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.

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.

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.

ican haz a super Touch?

I must admit…I love my iPod Touch.  It’s a cool gadget that I had to have, and HG surprised me with last year.  I have enjoyed it thoroughly, but truth be told, I have been dreaming about all the things that would make the Touch even better.

The end of 2008 brought a growing hum about the possibilities of Apple’s next great thing.   Michael Arrington wrote about it in a December 30, 2008 article in TechCrunch:

We’ve got this from three independent sources close to Apple:  expect a large screen iPod touch device to be released in the Fall of ‘09, with a 7 or 9 inch screen. Prototypes have been seen and handled by one of our sources, and Apple is talking to OEMs in Asia now about mass production…. I’m not saying Apple is definitely launching a large form iPod Touch. But sources I trust are saying they are currently planning to, and one source has actually held the device.

While that was definitely a tasty morsel, it was still too early for any type of real anticipation.  Fast forward to today when DigiTimes quoted a daily Chinese-language financial newspaper, Commerical Times, as saying:  “Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for Apple’s new netbook, and shipments will start in the third quarter this year”, that hum became a buzz.  The internet was suddenly a flutter with commentary about the possibility of a netbook by Apple.

The information quote from Commercial Times states that the Wintek touch screens are for an Apple netbook.  A previous quote about netbooks by COO Tim Cook stating that Apple was ”not too impressed with what it’s seen so far” would seem to contradict this.  In fact, based on the popularity of the iPod Touch and the iPhone, it would seem to make a lot more sense that Apple has  been developing a hybrid device – something in between the Touch and the Macs.

So what do you think?  Netbook or a super coolio new iPod Touch?  I say, “BRING IT!”  I am ready for a new iPod Touch!!

Apple iTouch 8GB

I got my iTouch last winter and have recently used it more heavily at work. Consider this a 1 year review of this first generation touch-screen iPod. It’s an 8GB model that includes WiFi connectivity, web browser, email capabilities, contacts, video, games and more.

Just the other day I upgraded the firmware to the latest 2.2 version from Apple. This is the same firmware that powers the current 3G iPhones. The upgraded firmware cost $9.95 (something I not a big fan of), but thus far I believe is worth the cost.

The key, and biggest selling point to the firmware upgrade, is the ability to download and install applications directly on the iTouch. As long as you have Internet connectivity, there is much you can do with the iTouch.

A new feature I am starting to use are Podcasts. In particular, video podcasts. The current subscription I have is to the Dilbert video cartoons. They run about 20-30 seconds each, but it’s well worth the free subscription. So far I have downloaded over 100 of these Dilbert p0dcasts and watched about 10. I’ve got a ways to catch up.

And onward to the main reason I have an iTouch…. music! With 8GB of space on this iTouch, there is plenty of room for songs. I think I have used up about 6.5GB of space with hundreds of songs to listen to. One great feature of the firmware upgrade to 2.2 is the inclusion of the “Genius” feature. When playing a song, press of the “Genius” icon on the screen and the iTouch/Genius “robot” will automatically put together a playlist for you based on the song you are listening to. If there are not enough songs to make a playlist, Genius will let you know as well. I actually found this out listening to a Prodigy song and didn’t have any other music on the iTouch that matched up with that type/genre of music. Right now I am listening to a lot of Rock/Metal bands.

Get yourself a nice pair of headphones too if you pick up an iTouch. The headphones that come standard with the iTouch are okay, but I didn’t like the way that felt. I picked up a pair of black “Shure” headphones, though expensive, but have enjoyed them quite a bit. They come with multiple ear fitments and the sound quality is first class.

The newest investment made into the iTouch is the addition of an “Invisible Shield” by Zagg. This is a scratch proof rubber-like adhesive that is applied to the iTouch, form-fitting even. I did have a case for the iTouch. And while it was a nice case, it ended up breaking up on me. The Invisible Shield has proven to be great. It’s very thin, actually improves the viewing on the iTouch, and outside of a couple of air bubbles that are cropping up, has been worth the money.

The Microsoft Zune is the direct competitor to the iTouch. While the Zune is quite a bit cheaper and can hold more space, it does not have a touch-screen. I find the touch-screen much easier to use while driving to and from work and honestly, just feels easier to use versus a scroll-wheel interface like the old iPods.