Wednesday, March 23, 2011

iPad-ery




To take my mind off Comcast's snafu, in which most of my email for the last few weeks has been going into the void, naturally I decided to go and check out the new technology that will likely cause me problems ...


Dropped by the Mac store. Asked the guy, So, what's the delivery time on the new iPad?


I have no idea, he said. Deadpan.


I thought that was funny. No, really.


No, really ...


The word on the net says 4-5 weeks, but that doesn't really mean anything, and it might be two months.


Naturally, with a world-wide rollout, Apple once again didn't make enough of 'em to go around, and so the line forms at the left and stretches quite a ways.


This is complicated somewhat further: There are nine possible configurations of the new toy: Three sizes, 16, 32, or 64 gigs; There are two communication options: wifi only, or wifi with 3G capability. That brings us to six, but: the 3G options are subdivided into two more choices, AT&T or Verizon, so which version you want determines which list you get put upon, vis a vis the delivery ...


Never a dull moment around here, nossiree ...
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7 comments:

  1. bourgonWednesday, March 23, 2011 at 8:01:00 PM PDT

    Go to your local apple store. Get there around 6am. Sit in line for ~3hours. Buy iPad (if lucky). I ordered mine last week and half ago, and have swung by a couple times. This morning, got there early, 2nd in line, and I'm typing this on it now. Very cool toy. Get the smart cover.

    Also, Charlie Stross has blogged extensively about using this in lieu of a laptop, how it works for writing, etc, etc. Definitely worth a read for you.

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  2. Steve PerryWednesday, March 23, 2011 at 11:45:00 PM PDT

    Nah, if I'd wanted to stand in line, I'd have gone sooner.
    I'll wait ...

    I'm primarily getting it for a reader and to collect email and surf the net. I don't have a laptop, no real use for one. My keyboard is weird enough so I can hardly use a standard one any more.

    I like the look of the smart cover, but I expect I'll get a nice, thick leather notebook -tyle case. That way, when I drop it, it'll have a little more shock protection. Besides, I might leave an iPad somewhere, but I don't leave books (or things that look like books) behind ...

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  3. steve-vhThursday, March 24, 2011 at 10:44:00 AM PDT

    Sure they're behind. Just like they were behind making the Wii for 18months. They're just artificially drawing out the consumer interest for a longer period. Builds and carries the momentum.
    "did you hear? they're hard to get. I better order one now (even though otherwise I probably would have waited a year)"

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  4. JimThursday, March 24, 2011 at 6:06:00 PM PDT

    Just out of curiosity -- what's weird about your keyboard? Different arrangement, lots of specializations for writing, or what?

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  5. Steve PerryThursday, March 24, 2011 at 9:48:00 PM PDT

    I use a Kinesis Advantage keyboard -- looks like somebody took a scoop to it on both sides, then filled the holes with keys.

    Most of the function keys are under your thumbs, in two sets of six, and can be programmed to whatever you want.

    http://themanwhonevermissed.blogspot.com/2008/01/current-word-processing.html

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  6. Mario Di GiacomoFriday, March 25, 2011 at 9:56:00 AM PDT

    A couple of things...

    There are actually 18 configurations, since the iPad comes in both black & white.

    And part of the reason for the delay? Many of the components come from Japan....

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  7. Steve PerryFriday, March 25, 2011 at 11:37:00 AM PDT

    Oh, yeah, I didn't even think about the colors -- they are offering white this time.

    I think the Japanese delay is only a small part of it; they were in a hurry to beat the e-reader rush -- lot of 'em coming out this summer.

    Short supply does create demand, so you can't argue with people standing in line.

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