iPad (version 1) - thinks I don't like

Things I don't like on the iPad version 1:

- Keyboard

(okay, I can get an external keyboard - but)

I am a good typist and can do quite well with a keyboard - I'm a touch typist - put my fingers on the home row and I don't look at my fingers, just type

With the iPad, I become a "hunt-and-peck" typist I have to watch my fingers. My typing speed goes from about 35 words per minute to 5 words a minute

- Specific applications

Where is my Word? I can't really develop assignments or grade papers on the iPad

Where is my Excel? Part of my standard daily routine

Where is Flash? I can't play my sister in Scrabble on the iPad

No camera

So ... at this stage (version 1), the iPad is a nice platform for reading email, surfing the net, playing some games, reading books and the news. But ... for me, not all that practical to my job.

iPad (version 1)

I have had an iPad (version 1) since May 2010.

Things I like:

- I can change the size of items by stretching my fingers or bringing my fingers closer together

- There are thousands of free apps

-- Angry Birds has been one of the best free apps - plus it is a best seller app for .99 cents

-- Various news links - weather channel, New York Times, local TV channel apps

-- Even free resources (I've used a German tutorial, dictionary and other references)

- I can have iTunes playing

- I can have iBooks

-- I have probably a dozen books - mostly free - two of which I have read online

- I can read my e-mail and do web searches

My interest / background

I have both an iPhone and an iPad.

I have been experimenting with the iPad for a year. I will have comments about my usage later. I am looking forward to using the iPad 2 soon.

I have had an iPhone for about five months. NOW ... I need to be more specific. This is an old iPhone from my sister (who upgraded). It is NOT a phone as such (no plan plan with AT&T or Verizon); no data plan. It is a WiFi device now, so I have to be connected to WiFi to get the internet options. More on this later.

Summer 2011 Blogs

In past semesters, I have looked at many different IT topics - healthcare, cloud computing, and assessment.

This summer, I want to look at 'apps' - smartphone, and tablets. In particular, I will be looking at iPhone and iPad apps - evaluation and how to create apps.