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The Thrill of Technology
As I’ve been travelling a lot more lately, I decided to finally update my mobile gadgetry with a phone (that actually holds its charge) and an iPad. This was not an impulse buy. I’d been lusting after these items for a long time. Now, I actually needed them. I’m here to report that my new phone and mini iPad have filled me with immense pleasure. So much so that the other day, I walked by a rack of designer shoes on sale and didn’t even stop to look.
Where are you on the love/hate technology continuum?
Illustration by Ben Wiseman
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What are your thoughts on the miniPad versus the standard size? And did you get on iPhone or change to something else? I lust after an iPad and could actually almost justify it. I find technology more and more satisfying. Especially a really good purchase. Shoes have become so much more problematic with comfort increasingly more necessary. Hard to balance with the aesthetics I love.
In my humble opinion, the mini iPad is the perfect size. When I look at the bigger iPads now, they seem way too big. The mini is easy to use with just one hand, good for reading books, lightweight for transport. It happens to be a lot cheaper. But no matter what, I’m hooked on the mini.
I absoulutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my IPAD, also have an iPhone and I love it too. I have the regular size iPad, got the first generation had an unfortunate incident and “had” to get a new one (that’s how addicting it is) so I have the latest one. Technology is right at you fingertips and I love it.
Glad to hear my passion is shared, Bobbi. BTW, the mini is fantastic. I think it’s the perfect size.
I finally broke down a couple of months ago and succumbed to a Smart Phone when my Dumb Phone wasn’t compliant with my needs any longer. I went with the Galaxy S3. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. I would marry it if I could. Next I’ll be getting a Tablet because I don’t want to schlep my laptop with me when I go to Costa Rica for my friend’s wedding and my accountant tells me the only way I can write off part of the expense of the trip is if I set part of the novel I’m writing in Costa Rica. Of course I’ll need to do it while I’m there and the scenery and people are fresh in my mind. Or at least this is what I’m telling myself.
First of all, Michele… you’re writing a novel?!! That’s impressive. How far are you? I bought an iPad precisely because of wanting to be mobile and lightweight. And I can’t say enough great things about it. I also got a mini keyboard to travel with, which really helps.
I don’t know, Wendy, the more I keep re-reading the less impressed I am. I’m 55K words in and really just need to sit down and outline the rest of it so I can just finish it once and for all. I didn’t realize the iPad mini also had a keyboard add on. That is definitely a point in it’s favor. Thanks for the info.
Michele, it sounds like you might need to take a break from reading, or get a fresh pair of eyes on it.
So here’s my question. Do you all use both your iPhone or other smart phone and iPad or tablet enough to justify both? There seems to be a lot of overlap. Has anyone chosen a regular phone and an iPad?
Yes. yes. yes. Both justified!! The iPad and iPhone serve different functions, and mostly because of screen size. The iPhone’s not very comfortable for serious reading or writing. And of course, you can’t make calls on your iPad. I’ve had an iPhone for years, but it took me awhile to get the tablet. And it’s actually life changing. Everything is moving in the direction of mobile computing, and these days with all the apps, you can get so many things done on an iPad. You can’t match its portability.
I concur
I love my smartphone (Droid Razr), but merely like my iPad. I do have the larger, earlier generation, though. Yes, it’s good for communicating with students (I have both F2F and online classes) and it’s nice for lecture prep, but it’s much less usable than my laptop. It certainly is convenient, but I dislike reading books on screens (therefore, don’t use my Kindle much). My Droid, though–love it! Now that I have a smartphone with a larger screen, I’m even more impressed with it. Fun to do stupid stuff with it, like tracking how far away I had to park from the office yesterday (0.75 miles) and regularly checking my heart rate.
I’m a diehard reader of real books. But when I travel, I love not having the extra weight. (For me, it means I can bring an extra pair of shoes.) The mini iPad is an excellent compromise.
This is a legitimate question: does the iPad have an option to reduce the screen brightness? I have been stuck on more flights than I can count with someone’s bright-as-heck iPad screen in my face. I might consider one, but NOT if I can’t adjust the screen brightness and not annoy people. My Macbook Air has excellent battery life and I can turn the brightness down so as not to annoy other people. Dropping a pound or so in my carry-on is not worth the dirty looks *I* give those folks…
Yes you can adjust the brightness on the iPad.
LOVE my iPhone 4S; LOVE my iPad 2; LOVE my MacBook Pro. Yes I have an Apple crush. Now, as to the way the companies in their supply chain treat their workers…THAT’S a different story entirely.
I’ve been a fangirl for a long time. And yes, life is filled with moral dilemmas.