glare that's risen with the sun this early autumn Monday 😎
This is interesting - although it still looks roughly laptop-sized? I remember, way back, having a device (forgotten its name) by Hewlett Packard: it was about the size of a large pencil case, decent-sized screen, light (obviously); and would fit easily in a v. small bag (evening bag, included!). Sadly, in the way of tech, it lost the ability to communicate with other devices and systems. But I do wish someone would would come up with something similar, again - with built-in (or at least a bit more) longevity.
That sounds brilliant! Yes this is laptop sized but very light. It feels satisfying to type on - nice clattering keys.
Since to Neo or Not to Neo seems to be the question this autumnal Sunday morning it set me thinking... hop to Lichfield, skip to Johnson & jump to Johnson on distraction... and so to here quoted, from whichever of the eight volumes of Johnson's (London, 1765) The Works William Shakespeare are his annotations on the great question
"To be, or not to be? Of this celebrated soliloquy, which bursting from a man distracted with contrariety of desires, and overwhelmed with the magnitude of his own purposes, is connected rather in the speaker’s mind, than on his tongue, I shall endeavour to discover the train, and to shew how one sentiment produces another. Hamlet, knowing himself injured in the most enormous and atrocious degree, and seeing no means of redress, but such as must expose him to the extremity of hazard, meditates on his situation in this manner: Before I can form any rational scheme of action under this pressure of distress, it is necessary to decide, whether, after our present state, we are to be or not to be. That is the question, which, as it shall be answered, will determine, whether ’tis nobler, and more suitable to the dignity of reason, to suffer the outrages of fortune patiently, or to take arms against them, and by opposing end them, though perhaps with the loss of life. If to die, were to sleep, no more, and by a sleep to end the miseries of our nature, such a sleep were devoutly to be wished; but if to sleep in death, be to dream, to retain our powers of sensibility, we must pause to consider, in that sleep of death what dreams may come. This consideration makes calamity so long endured; for who would bear the vexations of life which might be ended by a bare bodkin, but that he is afraid of something in unknown futurity? This fear it is that gives efficacy to conscience, which, by turning the mind upon this regard, chills the ardour of resolution, checks the vigour of enterprise, and makes the current of desire stagnate in inactivity."
Which discursion has served me well in opening a brief window of time in which to consider the overwhelming question which I have found placed before me this morning, to which I now say the answer is yes: Samuel Johnson would undoubtedly have been delighted to have had a Neo - bought on Ebay and delivered FedEx Express to his door from the future - to play about a bit with. Whether he'd have taken to using it regularly, well, that is quite another question.
Next time I happen to be passing the seated figure of Dr Johnson perched upon his statue plinth in the ancient marketplace of Lichfield I'll now be sure to look not once but twice... in half hoped expectation that there it will be, his Neo on his knee!
Haha! Never thought of Johnson holding a Neo, but I will do now.
Annette? Have a closer look at Boswell? Do!
There. In the Market Place.
For all with imagination to perceive: James, is now thinking, how do I update the record, saying Samuel's now taken delivery of a Neo, straight out of some distant future but -superfluous as it is unsurprising for me to record - he's pulled a new compound hyphenation into the language from the Void Beyond THE Dictionary Pale : building on Neo, the antique etymological roots of which he approves, he's christened his latest gratefully received gadget as Go-To-Neo-Gizmo!
Your guessing quite right Annette: Sam's presently, here in the Market Place, reviewing words beginning with G, wearing sunglasses against the glare that's risen with the sun this early autumn Monday 😎