Having spent the last several months working out of my home office---and driving my family crazy--I needed to buy a computer. I was using my iMac, which I love, but it's pretty stationary.
So I was faced with a choice: Laptop or iPad?
I did some research, spoke to a bunch of friends and boiled the choice down to the following premise:
"A laptop does laptop things but no iPad things. An iPad does iPad things and a whole mess of laptop things."
No contest. The iPad wins.
Less than a week ago, my iPad2 (32GB, refurb, WiFi, from the Apple Store) arrived from China. Then I rigged it up with a wireless keyboard and a great case from Targus.
The thing is...Since then, this device has changed my life. Read how.
1. I am more organized.
I decided to use my iPad's memory for applications rather than file storage. Other than keeping some must-have music, photos and movies, I moved everything else to Dropbox. To do that, I performed a MAJOR FILE PURGE. Gone are the files that I have been keeping but don't really need, like the 2002 presentation on direct mail and the invitation to the party my wife and I threw in 2005.
A lot of crap got deleted. Everything else has been stored in a logic folder directory. Some other stuff has been stored on a portable hard drive, just in case.
2. I feel smarter and in control of content.
Why? Two reasons.
The first is Zite. It makes it super easy to keep track of the world of digital marketing. Friends of mine have been using Zite for a while and I was envious. No more!
The second is TED. I have watched about a half dozen TED talks in the last week, while riding my bike, which leads me to the next way my iPad has changed my life...
3. I am exercising more.
With my de-commissioned LeMond hooked up to a trainer and a music stand (I play guitar), I can prop up my iPad and watch TED talks, Funny or Die or pretty much anything else that streams through my cable service while riding my bike. Leading to the next entry...
4. I have an extra television.
Thanks to the iPad/iPhone app from Optimum (my cable company), I can bring my iPad to any room in the house and watch TV. During Thanksgiving we were able to send the five kids downstairs to the basement while my brother-in-law and I sat down and watched the NFL in peace.
Last night, I was able to combine 3 & 4 by watching my Giants get crushed by the Saints...but I rode the entire first half (more than an hour).
5. I am not driving my family crazy anymore
At least not all the time. Now I can grab the wireless keyboard, the iPad and head for the coffee shop, library or client site.
Great post, David. Thanks for the photos, too.
Posted by: Pete Hayes | February 08, 2012 at 02:34 PM