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

[seperis.livejournal.com]

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

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

From what I can tell, it's mostly because they only want you getting stuff from the App store. Seriously. The only way to load anything on to it is downloading. There is a USB adapter that'll go into the docking port, I've heard, but you have to go out and buy it separately.

This is a really good article that pretty much sums up why I won't be getting an iPad, ever. Why I Won't Buy An iPad And Think You Shouldn't Either (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/02/why-i-wont-buy-an-ipad-and-think-you-shouldnt-either.html) by Cory Doctorow. It's awesome and it quotes the "Maker Manifesto:" If you can't open it, you don't own it. Screws not glue. Good stuff.

[lurkerlynne.livejournal.com]

Apple glues it's devices shut? I've got an iPod Touch and the only thing I noticed about the back was 'Shiny!'.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if the glue is literal or not, but I work in an IT department in a major university...our saying is that "trying to fix a Mac is like trying to change the oil on a car that's had its hood welded shut." It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to get some of their devices open, and once you get them open, you may or may not be able to get them put back together.

iFixit did a teardown of the iPad (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-Teardown/2183/1) to see what's inside, and broke two of the cover tabs just getting the back off. It relates back to the "if you can't open it and mess around with it, you don't really own it" theory.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned your godlike qualities of linkage are appreciated? They so are.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I'm delighted to have someone to share links with! It's awesome to see someone else who really can't stand the on-screen keyboard. My boss has an iPhone that he likes a lot, and I tried one out for a while; it was a total failure, because the touchscreen keyboard was simply too hard to use. The autocorrect didn't know any of my words, the keys were too insensitive, and it couldn't keep up with me at ALL. I hate, hate, HATE touch-screen keyboards. It's bad enough on ATM machines! Now I have a Nokia E71x, which is the leetle electronic love of my life.

The touchscreen is honestly one of the biggest barriers between me and getting an iPad for traveling and browsing (along with the no flash/no ports/no multitasking thing), and why I adore my netbook beyond the words to express it. My netbook is FABULOUS. I've got Windows 7 running on one, and one of the ones at work has Linux (so we can play), and they run them beautifully.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yes yes yes! I have everything in my household up to Windows 7 (and um, my family as well) and I seriously cannot imagine going back to XP now, it's been so streamlined and cleaned up.

I tried to dual-boot to linux with my netbook and gave up and put linux on a USB drive for usb boot playing. *hugs netbook* I adore my netbook.

Oh God the keyboard. I mean, this may be because I'm fangirl and I am really typing oriented, but trying to use the onscreen keyboard was like trying to walk on my hand while like, singing in Greek or something. Just, no.

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

...seriously? Windows 7 is no longer a headache?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I haven't had any problems with Windows 7 at all since I finished setup. The only problem I had is getting 64 running, which was more changing some programs to 64 bit. Other than that? Nope.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

This. Oh my God this. If I can't take it apart and know it down to the circuits, I'm not going to buy it.

And seriously. One more crack about mothers and I'm going to cut a bitch. I got my very first computer eleven years ago and not one of them I haven't known from the motherboard up. Argh.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I've been elbows-deep in every bit of gagetry I own...it's how I taught myself technology, and how I started my second career in IT! If I'd been unable to go in, mess around, plug things in and install them, uninstall them and customize them and otherwise screw around, I wouldn't now have the job and career that I love so much. So I'm a little passionate on the subject, I'll admit. :D

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*holds up glass*

This is the meaning of joy.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

*grin* It really, truly is. There's not much more satisfying in life than closing up the chassis of a totally rebuilt and upgraded machine, turning it on, and having it purr like a (figurative) kitten. I LOVE computers. I just don't love the ones that lock me out and treat me like I'm stupid.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

You know, you might have nailed the problem I have with most Apple products--actually, a lot of PC makers do this too, though not to this extent. IT's one of the reasons despite some problems I still stick with Dell pretty much. They are really easy to disassemble compared to a lot of computers, and they design the cases on pcs and laptops to come apart easily and easy access (relatively speaking on my laptop) pretty much everything. (Other manufacturers do, too.)

I mean, sure, I can't build my own chips, but to me, being able to do your own maintenance and repairs is part of ownership.

(I am not staring at the idea of building my laptop from scratch. Yet. Though God, do I want to. I just don't like what's available yet in bare bones or cases.)

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I've gotten a little of that "I'm hard to get into, neener neener" feeling from some HPs, for example, for sure. It's why I really love my Dell. Even the laptop, I can pop the hood and get in there if something is obviously awry.

The thought of having to send a machine back to the manufacturer to fix something that, if I could get in there, I could solve myself? EPICALLY FRUSTRATING. I look at it the same way as changing the oil in my car. My dad taught me how to do that, and change an air filter, and swap out tires; anything I rely on day-to-day like my car, or my computer for that matter, well. I should be able to keep it running, at least for the basics!

One of these days they'll sell decent components for laptops, and I'll have sooo much fun putting one together. Until then, I'm satisfied with my Dell Latitude and netbook; I just install all the bells and whistles myself on the basic model! :D