Trying to shop online for a tablet, I realize I have no idea how it feels to hold. I decide to walk to Canada Computers so I can hold some tablets in my hands and see how heavy they are. Canada Computers doesn't have tablets instore anymore. I walk to Staples. Staples has tablets, but they all have heavy anti-theft locks latched to them, making it impossible to tell how much the actual device weighs. I ask a clerk if he can remove the lock from the display device. He says no
Every single display on every non Apple device in this store is making a huge deal about "AI". Most of these ads read like threats
Anyway the trip was still worth it because I now realize that Amazon Fire tablet I was looking at is WAY smaller than I thought.

@mcc i *just* bought a fire tablet for the kids to watch VLC on for an upcoming trip; it’s sole job is connect to a samba share and play media.

its form factor is perfect - smallish screen, cheap - but coming from ios, the amazon android experience is such garbage. the whole interface feels like a low-effort ad for more amazon content.

i could draw amazon’s org chart just by studying the app icons & what sends a notification

@phillmv im told tablets are abandoning android for ChromeOS, which can run android apps now. I wonder if that's better