Here’a another brief update on my experience with my iPad.
So far, so good. I like it, and have been getting used to it. I’ve carried it, instead of my laptop, for several days of researching downtown. I also carried it on one short trip, where it drew a lot of attention from flight attendants, who wanted to know my opinion of it. But my laptop, an older Macbook Pro, is my primary computer, and the iPad is no laptop replacement. Not even close. So keep that in mind. At the same time, it’s amazing how well I can “get by” with it on a routine day.
Yesterday I loaded up a set of my dad’s old pictures and headed over to pay him a visit. It’s heft meant that he had to hold it with both hands in order to view the pictures, and it was difficult to hold without touching the screen with one or more fingers, which would change the picture or even the application. And the weight also meant that he had trouble looking at it for long. I had to take over and hold it for him several times before he picked it up again.
Then I hit an aggravating problem. To move pictures over to the iPad, I had to point iTunes to the folder they were in and then run a sync. What I failed to notice is that some of the photos were in the wrong orientation (horizontal photos standing on end). I saw it after the sync was completed but figured it would be easy to remedy. Just grab the photo with two fingers and turn. It seemed like a natural and simple movement for the touch screen interface. But it didn’t work. There wasn’t any way to correct the photos on the iPad. I could rotate the photo but it turned back to its original orientation as soon as I let it go. And rotating the iPad also rotated the photo, so it always displayed wrong. I will have to go back to the beginning, correct the photos on the laptop, and then sync them again to replace the first batch.
Why should this be so hard impossible to do?
Then there are the books. I have to say that Apple has a long way to go to catch up with Amazon’s Kindle.
For example, a comment yesterday referenced Jared Diamond’s book, “Collapse”.
Apple has it in its own iBook format for $14.99.
Amazon offers a Kindle version, which you can read using the free Kindle iPad app, for $9.99. There’s also a Kindle version of Diamond’s earlier book, “Guns, Germs, and Steel”. Same $9.99 price. Not available from Apple.
I’m also midway through a mystery by April Smith, “North of Montana,” found at a thrift store. So I went looking for electronic versions of any recent books. Apple? Nada. Nothing available. Amazon? Two books in Kindle format, one for $6.99 and the other for $9.99 (with a hardcover copy bargain priced at $9.58–go figure!).
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Two ways you might be able to deal with the picture rotation problem:
1. Rotate the screen so the image fills the screen, activate rotation lock control (I don’t know if this works since I don’t own an iPad). Then view the image normally.
2. Download the Photoshop.app which is free, it’s still free isn’t it? You can rotate, crop and adjust images with it an resave them to the photo library.
Excellent! The rotation lock worked. At least he’ll be able to look at them. But Apple still should make it possible to easily rotate, I think.
And I’ll have to try PS or one of the other photo apps and see how they work in this situation.
I get my iPad tmrw, Ian. I won one from @SuperGeeks. So I’m devouring everyone’s input about it. I’m going to tell a couple of friends about this entry. I think they might have some insight for you.
I loved seeing your dad looking at the picture on the iPad. Gosh, he must have enjoyed looking at those pix, even if the orientation business was humbug!
Have you tried the Acer netbook? I am using it while in Hong Kong. Posting pics and text, emailing, and reading your blog is easy to do. However, I prefer my desktop Dell computer, and will use the netbook only for travel. It is only 2.7 lbs. and I don’t have to hold it with my hands to post or read it.
And what are you doing in Hong Kong?
Aloha Ian,
Great blog post and it’s prolific to see old and new interact. I wish I could show my Dad what a cool device the iPad is. He’d go nuts.
Looks like you already got input on auto-rotate lock, which is a good way to keep content put when viewing.
In regards to file transfer, I’m using an application called “Good Reader” that allows me to transfer files (pdf, csv, txt, jpg, etc.) directly to a folder on my iPad via wifi.
Upon launching the wifi connection on through Good Reader on your iPad, you can connect wirelessly from your desktop or laptop (assuming you’re on the same network) and ‘upload’ files to a “Documents” folder on your iPad.
I use this to transfer full resolution PDF files, images, wallpaper, documents for meetings, etc. and it works like a charm.
Much easier than using iTunes to sync and I can even access my FTP accounts and pull files off my server.
My iPad has replaced my laptop for about 80% of my every day tasks, but as stated above, it is no laptop/desktop replacement.
Good luck with it!
JG
I’m perfectly happy with my Kindle and Netbook plus home computer. My husband can download anything he wants from my Kindle account onto his I-Pod, too.
We got an I-Pad for a friend of ours who can’t deal with computers, and I think he is too embarrassed to tell us that the I-Pad is impossible for him to deal with.
Anything new and expensive like that should be easy to use.
I think he might be able to get some free training on it in an Apple Store. The Kahala branch is always dead on weekday mornings and I guess some of the staff might be happy to help out.
so you still like the kindle?
Actually, I don’t have a Kindle, but I use the Kindle Store and Kindle reader for my iPhone and iPad. Kindle has many more books than Apple is able to offer in its iBook format.
Ian, I don’t even have an iPad yet (just reserved one today), but I have been very interested in doing photo editing on it.
Too bad Apple did not provide at least some of the functionality of iPhoto. Anyway, I have found one free photo-editing app that looks like it might be useful.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photopad-by-zagg/id364758617?mt=8
I’m always on the lookout for new authors and appreciate the lead to April Smith. The Hawaii State library has 4 of her books, the first of which is now on my request list!
I have had my Kindle for more than a year now, and I love it. I read three or four hours or more every day on my Kindle. I get the Sunday NY Times for $.99. No wads of paper, just content. I’ve cancelled all my magazine subscriptions, because I can subscribe to The Nation and The Atlantic, and even the New Yorker with ten cartoons or so for way cheaper than the print editions and not get them weeks late the way we get our magazines here .
I don’t want to go on and on about the virtues of the Kindle. The built in dictionary, the Gutenberg catalog that allows you to download any Project Gutenberg book, the way you can e-mail long documents to yourself for comfortable reading, etc. etc.
And the thrill of being the first person on your block to read the latest important book!
It’s really for avid readers like me.