iPad Quick Impression

Who would have thought I would have two iPad posts in a row… (the truth is probably I don’t update my blogs enough)

Some points from my last post:

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

After playing for my new iPad for 2 days (32G Wifi Model), it was pretty much in line of what I thought before.  Video/Picture playbacks are good, especially once I got the Air Video App.  It lets iPad stream videos from a desktop, so pretty much it can support most video formats.  iBooks are also pretty much what I expected.  The reading experience is good (especially comics). There really aren’t that many books available for purchase, but there are some other apps (Kindle, Time, etc) that let users purchase other contents, so it’s still good.  Another pleasant surprise is that iPad gets 2 years of free wifi access point in Japan.  So wifi model isn’t totally useless outside. 

Of course things are not all good.  One thing that really pisses me is that Bluetooth headset doesn’t pair with iPad. (headphone is ok I think).  Really couldn’t figure out a reason why Apple doesn’t do it except to mess with people.  The other thing is that I still feel some weight trying to hold it up for an extended time.  Not including traditional Chinese input at the beginning is also a bit inconvenient, and moving around different applications still needs some time to get used to.

Overall I would give it 7/10.  It definitely is the tablet that future ones will be measured against.  Instant-on and 10 hour battery time are must.  The app store already has tons of stuff to play with so people won’t get bored.  Didn’t use e-ink readers, so I couldn’t compare the difference, but reading comfort is acceptable for me for an hour or two.  (Did get a little tired, but not sure if it’s because of the screen or my bad posture). 

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…)

Wow It’s been almost 9 months

Since my last blog entry…. For some reasons I just forgot about blogging and went on doing other things.  I think Plurk probably is the biggest reason why.  Those microblogging stuff really became a replacement of blogging for me, since I am never a person of long articles.  The shorter/faster I can say what I want to say, the better.  But didn’t realize it’s already been 9 months.  One reason I thought about blogging again is because I remembered my new year resolution from last year, and thought I might want to write something about, but it would too long for plurk, so I thought I would try writing something here again.  Another reason is the year-end vacation is coming up, and I have about 2 weeks of free time.  Last half of last year has been pretty interesting, and I thought I would want to reflect a bit on that.  So might write something on that as well….

多災多難的Bluetooth Adapter

確定之前買的bluetooth headset沒問題後， 接下來就是要買USB bluetooth adaptor，這樣才可以在PC上用skype. 本來是要趁著老婆在Amazon上訂貨的時候順便一起買， 結果寄來之後才想到忘了買(倒是買了另外一些雜七雜八的)。 所以禮拜六去涉谷的時候就順手買了一個回來

 

沒想到這是個災難的開始…

先把CD放進去開始裝driver，可是autorun是日文版的。 找了一下就找到裡面有英文版， 直接double-click開始裝。 過了幾秒，  CD-ROM開始有飛機起飛的聲音… 慢慢的越來越大聲， 最後就砰！之後就打不開CD_ROM了

我抱著drive/CD全毀的心情把電腦拆開。 結果發現CD有一截露在外面… 但是CD-ROM沒有開orz。 用力把CD抽出來， 它就變成這樣:

CD是毀了， 不過把CD-ROM裝回去再開機， 居然還可以動… 算我的好狗運。不過driver就沒救了。 最後只好求救google大神， 結果在這裡找到toshiba的PC driver。 死馬當活馬醫，不管上面寫的for toshiba notebooks only，就把它裝起來… 可以用啦！ XDDD

一個5分鐘就可以搞好的bluetooth adapter把我折騰了一個多小時…