Apple and my Soul

Has the most hits of all time on my blog. Over 100 views in a day. Are people interested in the pad or just in me not joining the Apple bandwagon. PS I found another person using that thing; Aaron Booker. I appreciate his tag line on all emails sent:

Sent from my Timex Sinclair ZX81 with the Cassette Tape Option (aka iPad)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX81

Wiki link for those of you that have no clue what he is speaking about.

I did ask him his thought about the iPad and he loves it. He now lives in Mexico? It really sounds like a nice place. I will be jealous here in a couple of months when it is REALLY cold here. Maybe I can convince Jen to make a visit in January. We will know someone there it may be different?

So where is this Pad thing going

After doing some research here is my thoughts.

1. This tablet, Slate thing will continue to grow.
2. Android 3.0 may help this thing. 2.1, 1.8, 2.2 are not really built for this application. (3.0 is supposedly built for this)
3. Windows mobile 7 may be good for this also. (Yet to be seen)
4. Palm/HP is releasing thier version early next year. I would think Palm would be good at this!
5. Lenovo is building theirs. (I doubt they will take off)
6. iPad is King. (BUT REALLY expensive) I am still amazed they released this product and it has stayed ahead for almost 3/4 of the year.
7. Battery life is key. 10 to 12 plus is a must for this to work. Otherwise I would use my laptop.
8. Capacitive touch is required with multitouch. (If you do not know what this means, trust me)
9. I do not think any iPad like device will kill the Kindle. It has great screen, and does a really good job at one thing. Weight, screen, battery, market place, ease of use are all downfalls of the competition to the Kindle.
10. Windows 7 will not really compete even though this is Microsofts answer to the iPad. Once again, 7 is not great with touch, battery is an issue.
11. Early next year dual processing in these units will be standard. Apps continue to grow.
12. I found a new interesting app store for your net book from Intel. Go here http://www.appup.com/applications/index?cid=cim:ggl|appup_us_app|rd11186|s&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_term=app_store&utm_content=appup_us_app&utm_campaign=DIV_US_AppUp_Brand_-_(S)
13. Things Apple should include in their next version. USB, Flash memory, Flash video, HDMI out, and of if I am going to dream, 1/2 the price, better processor, 2x the memory, 2x the battery and 1/2 the thickness (:))

ePad update

So it has been almost a week that I have had the ePad. I barely have a chance to use it due to the kids really enjoying it. It has been a real educational tool. Carsen plays memory (Charlie Brown version), Puzzles, and watching videos. Caden has been using the math program to help him with his addition and subtraction. Tonight we had another fight on which one got to use it.

The good; The screen quality, touch works good, ease of use and tons of free apps.
The bad; Battery (3-4 hours with heavy use and wireless), No multitouch, Internet surfing is slow and wireless has been an issue. You cannot use WEP otherwise it shuts off the wireless after a short while. I have a couple of AP's around the house and set one up to do mac filtering and now it works good.

End of story is that it is a good educational tool, simple to use, however it is not quite baked yet.

Once again this is the Zenithink or ZT-180 or ePad.

How Windows Mobile 6.1 almost made me miss the game?

Went to the Chiefs/49ers game today. My good friend Kevin took me again. (Not sure why he would keep doing this other than he is a giver) Anyway, we leave at 5am so to get there to tailgate.

For over a decade, Jenifer has had the alarm clock on her side so on these occasions that I have to get up early, I use my mobile phone. (Windows mobile 6.1) I always worry about over sleeping, however my internal alarm clock goes off before the actual alarm clock. ALWAYS!

Not this morning. The good ol phone locked up and shut off sometime in the night. I woke 8 min till 5. Just enough time to hit the bathroom, dress and get the ribs out of the fridge. No shower for sure.

So, this week, I will pickup the new alarm clock for my side of the bed and not worry about this at home any more. However on the road, it is a different story.

PS, my niners lost badly. Still, I get to cheer on the 3-0 Chiefs!

I almost sold my soul to Apple

Thats right, I almost purchased an ipad. I wanted an ebook reader, email device and the mobility with a larger screen. (As discussed in previous posts on this blog)

What I did buy was a Zenithink. A what? A Zenithink.

Why did I do that you ask versus the iPad? Simply price (Value) I spend $250 delivered versus the entry level iPad. Have I got your attention? I recieved it yesterday night so I have not had it long. Yet long enough to say I am happy with the money I spent. Here is what I have discovered.

First of all, I had a chance to play with Joddey's iPad tuesday so I had a good chance to compare (However not side by side)

The bad first
1. The Zenithink is not multitouch. (it does not recognize two fingers at once doing picture enlargements or shrinking)
2. It is plastic (I think the iPad has metal on back)
3. Battery is 4 hours maybe a bit longer (However under heavy use)
4. You have to do some teching to get the Android marketplace.
5. No 3G built in. (IE mobile data via cellular) It does have wifi.

The good
1. Has a flash drive built in.
2. Will play flash video's (On web, many sites have this)
3. Has USB ports for external flash drives, camera's and such.
4. Uses Android.
5. Not an Apple
6. Cost
7. Screen is really pretty good. iPad may be a bit clearer. Not much.
8. Recieved in 3 days from provider (www.zenithink.us) (Not paid advertisement)
9. Pretty intuitive to use
10. Great Apps

Quote I found on line.. "Yea though I walk through the valley of Google I shall fear no Apple... "

Nana and the exploding Potato?

Jenifer ask Nana if she should poke holes in the potatoes. Guess she got the answer WRONG!

They wouldn't do it if it didn't work?

Yes they would! Many times companies believe that they are doing things because it is the best way, the easiest way or gets results. However it becomes more and more clear that either they are not measuring results (Processes or other)or they are measuring the wrong things.

It goes back to the daughter and the ham. (I think I have told this story before)

Mom, why do we cut the ends off the ham?
(Mother) because Grandma did it.
(Daughter to Grandma) Grandma, why do we cut the ends off the ham? Because Great Grandma did it
(Daughter to Great Grandma) Great Grandma, why do we cut the ends off the ham?
(Great Grandma) Because the pan was too small!