Best Living - Community Manager's blog

[#1]

I have wanted a tablet since watching Captain Kirk enter information into the Enterprise’s computer.  In 2002, I purchased an early tablet PC - a good machine, but not the full Star Trek experience.  When the iPad debuted, I knew I wanted one.  However, not being sure as to what I would do with it, I waited. 

My friends were inundated with me saying, “I want an iPad.”  I even consulted the superusers on the Best Buy Community about whether I should buy one.  My iPad fever peaked on Saturday night when finally in the middle of eating Szechuan green beans, a friend couldn’t take my whining any longer and said, “Go buy an iPad.” 

Realizing it was 8:30pm and many Twin Cities Best Buy stores close at 9pm, we literally ran out of the restaurant to my car to drive to the closest location.  Once we got there, I again ran into the store. 

The store was busy, so I patiently waited to get my hands on the device of the future that I had been waiting decades to possess.  I took advantage of the current financing offer and put my iPad, stylus and case on a Best Buy credit card.  As my purchase was being rung up, I carefully opened my new productivity tool to inspect its technical beauty.  It was a marvelous wonder: the melding of glass, metal and technology.  I hugged it.  It was cute, cuddly and I just wanted to love it.

Once I got it home, I wanted to set it up, but I realized my iMac computer wasn’t running the latest iTunes or Mac OS.  Both are needed for the iPad to run properly.  Alas, it was too late to go to Best Buy to purchase what I needed.  My new shinny iPad would have to wait a few more hours until I could unlock its potential.  Although I wanted to put it under my pillow to keep it close to me while I slept, I decided placing it on an ottoman was more sensible.

Not usually an early riser, I was up at dawn on Sunday.  Counting down the minutes until I could go out and purchase the necessary Snow Leopard upgrade my iMac needed.  Fortunately, it didn’t take long for me to purchase it.

Home again, I installed the operating system and the latest version of iTunes.  Then just to be safe, I ran a virus scan.  Finally, after a couple hours, it was time for me to connect my new iPad.  I savored the moment of plugging in my new device.  Setup took only a few minutes.  And then it was mine to play with and enjoy. 

Feeling a type of playful exuberance normally reserved only for the joys of birthdays and Christmas, I tested all of the iPad’s built in applications.  Then I spent hours customizing my new best friend with tons of new apps.  I found that indeed, there does appear to be an app for everything.  To match the splendor of the iPad, I changed my desktop background to a picture of a beautiful rainbow colored rose.   With that, I was done customizing it…at least for a few hours.

Having spent a couple days with it, I will now demark my life into two eras: pre-iPad and post-iPad.  Okay, maybe a little dramatic.  But I just love my new iPad.  Being a bit of a compulsive accessory collector, I am sure I will spend the next few months filling up my desk with new iPad accessories.  

I have a couple questions for all the iPad fans out there:

1)   What apps do you like the most for your iPad?

2)   What are the must-have accessories I need to fully take advantage of my iPad?

[#2]

By far, my favorite app as a Star Trek fan is the $4.99 LCARS Internet Media Reader.  With it, you can browse Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and more with the familiar Star Trek: The Next Generation computer and PADD interface and sounds.  While it's geeky fun, it's also an excellent social media reader. 

[#3]

I tried to buy an iPad off of one of my friends, but the deal didn't close. I'll probably wait until the next gen comes out. The BlackBerry Playbook has impressive hardware and I would have to imagine that the next iPad will be much more better. 

I really hate how they release new models every year. It's like unless you get it within the first 3 months, you're more inclined to wait out til next year.

I hate you Apple

[#4]

Greetings Gina,

Your description sounds like a "birthing" with labor pains!  You had to "open yourself up" and "receive" that new upgrade! The iPad had to attach to your main computer through an umbilical cord.. to receive nurturing. Have you discovered it needs burping too? LOL! Do you sleep with it? How about constipation with all of those apps?

Your story reminds me of how we love to imbue our personal items with our unique energy. Remember how we customized our notebooks in High School? And who can forget how we loved to organize our pocketbooks and lockers in ways that fit our specific needs. Your iPad customizations fit that pattern. We are conditioned to want these intimate things that represent an extension of our being. It's the process of integration that you love. That iPad has now been completely integrated into you and you into it. Interesting isn't it? Technology can hold our soul and spirits after all. Maybe it's the change and integration that some people fear.

Who knows, maybe someday we will have professional and deeply personal coaches to help with our technology needs! We will meet with our tech coach twice a year just like getting our teeth cleaned! I could use a consultation with someone who understands where I am and where I want to go with my computers. There are many people in my town who are terrified of technology. I know you and I find this difficult to understand.  When you attend a party or a family reunion there is always someone who hasn't gotten around to buying a computer yet. I have two dear friends in my High School class (1973), that have never operated a computer! I must admit, my Mother, age 79 is very afraid of computers. I think she is afraid that she might accidentally view some porn or something! Oh the horrors! LOL! An iPad might be just the thing for her to experiment with.

Well, I've got an 8 year old Mac laptop that I just upgraded to OS 10.4, and it will not be upgradeable again. I'm desiring an iPad. But I will not be able to get Snow Leopard without a new computer purchase. So I'm opening myself up for this potential to happen in my experience in my not to distant future. So how stressful an anxiety provoking was your experience with your iPad birthing overall? On a scale of 1 to 10? Maybe a 7? After you lined up with the decision, it all fell into place. Congratulations on your addition... your newest tech extension of yourself that has been birthed into your vibrant life. Well done.

[#5]

Hi Nakasa, I agree with your assessment, perhaps in the future we will need a tech coach to help us with all our electronic gadgets.  While yes, there were a few fustrations with my iPad adoption, I mean purchase, I love it and it was totally worth it.  I have taken my personalization of my iPad one step further.  I named it "George," after a line from an old Looney Tunes episod, "I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him..."  I don't recommend "squeezing" any an iPad, but I certaingly love my it!