Tag Archives: ipad

Reality Distortion Field

iPad 2 mini-review

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I have now spent a few days with my precious iPad 2 and have collected a few thoughts. Keep in mind that these are based on my very positive experience with the original iPad; and is not meant as a thorough review of the iPad 2. If you are one of those poor lost souls still trying to figure out the answer to “Why should I get an iPad?” then you need to seek help elsewhere.

Size and weight

They made it considerably thinner and a little lighter. Lightness and thinness are things you can never have enough of in a gadget such as this. You can really feel the difference  while holding it and it’s nice.

Cameras

Most reviewers complaining about the low quality back-side camera (good for HD video but not good for still photos) are missing the point: Nobody will ever hold up an iPad (nor any other tablet) to use it as a camera – even if it had DSLR-like quality. It’s so uncomfortable and so awkward. My take is that since every iPad knockoff added a back-side camera, Apple had to do it in the iPad 2. If you want to take photos or videos, use a real camera or your iPhone 4.

The front-camera is perfectly adequate for FaceTime video conferencing although I seem to keep blocking it with my hands.

Speed

It was very rare for the iPad 1 to ever feel slow, so for the most part the iPad 2 does not make a huge difference. But for those things in which the iPad 1 felt slow you can really really tell the difference. Web browsing is one good example of this. Facebook feels waaaay faster and this sentence alone will be enough to make several people upgrade.

Smart cover

The smart cover is slick as hell. See the video if you haven’t. As a stand it’s much better than the old Apple case. The big caveat: It doesn’t protect the back of the iPad. I personally don’t want this thing to get all scratched from tossing it on hard surfaces. I will be getting a case once I find a decent one. In the meantime I’ve settled on a cheap temporary solution. More on that in a future post.

Other

Battery life is still excellent. The screen is exactly the same – but the stupid Internet has planted dreams of Retina iPad displays in my brain: I can’t wait. The lock and volume buttons are all harder to reach when the iPad is on a table because they are tilted to the back. But the case locks it so I rarely need to press that one. The docking cable protrudes strangely. The speaker sounds about the same.

The original iPad substituted 90% of my home computer use. It was also a great book reader and a joy to travel with; and the ultimate toilet companion. For those reasons I was willing (aching) to upgrade: I use it so much that any improvement on the experience is worth it to me. Highly recommended.

Reality Distortion Field

A good iPad bag

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I was looking for a while for a good travel bag to use with my iPad. I wanted something with the following characteristics:

  • Fits the iPad while inside the Apple case, the charger and cable, and just a bit of extra room for things like tickets and passport. But not much else. Small as possible.
  • Has a shoulder strap.
  • Does not look like a purse.

I found this cheap Case Logic bag: The BUA-10 7-10″ Netbook / iPad Attaché. While it’s not really designed for the iPad (it’s about 2 centimeters too long), it happens to be almost perfect.

BUA-10 Case Logic bag and my iPad

It has a little front pocket, and inside there is a business card holder, a pen holder, and another small pocket.

To be honest, the build quality of the bag could be better, but for $20 I’m not going to complain much. Recommended. But if you want something nice, this Targus bag (which is not out yet) is more expensive but looks good.

Front pocket. The velcro does not inspire much confidence. I wish the front pocket was a little roomier and had a zipper.
Credit card holder, a small pocket, and a pen holder. You can also stuff a magazine inside the case, with your iPad. But only barely.
Reality Distortion Field

What is iPad/Newton

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The resemblance between the old Newton ad and the new iPad ad is uncanny but not coincidental, a homage if you may. If you think the iPad is futuristic or ahead of its time – or magical even, then you probably didn’t get to play with a Newton when it first came out. My brother owned two and it was the coolest piece of technology. But it didn’t do as well: In it’s five years of existence, 200,000 Newtons were sold. In its first day, 300,000 iPads were sold.

Reality Distortion Field

iPad announcement summary

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Apparently Apple has announced a new product called iPad. It’s like a big iPod touch. Having owned all three iPhone models  I must admit I would probably enjoy owning an iPad, limitations and all.

As it is, I already use my iPhone more than I use my laptop anyway:  when I wake up, I check my email on my iPhone, not on my laptop. When I want to see the weather, I check it on the iPhone, not on my laptop… The list goes on.

When I use my laptop, most of the time I use it to watch video or browse the internet in bed or in the living room couch. The iPad should do all these things more comfortably than my laptop. The only thing it’s really missing for me is a webcam for videoconferencing. I’m not saying that it will replace my laptop… but it may end up being an additional toy.