Gadget « Wizzer's World

21Apr/100

Las Vegas and Kick Ass

So I haven't posted much this last week because I am in Las Vegas for a Microsoft conference. I love traveling because it gives me the chance to scope out what gadgets other people are using for their trips. Personally I am traveling kind of gadget lite with only my laptop and my Droid, but I love walking through the airport or even around the conference floor and seeing what phones, readers, and laptops people are using. Amazingly enough. I have only seen a grand total of 2 iPads! Guess people haven't jumped on the bandwaggon just yet. Also got to see 1 Nook e-reader out in the wild. Now this may be just because I am at a MS conference but the primary phone has been the blackberry, followed by the iPhone, an then a mix of Droid and WinMo phones.

But anyways, enough with the geeking out, I am really enjoying the conference and learning a ton more about server management. I also am taking this trip to Vegas much lighter that others because I am getting to the point where it's not about sight seeing and more about relaxing.

Speaking of relaxing, I took a break last night and went to see Kick Ass. For those of you without a TV or internet (how are You reading this?) Kick Ass is a new superhero movie about an real life version of a comic book hero. Instead of super powers or mass ammounts of money it's just a guy who wants to help people. It is very based in reality and amazingly graphic. I highly reccomend that You pay attention to the rating on this one as it is not for kids at all. Personally I thought it was amazing. It will certainly set the bar for upcoming superhero movies and center them in reality. Given that I am writing this on my Droid I don't want to go into too much detail but I will say Go See It! Hopefully there won't be too many copy cats that get themselves killed. Remember kids, don't try this at home!

Tagged as: conference, Gadget, iPad, kick ass, las vegas, microsoft, Movie, nook, phones, vegas No Comments

28Jan/101

iPad, or iPod-Maxi, take your pick.

It should surprise no one that I am not a huge Apple fan. Heck I am taking a week long class on Windows Server now, but I am not completely against them either. Without Apple we would not have the competitive market that is leading us into the 21st century. No iPhone means we would all still be using flip phones because of how they remind us of Star Trek. (or maybe that's just me.) I certainly would not be writing this post on my fancy touch screen phone while zipping along on the train. Apple has done some amazing things for tech, but now it seems like it's their turn to try and play catch up.

The tablet PC has been around for a long time. I understand that most tablets are bulky, or the interface is a bit weird, but they keep changing and have progressively gotten better. I have used a few tablets that feel great to use and do everything I need them to do and more. Unfortunately I don't see this iPad doing even 1/2 of them. Yay, it can read books, but my Kindle and any number of cheaper ebook readers can do that. It plays games, but so does my Droid and my Xbox and any of the tablet. (one may argue that it plays iPod/iPhone games that my stuff can't, we have an iPod in the house so I'm good.) Honestly the only things the iPad has going for it is 1: a rabid Apple fan-base that will buy anything the almighty Steve Jobs produces, and 2: its size. I will say that they seemed to have gotten that part right. It appears to be sleek, slim, and fit right in the hand, but I would expect that from Apple.

So what would it take to make me like this? Easy.
1: Flash Player. (Adobe has 10.1 working now...port it!)
2: Front facing web-cam. (it would be the perfect video conference tool)
3: USB (why does it NOT have this? oh right because then you could choose your wireless provider)
4: Hit below the $300 price mark. (seriously with everything that's available that does the same thing, it's just not competitive)

So there you go. I am sure that many of you have other ideas about what it should have as well but there are r simple things that would make me more interested. Until I see that, I give the iPad a preview score of 6 oranges out of 10 apples.