iPad justification

$500+ for the new iPad. Worth it? 

For those Apple Fanboys who are liquid, absolutely! Bring on the 32Gb!! They buy anything and everything Apple. First iPhone - no brainer. Upgraded iPhone 3, 3G, 4, and 4S, of course! Same for the first iPad, iPad2, the new iPad. And I haven't even mentioned iMacs and MacBooks!

For those Apple users who know a superior product, who are not afraid to plunk down the cash for a full complement of iMac, MacBook, iPod and iPhone, they might be having a second thought before plunking down that wad for an iPad which in most ways is redundant, in terms of getting the job done on their other devices.

So, is the new iPad worth it? Could it be considered the "next big thing" to change your workflow, to reinvigorate those creative juices, to restore that excitement you felt when you discovered your first Apple product? Is the iPad the potential ground-breaking game-changer that the original Macintosh computer introduced a mere 28 years ago? 

I am one of those who bought my first MacBook Pro because I needed a computer that worked. After frustrating years of crashes and viruses, I needed something that I could count on and thus started my love affair with all things Apple. I was in line for the first iPhone, now owning a 4. My children have iMacs and multiple generations of iPods. We are a Mac family. But still, I struggle with this still new product - as stunning and useful as it is.

The new iPad - pricey enough to pay to send two kids to camp. Redundant enough in app and usage to question "what can it do that my phone and computer can't?"  Do I need it? No. I do not. Do I want it? Yes, of course I do. And as silly as this sounds - do I want to jump on the iPad bandwagon? Not really. I've never been a bandwagon jumper. I'm logical and practical. But...

The new iPad - after spending only a few minutes on it, perusing my best friend's (what seems like) endless pages of colorful apps, I am hooked. While my MacBook will always be my go-to, the iPad is slim, light and even more portable than my 15" MacBook. Even as wi-fi only, it's uses are myriad. I won't extoll is technical virtues here, you need only watch the promo video to find a host of reasons to purchse, but finding myself anywhere for hours on end, able to read, draw, play, write, take pictures, or create music is something that is outstanding and endlessly fascinating. 

So, is the new iPad - or any iPad for that matter - worth what seems like an exhorbitant amount of money in the short-term, offering a long-term commitment of quality, beauty and inspiration to be more, say more, do more? I can say for me, unequivocally, yes!

cell phones & texting

My cell phone is for my own convenience. I know this is a foreign concept for most cell phone owners. Especially those with clingy spouses or significant others. Yes, there are lots of times I answer the phone if I get a call from my spouse, child, parent or friend when it may not be exactly convenient for me, but it is not a tether that I allow to be around my neck.

My children's cell phones are also for my convenience. They get to use them to keep in touch with their friends and in return, they are obligated to answer my texts and/or phone calls every time I text/call.

The cell phone is a wonderful invention and the smart phone an even more fabulous tool that I love. However...

texting might be one of the best and worst things ever invented.

I'm not one for small talk, so texting works really well for me to be able to ask a question or send a quick idea to a person that I don't necessarily have time in the moment to have a long discussion with. Additionally, it allows me to have contact with people to let them know at any particular moment that I'm thinking about them and that they are important to me. In this age of depersonalization, it allows me to have frequent touch with those that I wouldn't have been able to just a few short years ago.

But picture this:

You're having a semi-intense, serious conversation with a friend. Cell phones are put away. You would never dream of allowing someone to walk up and interrupt this conversation. But then, the familiar tone of that incoming text sounds and the person who was so studiously engaged with you is suddenly in the midst of a "conversation" with someone else via text. Probably not one, but now a back and forth that goes on for 10-15 minutes. And no, it's not an emergency. Those are few and far between. This is a great way to communicate that the person you're with is not really a priority for you. You might as well get up and walk away.

Likewise with call waiting. There are exceptions to every rule, but by and large I don't interrupt a phone call with one person by (subconsciously) saying "This other person is more important to me, so I'm going to put you on hold and see what they need. I may say I'll be right back, but really, I'll be back to you when their need is taken care of."

No apologies. Rigidly trying to value the people to me who are important and valuable.

to post or not to post...

Blogs, FB, Twitter... so many avenues of social media to get your words out to the masses of whoever will read them. Are your words wisdom, inanity, or something in between? This has been my struggle in the decision to blog. I love to write. I would write full-time if I thought I had stories, books, articles in me that people would pay to read. However, I'm not quite that self-promoting. I hope that eventually I will write something that will contribute positively to the life of another. I may never know that, but that's ok. I'll still write.

Currently I struggle with the voices that come through on FB and Twitter. Both of these can be great tools to those who have a message to get out or great enablers to those who just like to "hear" themselves speak. The latter is what I frequently experience and strive not to be.

 I follow a great blogger who writes about a combination of his experiences, opinions and online gaming - and one game in particular. He has a rather large following, I think largely due to the fact that he writes really well. That is what I will attempt to do here. Be myself, with humor and realism. I hope if you read this you'll draw something useful for yourself.