I realize this site is more of a commentary than a complaint, but I'd like to point out that the original pad, the one made of a hundred sheets of paper, is also somewhat awkward to hold and write on, and works best while you're hunched over one on a table in front of you. Millions of people still use them.

In fact, writing at all while standing or sitting without a stable surface in front of you is pretty awkward, and with a normal notebook/laptop, it's damn near impossible because of the bulk of the thing.