Posts Tagged ‘iPad’

Two unrelated items: iPad and Facebook

// May 12th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // General, Ranting

Ever since the iPad was rumored, I wanted the thing. Even before the specs were announced, I had a picture in my head of what the thing would be like: a big iPod Touch … and that’s what we got. I’d already decided that was just fine with me. The price, though, when compared to a full OS netbook was a little steep. So, I went with a netbook … and just sold it yesterday on eBay (for more than I paid for it, because I installed a legal copy of Windows 7 Ultimate on it, which I had a spare copy of).

Now I’ve decided it’s iPad time, though I was originally awaiting the iPad 3G. However, after a lot of thought on the matter, I’ve decided not to get the 3G. I have an iPhone, with a full data plan my employer foots the bill for. If I need 3G, I will have my iPhone (and will have the NEW iPhone when that comes out later this year). The new iPhone OS will have Bluetooth keyboard capability, so if I need to get some doc or post writing done, I can do it that way if I really need to. For everything else, I can wait to find a wifi hotspot somewhere.

Something else regarding 3G: it’s more AT&T than I’d rather have. I really, really love the idea of $15 whenever I happen to need it in a pinch, since the portable wifi hotspots do not currently offer a-la-carte pricing like that. However, I’m pretty convinced we will see a-la-carte pricing for these devices in the near future, and when that happens I’d be really sorry I spent the money on the 3G iPad.

I’m also going with the 16GB iPad over the higher capacities. My current iPhone is 16GB and it’s full of apps, many which I use sparingly and some which are only really good for carrying on a phone (Foursquare, for example). With all of that and music and photos, I’ve still got 5GB free. I won’t put music in the iPad. By the time I’d fill an iPad’s 16GB, I’d be ready for an upgrade to their newer version anyway.

So, with the lowest model iPad, I save hundreds of dollars I’m putting toward the new iPhone (which should only be a couple hundred for the upgrade, since I’m due for the discounted upgrade through AT&T).

Now, Facebook.

Seems a lot of people are dumping out of Facebook. Deb wisely never joined Facebook and is laughing at the news of people leaving the service. To be honest, I wouldn’t bat an eye at leaving Facebook if I didn’t use it to help promote CliqueClack. Many old friends I’d want to keep in touch with there barely update as it is. We have a fan page there for CliqueClack, and I need an account to maintain it, so dumping out of Facebook isn’t an option at the moment. That doesn’t mean I won’t update my status on Facebook, but I never really shared much personal stuff there as it is.

I never really understood why people felt so comfortable revealing personal information there so regularly. Telling everyone you’re going on vacation and the house is empty? Or you’re alone in the house all week? Or that you’re playing FarmVille or some other wacky game during working hours or right after you told someone on your friend list you were too busy to do something else for them, yet there you are, playing this game? Y’know, we can see you. Everyone can.

Why digital books and not the library?

// April 28th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // General, Ranting, Techie

I’ve already resigned myself to the fact that, sooner than later, I will have myself an iPad. But, while I love the idea of reading books on the thing, my problem is this: I’m a cheap bastard, and I’d rather get my books from the library … y’know, for free.

This bums me out, because I’d really love to read books on a portable device like the iPad or the Kindle, rather than dealing with book lights and pesky pages. Somehow, though, I have an easier time swallowing the >$500 price tag of an iPad than paying for a book, one that I’ll read once and likely never read again, nor can I share the damn thing or donate it.

I can get any book I want from my local library and even have it sent from another library if they don’t have it in stock. Audiobooks are even better — I can get the CDs, digitize them into iTunes, and then listen on my iPod/iPhone, complete with bookmarking (I do delete them when I’m done because, as I said, I will probably never ever read/listen to these books again).

So why are people so quick to buy digital books? Is it because they have a lot of disposable income? Don’t have friends they’d like to share the book with later? Are neurotic and don’t like touching old books? Too lazy to walk/drive to the library? Or is the convenience of using an iPad or Kindle to read the book worth the inflated price of it alone?

Plus, using the library helps support it. “You mean I read books for free and it supports the library with no money out of me?” I know: crazy! But it’s true. Don’t you want to help support that worthy cause? Or are you all like “screw everyone — get a better job and buy your books!”

Please, convince me I need to read all future books on an iPad — I need another reason to justify it.