ok, so that was lame.

I woke up to a plethora of new about the very much over-hyped Apple-ware – the IPad. Over the past few weeks, I have already read and re-read many rumours, ranging from how big it is and how it works. Despite it’s shortcomings and/or not living up to some of the hype, I really like the over-sized Iphone for many reasons. And, like the IPhone, I can only see that it can only be improved upon.

What the IPad has been touted as:
- netbook killer
- better re-introduction to the tablet world
- ebook-readers killers

What I really don’t see it as:
- netbook killer
- book killer.

I haven’t tried a tablet before, so I can’t tell you if it is a killer or not. if anything, this re-introduction of the tablet pc is quite different from the previous tablets. Firstly, it costs less. or well, since I last noticed tablets anyways. at last glance, tablet pcs were upwards of $2500. IPad pars out at Aud$1000.

Why it’s not a netbook Killer:

- with some new netbook nowadays, the HDD ranges to about 200gigs or something mad. This maxes out at 64gigs. complete portability but nothing of the gigantic space that others tout.
- (my main gripe) it doesn’t have any usb ports at all, from what I have seen and heard. you can buy an adaptor for it, but it shares the same port as the charger/connection to pc.
- (another gripe) it doesn’t run Flash on it. yes it wasn’t necessary…. 5 years ago. many websites runs on Flash now and for a company to say that consumers wants the internet in their hands, it is really a letdown to see no flash because flash is very much a component of the internet now.
- as far as i can see, it doesn’t seem to multi-task (like the iphone). not a big deal, particularly if you’re meant to be doing one thing at a time anyways, but it can be an arse of a problem for some who likes to have multiple programs opened for re-searching purposes. of course, some netbooks chug when you have multiple programs open anyways.

Why it’s not an Ebook-reader killer –

- Backlit light strains the eyes. not a comfortable thing for long periods of time
- Talking about long periods of time, it only lasts for 10 hours. people have notably read for 12 hours at a go.
- the ibooks cost more (although this is more a publisher problem) than ebooks from Amazon (comparison done as I only buy ebooks from Amazon at the moment).

That all said and done, I really like the IPad. it’s like a fun computer, yet not a computer. I can see myself using it for… many things. I know I don’t go uni anymore (but could possibly go back for nursing), or do anything along the lines of needing a computer on the go – but this is just the type of computer for it. It’s fun, it contains most of what you need on the go and doesn’t take up much space.

unfortunately, for a gamer, I don’t know where this would lead. I had never liked iphone’s gaming designs, it seriously feels odd to be “pressing” a non-existent button. it makes me pissed off sometimes that I can’t break my controller from raging (it does feel satisfying to be death-griping your controller you know!). Therefore, I don’t think it would work out to be a good gaming device, for me.

That said, if anyone creates an app linking to WoW or Aion, I am not about to back down from it. this might be the solution to my current problem of being unable to play while at work *_*

I have 90 days to save up for my own one… or maybe about 9 months to save up for a new one with Flash capabilities and possibly ONE usb port at least…. i hope!

*EDIT: I forgot to mention, a while ago I was deliberating what would be good for a textbook e-reader with some people. One thing I thought would be wonderful is if the readers could allow for videos, moving graphics or even just a voice doing things the textbooks are mentioning that is hard to imagine for some people. With the new ipad, steve job hopes to do just that – and it certainly seems it could although I don’t think there’s an ebook out there right now that’s created with such ideas in mind.

Still, if someone chooses to replace their classes’ textbooks with an Ipad, with the basic functionality of it, they could still go through the book, pause halfway to hop on youtube for a possible video (that they might have uploaded), or podcast created for that class (or videocast) and bam – almost the same idea right there

Highest point of the week: Seeing the letter of Offer from UC for nursing
Lowest point of the week: Knowing that I can’t afford the course for nursing.

I see myself setting myself up for failure. GG at following your parents’ footsteps baby.

Books Read: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

Books Currently Reading: Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare’s Landlord by Charlaine Harris

Most Frustrating Moment: Spending half my shift in tears because I was so so so pissed off about something, and then even more pissed off that I didn’t say more because I am actually doing my job…

Most significant Moment: Dad calling me to say my mum’s enrolled sister in a psd Business course, and I have decided that neither of them are “saveable”. gah.

Most… enjoyable moments: online retail therapy… BUT YET i HAVE MANAGED TO SAVE SOME CASH! i RULE! (not really, but I can pretend I rule. Still, I think it’s amazing I managed to save anything at all this week considering the stuff I am paying and the prices I am paying for them. mew?)

things to be glad about:
-I got offered a place despite no biology background (then again, they were mentioning that people with 1 degree gets some kind of advance standing or something? or just certification? me no understand)
- I got a flood of books to pick and read from. oh, and I am going to give terry pratchett another go. AND MISTBORN! AND THE THING JAKE RECOMMENDED! something something name of the wind.
- that I am still alive and people still love and adore me and protect me. <3

I have laid something of a plan. something. So, even if I can’t do nursing in uni for now (PR, citizenship would ensure I get some form of hecs later on), I should get started since I can actually get into the course without a biology background. but in comparison to those who does have some form of biological studies, I am really… not in comparison la….

Therefore, since I do have like, the 4th edition of Campbell’s Biology book somewhere, I should go look it up and start some readings going.

It’s at times like these that I am so glad that when I was young, I collect crazy amounts of totally un-school related educational books e.g: Arden Shakespeare (yes, we studied hamlet, king lear and what not. We didn’t do taming of the shrew (which for some odd reason I read), and various other non-essential readings that I plowed through), the Campbell’s biology, some neuro-surgery textbook I found lying in dust at a bookshop somewhere and etc.

And I am sure my dad was pretty broke, and wondering wtf I do with those books. But he bought them for me (maybe not so moronic after all), and I set about reading them. I found out stupid information that I never needed as an arts student, like how to calculate the amount of blood a human body has via their heigh-weight etc. It’s mad and fun to know

but perhaps this knowledge will now serve me.

hrmm….

Yes, most of this week was depressing, sad and tiring. I was probably more upset than was good and necessary for my mental health. however, there were the uplifting moments that pulled me up and gave me a hug. Yes, life is not a bed of roses, and I am glad for all the experiences I go through.

clinging on to the Kindle. So many books, so much to flutter across, so little time T_T

Of the 4 books I have touched so far, I highly recommend:

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro:

For some reason, I expected very traditional tale from this japanese man. or something like Murakami, profound and deep and just all… like an old man’s tale of virtues. Aiya, let’s just say I just didn’t expect the story that enulfed me k?

This book is great in many aspects. You learn as the narrator tells you. Because the narrator is consistently calm, almost in a zen way, you don’t feel as much outrage, shock, surprise, sadness or grief as another person would. you learn as the narrator learns, sees as the narrator sees. In such a clever artful way of playing with the narrator’s point of view, I, as the reader, did not see many things coming or understood things from a different angle until I am pretty close.

And yet, I still hope.

And, I think I have just about lauded it everywhere possible,

Xenolith by Arcadia Sparrow

Everyone should read it, so worthy of it’s $2 purchase and more! A story about a parallel universe with Xenoliths acting as the gateway between them two, one’s on Earth, and another (possibly) a more medieval version of Earth. I won’t share too much more than OMG TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!!! >.<

ok done raving. please go back to whatever you were doing.