Fast forward over 10 years and Blizzard has just launched Diablo III. Looks like I know what I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future! I love you wife!

The following post has been sitting in my draft’s folder for about a month now. Although I had planned to publish it, in advance of the March 7th iPad announcement by Apple, the time that passed has given me the opportunity to live life tablet-free and to see if I would be missing out. 

Expectations versus Reality. When Apple had first announced their revolutionary new product: the Apple iPad on January 27, 2010, I, like many others, had their credit card in hand, ready to click the “Pre-Order Now” button. And a few months later, I had, in hand, my very first tablet: the 32GB iPad WiFi+3G.

Usage Case #1: iPad at Work. I was the coolest kid on the block. I would take my trusty iPad into meetings at work, stylus in hand, and wowed all my co-workers with my ability to take notes and check emails without the distractions that come with an open-lid laptop.

One of the biggest advantages I saw, for my personal productivity, was the ability to consolidate the PDA functions of my iPhone (i.e. email, calendar, contacts, etc.) with the ease of use of a legal tablet and pen. No longer would I need to keep my iPhone out on the table in meetings to check up on emails and upcoming appointments. Instead, I would have a single device that combined both the functions of an organizer and note taker, into a simplified interface.

Unfortunately, the reality of using the iPad for this purpose was never truly realized. And as such, the appeal of the iPad in the workplace, for me, soon wore off.

After spending nearly $100 on a variety of different “best in class” note taking apps (e.g. Penultimate and Notes Plus) and “precision-grade” styli, I could never truly replicate the quality of true pen and paper writing. The feeling of tapping a rubber-tipped stylus against a glass screen took some getting used to. I knew that writing on the iPad would never have the fluid feeling of fountain ink on the pages of a Moleskine, but once I got over that fact, I could still never replicate the same quality of penmanship on the iPad. And don’t get me started on apps that claim to implement “wrist protection…”

Usage Case #2: Entertainment. Hands down, the iPad is one of the best on-the-go entertainment and media consumption devices available. The capabilities and form factor of the iPad make it the perfect companion for the frequent traveler who wants to catch up on TV shows and watch movies, and at the flick of a finger, also check email and Facebook.

While I don’t fit in the road warrior category myself, I did purchase the iPad with intentions of it supplementing my iPhone as the perfect couch/toilet/bed accessory! The thought of being able to do everything my 3.5″ iPhone could do, but on a 9.7″ display, seemed amazing! Now when I’m laying in bed, I can watch YouTube and Netflix shows without straining my eyes! Unfortunately I was let down, as I found the convenience of having my iPhone, always in my pocket, would be my go-to device. I would find myself, after a long day, crashing on the couch to lay down and watch TV… But wait, I forgot my iPad! No need to worry, because my iPhone is always carried in my pocket. As you can imagine, I found this same circumstance happening over and over again. After a while, my iPad simply became an overpriced digital picture frame.

What I Want. For me, adding further pixel density, processor cores, and camera megapixels, will not sell me back to the idea that I need to have an iPad. Having a full-sized touch interface that can replace tasks typically reserved for a dedicated PC/Mac, such as word processing and internet browsing, is where I appreciate the value of devices such as the iPad. But compared to other devices, offering similar form factor, such as the Dell XPS 13 or the MacBook Air, I find the value proposition to be in favor of the flexibility of the ultrabook and not the tablet. But what if we could have the both of best worlds?

What I’d love to see is Apple combining a mobile operating system (i.e. iOS) with a rich, desktop OS (i.e. Mac OS X), on a single device that can instantaneously switch from a tablet form factor and user experience, to an open-lid notebook with full-sized keyboard when I’m ready to sit down and work.

What are your thoughts on the tablet craze? Do you or have you owned an iPad? Will you be first in line for the next version Apple releases?

A friend recently posted this conundrum on Facebook:

What’s more important? Time or Money? So conflicted… Any answers?

That message got me thinking, and eventually led to my first practical blog post.

A smart person once responded to this very question as follows:

[It] depends on your point of view …. if you’re a homeless person, you['ve] got nothing but time – in which case, money would seem more important …. if you’re a billionaire with a terminal illness, then time would be more important ….. so to answer your question: are you homeless or are you a billionaire?

If you’re still with me, chances are you fall somewhere in between the two extremes. Yet still, you are left wondering how to make the right decision. I would venture to guess that for most people, with a mortgage, children, and credit cards, the easy answer would seem to be money. But before you settle and make any career-altering decisions, first consider these 5 points:

• Family. Can I adequately provide comfort and safety for my family with what I have now? What does my family need vs. want? How much do I provide for my family financially vs. emotionally? Do you want to be remembered for always being an active participant?
• Ambitions. What are your goals in life? What do you wish to have accomplished by the time you turn 30, 40, or even 50? What do you want to happen right now vs. someday? How important is it that all of your dreams come true? How will your ambitions be affected by the choices you make?
• Legacy. If you were to die tomorrow, what would people remember you for? What contributions will you make to the live’s of others?

These questions are not meant to be simple nor do they have a single right answer. The purpose is to ask yourself (and your spouse or partner, if applicable) what is most important given the factors that will be affected by your course of action. Oftentimes, the most appropriate answer is somewhere in between. Finding the right balance is the first step towards a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life. And remember most of all: the answer should come from you, and not what I, your parents, your boss, or anyone else tells you.

Welcome to my humble online abode. You have reached my landing page and the central point of all things related to me – Shahrum Amiri. From time to time, I will use this website’s blog to post short articles including productivity tips and tricks, thoughts on current events and technology trends, and reviews of the latest gadgets or apps that I’ve come across.

If you’d like to get in touch, please feel free to reach out to me using my contact page or social networks. Otherwise, ’till next time,

- Shahrum