Published 2026-03-21
tag(s): #failures #random-thoughts
While Maria is studying, I am cebando mate (cebador is the one that prepares
the 🧉 drink for everyone else) and using my laptop in tablet mode.
Except that after about 10 minutes, I already un-folded it twice. Well, three times if we
count the impulse to write this now. =P
Which would make sense if I had like, visited Libera Chat, or started writing emails.
That isn't the case, though. I am mostly reading. But, for example, I shared a link in a group
chat, which was easy enough to do in touch-only mode. Then I wanted to add a follow up
message, and I gave up on touch-typing after three words.
The Signal chat where I shared the link, is the same one where a few days ago I said "I'll
tell the full story later, when I am at my desk". I wrote that on my phone, and thinking
about that just now which made me wonder if maybe the problem isn't that the Gnome on-screen
keyboard is sub-par, which was my assumption as to why tablet mode doesn't stick.
Because in my opinion, no touch keyboard is better than a physical keyboard, but it could be
argued that the phone ones are the most polished of them.
I thought a bit about it and (while deciding to write this post, too) I realized that there are three things that conspire to keep me from using tablet mode for long:
Since the first time I installed Gnome, the on-screen keyboard actually got a lot better.
The first couple times I tried it, it didn't even have proper predictive. Well, the docs
mentioned it, but it didn't work...
When I just started using Fedora, I looked for alternative keyboards (because Linux) but they
rarely worked, and if they did, they were even worse. 🤷
I bet there are some new settings in the built-in one since last I looked into it, that I
could tweak.
This is a short one: it is just so easy to turn the laptop around and start typing.
Maybe that's how it is supposed to work, with a 2in1. It feels a bit weird, though. Or,
annoying.
Ask my wife, every time I have to do something that will take more than 2 minutes I say
"Will take a look later, on the computer".
Compared to her, she barely uses her laptop anymore and does everyone on her iPad or
phone. Everything, for real.
I always make exaggerated "old people" jokes at her, because she is a couple years
older than me, but in this one aspect it seems I am the old man. 🤣
(Well...it's not the only "old person" trait I have, to be honest. >_>)
Going back to the topic at hand, maybe it is useless for me that my laptop has a tablet mode, because no matter how polished it could be, I would still prefer to take my time to sit down and use a real keyboard.
Because first world problems, I guess. Or because...
Truth is, some day I will get a new laptop. Not soon, I love mine, and it works fine for
everything I need. Maybe it needs a battery refresh.
But then I will have to decide if I go for something like a Framework, or another Lenovo
2in1, or whatever exists when that happens.
I am really undecided on whether tablet mode is a worthy feature or not. I used it a
lot to play Slay the Spire and Into the Breach, and sometimes to watch stuff on Netflix.
But I also tried to setup like 3 different graphical, touch-friendly email clients and none
stick. I use Gnus nowadays, about as keyboard oriented as you can get.
Did you make it until the end? Sorry.
I don't think this is a good topic, is just something I thought about...clearly more than I
should have.
And for some strange reason I wanted to type
it all out.
See you in the next episode of "non-problem problems" 🙇