J . M A I L

iPad - Please Don’t Hate

I was excited to watch the apple release of their new tablet yesterday. This has apparently been a pet project of Steve Job’s for years now and you could tell he was really excited to show it off. The reaction from most other people has been poor and I want to address this a bitty.

1. This is first gen product and those that do buy it will suffer an early adopters tax much like the first ipod/iphone/zune/eeepc ect. but unlike a lot of other first gen releases this one is built upon a much stronger foundation of the existing iPod line and iPhone OS. I expect this to be the most polished launch product apple has had in years.

2. People complain about the lack of media card reader, camera, stylus (I really wanted this one), but that is missing the point. This product is being let down because the expectations placed upon it are far too great by far too many.

Apple is not know for making new revolutionary things (despite what they say) but are know for making existing things better than the competition.

IE. Mp3 players had been around for a long time but the iPod line was just better in a lot of ways than anything else in the market.

Smart phones have been around for years but Apple was the first to really hit the sweet spot and combine technologies for the North American market.

So then what is apple making better this time around? the ebook reader!

If you want this product to replace your laptop you will be disappointed, if you want it to replace your phone you will be disappointed, but if you want to compare it to a Kindle ebook reader you will be amazed.

For $10 dollars more than the top of line Kindle you get a WHOLE lot more, colour screen, better build quality, internet access, iBook store, overall prettier product ect.

3. Yes, the next gen of iPad will have the features people wanted this one to have but for the price of $500 us (way below expectations) can you really complain? If it had everything included in this version and had cost $1000 people would have complained about the price?

4. For novice computer users this will be a great product. For some people file management and folders are confusing, multitasking is confusing, the internet and email are a mystery. For the novice users, the iPad and a wireless router will let them do almost anything they can imagine. They won’t know any better about the quality of the virtual keyboard compared to a physical keyboard. This device will just work for them.

5. This device, I hope, will do for books what the first ipods did for digital music, make a bigger and better industry with easier access for consumers.

Will I be buying the first gen iPod? I will probably pass for now as I am very happy with an iPod touch and my 11.6” windows netbook.

This is not a review of John Mayer’s new cd - Battle Studies

I haven’t listened to Mayer’s new cd half a dozen times and as such I can only imagine what a review of his cd might say. Lets just pretend then …

at 11 songs the cd isn’t short but isn’t too long either. I feel like this cd is a departure from his other poppy stuff. Upon my first imagined listening to this album my reaction was simply “meh”. I have a feeling this cd will grow on me but it it doesn’t stand up to his other releases. His first released single off the album, “Who Says” might be one of the best songs on the cd, make of that what you will.

His song “Assassin” stands out an interesting song worth a listen. Most of the songs seem to be lacking in emotion behind them as compared to his older songs like, “Victoria” “Why Georgia” “Say” or “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” just to name a few.

Another difference is that he has not revisted any older songs with a new cover of his own song, which he seems to like doing and does so very very well in my opinion (ie anything covered from “Where the Light Is”)

I loved “In Your Atmosphere” and “Free Fallin’” from “Where the Light Is” and was really hoping for other songs that I would fall in love with off this release. Also, where is the stand out amazing guitar playing that John is know for? I am sure it is somewhere in this new cd but it doesn’t stand out as particularity noticeable like on past albums.

The cd seems to becoming from a different era in John’s life and I think this comes across in his music. I am a huge mayer fan but so far for me this cd is just so so.

Not that any of this really matters … I and other fans will listen to this cd a million times over and if the song “Waiting on the World to Change” can win awards I bet he will win an award for some song off of this release.

I give it : 2 out 5 stars.

First Impressions Review: Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000

Picked up the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 today. I was trying to decide between a bunch of different mouses. Most were too expensive. I was also looking at the VX nano logitech, the v550 logitech, and the microsoft arc mouse.

The arc didn’t have one of the new nice super small usb connectors that can be left in all the time. This mouse features something microsoft calls  Bluetrack, which the arc also didn’t have, which is supposed to allow this mouse to track on any surface. I will mostly using this new mouse on my couchs arm rest with the new laptop so that is perfect for me. The logitech offers were all more expensive and I thought this new ms tech, supposedly the next step up from laser mouses, sounded smart.

The mouse feels good in my hand. I havn’t been able to make it looks tracking on any surface yet. The holder in the mouse for the usb adapter is really nice but I doubt I will be using it. Luckily this mouse has an on off button so I don’t have to put the adapter in the mouse to turn it off. No clue on battery life yet but microsoft says 10 + months.

The bad is the extra front left side button is too far forward which is a bit annoying as I have to readjust my hand on the mouse to use it. I don’t find the same problem with the extra front right button.

The size of the mouse fills good in my hand, the build quality seems top notch, and the finish and style of the mouse perfectly match my computer which is a big plus for me.

This mouse ended up being cheaper than any of the other mouses I was looking at after I price matched it at Future Shop with NCIX for $50.

For the features this mouse offers and that I was looking for (small usb adapter, good any surface tracking, and price) I think I found a winner.

First Impression Score: 8 / 10

First Impressions Review: Gateway EC Series ULV 11.6” Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500

I bought a new laptop! This is the first new one since the 7” eeepc, which was a waste of money, and the computer I first got when I came to Guelph for undergrad in 2001.

It’s a Gateway EC Series ULV 11.6” Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 (currently only selling at future shop, not yet for sale in the states, it actually only came out friday at my local future shop, which I happened to visit randomly with a friend last friday). Usually when I think gateway I think ewwww but this machine caught my attention. The high rez LED backlite 11.6” (1366x768) screen present a real usual resolution. The older 10.1 ” and smaller netbook don’t have a workable resolution in my opinion.

It’s based off the new low voltage intel chipset with a core solo processor. Almost every other 11.6” CULV computer coming out comes with an atom processor. I think the single core 2 solo offered here is a better choice as I am using this maching as a desktop replacement / all round machine. With 3 gigs of ram and a 250 gig hd I have enough of ram and hd space standard.

One nice feature of this 11.6” plateform is the full sized keyboard if offers. However, the biggest issue so far for me when it comes to this computer is the keyboard. Although it is apparently stiffer then the competing 11.6” model from Acer (acer owns both acer and gateway) the english/french keyboard means the enter key is taller and skinnier and the left shift and right : and right \ are positioned in a funny way. I expect in time I will get used to it.

Battery life with the 6 cell battery is about 5 + hours. The new culv system and the led backlite screen makes this model great for battery life.

The touch pad is ok thus far but I dont know if I will use the gesture feature.

The left click button is a bit annoying. You can’t really click the far left of the key to depress the button because of how the button mechanism works. You have to press more towards the middle of the left click button to make it work. Same with the right click but the right side of it is hard to click in it’s case. I think I will get used to this as well.

As for video performance.

The good: 720p works and plays back smoothly. HD flash youtube works smoothly.

The bad: 1080 p does not play back smoothly. (I don’t download 1080p content so I can live with this)

The black casing on this machine is a finger print magnet but looks very nice. I like that the gateway logo on the lid is small. I am considering covering it on the underside of the monitor.

BTW I am running this machine with Windows 7 RC. I have no idea about running it with xp, vista (which is ships with), or linux.

Price: $560 (taxes in)

First Impression Score: 9 / 10

UPDATE:

I just wanted to update to say the scroll pad click buttons problems I was finding are really a non-issue.

I also discovered with the right video player I am able to play 1080 p content smoothly.

I got used to the keyboard in a week and now the enter key and left shift key are no longer an issue for me.

I often find the speakers in this laptop to quiet even when the system volume is a max.

I am still find this computer quick even when working with photoshop, dream weaver, firefox, and office at the same time. Still really happy with the purchase.