Jumping on the iPad Bandwagon

Pros

1. Plays HD
2. iBookstore
3. 10 hours playback time
4. iPod/Touch app compatible
5. 3G optional
6. Bluetooth
7. Instant-On

Cons

1. Lack of removable media
2. Lack of non-English content

Well, just by looking at the lists, it’s pretty obvious that it will be high on my shopping list, but the most important factor for me is the initial content offering iBookstore will have, and how easy it is to get it.  The primary purpose I see with iPad is to replace the physical books and especially magazines.  It is not a replacement of notebook or netbook for me, so multitasking isn’t really a concern for me.  Lack of removable media is a little inconvenient, but with so many syncing applications, I am sure there will be some acceptable solutions.  The bonus would be the different apps and videos I get to play/watch.  Lack of non-English content is also another issue that probably will be resolved in time.

What I admire about Apple is the laser focus of their product.  They don’t cut corners and don’t compromise.  Whether the product will sell or fail is another issue, but they know what their vision is.  iPad’s vision is to do what iPod did to the music industry, and what iPhone did to the mobile carriers, to the publishing industry.  Same in every industries, their inertia and rigid thinking need some truly disruptive technology to force them to adapt or die.  Hopefully iPad can be the catalyst.

New Year Resolution 2010

Before that, I probably need to look back on my new year resolution for 2009 first:

2009:

1. JLPT Level 2
2. Do an interesting project
3. 70kg

Number 1 was a complete failure.  I only took once-a-week Japanese lessons until February.  After that, all my Japanese study came from TV programs.  So I got to know a lot of comedian phrases and nothing much else.

Number 2 was a classic “be careful what you wish for” type of resolution.  Simply speaking, yes, I got to do an interesting project, but it really isn’t the type of “interesting” I had hoped for. 

Number 3 was acceptably achieved.  The last weight-in I took before 2010 was 70-point-something, but I haven’t weighted in since then…..

So my 2010 resolutions are:

1. JLPT Level 2
2. Find a new hobby
3. 6x kg

Japanese is still something I want to learn more, and level 2 is probably a realistic goal I can try to achieve this year.  A new hobby is something I have been thinking and wanting to find something new this year.  6x kg is just a continuation of my previous goal.

Looking back, 2009 was kind of an adjustment year for me work-wise, family-wise, and self-wise.   Let’s hope for a better and brighter 2010.  (even though my first fortune slip from Asakusa temple this year was bad…)