The iPad – My 2 cents

January 28th, 2010

I’m a closet Apple Fanboy.  If I had the money, I’d be a flaming Fanboy.  I would love to have a loaded up 13 inch MBP plugged into Apple’s 24inch monitor, but the wife and checkbook say no….

Anyway, I was following the hype of the iSlate, er iPad since the beginning.  Apple being Apple, I expected something that would make me come out of the closet.

Not today I’m sorry to say.  The iPad looks great as a shiny piece of metal and glass, but beyond that. it is a lot of sizzle and not a lot of steak.

Here is what it is missing…

  • Forward facing camera for video chats
  • Slot loading DVD
  • Mini Display Port (think about this – a second monitor for a laptop or desktop)
  • More frik’n storage capacity
  • Stylus and handwriting recognition (duh….)
  • FLASH (Really?, Seriously? WTF?)
  • USB and/or SD slot (You know, like to be able to plug in a  camera and download pictures)

The thing is already too expensive, but how much more would it have cost to at least have a camera, stylus and a USB port?  FLASH and handwriting recognition is a software thing.  It doesn’t even need handwriting recognition, just the ability to write out notes and save like a whiteboard.

Also, another data plan?  No thanks.

Picture this…

You’re going on vacation and don’t want to lug the laptop (because then you’ll probably think you should do some real work).

In steps the iPad (V2 – with all the goodies above and after you unplug it from your laptop – the second monitor thing, remember?).

Here is what you can do…

Watch 4-5 DVD’s (because really, who has the forethought, software, knowledge and time to rip and convert before you leave).

Transfer those beautiful pics of the Grand Canyon to the iPad for backup and for viewing.

Video chat with family and friends with Skype

Keep a little hand-written journal of what you see.

Read a book or two.

Catch up on email, the stock market and Tiger’s latest mistress.

With a few additional pieces of hardware and software, the iPad could be…

The ultimate vacation device.

The ultimate device for doctors and nurses.

The ultimate device for business meetings.

The ultimate device for college students.

Right now, the iPad is a novelty with no market beyond the flaming Fanboys and the early adopters.

Here is to hoping V2 is everything V1 could have been.

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Windows 7 – The First Month

December 18th, 2009

I’ve been using Windows 7 for over a month now and I’m not nearly as impressed as I first was.  It still crashes and it still runs slow at times.  More than I remember with XP.

I have had problems with waking the machine from sleep and it seems to get bogged down at times for no reason (updating iTunes Podcasts for example).  I’m still not comfortable with the way Explorer works or the Start Menu.  I’m sure those are things I can change though.  The security thing confuses me as well.  I still can’t get a local web site running under IIS. Again, I’m sure it is something simple….

During this time, I purchased a MacBook Pro and I’m really liking the OS.  I’m all about function over form, so I like the consistency of how things work on the Mac (it looks kinda nice too). The OS boots, sleeps and recovers so much better too!

I’ll always be a Windows user on some level, so I was hoping for more with Win 7.  Maybe the next SP will make things better.

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Windows 7 – My First 2 Hours

November 2nd, 2009

I just installed Windows 7 Pro this morning.  It took 18 minutes to do a clean install.  I was completely amazed.  I haven’t had any issues with anything so far.  I’ve installed my dev software (CS4), SQL Server, the various browsers, Skype, iTunes, etc…  It immediately recognized my 2 monitor setup, my USB headset was configured correctly and my speakers even work.

I ran the Windows upgrade utility and it said I might have issues with my graphics card (for Aero) and my sound card. Aero works great as do my speakers.

I never used Vista (I’m coming from XP Pro), so getting around the interface is going to take some time.  I don’t know if Windows Explorer had this in XP, but the preview pane in 7 is awesome.

The last big hurdle is getting my network attached Printer/Scanner/Copier working correctly.  I’ll tackle that tomorrow.

All in all, I’ve been completely and pleasently surprised.  I hope that feeling lasts…

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Scheer Memorial Hospital Web Site Launch

September 16th, 2009

Scheer Memorial HospitalThe day finally came today, we launched the redesigned Scheer Memorial Hospital web site.  There were a few delays and some challenges communicating with a client in Nepal, but in the end, I think everything we did a great job.  There are still a few pages that additional content will be added to, but nothing that stopped us from launching.

The site is a custom CMS with an MS SQL database on the back-end to store all site data.  It has a blog (called “Recent News”) and Photo Gallery that utilizes jQuery and Thickbox.

Starting in 2010, they plan on sending a quarterly Newsletter.

Thanks go to Yvonne, Shannon, Lincoln and Rodney for the opportunity!!

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Bigger might be the new Small

August 4th, 2009

My long time favorite blogger wrote another great post entitled “High Definition”.  Seth talks about quality over size and convenience.

In my particular case, I think phones/MP3’s/GPS’s etc… have gotten way too small and difficult to use.

The iPod Nano.  If I didn’t loose it in the first 3 days I had it, I’d probably break it.  It feels like a toothpick.

I have a Sprint Treo 755 phone, one of the biggest out there and it is still too small.  The iPhone is much better, but it still needs to be thicker.  The new Palm Pre?  Forget it.  The first and only time I tried it, I felt like I was holding balsa wood.

Right or wrong, I associate heft with quality in electronic devices. I want something that doesn’t shatter the first time I drop it.  Something that lets me know I’m still carrying it.  Something that is more concerned about working correctly over being small, light and pretty.

Bring back the High Definition.  I’ll pay for it.

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