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Quote HistoryQuoted:Can someone explain this to my dumb self?
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What advantage does this have over a tablet or even a smart phone that most people have these days? For example, I carry my iPad with me almost everywhere and I keep lots of useful reference information on it. How is this different?
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The idea is very similar, but the execution is much different as it is locked to one specific device. For a single person, that could be a good answer.
If you're using your ipad for something, I can't use it for something else.
If you leave your ipad somewhere or it gets broken or runs out of juice, nobody can use it for anything.
If multiple people have ipads with your information pre-loaded on them, you now have to keep track of what version of what doc is on what ipad.
With a running library box, everyone in the area could be accessing different information from it all at the same time.
If one device goes down, just pick up another and keep going.
Everyone will be looking at the same version/revision of every document.
Now, I'm not going to claim its perfect. I don't know how you'd update the info on it without pulling the flash drive and updating it offline from a computer. I will probably end up with one sooner than later, so I can answer questions then.
This is not a fancy digital data box or GPS enabled or, well, much else fancy.
What IS is VERY simple. One small box, one small flash drive, and a 5v USB power source.
Maybe the DD_WRT/PirateBox/Library box idea can be extended onto more capable hardware to offer the extra features you are asking for.