It's how I call the computer I use in situations when I can't use my primary computer. E.g. on the bus, in the bed, while going for a trip. My primary computer is a powerful desktop machine, and I pick the supporting computer to be light and mobile, but preferably powerful enough to handle sophisticated tasks on its own.
(This is through analogy to a soldier, who carries a primary weapon - perhaps one that's heavy and unwieldy, like an anti-materiel sniper rifle, or one that they can't move by themselves, like in artillery teams - but is also issued with a pistol as sidearm. While having limited range and lethal power, a sidearm can also be grabbed, aimed and discharged quickly, and can be carried and used in situations where the primary weapon cannot.)
My current sidearm is a Dell 5290 2-in-1, with a stylus. Basically a cheaper version of Microsoft Surface. I use a vector drawing app called Concepts[0], which offers an infinite canvas, and is streamlined for use on tablets with pens. This is as close to a good whiteboard experience as you can get on a computer - you draw as if on paper, and then freely pan/rotate/zoom the canvas (or your drawings).
I don't really manage my canvas, I just keep the app open, make drawings and notes and diagrams, and occasionally sort them into "galleries" when the main screen gets too crowded.
(This is through analogy to a soldier, who carries a primary weapon - perhaps one that's heavy and unwieldy, like an anti-materiel sniper rifle, or one that they can't move by themselves, like in artillery teams - but is also issued with a pistol as sidearm. While having limited range and lethal power, a sidearm can also be grabbed, aimed and discharged quickly, and can be carried and used in situations where the primary weapon cannot.)
My current sidearm is a Dell 5290 2-in-1, with a stylus. Basically a cheaper version of Microsoft Surface. I use a vector drawing app called Concepts[0], which offers an infinite canvas, and is streamlined for use on tablets with pens. This is as close to a good whiteboard experience as you can get on a computer - you draw as if on paper, and then freely pan/rotate/zoom the canvas (or your drawings).
I don't really manage my canvas, I just keep the app open, make drawings and notes and diagrams, and occasionally sort them into "galleries" when the main screen gets too crowded.
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[0] - https://concepts.app/en/, has versions for Windows UWP, Android and iOS.