http://www.indiealbany.com

If you don't check it out now, you'll miss hearing about Robbie-the-Wonder-Dog, The Midnight Chef, and One Day in Cubic Hell. It's a hoot!

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After 31 days using just the iPad and ignoring my laptop, here are the top 5 things I love about the iPad. Again, these items are in no particular order:

-The iPad's battery life is phenomenal. Whether you're reading a book, watching a movie, running apps, or browsing the web, the battery just keeps on going and going. It's just stellar at 9-10 hours.

-The apps do everything and more. From USA Today to the ABC player to neat tech demos like Gravilux, the iPad apps make normal PC software look like a joke. Things just work (and intelligently at that!).

-The screen is beautiful and the operating system is instantly responsive. Interacting with your iPad feels so natural. Don't worry about not having a mouse--your fingers are much better.

-It's just going to keep getting better and better. Between apps, OS updates, and the eventual hardware updates, the iPad is just going to get better and better. No matter when you get the iPad, you're going to love the ride.

-The iPad is a good replacement for a laptop. If you've got 2 computers, sell one of them. The iPad is going to make your old laptop seem antiquated and useless. Everything does work better on the iPad for mobile computing. Yes, it's not a 100% replacement for a computer, but seeing that you do have to sync your iPad to get things onto it, that shouldn't come as a big surprise.

Top 5 iPhone Apps (that I've downloaded).

1) USA Today
2) Marble Mixer
3) ABC Player
4) Wired
5) Netflix
6) Star Walk
7) Epicurious
8) Pinball HD
9) Pages/Numbers/Keynote
10) Photogene

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-The iPad doesn't support printing from its native applications. Whether you need to print off a quick email or print your resume for an interview, it can't be done with the iPad.

-The iPad can't sync with files stored on MobileMe. If this happens, it would be cloud computing for the masses.

-The iPad is a bit too heavy. This makes it difficult to read books, play games, or do anything one-handed.

-The iPad 3G uses AT&T as its connection provider. Since this company obviously does not really care about the happiness of its users, it's time for Apple to cut off the relationship.

-You definitely need to have a computer along with your iPad. To sync, print, etc. you need a computer somewhere in your house. The iPad simply cannot replace a computer completely.

Check back in later today for the top 5 things that I love about the iPad in day 31, the last day, of the experiment.

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How well does the iPad replace a laptop? Very well. Sure, there are some times that you need to print a document, burn a disc, or do some serious typing. That's why I'll still have a computer. But in our household, we can probably share a computer, where Emily uses it 95% of the time and I just use it for those few tasks that I need a computer for.

What has amazed me most with the iPad is the shear creativity behind some of the apps. Whether it's being able to stream ABC shows of my choice on a big beautiful screen, browse news on USA Today in such an easy and comfortable manner, read Wired and manipulate a 3D model of Mars to view its history, or sit back in bed and read a good book, the iPad does the same things a computer does--just better.

Really, that's the main conclusion I've reached. There are a lot of other ways of doing what the iPad does. It's just that the iPad does it all and better.

So how did my experiment go? It's a glowing success. And I get to keep the subject of my experiment. Not bad.

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It's one of the best examples of why the iPad is changing the media landscape. Ads are so much more targeted and interactive than other formats that it could change advertising forever. It's already very comfortable to read a book or magazine on the iPad, but with this format, the experience changes forever.

That being said, $5 an issue is just too much. There needs to be subscription pricing or you're going to scare off your new audience. Still, a fantastic first attempt and I hope this is a sign of things to come.

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Does it affect the cool, shiny quality of the iPad screen? Maybe a little. But with the extra protection, anti-glare, and reduction of fingerprints, it's a fair tradeoff.

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That being said, multi-tasking gives you a good impression of what's coming. Wireless sync gives you a good idea of what could be coming. And the various "legally-ambiguous" applications? Well, in some ways, it makes you appreciate the tight control Apple has over the app store. It's nice downloading an app from the app store and knowing that it's not only going to run well, but it also is going to be top quality.

Do I regret jailbreaking? No, but that doesn't mean I won't restore my iPad back in a few days. Unless someone knows of a killer app that I'm missing...if you do, you know how to reach me!

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Q: "Hey Ryan, it sounds like the iPad is fantastic and cool and can be a real replacement for a laptop (as your blog, which is awesome by the way, has proven), but my question is: why would I buy an iPad if I already have a laptop?"

A: Well, this seems to be a big question. And one that I struggled with myself. Even worse, what if you have an iPhone or other smart phone? The key for me is asking: what do I want? I wanted a quiet computer that I could comfortably type on, carry around like a book, but also have the power to play games, watch movies, and do things only special apps can do. That's the iPad.

Q: "If someone was in the market for a laptop, would you suggest they just buy the iPad?"

A: It depends. If they are going to school and they need to run Excel and Word on a regular basis, no. If they need to do a lot of very serious paper writing, no. But if they are out of school and they are just using this as a personal computing device? Yes. I think the strengths the iPad brings, particularly in the way that Apps simplify life while maximizing utility, far outweigh the cons. Plus, it's just a more enjoyable experience.

Q: "Can an iPad hook up to a printer, does it have USB ports, and are disc drives going to be obsolete in a few years?"

A: No, it cannot hook up to a printer, but according to Steve Jobs, it's coming. The Camera Connection Kit gives you a basic USB port for keyboards, cameras, and maybe a USB headset, but that's it. Don't expect your backup hard drive or Wacom tablet to work. Yes, disc drives are going to be obsolete in a few years. Trust me. We'll buy all of our content online. They'll stick around just like 3.5" or 5.25" floppies stuck around, but they won't be used.

Thanks Amanda for the questions! And I'm glad you're enjoying the blog!

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LOST SERIES FINALE.

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My wife on the other hand is not an Apple fanatic. She has a MacBook and an iPhone and loves them both, but she doesn't want an iPad. Why? Well, it's not horribly surprising:

She already has a laptop. And that laptop has this fancy thing called a keyboard with, wait for it, real keys. And while that laptop is a bit heavy, the iPad isn't exactly the lightest thing known to man.

But more importantly, she has an iPhone. This beautiful device gives her email, Internet, and app access wherever she might be. Plus, it includes the ability to make calls and take photos. And it fits in her pocket! What a device!

These are all fine points, but I'm going to just make a simple point. The iPad is not a replacement for a laptop because it's not a laptop. It doesn't have a keyboard because you really don't need a real keyboard. This virtual keyboard is almost as good and it's completely silent and ultra portable. I really don't have much to say about why the iPad is better than an iPhone. Really, it's just an iPhone XL.

But that's a darn good thing.

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Or being able to multi-task, before OS 4.0 comes out.

Or rocking some original Super Mario Bros. on the iPad.

These things are all possible when you jailbreak your iPad. Basically, it opens up your iPad to open source development. It's not something Apple really loves you doing, however. And, as new versions of the OS come out, you have to be careful not to brick your iPad (turn your iPad into a non-functional block of metal).

So, the question is, should I do it?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/MTU2OTY3MjgxNQ

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First, they're coming out with the Google TV. Even though it's not really the same as the iPad, it's ability to bring a lot of great content to your TV really puts the lack of video-out in some iPad apps into foucus.

Second, they are coming out with a way of syncing your personal media player, wirelessly, with the cloud. With Apple's iPad and iPhone along with MobileMe, they should be the ones there first, not Google.

Third, they're coming out with their own video format. I hope Apple gets on board with this, but given the nature of the relationship lately, I'm not sure if this is a guarantee.

Finally, have you seen Google Navigator? That puts all other navigation systems to shame. Why the iPhone doesn't have a navigation system like this is just beyond me.

Apple's really a hardware innovator and Google is typically a software innovator. But these last round of announcements makes it clear to me that Google does both really, really well. So should Apple.

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So, how does the company react to recent news that the iPhone may be switching providers and going to Verizon? They're not worried. All those AT&T customers are locked into long term contracts with the company, so they'll stay out of convenience. That's the message straight from AT&T.

No, those customers aren't going to stay because of better data coverage.

They're not going to stay because of better customer service.

They're not going to stick around because of better rates.

They're going to stick around because switching your long term family plan is pricey and difficult. Never mind the fact that you may be angering your customer base. Never mind the fact that a lot of people will switch because the grass is greener. Never mind the fact that some people will switch just because AT&T keeps making stupid public statements like this.

Man, I love my iPad. And my iPhone is a perfect companion. I just can't wait to switch them over to a better provider and put the #1 problem behind me.

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Hulu: why? The iPad is already a great TV, but it's missing some content. Hulu would make a huge difference when it comes to content. Granted, their upcoming subscription model might mess things up a bit, but I'm sure they'll make it work.

Carcassonne: why? The iPad does board games very well, but it's missing the stand-out game to really highlight the strength of playing board games on the iPad. Carcassonne is perfectly-suited to this sort of adaptation.

ReelDirector: why? It exists for the iPhone already, but now it needs to come out for the iPad. What is it? A full-featured video editor. With the ability to import videos directly to the iPad, a video editor becomes necessary for mobile editing. The iPhone version is already fantastic, but the iPad would just blow it all out of the water.

GarageBand: why? Try playing the piano on the iPad or adjust waveforms--it's already intuitive and should be a no-brainer for Apple--just get on with it already.

The best thing about the iPad? Someone will come out with an app tomorrow and make me wonder why I didn't think of it in the first place.

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So, what's it like reading on the iPad? Besides the fact that it's a bit too heavy to hold in one hand for long periods of time, I really enjoy reading on the iPad. It's comfortable, it always remembers where I am, and it's easy on my eyes. We'll see how it wraps up with Sherlock, but so far, so good. I'm sure the Kindle is probably a slightly better e-reader, but I really can't see how it's better. Plus, I don't want another device. And in terms of selection? Even if the iPad doesn't have it, there's a Kindle app for the iPhone. Kind of ridiculous, huh?

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• Printing. I know I've talked about it before, but this is definitely a glaring omission. I generated this great document about what Emily and I want in our house and it would have been both neat and useful to print it right from the iPad without clumsily syncing it to my computer first or uploading it to iWork.com (which, by the way, is quite cool and free).
• Weight. It's a bit heavy. I'm trying to make my way through The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to test the e-reader capability, but I find the weight annoying sometimes. I wish I could hold the iPad in one hand without resting it on a pillow or trying to awkwardly balance it on my palm.
• iPhone Connectivity. Come on Apple, let me use your iPhone as a remote for the iPad when I'm watching a movie or TV show. Or let me take a photo with the iPhone and have it wirelessly sync with the iPad. Or let developers really go to town with this. Just open it up already!
• Wireless sync. I don't want to always plug this baby in to sync my music or documents. Let me sync wirelessly with my computer.
• Cloud. While we're at it, forget my computer. Let me put all my entertainment files online and sync my iPad with that. Provided it's safe, secure, and easy to manage.

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Another thing that's taken a lot of getting used to is the iPad's corrective typing. On a normal keyboard, I tend to make a lot of mistakes. So, I liberally apply the backspace key. I can still do that on the iPad, but now those annoying mistakes I used to make get automatically corrected into words so greatly different than I originally intentioned that I get extremely confused. So, that took some getting used to. Now I need to just take some time to think things out in advance and not screw up so much when I type.

Now that I spend more time thinking before I type and hovering over the keyboard, I've gotten pretty proficient at typing on this thing. I'm not as fast as I am on a real keyboard, but I'm starting to get pretty close. Plus, the complete silence of typing makes it possible to bring the iPad to a lot of places I couldn't type before.

So, what's typing on the iPad like? It takes some time to get used to, but once you do, it just seems right.

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But for longer games, say, MMORPGs or strategy games, there's a bit of a problem. If you need to clear up space on your iPad and decide to temporarily remove a game, your save data is lost. So, if you've been waging war in that strategy game for 3 months, you'll have to start over.

Thankfully, some games have gotten it right. The massively popular Words with Friends keeps all the data on their servers, just requiring you to login to access your games. Best thing about this sort of setup? You can also play the game on your iPhone when you don't have your iPad. Pocket Legends, one of the MMORPGs, also follows this format.

A number of games feature plus+ social networking. Before Apple came along and announced its Game Center, OpenFeint and plus+ were the social gaming networks of choice on the iPhone/iPad. And, in newer versions of the games that utilize these tools, you can now upload your save data to their servers. Here's hoping that Game Center replicates this functionality.

All in all, gaming on the iPad is a real treat. Whether you are a hardcore gamer or someone who likes the occasional game of solitaire, this is one of the best formats for gaming. It's definitely worth a try!

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Yes, but I should be clear: the iPad is the first device that represents the future of personal computing. It, in and of itself, is not perfect. In fact, many of the ideals it represents are limitedly implemented and, in some cases, still not a reality.

So then, what does the future look like?

The future of computing is not going to be about USB, FireWire, parallel, or serial ports. Devices will be networked and will just work--no setup required. The iPad has no USB, but that doesn't stop one from adding music, movies, tv shows, and applications at anytime. You heard it here first: Apple will add wireless printing this year with the new iPad OS in the fall. It will just work. And yes, sometime soon, you'll be able to wirelessly sync your media files and personal documents with the cloud.

The future of computing is uber-portability. It's not going to be about power adapters and big screen displays. Leave those for your massive wall screens (you all know that's coming! 1984 or The Giver anyone?). The future is all about taking your computer where you want to be.

The future of computing isn't about computing. It's about content consumption and enjoyable, hassle-free content creation. The iPad does this in spades. Sure, it needs some help with complex Word documents and I'm not sure how it does as a full-time computer at work, but listen up: this is the way of the future.

Reality is, we all need to step back and ask what we really want. It's got nothing to do with the most gigahertz or doubling of ram. That's just a clever combination of technological failure and good marketing. I know that what I really care about is how I consume media, how I interact with family and friends (including the ability to do more of that in person), and how I spend my time in any given day. If you want to enjoy your life more and start to break free from the annoyance of old computing, get an iPad and settle in for the ride. This is just the start and I know I can't see the finish, but it's still going to be a heck of a fun trip.

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