A question from a reader

Here's Nita's question: "I know you probably have explained this before but was wondering exactly how your reader works. I remember you saying you had bought some time for it and used it when your home pc was down. How does that work? Buying time? Using while on the bike trips etc?"

Nita, I have a Nook reader, which does nothing but allow me to read books I either buy or check out from the library.  That's all it is:  a reader.  

What you're talking about is my Apple Ipad.  Now, there's a Nook app for it, so I really would not have needed to buy my Nook; but to tell you the truth, I like reading books on the actual Nook much better than using the app on the Ipad.  I enjoy sitting outside to read when the weather is good; I also like to read stories to Cliff as we travel in the car.  The backlit screen of the Ipad (just like a computer) doesn't work very well with outdoor lighting.  

The Ipad is a computer, although its functions are limited; it's a bigger version of the Iphone, without the phone, if you've ever seen one of those.  It's probably the most expensive toy I've ever bought; but hey, I never ask for fancy clothes or shoes or jewelry.  Just an occasional cow or calf or computer.  

If we're on the road, I can subscribe to either unlimited Internet use for a month, or for a cheaper price, I can buy a limited amount of Internet time.  I can do this directly from my Ipad.  (Click HERE for a better description of what I'm talking about.)  If we happened to be traveling and stopped at a motel with free wi-fi, there would be no need to pay for time, because I'd use wi-fi for my Ipad, just as I do here at home.   

Just to satisfy my curiosity, I did buy the cheaper plan for $14.95 for one month; I wanted to make sure there was no way I'd be stuck with a monthly payment, and I wanted to see if the limited plan would be sufficient for me.  I had fun taking my Ipad along in the car and surfing as we traveled.  One warning:  You have to tell them you're done before your thirty days are up, or they'll automatically give you another months worth of Internet and charge your credit card.  I made a note on my calendar and unsubscribed with only twelve hours left.  I unsubscribed directly from the Ipad.  

The new Ipad 2 is 4G, but mine is 3G.  It's slow... almost as slow as our old dial-up connections.  But it does get you on the Internet very nicely.  

I hope this answers your questions.  

Dear Apple

If I had purchased my Ipad six days later than I did, you would have given me either $100 back or else let me trade it for the new Ipad 2.  
Come on, give me a break.  Please?  
I just did an entry in this blog about being a confirmed Apple user.  Doesn't free advertising count for something?  


Let's see if Apple is as attentive and vigilant as CenturyLink has been to my complaints.

My latest toy

You folks are not going to believe this, after all the soul-searching I did before buying my Nook e-reader.  The thing is, and I tell Cliff to remember this also, once he retires, a lot of this buying fun-but-needless things is going to stop.  
So it was almost Valentine's Day, which Cliff and I largely ignore except for my using it as an excuse to eat at Olive Garden.  The more I surfed and studied, the more I wanted an Ipad.  I began dropping this bomb on my husband in small doses.    
When these gadgets first came out, I recall saying to my daughter, "Why would I need an Ipad?"  
She replied, "You don't."  

Well, you may think you don't want  or "need" one, but don't be surfing too much and window-shopping, or you'll find out different.   
Now I realize that those of you who have fancy phones that surf the Net are used to this type of thing.  We've never needed such phones, nor could we justify the expensive plan that would be required to use them.   
My first reason for wanting an Ipad was that it's a compact way to carry my computer with me.  I've already added all my music and some pictures from my computer.  If we manage to go on some motorcycle trips after Cliff retires, space is at a premium in the little trailer we pull.  The Ipad is, first and foremost, a very compact computer.   
As I studied the situation more, I found out that by buying an Ipad with 3G capabilities, I can get on the Internet, for a fee, any time I want, without signing up for a full-time plan.  Whoa!!!  So when we visit Cliff's sister in St. Louis, I may be locked off their wi-fi, but I can buy some Internet time for $14.  Sweet!  
Don't get me started on the apps.  Discovering all these things about my Ipad, I get the same sensation as when I watch beautiful, extravagant fireworks displays:  Each one is better than the last.  I went to PC Mag's website to get suggestions for the best apps to download.  I didn't load a lot of them; many were games, and I don't need games.  But there are some dandies.  
There's an App for ABC television that lets you watch any of their shows on the Ipad.  News apps from most any local or national TV station.  All sorts of weather apps.  Epicurious gives me recipes; I type in the ingredients I want to use, this app gives me a recipe.      
Now, you ask, what about my Nook?  I find I still prefer it for reading, although I did add it to the Ipad; you never know when Cliff and I might want to read books at the same time.  I also added Kindle.  
My daughter asked yesterday why I hadn't blogged about getting the Ipad.  I don't know, maybe I felt a little guilty at spending so much of Cliff's money on foolishness, although he gave me the go-ahead before we got it.  Or maybe I was so overwhelmed with its greatness I was speechless.  
Whatever.  Now the whole world knows.      

All these new inventions

I've been studying up on these new-fangled e-readers for quite a while.  My friend Joanna has a Kindle.  

My Internet buddy, Jeanie, has a Nook.  They're comparably priced, and both have decent ratings.  If prices on these things get down around $100 at Christmas, I may get one.   

All this research led to my studying up on the Apple Ipad, which starts at $499.  No, I won't be buying one of those.  But it seems as though this thing could replace a laptop.  It has a web browser; you can get to your email; it's an e-reader.  


I wonder how long it will take Microsoft to come up with an equivalent to the Ipad.  It's bound to happen, isn't it?  Surely they want to make money from this new phenomenon.  If and when they do, it's bound to be much cheaper than the Macintosh product.  
What an interesting e-world we live in.  You just never know what's next.


Ohhh, news flash:  Microsoft plans to have their answer to the Ipad by Christmas!  And wait, what's this?  Dell Streak?  And here's something called the Eee Pad!  
Competition is bound to bring prices down.