31 Days With Only My iPad, No Laptop
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And it comes to a close.After 31 days using just the iPad and ignoring my laptop, here are the top 5 things I love about the iPad. Again, these items are in no particular order:-The iPad's battery life is phenomenal. Whether you're reading a book, watching a movie, running apps, or browsing the web, the battery just keeps on going and going. It's just stellar at 9-10 hours. -The apps do everything and more. From USA Today to the ABC player to neat tech demos like Gravilux, the iPad apps make normal PC software look...
After 30 days of the experiment, here are the top 5 things I still hate about the iPad and wish Apple would take some time to fix. I'm not listing anything that I know is coming in the new OS. The items are in no particular order: -The iPad doesn't support printing from its native applications. Whether you need to print off a quick email or print your resume for an interview, it can't be done with the iPad. -The iPad can't sync with files stored on MobileMe. If this happens, it would be cloud computing for the...
Just a quick one for today: if you love pinball, then you know that most computer and video game simulations don't quite cut it. That's why you need an iPad and the Pinball HD app. For just $3, you get three incredibly realistic tables with amazing physics. The best part? No need to scrounge through your pockets for quarters.
So, my 31 day experiment is nearing the end. Since this is a holiday weekend, I want to write my big wrap-up tonight. How well does the iPad replace a laptop? Very well. Sure, there are some times that you need to print a document, burn a disc, or do some serious typing. That's why I'll still have a computer. But in our household, we can probably share a computer, where Emily uses it 95% of the time and I just use it for those few tasks that I need a computer for. What has amazed me most with the iPad is the shear...
Wired came out with its iPad app this week and it's pretty amazing. For $5, you get the most recent issue of Wired, but in a crazy iPad format. Watch videos, listen to the sounds, rotate images, and manipulate objects depicted in the mag. It's one of the best examples of why the iPad is changing the media landscape. Ads are so much more targeted and interactive than other formats that it could change advertising forever. It's already very comfortable to read a book or magazine on the iPad, but with this format...
Ahh, the comfort of security. After a long wait, my replacement screen film arrived and I'm no longer worried about scratches on the screen. In addition, this magnificent cover from Power Support also acts as an anti-glare film and does wonders for fingerprints. For $25, it's definitely a worthwhile investment for any iPad owner. Does it affect the cool, shiny quality of the iPad screen? Maybe a little. But with the extra protection, anti-glare, and reduction of fingerprints, it's a fair tradeoff.
So, I jailbroke my iPad. So far, I'm not terribly impressed. When Apple gets around to things, they really do it better than anyone else. The bugs, problems, and other issues with jailbreaking and its related applications makes you appreciate the solid nature of Apple-made applications. That being said, multi-tasking gives you a good impression of what's coming. Wireless sync gives you a good idea of what could be coming. And the various "legally-ambiguous" applications? Well, in some ways, it makes you appreciate...
Q: "Hey Ryan, it sounds like the iPad is fantastic and cool and can be a real replacement for a laptop (as your blog, which is awesome by the way, has proven), but my question is: why would I buy an iPad if I already have a laptop?" A: Well, this seems to be a big question. And one that I struggled with myself. Even worse, what if you have an iPhone or other smart phone? The key for me is asking: what do I want? I wanted a quiet computer that I could comfortably type on, carry around like a book, but also have the...
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