Wednesday, May 4, 2011

My new purchase

Remember way back when I was getting an iPod (for those who have been following this blog since then)? That was in December 2009, which my blog helped me to remember by giving me a link to the post I wrote. It was the gateway drug for this new purchase:
Yep, I am now the proud owner of an iPad2! It's interesting to contemplate why I thought I needed one, since my iPod still functions perfectly well for what I use it for, mostly reading my email and the news while at the coffeeshop where I have free WiFi. I almost embarrassed to tell you I am writing this on my iMac desktop with a nice big screen and a real live keyboard. The virtual keyboard on the iPad2 is functional, and if I can remember not to rest my fingers on the glass, I can actually type pretty fast on it, and that's only after having it for a day. What it does have that the original iPad doesn't are two built-in cameras, one on the front and one on the back. It also shoots video, which I still haven't tried. Here's a picture taken with the camera.
This is my friend Leo, who waits for me to show up at the coffee shop every morning with either a book for me to read him, a slimy snake or scary spider, as in this picture. I have known him for most of his life and watched him learn to walk. Now I'm listening to him learn to use language. He knows the names of most of the people in the coffee shop. I downloaded a Winnie the Pooh book on my iPad so I could read to him out of it, and he just loved it. I am having a lot of fun with this new toy, but the very best part, and the real limitation I felt with the iPod, is being able to show people pictures from my iPhoto Library. On the iPod they are small and hard to see in all their glory, but on the iPad, they look fabulous! The iPad is actually just like an iPod on steroids, so learning how to use it was easy.
As you can see from this picture taken this morning at the front of our apartment complex (with my regular camera), spring has arrived here in Bellingham in all its glory. This cherry tree only has blossoms for about a week, and then they begin to drift to the ground as the leaves emerge. This is my favorite time of the year for pictures, especially when it's so beautiful outside. Our temperature is still cool (around 50 degrees F, 10 C) but after all the rain I am really enjoying the sunshine!

Tomorrow the clouds return and we have a 40% chance of rain for our Thursday hike, but it's amazing to me how much better I feel when I've got white puffy clouds to gaze at in a beautiful blue sky! My neck is all better, and I'll let tomorrow worry about itself, while I play with my new toy.
:-)

23 comments:

  1. You are clearly having too much fun, DJan! And all is right with the world. I love this.

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  2. Congratulations on your new purchase...I am green with envy!

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  3. yay for spring! and yet another reason i am jealous of you...sky diving and hiking and now an ipad...maybe i will grow up to be like you...smiles.

    so cool about the little boy...bet he thought it was way neat to read to him off the ipad

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  4. Good for you! You will love it. Have fun with your new toy!

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  5. It would be very difficult for me to type on a virtual keyboard, as my right hand is cramped. But, hey, different strokes for different folks. I am happy for you, DJan!

    Hope you continue to have many more warm, sunny days.

    Say hi to Leo for me. He is so cute.

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  6. I got mine a couple of weeks ago. It has changed my life!! Let's share iPad tips and tricks, okay?!

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  7. I love your new toy! I have resisted getting a smart phone, but the iPad is very tempting. And I love how you used it to read to Leo!

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  8. Looks like a cool new toy to me! Reading to a small child..good for you..I love it when people read to me..but it doesn't happen often:)

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  9. So glad to hear that your neck is feeling better...and the Ipad is awesome! It is easier to feel good when the skies are blue...and puffy clouds instead of gray skies make all the difference. Take care...xo

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  10. Spring looks wonderful. And had you thought about loading a Paddington Bear story to read to Leo? My nephews and great nephews have all been fans.

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  11. Congratulations on your iPad2. That looks wonderful. We've talked about it, but haven't taken the plunge yet. One of these days... One of these days.

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  12. AWESOME!! I am interested to hear what you think of it. My girfriend is debating on getting it or an iPhone.

    I have missed checking in for our regular visits. I am feeling like the owner of a bed and breakfast. By the 15th of May, we will have had guests every weekend for a month!

    I leave for California tomorrow while my hubby stays home with two of his buddies from California coming to visit while I am gone...

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  13. Love your Spring picture at the end! Leo looks so cute. How nice to go regularly to somewhere and know the people there so well. Love that.
    Now your Ipad. I cannot think why anyone wants one of those when they already have a laptop with a decent keyboard. I am yet to be converted. Doesn't your laptop do all that you want it to do? Is it because it is so portable? But then again, would you really want to take it on the bus and in the coffee-shop? Aren't you afraid that you will be mugged for it? So many questions. I was flabbergasted when in Knoxville to see people actually queuing up to buy them (and they're not cheap). I even saw someone in church looking at one when I was over there.
    Please tell me what the attraction is. What am I missing?

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  14. Gorgeous pictures. That Leo is a cutie! OK, I'm green with envy, too.

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  15. Nice... A friend of mine bought the Xoom instead of the iPad, and she prefers it. I'm played with both, but still cannot bring myself to buy one. Though, I do see the appeal of having that little tablet to pack around instead of my laptop... Though I'd still be carrying around my hefty camera bag. :)

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  16. Congrats on your new toy DJan. You are going to have a lot of fun with it.

    I'm torn between a new samrt phone or a tablet but I'm looking at the Android models.

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  17. Leo is precious and that tree in bloom makes me smile. Enjoy your new IPod, will be anxious to know how you like it.....:-)Hugs

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  18. I like your iPad2. I am sure you will have fun using it. I have the original iPad and like it as well but it doesn't have cameras.

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  19. iphone, ipad, ipod???? they are all so confusing. I thought the ipod was something to listen to music on!! You should do a whole blog on the difference between them all. Or am I the only dummy? Plus I am confused as to why I would need one when I have a home computer and one at work.

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  20. You are a real 21st century woman, DJan! Well since you have a new toy you can download my new novel, Surgeon's Mate; Book II of the Patricia MacPherson Nautical Adventure Series (Fireship Press) the (long awaited) sequel to Star-Crossed.

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  21. ooooooh! I'm REALLY jealous!!!

    I've been eyeing the iPad since it came out... for its practicality, aesthetics, size as an option to replace my macbook while travelling (for movies and music and as a beginning for ebooks), but what holds me back is the fact that it doesn't have iphoto and I can't upload my pictures from my camera directly to the ipad. This means I still need to travel with the laptop because of the sheer amount of photos I take on a trip (and try to get some of the selections and editing done).

    Perhaps the ipad 3 will have iphoto? In the meantimes I can drool over this one! ;o) Have fun with it!!!

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  22. Ah yes the ipad is bigger and that's an advantage. Buddy uses his for movies from netflix and books a swell as music. We are looking at some drawing apps but will need simple one. He loves to draw. He bought the old one with no camera. I am glad you like it. like you I still prefer my macbook.I guess that's just a familiarity thing.

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