Captain's Log, Stardate 2340880.5

I’m getting assigned to a new project at work doing iPad programming. If I’m going to program on iPads, then I need one that I can use at home to get used to the UI paradigms that it normally uses so that my program designs are that much better. At least, that’s what I told the Gnome to convince her that we needed a iPad. That’s what Gnome reiterated to me when giving me permission to order the iPad. We both know that this is a convenient lie to justify buying something we’ve been wanting to get for a long time. As long as we can look each other in the eye when repeating that lie without flinching, then that lie is a success. Now that we actually have the device, it really doesn’t matter anymore. The biggest question for us is when are we getting a second one?

Obviously, we really like it. Some of you are thinking “It’s just a big iPhone. Big deal.” Others are thinking “It’s just an underpowered laptop. Big deal.” To both of groups, I say you’re absolutely right and that’s what makes it such a big deal.

There are some tasks that started out analog - like reading and looking at maps - where you can sit comfortably wherever you wanted to do what you needed. Computers then came along and changed the experience. Now you had the ability to read more news, stories, and information from not just books, magazines, and newspapers but blogs and websites. Your out-of-date-as-soon-as-it-was-printed maps that you could never fold back up right were replaced with digital maps that are always current, complete with satellite photos and algorithms that could not only show you Point A and Point B but three different routes to get between the two depending on traffic.

The cost of these changes was our loss of freedom. First, we were shackled to a desk, using a big beige box to get all of this new information. Later, we had laptops but we then had to be concerned about finding a table to set it on, or a chair comfortable enough for you to sit in and still keep it in your lap. You also had to be concerned about battery life or access to a convenient power outlet. The iPhone and other web-enabled smart phones gave us our freedom back, but at the cost of ease of use and readability. I love my iPhone[^1], but reading anything on a 15 inch laptop display is easier than its 3 inch display. The iPad brings things full circle. We are back to the freedom to sit anywhere we want and as comfortably as we want to do the things we want to do, but with all the power of the digital world that a computer would give us. I don’t know whether that makes this a “magical device,” but it’s definitely pretty freaking awesome.

I had meant this review to be less philosophical and more “these apps are cool” but I guess I’ll have to save that for later. The Gnome and I are going to San Francisco this weekend. Usually we take at least one laptop, if not both, but this time we’re only taking the iPad. I’ll have a report next week about whether we ever found ourselves jonesing for our laptop.[^2]

[^2]: This post entirely written with my iPad.

[^1]: I even love my much maligned iPhone 4, of which I have not had any problems with reception and only one problem with the proximity sensor.