Elegant Machines

Part 2 - Matthew Wettergreen is hilarious in this one! While in...

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:15:06 -0600

Part 2 - Matthew Wettergreen is hilarious in this one! While in downtown Houston, TX at the Mom 2.0 Summit we (Grace Rodriguez, Matthew Wettergreen, Kelsey Ruger and I) got to ride in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. Take that off the bucket list!

While in downtown Houston, TX at the Mom 2.0 Summit we (Grace...

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:44:28 -0600

While in downtown Houston, TX at the Mom 2.0 Summit we (Grace Rodriguez, Matthew Wettergreen, Kelsey Ruger and I) got to ride in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. Take that off the bucket list!

Various images of the Apple iPad.

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:13:31 -0600

Various images of the Apple iPad.

Thoughts on the Apple iPad

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:58:00 -0600

I am really excited about the iPad. I was excited about it before Steve Jobs showed it to the world last week (see my blog post about it here) and I’m even more excited about it now. I’d buy one today if they were available.

I’ve been reading about it since last week in various blogs (I’m a fan of John Gruber at DaringFireball.net) and newspaper websites. I’ve also listened to more than a few podcasts that focused on it (some faves are This Week in Tech with Leo Laporte as well as Laporte’s MacBreak Weekly and the gdgt podcast with Ryan Block and Peter Rojas.) So if you don’t have the time or want to put the effort into taking in all of the above, I’ve got my version of a digest for you below. Doing all the hard work for you :-)

So having taken all of this in and thought a good deal about the iPad and what it means for computing, there are a few things that have made particular sense to me. Remember, these are not my ideas, just my personal affirmations of them. You can read/listen to the above sources and you’ll be exposed to the same material I’ve been.

One of the worst analogies I’ve heard about the iPad is that “it’s just like a big iPod Touch” or iPhone. Just because they share qualities, doesn’t make them the same at all. The iPad also looks a lot like the screen from my 13” MacBook. Do they share the same qualities or characteristics? A few, sure. They look similar (at a glance). They’re both made of aluminum and have a glass display surface, but that’s where the comparison ends. This is just a red herring.

People have also been pointing out numerous “faults” with the iPad. A few include “It doesn’t have a camera.”, “It can’t multitask.”, “I can’t run whatever software I want on it.” and there were many others.

I’m not going to address each of the above individually, but rather collectively by simply saying - so what? It’s Apple’s product, not yours. You don’t make it, you don’t get to decide what goes into it. Harsh? Sure, but so is life. Sometimes. Apple is trying to give customers (who want to buy the device) the best experience possible. One of the most impressive things I’ve heard from Leo Laporte, John Gruber and others is about the incredible speed. In addition to the speed is the stability. Speed and stability would probably rank in the top 5 of desired traits of a computing device, if not right at 1 and 2.

From what I’ve read/heard, Apple’s new A4 processor is likely responsible for the blazing speed and as for the stability? I’d say platform (iPhone OS) maturity and the fact that Apple controls all of the hardware used and can write the software to work with it perfectly. People harp on Apple and their control issues, but this is what it gets you. Incredible stability.

Media Consumption Device

I believe it was Andy Ihnatko who stated on TWiT that the iPad is a “Media Consumption Device” and I couldn’t agree more. The iPad is for browsing the web, reading books, periodicals and newspapers, watching video and listening to music and podcasts. It’s all about consuming content and being the best device for that on the market. It’s not about creating content. For that, use a laptop.

They Want the Thing in the Movies

One blog post I will link directly to, because it’s one of the most poignant I’ve read about the iPad is this one - The Failure of Empathy. Two quotes that really sum it up for me and speak volumes are “It’s the subtraction of 20lbs of textbooks in my son’s backpack, and the device I finally feel comfortable buying my parents.” and “They want the thing in the movies.”

Yep. I want to buy the iPad for my 70+ year old parents and yep, I want the thing in the movies too. Until I get my flying car and jet pack, it’ll suffice very nicely.

Proposed mock-ups of the Apple tablet

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:08:59 -0600

Proposed mock-ups of the Apple tablet

The Apple Tablet

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:06:00 -0600

If you know me at all you know that I am an Apple fan. I have a 24” iMac at home (I have a new 27” iMac at work), a 13” MacBook and an iPhone 3G (I’m waiting for the next gen version hopefully to come out this Summer before I upgrade). Before being a “Mac” I was a “PC” running Linux. I loved its power, stability and flexibility. Now I believe the Mac has all that and the prettiest, best designed interface ever and that’s important to me also. Plus the hardware is just incredibly designed. So, now I’m a Mac through and through. (By the way, I was a PC running Windows back in the darker days of my computing experience from Windows ‘95 through XP.)

So, with that introduction out of the way, on to my thoughts on the proposed Apple tablet that will supposedly (hopefully) be released at the end of this month (January 2010) and the main reason I’m writing this blog post. I’m going to stick my neck out just a little by saying I think the tablet has huge potential and will be a big success. Beyond that though is why I think it’ll be successful.

I’m also a big fan of John Gruber of Daring Fireball and you only need read his post about “The Tablet” to know my thoughts on it. I think John is spot on with his analysis.

Additionally, I don’t think (as some have surmised) that it will be called iSlate or iTablet. I also don’t think the $1000 price is true. (If it does in fact cost $1000, I believe it will in some way be better and more than anyone has predicted in ways we can’t imagine right now.) I’m guessing that the price tag will be in the more reasonable $500-600 range.

I think Grubers best points are the following: “I say they’re swinging big — redefining the experience of personal computing.” this “The Tablet will do less than we expect but the things it does do, it will do insanely well. It will offer a fraction of the functionality of a MacBook — but that fraction will be way more fun. The same myopic feature-checklist-obsessed critics who dismissed the iPhone will focus on all that The Tablet doesn’t do and declare that this time, Apple really has fucked up but good. The rest of us will get in line to buy one.” and lastly “The Tablet, I say, is going to be Apple’s new answer to what you use for personal portable general computing.”

To sum up this post and put the finest point on it I can, I’ll say this: what Gruber says above about those who dismissed the iPhone rings so very true to me. I think the iPhone is the best portable device ever created. Ever. But that’s me. There are millions and millions of people that have yet to buy an iPhone. I understand why and I’m okay with that. My Mom has always said “that’s what sells soap”. I just see a lot of potential in the tablet platform and I think the real wealth of the platform is what we can’t imagine yet. What new paradigms will it bring about in mobile computing? Maybe none. But just maybe…

Photos from my visit to Stella Sola here in the Heights...

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:00:46 -0600

Photos from my visit to Stella Sola here in the Heights (Houston, TX).

A Great Time and Meal at Stella Sola

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:58:16 -0600

I went to a new restaurant in the Heights with some friends last week and had a wonderful time. The restaurant, called Stella Sola (on Twitter @StellaSola). The friends in attendance included JR Cohen and his lovely wife Paola, Gus Tello and his lovely wife Melanie and lastly but certainly not least the awesome Far Wyde.

We had an amazing time with great conversation and we even had the fortune of Bill Shirley joining us!

As for my fantastic meal, I started with a Martinez from the bar which consisted of Gin, Chambourd, bitters and Maraschino and it was lovely. I then proceeded to our table where I ordered an appetizer of Bucatini and Crab meat. My main entré was their ribeye with this very nice sauce that consisted of pear and onion with a touch of what Far thought was cumin. Both plates were wonderful! I also had a glass of shiraz with my meal that was a very nice compliment. To finish things off I had a scrumptious chocolate torte and scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with the most amazing spiced pecans. This dessert was the perfect way to top off the meal. What a wonderful experience overall and what great friends to share it with!

It was such a great way to get to know everyone a little better and we remarked how we (the larger social media community in Houston) really need to get together more often, especially with those we’ve not met yet or see rarely. It’s great to catch up!

I’m going to see @clickwindrepeat and @dryvetyme tonight at The Mink as the @PrairieCadets -...

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:49:54 -0600

I’m going to see @clickwindrepeat and @dryvetyme tonight at The Mink as the @PrairieCadets - you should too!

HOLY!!! RT @GunsandTacos: I JUST FOUND TACOS DE TROMPO. http://twitpic.com/wjw0a

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:49:44 -0600

HOLY!!! RT @GunsandTacos: I JUST FOUND TACOS DE TROMPO. http://twitpic.com/wjw0a

Hell yeah for reals! Kick-ass is gonna be awesome!! : ) RT @ThursdayGirl: For reals?????...

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:40:27 -0600

Hell yeah for reals! Kick-ass is gonna be awesome!! : ) RT @ThursdayGirl: For reals????? http://bit.ly/6eRqoU

great job by @waysidedrive at Rudz tonight!

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:08:43 -0600

great job by @waysidedrive at Rudz tonight!

I’m at Jenni’s Noodle House in Houston, TX http://gowal.la/s/QZi

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:06:41 -0600

I’m at Jenni’s Noodle House in Houston, TX http://gowal.la/s/QZi

I’m at Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston, TX http://gowal.la/s/cAc

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:06:39 -0600

I’m at Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston, TX http://gowal.la/s/cAc

Anvil tonight?? Who wants food and then Anvil?

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:01:17 -0600

Anvil tonight?? Who wants food and then Anvil?

LOLZ RT @deneyterrio: ITT Tech is playing Devry in the Flux Capacitor Bowl today! Place your bets

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:58:29 -0600

LOLZ RT @deneyterrio: ITT Tech is playing Devry in the Flux Capacitor Bowl today! Place your bets

RT @aimeewoodall: Houston Tweeters: We’re throwin’ a social media shin-dig...

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:58:28 -0600

RT @aimeewoodall: Houston Tweeters: We’re throwin’ a social media shin-dig @YelapaMexicana on Jan. 20th. Please RSVP/RT http://bit.ly/8hsPjw

about to nap. Yes! Loving this long weekend. What to do tonight though? Suggestions?

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:58:26 -0600

about to nap. Yes! Loving this long weekend. What to do tonight though? Suggestions?

Yay for competition! RT @maslowbeer: sweeeeet. RT @dbmurdoch Google Tablet: Google and HTC To Launch...

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:58:25 -0600

Yay for competition! RT @maslowbeer: sweeeeet. RT @dbmurdoch Google Tablet: Google and HTC To Launch Apple iSlate Rival http://bit.ly/6BuU3Q

I’m at Coffee Groundz in Houston, TX http://gowal.la/s/oZw

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:55:13 -0600

I’m at Coffee Groundz in Houston, TX http://gowal.la/s/oZw