The iPad

What is WRONG with people? The iPad is a product. It is a voluntary purchase. Yet, the vitriol is incredible.

First, Yes, I bought one.

For what purpose?
For me....:
1) web browsing
2) book reading
3) expense reports
4) email
5) planner
6) games
7) watch movies
8) listen to music
9) view and edit photos
10)finances
11) remote desktop
12) note taking with synchronized voice recording.


Now let's break down web browsing. Note that Adobe Flash is not supported on i-anything.
1-eBay
2-craigslist
3-Anything that doesn't require flash.
4-This blog.........and on and on and on.

Here is the kicker - all this in a hand held form factor. About 1.5 pounds. Instant on...no bootup wait. 10 hour battery life. Perfectly executed touchscreen. For me, it takes the iPod touch and makes it useful.

Over 90% of the time I used to spend on a pc is now spent on the iPad.

Do I wish that this little marvel could function for my complete computer needs? Heck yes I do!!! It is all the more frustrating because this thing is so close to being able to do just that. Yet, it is a huge step forward. Remember, it was this company that pushed us all from the world of the command line to the world of the graphical user interface. Sooner or later, I think we will see high horsepower tablets that can do CAD, run Photo Shop, rip music and movies, edit video, and play the latest games.

Now, to the insanity.

I have seen articles that have

Accused users of the iPad of
1) Being Apple Fanboi's (what is fan boy too mundane????)
2) Being narcissisists
3) Being unintelligent
4) Being a mind slave to Steve Jobs.
5) Being anti open source.
6) Being unkind people.

I have also seen much mud slung the other way as well.

Just how did I end up with one? What made me decide to purchase one.

I had a Sony Reader. I had started getting books on it. I had placed all of my technical literature on it. I liked it a lot too. Then one day, I took it out to read a book I had just downloaded. The e-ink cells had ruptured in the screen turning it black. I sent it back to Sony to be repaired. The next day, I had to drive to St. Louis on a business trip. I stopped near Huntington,WV for supper. There was a Best Buy there. I went in considering purchasing a second Sony reader. I had heard of the iPad. (this was three days after launch in April) I was doubtful. I went to see it just out of curiosity. Obviously, I liked what I saw. Now, I have the Sony back. My wife has it, but she not so secretly lusts after my iPad. I have bought ebooks from numerous sources. They are all in Ibooks. If you know that you aren't supposed to be able to do that, ask me no questions. (if I sound a bit smug, I am. I BUY the books. I will NOT be told what I can and cannot do with it. Screw DRM. By the same token, don't pirate the book. That is why the DRM weed was able to sprout in all forms of media digital.)

Try one if you are interested. Best Buy in Lynchburg, Va and in Christiansburg, Va have them. The Roanoke Best Buy is so abysmal that I wonder if they will ever get them. Try it, if you like it enough, buy one. If not then don't. I like it. It fits my needs well. Is there any need to insult me because of it?




- Posted using The dark side of the shwartz.