Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
25 August 2010
18:0667180Glad you do..... but not for me...
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
25 August 2010
18:0867181Different things suit different people's requirements. I own up and admit I am waiting for my I pad to arrive.
Guest 665- Registered: 24 Mar 2008
- Posts: 345
26 August 2010
21:2767311I have done the same as Rick and have downloaded the Kindle software to my Iphone. Amazon have loads of free classic books and I have downloaded a few, as well as buying Dan Brown's Lost Symbol for about £3.50. I am reading it at the moment, and the portability of it in my hand is fantastic. I used it on the train today, it took up no space at all, and I had the choice of all my downloads to choose from, literally in the palm of my hand. I could also adapt the size and colour of the font for the conditions. It's also great for reading in bed.
Sorry Barry but I can't see the point of spending money on anything bigger, but each to their own. I probably wouldn't have heard about it or downloaded it to my Iphone if I hadn't read your postings though, so thanks!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
27 August 2010
05:0867360No probs Claire!
I will let you take a look at mine and I think that you will see the difference size makes
ooerrrr ..... not to mention the display including the non-reflective screen.
27 August 2010
15:4967419Speaking of gadgets I finally got my hands on a new iPad today for the first time. Initially it strikes as being VERY desirable. It has a beautiful gesture-driven interface via an elegant touch screen, gorgeous graphics, and a wonderful simplicity about it.
But once I looked at the price tag reality crashed down. Going by the 3G 64gb version (the only one worth having) it compares as follows:
Similar price to a Mac Book laptop, but the screen is half the size, storage less than a third the size, poor speakers, a hand-held OS which cannot multitask, no Flash support, no proper software (it survives on mobile apps), extremely limited device input and connectivity, and it's a very odd size! Really, this is just an overpriced toy. I'm glad I opted for my Mac Book laptop. I'd probably get an iPad if it could run the whole Mac OS properly rather than a gadget OS, or it was priced more sensibly for what it is (ie £249 is more realistic for a gadget like this rather than £750)
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
27 August 2010
17:0267425My ipad was delivered yesterday and I LOVE it. It's ideal for what I need - taking it out with me when I'm in London for the day, meetings and showing my photos, website and books to clients. I've loaded it up with some good music too.
27 August 2010
17:2367430Does this kindle have a backlight ( that would reduce battery ) but that would make it very interesting as I like to read at night. I have just spent 5 days in hospital and would have stopped me putting the light on disturbing others (so I didnt!).
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
27 August 2010
17:3267433David - no, no backlight - thats actually the point of it to have the same reading experience as with a book but the good news is that you can buy a leather cover that has a reading light built in that you can pull out running on the same battery as the Kindle. The battery life of the Kindle is a month provided you turn off the wireless when not downloading and while the light will reduce that battery life I should think it would still be substantial.
here is a link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Lighted-Leather-Display-Generation/dp/B003DZ165W/ref=pd_ts_zgc_kinc_426479031_2?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&pf_rd_p=210907887&pf_rd_s=right-10&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=426479031&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1MEH0PE6VJBRT1ZGCDM9DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
27 August 2010
17:3467434I totally agree Rick, it is a toy. But then I wouldn't use it as a serious tool, it's certainly no substitute for a proper computer. I do think it actually does everything that most people use their home computers for: Internet, email, looking at photos etc.
In your position, a functional, powerful machine, of a stable nature is essential but many people just have macs because they are pretty cool. I used to love working on macs just for their slickness. The iPad is just an extension of this. Friends I have could use a £100 secondhand laptop for most of what they do but still do the usual "I couldn't be without my Mac."
In recent years I have settled into PCs at home (although I positively hat
aspects) just because it suits what I do...and I simply didn't have the money. For a second access point the iPad is great, although I do agree slightly overpriced. It also, as you say, has wonderful interface and one that is about the most intuitive I have experienced. I had my mum round last week and she flicked through my holiday snaps in a way I almost couldn't believe (to say she struggles with technology would be an understatement). Also the size lead to us passing it around at points like a photo, unlike a laptop or standing looking over someone on a desktop.
Yes I could definitely do without it but I've just written this whilst on the toilet. So I think it's improved my life already.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
27 August 2010
17:5467444When it comes to technology I'm blonde
but I found my way around the ipad without help - no really!
27 August 2010
22:4467537Who turned it on for you Jeane? Now come on, be honest.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
28 August 2010
07:4567556Blonde, Jeane? Is it not the fact that the iPad IS the blonde of the computer gadget world....
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
28 August 2010
08:0167563Blonde Barry? Exciting? Highly desirable?
That would make the Kindle a purple rinse. Do they do Mills and Boon titles? I might get one for my mum.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
28 August 2010
08:176756828 August 2010
10:2067604Well it was microsoft that set up the system that to turn off you had to use the START button - thats programming logic for you !
I don't regard this as a substitute for a computer although it has facilities but as a book substitute for travelling and like Jeane for carrying lots of documents although as I read quickly I might find I am constantly changing pages having seen the screen size.
In respect of the Apple v PC argument when 26 years ago I set up Solitaire Computers across the road we avoided Apples like the plague as not only were they expensive they weren't repairable without specialist tools. We had the Apricot dealership and they compared very favourably in looks and functionality at the time except apple had a good graphic interface. I remember selling my first Xi10 - 10MB of hard disk and wordperfect sw that fitted onto a floppy. Subsequently we went on to manufacture the Solitaire PC in the basement of no 16 and were supplying tesco, Hayes distribution and eurotunnel with these and big printers. Our Pcs locally ran on CPM and we had many a 80286 running many wyse terminals in the docks doing freight clearance forms. maintenance was crucial as these boxes worked 24/7 so Apple wouldn't cut it. In those days we had the market in the SE until I sold it on to concentrate on Surveying.
Our engineer still works with us and has an Ipod and a blackberry and tells me that the BB is his preference so that is what we now all use. I agree that Apples are pretty and they always were best for graphics but a PC can match them when fitted out properly and is sooo much cheaper.
28 August 2010
15:396761580286!!! Those were the days. I remember being given permission to buy myself a 386 and was very excited.
Somewhile later Digital gave me 2 x 486 PC's, one for me and one for my daughter who was going off to Uni. They were real state of the art and just so much faster than anything else around at the time.
Today they probably wouldn't run anything of any value, except the unused version of Doom I have on my software and CD shelf in my office at home.
Guest 702- Registered: 9 Jul 2010
- Posts: 241
28 August 2010
21:2767677Showing my age here I fear. First computers I used and programmed were Commodore (can't remember the model but was similar to the PET). Single 5.25 inch floppy disk drive (no hard disk) and green screen vdu. Our department had the posh one, TWO floppy disk drives !
29 August 2010
06:2667704Yes aside from a machine we had at work which looked like a huge typewriter which I never worked my first work computer was the PET in 1981(?) on which I wrote my first book - boy was that slow. Once the IBM compatibles came in we were wizzing along until someone asked for GUI then it all slowed down again and has got progressively slower since!
29 August 2010
11:5967758Ah, might that be a Burroughs Accounting machine? I was a whizz on those, we had several at Ilford Films. Have also used a Commodore PET. Because they were so expensive to buy it was kept is a locked room for security. The one I used only had the single drive though.
However, I do still have a fully working C64 and a stack of super games, most of which never made it across to PC gaming sadly.
30 August 2010
10:5667933Oh i remember the commodore 64 it was my first computer i remeber the games were dire but i was a kid loved it anyway