Unpublished from last year. this entry was started on this iPad when I purchased it almost exactly one year ago today. At the end of the article Is an update on how this first year with the devices has been.
October 2010
What is that weird little device that seems to serve no purpose? It’s not a laptop, not phone, not a book nor hot plate.
Well, I am about to find out, and those of you following my blog can too. In fact I’m typing this blog entry with one right now. It’s only spent 4 days in my care to date, but so far this weird ‘little’ thing has engendered itself to me, my kids and a couple of other people whom have had some time to really try one out, beyond a little demo at the local electronics retailer
Even if this becomes little more than an eBook reader, I feel good about the investment. I do think this will find a place in my daily technology and recreation routines.
For instance, I can say already that it’s a fantastic way to enjoy a streamed movie or TV show anywhere you have some network but no TV. My first test of this was to enjoy 3 episodes of Galactica, streamed by Netflix to the iPad. I loved it.
I’ll have much more to say about it as I try out some daily business tasks. One of the first will be setting up some sample photography galleries to show prospective clients.
Another will be use of the device in the day to day administration of systems and IT management.
Stick around as I explore the ups and downs of the iPad over the next month or so.
Along with the iPad I am testing out Apples new Apple TV. Both are getting rave reviews in my house right now.
October 2011
iPad
It’s been a year with the iPad and I find it far more useful today than I had anticipated. it finds duty as a video blog reader (keeping up on the latest on CSS3 and HTML5 is a lot more comfortable to do on the couch with the little iPad than in my office at the laptop), as a second device to keep reference material handy while developing websites, and also as a very handy entertainment device.
An example of it’s utility would be as a very handy repository of Radio Control reference, setup and instruction documentation while at the race track. not needing to haul around my expensive laptop, power supplies for a long day, and the space a laptop would take up in the pits are all reasons the iPad shines.
in fact , I am comfortably using it to update this blog entry. I just wish I’d kept on task with the plan to write reviews as I explored this very cool device. and now with iOS 5 installed,it’s even
more useful (for instance I can send SMS like iMessage communications to other iOS5 devices over WiFi (no. cellular network required).
AppleTV
In short. it’s fantastic. So happy and impressed am I with the AppleTV that I’ve recommended it to (and sometimes installed for) friends and family. It’s ability to access and deliver online content to the comfort of a living room.
Integration with Netflix was impressive enough that I totally cancelled my cable, switched to DSL and saved myself several hundred dollars a year. My kids and I have not missed it at all. If I need to get any sort of broadcast news, I can pull true HD off the air for free, with a $5 set of old-school rabbit ears. Talk about bargain.
If you enjoy YouTube, Vimeo or Internet Radio, Apple TV has that covered as well. It’s an integrated entertainment system in a box little more than a pack of cards I size. You do need an HDMI compatible TV / entertainment system to take advantage of this awesome little black box that pulls content off a CAT5 cable or WiFi network. You do need a high speed Internet connection of some type for it to function.
That’s all for today’s update. I’ll make an honest effort to write a more detailed review of each, but we are having a rare sunny day and I’m going to go and take advantage of that!!