iPad

dadagoboi · July 24, 2010, 07:23:08 PM

I've had an Acer Netbook since Dec '08. For me a it's a much better option, has ALL my files and programs on it and runs Photoshop and Netflix. At home I plug it in to a 32" monitor with a wireless extension keyboard and mouse. On the road it's just fine, 6hr battery life and good screen.

I started out carrying a $3000 10 lb laptop back and forth to Asia at the turn of the century. This puppy cost $300 and weighs 2+. If it's lost, stolen or breaks it's no biggie...and no contract.

More money for cars, motorcycles and basses!

Lightyear · July 24, 2010, 07:26:29 PM

My wife probably has the same Acer - except that I doubt yours is pink

It's been pretty bullet proof so far.

dadagoboi · July 24, 2010, 07:31:55 PM

Quote from: Lightyear on July 24, 2010, 07:26:29 PM
My wife probably has the same Acer - except that I doubt yours is pink It's been pretty bullet proof so far.

Well I wanted pink but they were sold out

...mine's black like the POS $1800 HP it replaced. This is my third Acer, they have been very dependable. My daughter in law is still using one I bought six years ago that she spilled coffee into.

Pilgrim · July 24, 2010, 08:28:17 PM

I think the Acers are pretty nice units...and their capabipities surprise me. They aren't powerhouses by todays standards but they are more powerful than desktops were not long ago.

Highlander · July 25, 2010, 05:51:08 AM

The Dell laptop I bought in 2003 still runs reasonably well, but I only user her for my book-writing... this Dell gets a lot more abuse...

I (effectively) don't have a mobile phone, and if I use one, it's one of my daughter's cast-offs... thankfully she does not do pink... I have a hideous HTC with qwerty for work...

Barklessdog · July 25, 2010, 10:26:16 AM

I looked at Ipads over the weekend. They do not replace a lap top, not DVD drive, no firewire, its more for web surfing to replace books & magizines. Word processing is not going to be as nice as a lap top. My brother has a PC with the flip screen that does what the I pad does that he has owned for years.

I think the I pad is more about killing the print industry than the hardware its on.

Pilgrim · July 25, 2010, 02:31:52 PM

The iPad definitely has a niche...but as you point out, there are some features it doesn't have.

My Acer doesn't have a DVD drive, but I picked up an external USB-connected DVD drive on Ebay for about $45. Works great.

Highlander · July 25, 2010, 04:01:22 PM

My Dell's got a floppy option... and I can even play movies on it, just...

That is something I find extremely irritating... modern PC's do not come with DVD playing software...

Dave W · July 25, 2010, 06:37:54 PM

Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on July 25, 2010, 04:01:22 PM
That is something I find extremely irritating... modern PC's do not come with DVD playing software...

If the computer has a DVD player and you're using Windows Media Player 10 or later, all you need is the proper codec pack which you can download for free.

Pilgrim · July 25, 2010, 08:08:20 PM

Quote from: Dave W on July 25, 2010, 06:37:54 PM
If the computer has a DVD player and you're using Windows Media Player 10 or later, all you need is the proper codec pack which you can download for free.

True.

Although I am not a MS basher, I will say without equivocation that unfortunately Windows Media Player is the least intuitive, most contrary, unhelpful, confusing, useless bit of software I have ever encountered in my life. I loathe it and will go to great lengths to avoid using it.

Lightyear · July 25, 2010, 08:11:56 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on July 25, 2010, 08:08:20 PM
True.

Although I am not a MS basher, I will say without equivocation that unfortunately Windows Media Player is the least intuitive, most contrary, unhelpful, confusing, useless bit of software I have ever encountered in my life. I loathe it and will go to great lengths to avoid using it.

DAMNIT MAN! Would you please quit beating 'round the bush and tell us how you really feel!

Pilgrim · July 25, 2010, 08:15:27 PM

(Cue the McCoy snarl...)

Damn it Lightyear, I'm a Director of Learning Technologies, not a diplomat!!

Lightyear · July 25, 2010, 08:33:23 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on July 25, 2010, 08:15:27 PM
(Cue the McCoy snarl...)

Damn it Lightyear, I'm a Director of Learning Technologies, not a diplomat!!

And a tenured one at that

Pilgrim · July 25, 2010, 08:54:00 PM

I wuz tenured oncet but left there a year later....never been in a tenure-track position since.

I just make them leetle electrons chase around....

Here's my latest toy: Panopto: http://www.panopto.com/

Runs on any current Mac or PC, lets you capture lectures and play 'em back through a web browser. All you need is a camera and micriophone to do the capture. We're rolling it out to capture a number of distance ed classes this fall. Makes the hardware-based boxes we bought to do the same thing at $20,000 a pop look rather overpriced.

Here's a sample from a faculty training session - I don't think you need to login to view it - let me know if you do.
http://csudce.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer/Default.aspx?id=4c95f6c2-f5e9-4473-8344-888d88934149

Lightyear · July 25, 2010, 09:38:50 PM

Very nice! My corporation uses Brainshark for the dreaded, and never ending, online training sessions.

I just ended a once a month online live training event that used the Adobe live meeting product - basically a couple of presenters talking for 2+ hours over 50 or more Power Point slides. With participants and presenters on the phone.

This would have definatley been an improvement. Is this product cost competitive?