iPad in bed: Help

Question

iPad in bed: Help

I read lying on my left side at the edge of the bed. With Kindle the "book" would just drop to the floor, turn itself off and wait for me to wake up. I could hold the book in my left hand easily until I fell asleep.

The iPad is too heavy to hold in one hand for more than a few minutes and puts too much strain on my wrist. I have searched endlessly for a solution to this "nodding off" problem without success.

It seems a simple solution using an "x" shaped back strap would allow me to read with the weight redistributed across my hand (and not just my wrist) and would gently allow the book to fall to the floor when I nod off. But is there such a simple invention? If there is, can anybody help me find it (or invent it)?

iMac g4, iMac g5, PB G$, Power Mac (dual) G4, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Sep 1, 2010 7:15 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 22, 2011 11:51 AM in response to David.

So, basically ..... you don't have an answer, don't have a question, just wanted to register your opinions about the general unsuitability of the runaway best selling iPad?

There are small, light readers out there already. There are small light tablets you can read on out there already. Get one of those, rejoice in it, and sow your seed corn in the more fertile ground of forums supporting what you do actually own and use and understand.

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Answer 2

May 12, 2016 8:29 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

Seriously,,,

This ipad bed stand is amazing and the BEST one ever invented. I am SOOO in love with this device. I have owned MANY supposed "bed" stands and they are ALL cumbersome and difficult or cheap... until this came along. It is an adaptable bed stand that also converts to be usable in a desk mode,,, it is compact, mobile, highly adjustable,,, good for bed, couch, desk. and is great for facetime because it can provide many angle adjustments... Finally a great ipad stand!

http://tstand.com

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Answer 3

Jul 17, 2011 6:41 PM in response to Leigh Ratiner

I'm a few months lat with this reply, but thought I'd post in case anyone else is looking for a good bed stand. I found a great stand that lets you raise and tilt your iPad to the perfect height and angle for viewing and it works whether you're sitting up looking down at the screen or laying down looking up at the screen.

Here's a link. Check it out:

http://www.laptopdesk.net/tablet-ereader-bed-sofa.html

I was bed-ridden for a couple of months and got the Wizard and it let me work comfortably from bed. I hope it helps others too.

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Answer 4

David.

Level 4

2,145 points

Sep 3, 2010 10:12 AM in response to Maynerd69

sounds like a lot of rigmarole to make a device fit into (ergonomically) your usage requirements. that's why I'm not gungho on a 1.5 lb ipad. I'm waiting for something a bit smaller (~7") and a lot lighter. My touch is easy to hold in bed for extended periods. An iPad can't be held for any length of time and that right there makes it a non-starter for me.

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Answer 5

Nov 20, 2011 5:45 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

http://energyhandyman.com/uncategorized/ipad-headboard-boom/

(photos and instructions at the above link)

This might be a little more involved than you were hoping for, but it might be perfect.

I have made a few now for folks who have contacted me via my website.

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Answer 6

Dec 7, 2013 4:53 PM in response to Leigh Ratiner

My wife had the same problem as the original poster. She likes to read while lying on her side but the Smart Cover angle is a bit off for this purpose and her iPad would usually flop over on its face. I had similar results while laying on my back trying to watch movies with my iPad on my chest. The Smart Cover angle isn't ideal for this and it is not stable. We ended up with these stands. They have a steeper viewing angle than the Smart Cover that works great for reading in bed or FaceTime calls at a desk and a nearly vertical viewing angle that is great for watching movies in landscape mode.

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

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Answer 7

Nov 22, 2011 11:29 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

Check out Prop 'n Go. It's a hybrid lap stand for the iPad or any tablet. What's cool about it is the easily adjustable angles, anti-slip surface, and storage compartment for tablets and accesories. It's made of super soft foam and fabric which makes it very comfortable to use in bed and on the couch.

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Answer 8

varjak paw

Level 10

182,662 points

Sep 1, 2010 7:50 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

There are a number of suggestions in this thread on another forum:

http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-accessories/4651-reading-bed-needing-stand.html

Here's another option if you can get one from Japan, though it seems more than a little ridiculous to me:

http://www.mobilewhack.com/pc-set-stand-for-the-ipad-by-resound/

Additional options may appear if you do a web search for "ipad bed stand" or something similar.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 9

Sep 1, 2010 9:45 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

Hope your floor is carpeted! :O

On a helpful note, many of the cases for the iPad have a strap across the back from top to bottom. I was talking to a guy who has one and he slips his hand under the strap when he reads to hold up the iPad without actually having to grasp it.
I have the Apple case which is black vinyl and flips open like a book. When I read in bed I lie on my back with my head propped up, open the flap to a right angle to the screen and rest the whole thing on my chest in potrait mode (up and down). It takes very little support from my hand just to keep it steady and allow me to flip pages at the same time. Most importantly, though, the flap keeps the light from the screen from bothering my wife's sleep! 🙂

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Answer 10

Sep 1, 2010 1:59 PM in response to Leigh Ratiner

I use the iPad to read in bed also - what I do is just cushion it on top of an extra pillow on my side and just wedge my hand in a fist behind it and balance the iPad in an almost, but not quite, vertical position. That way, there is very little force needed to hold it up. Be aware of the vertical position - if you go a bit too far forward, it can tip over forward and perhaps hit you on your face.

I also lock the auto-rotate so it doesn't accidentally rotate if it moves.

I have seen a case for the iPad that lets you hold it with only one hand - kind of a criss-cross in back made of neoprene & leather affair that loops over each of the four corners, called an "X-band" and made by TKO Solutions in Austin Texas. It's not really a "case" just something to let you hold it with one hand - a bit like a "glove" -- I looked a bit and this is what I found -- here is some details and a nice movie showing how it works by Andy Ihnatko:

http://tko-solutions.com/cowbell/index.php?p=page&pageid=in_thenews

By the way, playing the movie made my MacBook 10.5.8 system Firefox browser hang - not sure why, but it did it three times, so be careful.

Good luck...

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Answer 11

Alancito

Level 7

29,976 points

Sep 2, 2010 9:51 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

Leigh Ratiner wrote:
The iPad is too heavy to hold in one hand for more than a few minutes and puts too much strain on my wrist.

Leigh ~ Click on the image:

http://www.southan.co.uk/balloon-gas-3619-0.html

...Particularly appropriate for watching the movie "Up" on your iPad:

http://adisney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/up/

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Answer 12

Sep 2, 2010 10:47 AM in response to Leigh Ratiner

I lie on my left side also in bed but I use a neck pillow that is filled with hulls to prop the iPad on. It's sort of like a mini bean bag chair but in neck pillow form looks kind of like this:

http://www.bioproductcenter.com/bucbolwitcas.html

When I'm finished with the iPad I put the pillow under my neck and go beddy bye.

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Answer 13

Sep 3, 2010 12:50 PM in response to MacsKillPCs

OK, found it. It's NOT "night mode", but it can be done here:
Settings->General->accessibility->Triple-click home and set it to toggle white on black...

I'm very happy I discovered this here, but wish the OP had left a thorough response.

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Answer 14

Asatoran

Level 4

2,532 points

Sep 3, 2010 1:37 PM in response to Leigh Ratiner

Not really a solution, but some food for thought, specifically about the wrist problem. I saw this blog post a while ago about a homemade stand someone made for his Kindle.

[http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/04/13/the-pursuit-of-laziness|http://blog.xkcd.com/20 09/04/13/the-pursuit-of-laziness>

He used a coat hanger to hold his Kindle and so that he can press the "next page" button more easily (lazily.) While you can't use the button-press thing for the iPad, I'm thinking just a stand of some sort will help ease your wrist issue. I'm not a fan of letting the iPad fall, but maybe that's just me (and the fact that I have the 64GB 3G model which is way more expensive than the Kindle. 😉 )

BTW, if you go to any other webpages past the one linked to, I must warn you that the website is only somewhat safe for work. No nudity (except for one comic drawing that I know of) but some profanity and adult conversation. Nothing lewd, but if you're easily offended, consider yourself warned. 🙂

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Answer 15

ustrial

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2011 6:07 PM in response to Leigh Ratiner

i found out much by accident that a product i use when i fly is GREAT for reading in bed on the iPad. No more laying on your side only to have the Apple case (rolled up) flop over on you! Arghhh.

The Appstrap is simple and rugged. The tilt pads rock as you can adjust the tilt up or down...a little or a lot. www.theappstrap.com is where I got it. Customer service was #1.

hope this helps someone.

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