We interrupt this GeekCast…

Today is the day that most refer to as a wedding anniversary.  Being blissfully different in how we look at things we refer to as the beginning of Our Geek Life and the reason that we share #geeklove with the world at large.

Many have asked “What is this #geeklove?” or “Why the heck do you talk about #geeklove all the time? No one can be that much in love.”  While I understand the reasons for the skepticism, I can assure you that this isn’t an act; it is very real and we are actually more in love today than we were in the beginning.   Since today is our anniversary it seemed like a good opportunity to explain what we mean when we talk about #geeklove.

Let me start with a very simple statement: You can grow in love and in like with the person to whom you are married.  Some folks roll their eyes or make gagging sounds after hearing this.  I gave up responding to that type of reaction a long time ago.  It simply isn’t worth it for me to try to convince someone reacting that way that it’s not only possible but likely if you purpose yourself to better your relationship every day.

Geek history lesson – we started out as friends and spent a seemingly endless amount of time talking about things before we put our lives together.  There were kids on both sides, ex-spouses, distance.  There were a lot of complications.  Neither one of us had gotten married to get divorced, but we ended up there.  We didn’t want to end up in that same place again – not for ourselves and not for our children.  In order to even believe this was possible we opened up our souls to each other in ways we hadn’t with anyone previously.

Let me be blunt about this part of the path to marriage – it was painful.  It is hard as hell to own your own mess, to be honest about your mistakes, your failings as a spouse, and where you know you need work.  But I believe this is absolutely the best way to start out on the path towards a lifelong healthy marriage.  You have to admit it to yourself first, be willing to share it, and be willing to continually work on those things in order to avoid the same mistakes again.  Even with all this done, you will still make mistakes.  This isn’t about being perfect.  It’s about being honest and being willing to compromise.

There were definitely growing pains even with all of the discussions that occurred over hours and days and weeks and months.  We each had our own way of dealing with things, had painful histories and challenges that we didn’t recognize.  There were times, particularly in the first 6 months, that pushed us seemingly beyond our ability and willingness to stick it out.  After a fairly rough start we sat down and had a very frank conversation.   The question we asked of each other was:  Were we committed to making our marriage the best possible marriage and were we committed to doing whatever it took to do that?

The answer was simple.  Yes.  The “how” required more compromise than either of us was readily comfortable with and a commitment to living it out in everything we said, did and believed.  We were still madly in love, but looking at how quickly and easily things could blow up into something critically damaging to our relationship was sobering.  More than half of the garbage – and I do mean garbage – wasn’t even garbage that either of us owned.  We had some problems because of other people’s garbage!!

Our realization was that love is fragile. It requires the kind of attention a gardener gives to an orchid in order to have it not only survive but thrive.  This is especially true today when we are bombarded with the you-can-have-it-all and everything-is-disposable mentality of the world around us.  We renewed our commitment to each other in a very real way that changed our daily lives significantly which is when #geeklove was truly born.

We’re not perfect.  We each have our moments.  We do get on each others nerves at times.  We disagree occasionally but we never argue.  There are no shouting matches.  There are no major blowouts.  We just don’t have the desire or need to have a power struggle in our life together.  Our marriage isn’t about control; it’s about mutual respect and understanding and a love that transcends everything and everyone.

So now that I’ve told you that we are far from perfect, let me tell you what #geeklove is.  It IS about the little things.  The I love yous.  The notes left on the bathroom mirror.  Folding the laundry when you really don’t want to do it.  Considering the other person before yourself.  Talking about needs vs. wants.  Accepting ownership of your *junk*  Being willing to say “I was wrong” and “I’m sorry” because you know you were and you are, not because it’s the easiest way to end the discussion.  It’s about showing that love regardless of what other people think.  It’s about caring enough to put yourself out there even when you’re scared.  It’s about self-honesty – brutal self-honesty at that.  And then sharing that with your life partner.  It’s about complete respect and openness.  It’s about asking for a time out when you need one because you know you are the one causing the turmoil.  It’s about accepting that request for a time out and not pushing for answers that would likely be uttered in frustration or anger.  It’s about trusting your spouse even when your life experience tells you otherwise because he/she is not that past life experience.  And it’s about injecting reminders of why you love each other, in random ways, into every single breath you take.  It’s about recognizing how precious that love is and living life in a way that honors that love.

That’s what I mean by purposeful living of the love you share.  And that is the story behind #geeklove.

So why do we share it?  As a society we spend so much of our day focused on tragedy and pain and sorrow.  We live out loud.  We choose to share our joy openly because we believe there is room for the goodness of life shouted above all the noise in the world that would otherwise drown it out.  If it’s bothersome to some it’s because they don’t understand the power that love brings.

We choose to let love rule.

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We usually purchase new phones every 18 months.  Last December we broke down and upgraded to iPhone 3GS models, and have been pretty happy with our phones.  Sound quality aside, of course, iPhone has served us pretty well over the past 8 months.

As we looked at options for the geek kids, we started talking about upgrading to the iPhone 4 and giving our 3GS models to the two younger boys.  We kicked it around a bit and decided to investigate.  Two weekends ago we visited Best Buy and AT&T.  He walked out with the Samsung Captivate and I walked out with my iPhone 3GS firmly in hand, with no thought of upgrading any time soon.

Fast forward a week and I was thinking I would upgrade to the iPhone 4.  Until I got into the store and found that it’s a 7-10 day wait.  > . <    I am not very good with waiting, so I reluctantly purchased a Samsung Captivate.  Reluctantly — in case you missed that in my previous statement.

I have spent about 24 hours with my Captivate but I have to say that as of this moment, I am less than *ahem* captivated by my new device.   I want to like it.  I want to be happy with my purchase.   I have a rather uneasy feeling that my impatience has overridden my common sense and I have gone the wrong direction.

Don’t get me wrong – it is fast and it does have some sweet features.  And I’m no Apple Fan Girl.  But in all honesty, I don’t want to have to think about how to use my phone.  And this dang thing has a learning curve.  It also requires me to kill off apps.  I want to close it and be done with it, not have to kill it in order to keep it from running in the background.

I don’t know y’all….we shall see.

For those spec hounds, here is the information on the Samsung Captivate (SGH-i897 Galaxy S).

Processor: Arm Cortex A8 1Ghz Processor (hummingbird)
PowerVR SGX540 Graphics Core Processor
Memory (RAM): 512MB
Storage: 16GB Internal (+16GB expandable through MicroSD)
Android Version: 2.1 (Eclair)

Network/Connections:
Bands: 2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G : HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 7.2Mbps
GPRS: Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32-48kbps
Wireless: b/g/n; DLNA
Bluetooth: v3.0 Profiles: GAP, SSP, SDAP, HSP, HFP1.5, A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, DUN, FTP, SAP, BPP, OPP, PBAP
USB: Micro v2.0

Dimensions:
H/W/D: 4.82in x 2.53in x 0.39in
Weight: TBA
Screen: 4 inch Super AMOLED
Resolution: 480×800 16M Colors

Audio/Video:
Connection: 3.5mm Audio Jack
Codecs: MP4 / DivX / WMV / H.264 / H.263 player, MP3 / WAV / eAAC+ / AC3 / FLAC player
FM Radio: Yes

Camera:
Resolution: 5 MP 2592×1944 Auto-Focus
Digital zoom
Shot Mode: Single shot, Continous, Panorama, Beauty, Vintage, self shot, action shot, addme, cartoon shot, smile shot
Photo Effects: Normal, Negative, Black and White, Sepia
F-Stop/Aperture: 2.6
Focal Length: 3.79 mm
Focus Range: 120 cm
Image Format: JPEG
Flash: No

Video:
Recording: 720p (720×1280) 30 fps
Front Facing Camera: TBA

Battery:
1500 mAh Li-ion Battery
Standby: 2G Upto 750 Hours 3G Upto 576 Hours
Talk: 2G Upto 13 Hours 3G Upto 6.5 Hours

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If you are a new visitor – welcome!!  If you are a regular visitor, welcome back!  We are working on our next iteration – or in non-geek terms – we’re changing our look.  All of our articles are here.  They may look a little funny while we finish up our new design, so please bear with us.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for or you encounter something unexpected — like an error – please let us know.  Once we’re finished with our update we will let everyone know.

In the mean time, this should give you an idea of what we’re doing right now.  Enjoy.

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I recommend a tomato, cucumber, red onion salad in a balsamic vinaigrette as a fantastic and easy accompaniment to this pasta feast.

Penne with Zucchini, Fresh Herbs and Lemon Zest

Kosher salt
3/4 lb. whole wheat penne
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium zucchini (8 oz. each), cut in half lengthwise and sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick half moons
4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
3 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh mint
3 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh basil
3 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

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Mr. Rollback, known in real life as Darrell Owens is a local Wal-Mart associate working in the Midlothian Wal-Mart on Hull Street Road. Imagine my surprise this morning when I lost my Geek Hubby in Wally World, only to find him cheesing it up with Darrell. Darrell was busy restocking an endcap in the grocery section of the store when James said, “Hey wait…my wife was right! You DO work here!”

We spent a few minutes speaking with Darrell about his experience and about his plans for the future. He has been on quite the whirlwind tour, taking his first flight ever last month. He has spent time in Nashville and Bentonville and will be traveling to New Orleans soon. All this and still pulling hours here on Hull Street.

He’s as real as real can get. He’s a regular guy, a working class American, with hopes and dreams just like everyone else. He’s humble. He’s authentic. And he’ll shake your hand and help you out just like you would hope he would.

Darrell is making some good money in the nationally broadcast commercials, but he’s very matter of fact about it. He said he’s saving to buy his first house. His hope is that he will be able to pay for the house in full, but if not, have a very small house payment and then put money away, “just in case”. He also said that his momma is proud of him, which was also a very cool thing to hear.

Wal-Mart hit it out of the park with this one. Their selection of Darrell as the face of WalMart works because he is who you see on TV. He isn’t an actor. He isn’t some Hollywood model. He’s the real deal. He’s helpful, polite, and always smiling. What more can you ask for in a brand image? Wal-Mart wants to be the place for “every man” and with Darrell fronting their advertising they get that and more.

If you’re in Chesterfield County and happen to be in Wal-Mart, say hello to Darrell. You’ll see what I mean.

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iPad. Had those. 3G. Got those instead. We love them. Despite all the reported shortcomings, this device has had a huge impact on our lives. Laptops are used only for work. iPads are for everything else, from communication to light computing to entertainment. I am encouraged by the offerings and anticipating many good things to come. Again, let me iterate to all those considering iPad — this is not a device for everyone. It will not replace your laptop. It isn’t meant for heavy computing. It is meant to be a bridge device, something more than a phone and less than a workhorse computing machine. I can see a future where we can do heavy lifting with something as lightweight as an iPad but that time isn’t now. Soon, but not now. Probably before hovercrafts.

iPhone 4 – don’t want one. We currently have 3GS models and despite the additional features we know about that are native to iPhone 4 and won’t be available to any earlier models, there isn’t enough substance there to make me want to upgrade. Yes, the video conferencing functionality has uber-geeky cool factor. Yes, HD Video is a nice to have, especially for someone like me with an OWLE BUBO. All that coolness being offered would be great if I didn’t already own an iPhone or had a first gen model, but for me, it’s not enough to justify the price tag.

In fact, I will likely be dumping my iPhone soon. Gasp? Did I hear a gasp? I’m not kidding people. I’m planning to dump my iPhone as soon as my contract is up. Before you toss me off the Bus to Appledom, let me explain.

I got my iPhone for email, cool apps, and a decent mobile internet experience in addition to the regular phone and texting capabilities. With the arrival of the iPad 3G, I now have a device for email, cool apps and a pretty solid mobile internet experience, that adds in movies that I can actually see without straining my eyes and the ability to read news and books with ease. So what’s left for the iPhone: phone and texting – neither of which is any sort of great experience with the iPhone. Add to that the fact that I’m already paying for a data plan on two devices – one of which I rarely use anymore – and I’m left with the reality that my iPhone is now iObsolete. I want a good phone for when I actually need it with texting and nothing more. I have all the mobile computing/app/entertainment I need in my iPad.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t see this coming. I suppose I should have, but I didn’t. My iPad goes with me everywhere. I use it without any consideration of my iPhone. I find myself increasingly annoyed with the battery life and reception, and craving a device that is primarily a phone and not much more. The price tag that comes with the iPhone – which is required to include a data plan – is just not worth it anymore.

So there you have it. This geek’s perspective on the roles of the iPhone and iPad in my life. Sorry iPhone. It’s been great, but it’s time to move on.

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That’s right. I’m having buyer’s remorse. Don’t get me wrong. I love my iPad, but I could have lived without it…well, this model at least. I have found so many uses for my iPad that require me to be more mobile than what WiFi allows that I dearly and desperately need mobile connectivity. *gasp*

I’m still not an Apple Fan Girl. I still have not bowed at the Apple Altar and pledged my first born (although at times I have been dangerously close to selling him to the carnies). The iPad is not perfect. Anyone who tells you it is, is a liar, delusional or clearly confused. There are some bugs in the firmware that don’t impact all owners. Many of the apps are in need of optimization, so I’m holding off purchasing them until they are more mature. There is the typography issue, but that’s more of a minor issue to me because I’m not a glyph geek. Multitasking is (obviously) no deal breaker for me, but I am curious about the fall release of the OS 4.0 upgrade. And a camera on my iPad? Seriously? I don’t need it. I don’t care about it. I would very likely never use it.

While I do not worship my iPad, it has quickly become an integral part of my life. I prefer it for websurfing. I use it for email, watching movies and tv shows, and I am reading more than I have in a long time. Yes, I even use it for some gaming because I’m geek like that. Like my phone, it goes with me everywhere although I can’t use it everywhere which makes me feel a bit >.<

So there’s the conundrum. What to do? In steps the UberGeek Husband with the solution – Just buy the 3G models when they finally come out and sell the existing iPads to someone who will give them a good home. Rehoming of the iPads. Interesting concept really, but very possible. Scratch that. It’s pretty much guaranteed, especially since the other geek half in the household has been lamenting the lack of connectivity in every corner of our geeky universe.

As far as whether an iPad is for you, I will restate what I said previously: Check it out live and in person. You shouldn’t base your opinion of or need for any device on anyone else’s opinion. You also shouldn’t care one iota if some blowhard wanna be celebrity type has taken their iPad back.

Maybe that HP Slate that’s due out at some point in the future is a better bet. Maybe none of these devices meet your need. Don’t decide until you try it for yourself. It’s not a cheap item. It’s not a necessity. It’s definitely a win for me and for our family which is why we have them.

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Until now.

I openly admit to being impressed with the unveiling of the iPad.  Jobs was effective in his evangelization of the device, but like usual, we discussed waiting for the 2nd or maybe even 3rd generation before owning one.  This wasn’t because of the features and functionality that the ubergeeks decried as criminally absent from the device. This was a practical, logical decision based on budget and need.

Fast forward to Saturday, April 3, 2010.  We’re home alone, enjoying a teen-free morning, and HE says, “Do you think we could swing by the Apple Store just to check it out?”  ~eyebrow raised~  Flashbacks of the iPhone purchase of December 2009 ensued.

For my husband, “checking out” technology is like me “test driving” cars. If we’re going, we’re buying.  The banter ensued, and we headed out the door with the full knowledge that an iPad would be coming home with us.

The wait wasn’t bad.  We arrived after the store opened, stood in the unreserved line, and waited about an hour to enter the store.  I must admit – my heart skipped a bit when the people in front of us entered the store and WE WERE NEXT!!  The service was excellent.  Apple got it right:  Smart Water for those in line, a personalized buying experience with absolutely no rush, and well-trained, efficient and charming representatives of everything iPad.

Then came that moment – the one where our salesman asked: So which model do you want?  As if in a dreamstate I heard James say: “We’ll take two.”  Eh….what?  Having a serious Talking Heads moment I was thinking, “How did I get here?”

Some time later we walked out, each with our own Apple stamped bags and a list of other stops to make before heading home, including a stop at Best Buy where we played with the iPads they had on display. Don’t ask.  I have no clue why we didn’t go home right away.  I think it was self-punishment for a totally unplanned splurge purchase of mortgage payment size.  “SUFFER!!  YOU MUST WAIT!!!”  After 10 other stops we finally headed back to the house.

With a bit of a squeal, I ran to my room, plopped on the bed and began the process of setting up what I now call my iRad (yes, I’m an uberdork). Let me give it to you straight from the mouth of the geek: It’s exactly the “middle” device I have been craving.  From the moment you unbox it, it sings. It comes fully charged. It comes with the same interface functionality you are used to from your iPod Touch or iPhone.  And baby, it’s screaming fast.

Let me set one thing straight – this is not and will never be – a device that replaces my computer.  I have a 17″ gamer laptop that we use to design websites and for any heavy lifting that I may need to do.  But I can’t lug that beast with me from place to place without a sherpa.  It’s not conducive to doing much of anything other than working.  I cannot stand netbooks. They are too tiny and too sluggish.  I love my iPhone but it’s just so…well…small.  As handy as it is, it still isn’t big enough to do the things I really want to do on my laptop but don’t because it’s so cumbersome and unwieldy.

The iPad is the perfect device for entertainment, light work and some design.  I’ll let the design guy speak more about those items since he’s the designer and I’m more of the coder/back end type, but I will say flat out that I am impressed with the offerings already available for design.

I have tested apps like Rock Band and Tap Tap Radiation.  These are awesome light gaming apps that are fun and will not disappoint.  The iBook app is wonderful.  I have already combed through the free offerings and have downloaded some awesome classics that I have been wanting to reread.  I am excited about the expansion of cookbooks for the iBook app.  It will be fantastic in the kitchen when I’m cooking.

I haven’t spent too many hours surfing for apps. I’m one of those one app at a time types, so I’m slowly winding my way through the store to see what’s available and what intrigues me.  I did I spend hours on the NYT Crossword puzzle app which is another fantastic free app.  I downloaded but haven’t tested Netflix yet, but the ABC app is awesome.  And just this morning, I had the chance to watch a few minutes of Star Trek on the iPad. I have to say that I was blown away.

While the DRM concerns from the masses are valid, I am willing to deal with this because the device is truly the one thing I was missing from my arsenal. Yes, yes, yes, whiny ubergeek haters, it’s a locked up, unexpandable device.  And??  Exactly.  You just have to find something to bitch about because it isn’t some sort of linux box with unlimited open source possibilities that allows you to completely bastardized the pure simplicity of something that is clearly not meant for you.  Boo freaking hoo. Qwitcherbitchin and move along now.

I’m a big time geek. There are things that I love about being able to build my own computer, tear things apart, hack and reassemble, program and enhance.  But that’s not – read it again – THAT’S NOT – what this device is for and it was never intended to be that thing.  Apple knows who they are, they have their vision and they aren’t willing to compromise it because there are a bunch of bitchy tech snobs who think they should get whatever they want just because they say so.  Apple is Apple.  Love them or hate them.  Your choice.   Make your own tablet and sell it to your goober geeky coder friends who need to tinker and leave the rest of us to love what has been delivered.

I don’t need to tinker with the iPad. It’s perfect for what it is and what it is meant to do.  Is it perfect for you?  Swing by and check one out.  We’ll be upgrading to the 3G or 4G version (whatever is available) when the next gen comes out.  We actually do need that portability for our business, but for now, we are happy with this amazing piece of technology.  I count it as one of my best purchases ever.

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