it's been a relatively good day. my expectations were mediocre.

In celebration of going into debt-freeness, mostly, I bought both my sisters Dell minis for their birthdays (March and May) and gave the May birthday hers, since there's no way I can sit on that for a month. This is basically my last extravagant purchase until the Android tablet comes out, depending on what kind of keyboard can be harnessed to it. And I cut all my credit cards but the Best Buy one, for the aforementioned Android tablet. Officially, I have one account paid off, and for the next few days, I'll be paying off one card/account a day.

This is proof the stock market is stupid and insane and makes no sense. I am okay with this.

I did not realize this weekend was the release of the iPad. That kind of makes it even more awesome, in a way.

I am like, pleased that those that bought theirs are loving it? But a.) hard drive size b.) no flash c.) no keyboard d.) no multitasking? I start getting freaked out imagining not being able to surf and chat with background music while I write. People do that?

P.S. It is not that I hate Apple or anything. I have an ipod! I gave it to my mom, true, when my Android phone showed itself copasetic with easy music listening, but I do have iTunes. I am saying, if I can't disassemble something myself into its component parts, upgrade it, reinstall and reconfigure it, and reassemble at home, I cannot deal with it. One third of my personal fun is centered on a rainy day, my screwdriver set, and a sense of wild curiosity.

And yes, I can break down my Android phone. It's not easy, but I can do it, and I liked it.

Is this where I say my name is Seperis and I'm a PC user? I'm also a future tester for subdermal internet access, so I can surf the internet with my mind. Why this has not happened yet I do not know.

ETA: Okay, level with me. I get the entire ~futureistic~ thing of the onscreen keyboard, but is anyone but me just not feeling it for like, normal use? Well, normal-me use, which is a lot. Just. WTF? Future, stop fucking with my keyboard.

ETA 2 Gemini, the Android tablet - to say I am lusting after this is an understatement.

Comments

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

Wait, NO MULTITASKING?!?!?!?! *horrified face*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

The keyboard thing was bad enough, but I felt hives raising up at the idea of not being able to work several things at the same time. Seriously.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

The iPad doesn't even have a USB port! I boggle.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Don't remind me while I stare at my four on my laptop and three on my mini. Just--why?

WHUT

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

I would be hard-pressed to figure out if this would be the deal-breaker for me, or if the no-multitasking would win the day.

*ponders*

Probably the no-multitasking. I'm sorry, Steve J., I've gotten used to thinking this way and you're not going to change me back.

I have this whole rant about how Apple is the monolithic Stalinist Evil Thing, and Microsoft is run wild, run free!

[lurkerlynne.livejournal.com]

If an iPad really is a giant iPod Touch, then yes, it would truly be nifty indeed. Because I adore my iTouch beyond words, despite the fact that Apple insists it's just an MP3 player. :)

[lurkerlynne.livejournal.com]

Forgot to mention, I'd put the iPad in the same category as a netbook- something to cart around that's smaller and less expensive than a laptop.

[dafna]

Totally with you on this. I was being very "let it be" wrt the crazy iPad people but now co-workers have started carrying them around throughout the day so they can check their schedule and read their e-mail on them. (This in an office complex so vast that they're never more than 5 minutes from their own office and with sufficiently good 3G reception that most people who feel the need to do this just use their damn phones.)

I finally snapped and asked one of them, "OK, I just bought a Dell Mini for $280 that has a keyboard, 3 USB ports, a multiformat media card reader, not to mention 10x your hard drive space." He replied, smugly, "but can you touch it?"

I mean, srsly, that seems to be the main argument. Plus the people who already have their entire media collection wrapped around iTunes anyway so that the idea of wanting to take a flash drive with a bunch of movies and plug it in is like this radical crazy notion.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I finally snapped and asked one of them, "OK, I just bought a Dell Mini for $280 that has a keyboard, 3 USB ports, a multiformat media card reader, not to mention 10x your hard drive space." He replied, smugly, "but can you touch it?"

*grins* Actually, yes, with a touchscreen replacement. I was actually looking into that, except honestly, I have learned from my phone that I need to have at least a few objects in my life that do not require constant cleaning from my fingers. God, I never washed my hands so many times as my first week with my Android.

I mean, srsly, that seems to be the main argument. Plus the people who already have their entire media collection wrapped around iTunes anyway so that the idea of wanting to take a flash drive with a bunch of movies and plug it in is like this radical crazy notion.

The joys of externals. I can plug my external hard drives into all my computers and my phone. I am sorry, if cannot transfer everything between platforms and device and use them on all of them, I cannot deal.

[jamesinboots.livejournal.com]

But a.) hard drive size b.) no flash c.) no keyboard d.) no multitasking? I start getting freaked out imagining not being able to surf and chat with background music while I write. People do that?

The no flash, no multitasking, and no USB port issues are total dealbreakers for me. Maybe in the future they'll be more powerful, but seriously, no USB ports? No FLASH?! Omg who can live without a USB port? You can't even hook it up to a USB fan! Or a pair of USB headphones! D:

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I use my computer usb to charge my phone, for goodness sake. And move stuff around between my drives, watch movies, and yes, my usb laptop fan. Just. I think I'd have some kind of weird breakdown.

[aivilo-18.livejournal.com]

Future, stop fucking with my keyboard.

This. Fucking *this*.

I happen to enjoy the nice, soothing sounds of keyboard clacking. And those evil robots from the future are trying to take that away from me. I too own an iPod and an iPhone and I love them both dearly. But, you take away my keyboard and you take away any possibility of me ever purchasing your product. Sorry, but I'm not interested unless my computer makes a noise.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

There really is nothing more comforting than the soft, soothing click of keys. *wistful*

[akacat]

If I wasn't perfectly, delightedly, happy with the screen-size of my iTouch in regard to reading books, I suppose I would be interested in the iPad. But since the iTouch is the perfect size for me to read on, the iPad is a step in the wrong direction.

The one glowing review I read on the iPad was from someone who watches all her TV & movies online and is sort of tethered to her netbook for work. For her, something that she can read books and watch TV/movies on, but not multi-task on, is the ultimate leisure device. I can kind of see her pov.

In less glowing news, I've heard that the thing is a pita to keep a wireless connection on, and a lot of people are having trouble charging it from a usb port. The ports on a lot of machines and hubs just don't put out enough power, and people are having to use the AC adapter/plug. Can you say "this shouldn't have passed beta testing"? I knew you could.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

The wireless thing bothered me too. I have a router for a reason, y'know?

[fearthainn.livejournal.com]

I have bad wrists as it is, and the whole touch keyboard setup just screams tendonitis to me. I think my laptop keyboard is too small, and it's a 15.4 inch. (It's also impossible to use when I'm wearing my wrist brace, but then, so is my desktop keyboard. Stupid wrist brace.) It just seems like bad news.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, several coworker have ot use braces with full size keyboards. I can't imagine them using the onscreen and not like, breaking down or something. I can't imagine using it for that either; my mini is about an inch or two smaller than my comfort level, but I can just adapt to that. Anything smaller for full functionality? No. That makes my hands want to cramp up.

[jazzy-peaches.livejournal.com]

I am a hardcore Apple fangirl, but I think that the iPad is a self-indulgent project and a waste of time. It's a big iPod Touch, and part of the appeal of iPods is that they fit in your pocket. So, in my opinion, it's kind of useless. /soapbox

The thing that would make them useful is if they could convert handwriting into type- then for say college students, it would be amazing for note-taking, etc.

Also, when I got an android phone with a touchscreen, I got one that still slides open to a regular keyboard because texting takes way too long on a touch-screen keyboard, lol.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*laughs* No, I get it. And I love the idea of it, but I hate the deliberate hobbling to make it less than it could be.

[bookshop.livejournal.com]

okay, *sigh of relief*, my love for my Droid is deep and abiding, but i didn't even know about the droid tablet! and i was thinking about caving and getting an ipad even though i never ever ever buy first-generation apple anything (i didn't even buy an ipod until, i think, 4th generation).

thank you for GIVING ME A GLORIOUS REASON TO JUST SAY NO TO THE IPAD. *_* ahhh it looks so shiny.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Did you see the gemini? I was like, trying not to drool staring at it. Oh my God I want so much.

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

The idea of not being able to multitask fills me with wide eyed horror.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*hands* Seriously. HOW DO I SEND EMAIL, CHAT, CHANGE MY MUSIC AND CHECK WIKIPEDIA? HOW?

[ghfan-98.livejournal.com]

When is the proposed release date?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

For the gemini? I'm reading August 2010, but I'm not sure if that's UK only or US/UK.

[jooniper-pearl.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for linking to the Android Tablet! You have given me a reason to say HELL NO to the Ipad and wait for the 'Droid :D

[(Anonymous)]

The onscreen keyboard isn't new, it's a variation on the membrane keyboards of the '80s. Remember the Timex-Sinclair ZX-81? 1K of RAM with optional 16K expander. Cassette tape drive. Keyboard (half sized or so) was a thin layer of plastic over a bunch of bubble switches that would stick if you overused them, and then you had to buy a whole new computer, because it was the '80s, and computers were pretty much all one-piece units, or one piece and a monitor.

--Jessica

[norabombay.livejournal.com]

I already own a desktop, a laptop, a netbook, and a smart phone. So the ipad isn't going to exactly fill a niche.

That said: I keep my desktop in the guest room, in an ergonomic palace. Big monitor, split keyboard, several giant external back up drives.

The laptop lives on the coffee table, for all of your television and surfing needs.

And the netbook lives by the bed, so I can pass out playing Spider Solitaire.

I could see an ipad fitting into a household niche, as an auxilary unit. The crappy keyboard wouldn't even be a deal breaker- if I want to type anything longer than a paragraph, I use something other than my netbook.

The deal breakers for me:

Flash, USB ports, and multi tasking. I want to be able to toss off a comment or check my email without quiting a movie. Flash is key for the web.

And the USB port. How am I supposed to load any of the hundreds of hours of video I never bother watching to this thing without one?

A couple of computing generations from now? I'll probably trade the netbook for a tablet. It's just not going to be this one.

[tienriu.livejournal.com]

I've been using on-screen keyboards with my smartphones for the past five years and having had to write up entire training sessions, presentations and once an Excel spreadsheet on them I can say that futuristic can kick my cave-woman butt. If I have to write something longer than a text message (frankly even that) on one of those without a stylus, I'm finding a way to hack a wireless keyboard into my arm and using that instead.

On the other hand, even without a built in keyboard, the Courier (http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-first-details-of-microsofts-secret-tablet) is triggering all of my tech-geek-lust lately.

Two screens! I can surf the net, read an eBook and remote into my media server at the same time! Or I can research and write at the same time (... well after I hack that keyboard into my harm - but it does come with a stylus so maybe it imitates actual writing a bit better with those larger, shiny screens?)!

[firewolfsg.livejournal.com]

Yea! Yes, the Microsoft Courier!
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/30/switched-on-courier-courts-the-creative/

No way was I even thinking of considering the iPad if it didn't multitask, doesn't have a camera, and there has no expansion slots!

The MS Courier though is something I'm really excited about. I really do prefer a stylus when I write in notes. The videos on the device are just so cool, I could really see myself carrying one like an arm extension (much like the way I currently carry around my HP212)

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

Oh God that Android Tablet. I didn't even know it was in the pipeline, but I waaaaaaaaaannntttt!!!!!

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

I read a test of the iPad and the tester was definitely positive about everything, but said that "if you have to type a lot or if you're a fast typist, the onscreen keyboard is maybe not your thing." I was like "...so no, then." I'm definitely not into that for normal use. I'm a Mac user too, I just like keyboards that I can type fast on.

[linzeestyle.livejournal.com]

Wait -- okay. If the iPad doesn't multitask, in all seriousness, what is it for? Ever since it came out I've been baffled as to its primary market: it's being touted as "revolutionary," but so far the only revolution I can see it creating is a market for tablets that are better than that one. I know a few people who have bought it and are singing its praises, but they're all Apple-cultists who purchase anything Steve Jobs has blessed the day it comes out...and even they don't seem to be doing much on it but buying apps, playing apps, buying more apps, and announcing how awesome the ability to spend money to feed the thing is.

(Also, two of the people I know who bought those things are graduate students on a 1100/month stipend. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THAT? I can't even afford the food kind of Apple right now, jeez.)

[airglowsgold.livejournal.com]

personally, as someone who has been a mac user since i was 14 and can take apart and put back together the iphone that has been surgically attached to my hand for half that time, idk why anyone would want an ipad (okay, that's a lie, it's shiny and useful and pretty and really good for watching movies! and it'd be amazing for my carpal-tunnel-afflicted self), but NO MICRO-SD. NO VIDEO-CHAT CAPABILITY. NO MULTITASKING. NO FLASH

like most things apple, it will probably be infinitely more tolerable in its second iteration but for now i'm just going to laugh at all the people going out and grabbing them up for way more than the memory capability justifies. until it makes me look at the pads in star trek and go "I PM HAVE ONE OF THOSE LOL", no way sry steve

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I have an iPod Touch and I love it, but it multitasks. At least for some apps. As you say, for something the size of the iPad, if I can't multitask, what's the point of it? The fact that it, a) has the same amount of hard drive space as the iPhones/iPod Touches and b) has no USB ports is a killer for me.

Also, if you're going to use it as an ebook reader, what happens when you want to lay it flat on the table beside you while you're eating? Does it rock back and forth due to its curved back? Not to mention that apparently you can't read in sunlight, either a) because the sun's glare overwhelms the screen (see the book reader app link below), or b) because the iPad overheats (http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31747_7-20001749-243.html). (See a roundup of the 2nd issue here (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Techies-Fume-Over-iPad%27s-Hidden-Weakness-3098).)

I do covet the book reader app (http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2010/04/04/10-hours-with-the-ipad/), because it looks gorgeous (see the first picture at that link), but as it is currently, I can't see it being useful.