NC State Feature Stories

Stories From April 2010 — Page 2

iPad Verdict

My time with the iPad is drawing to a close. It's been a good run, but we weren't meant for each other. It's time for us to see other people/devices. Also, I'm pretty sure that the library staff wants their iPad back so that other people can check it out. Therefore, these are my closing thoughts on the device.

It’s like that guy at the party that everyone loves. No substance, but TONS of charisma.

Here we are at hour 59 since they gave me Donovan, and I have to say he definitely has his role. (What? I name things. It gives them character. And personality. Besides, I just cannot continue to use the label "iPad'. It gives me the creeps every time I even think it.)

The iPad has a place in this world, sort of…

Well, one of the things that I've heard most about the iPad is that people expect it to replace a Netbook as a computer-on-the-go. I'm currently on a lengthy bus ride to Atlanta so, for once, my ability to be productive is not so much an issue of efficiency.

Will this be for here or to go?

Following the trend of my fellow bloggers, I am going to add my two-cents about the portability of the iPad. I must agree that the iPad does seem a bit "slippery," but overall, I think the iPad, which was designed for portable use, is quite portable.

Kindle Killer! (What?)

In case you haven't heard, Amazon released an E-book reader called the Kindle in 2007. When the iPad was announced, certain news sources immediately dubbed it the "Kindle Killer." iPads are really, really cool, but the Kindle is a superior digital reading device. No contest.

I’m already an Apps addict

It showed up! Are you surprised? I have to tell you, I kind of am. I received an onslaught of emails, gchats, and texts via my PunkBerry informing me my iPad was ready for pickup, and I immediately began to think of the possibilities. "I can charge my phone with the USB port! I can transfer files from my iPod to the iPad! I can look at my Design PowerPoints on it rather than print them out!" Sadly, none of those things happened.

Test Drive

NCSU Libraries has long been a technology incubator for the university, helping students with budgets based around Ramen Noodles to have free access to the latest computing platforms, ebooks and multimedia gear. This week, we put iPads in the hands of five students, who agreed to blog about the gadget as they head to class, do their work, and surf the Web.

Compare and Contrast

While a friend was going to class, I asked if I could test out their netbook, just to see what it was all about. He willingly gave it to me and said, "You'll love it!" So, here I am, typing this blog on this netbook, just to try it out – all while my iPad is sitting right next to me, taunting me.

Written on an iPad

All in all, though, I'm impressed at how well the iPad seemed to work – until I tried to be productive in it by writing this entry. I'll see how the week progresses, but right now, it still feels like just an over-sized iPod.

Class Notes and Games

The iPad will play YouTube videos, ABC videos and games, read the news and even show you the pages of a book. After all that, the iPad still won't do a very good job for notetaking.

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