I’ve made no attempt at hiding my love for many of Apple’s products.  It’s not easy admitting being an employee at Microsoft.  I just refuse to not enjoy and recognize great products even when they come from companies outside the one I work for.  I use an iPhone, and the reality is, there is not another phone on the planet that can match the hardware quality, and user experience it delivers.  If Microsoft did (or even came close), I’d be all over it.  My hope is that Windows Mobile 7 lessens the gap.

When the iPad hit, I knew it would be something I would want to get my hands on.  I didn’t really “need” it, but the cool factor definitely had me wanting one.  I opted for the Wifi version as 3G is skechy at best, and there are other options for mobile broadband even with the Wifi version.  That being said, here’s my initial thoughts on the device.

The Good

1. Form Factor – There’s no getting around it, using the iPad is bad ass.  It really is.  I love the form factor.  The build quality is outstanding of course.  It feels like a million bucks in your hands.  There’s just something really unique about busting out this device to check your email real quick, or look something up online.  I definitely see myself defaulting to the iPad many times over a traditional laptop for many of the things I do.

2. Media Monster – Music, movies and pictures are a blast on this thing.  It’s a true multimedia device, and an outstanding way to consume media.  I definitely see myself using it a ton to browse photos, manage music and watch movies.

3. Apps – The iTunes App Marketplace goes to another level on this thing.  It’s already money on the iPhone, but even more so now with larger screen real estate.  I can see this being a bonafide gaming device, and there are already some great inexpensive game apps that look amazing on this thing.

4. Battery Life – It’s crazy on this thing.  Easily lasts all day no matter what you are doing with some juice to spare.  Very impressive.

The Bad

1. No USB, Memory Card Reader – I really hate devices that are proprietary and don’t offer any universal plug in options.  I understand Apple is trying to ensure the quality of the user experience, but devices like this really could benefit from some input flexibility.  Now I have to purchase adapters to be able to plug in devices such as cameras or memory card readers.  Ugh.

2. No Multi-Tasking – It’s not an end of the world thing, but c’mon.  iPhone 4 is going to have it, so I’m guessing it’s just a matter of time before this feature hits, but it should have shipped with it.

3. No Camera – This isn’t a huge deal for me as I just wouldn’t see myself taking pictures with something like this, but I would DEFINITELY see myself video chatting.  Seems like another addition that wouldn’t have been difficult to implement.

The bottom line is that I see the iPad as a complimentary device.  Certainly not a laptop replacement, but definitely something I would see many people using quite a bit.  My guess is that I will decrease my traditional laptop usage by at least 50% if not more.  Browsing online, managing email, media consumption are all handled very well by the iPad and much more fun.  If you’re torn on whether to bite, consider just going with the Wifi version and saving a few hundred bucks.  There’s so much Wifi out there these days, I don’t see the value in spending more for the 3G and the monthly charges.

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I finally got around to start video blogging.  What better way then to review one of my new favorite gadgets, the Toshiba Netbook NB205.  Enjoy! First time around so be gentle. I’m hoping to make this a 2-3 times per month thing, but who knows.

I’ve had the machine for about a week or so and I have to say it’s definitely impressive for a netbook. If you’re in the market or considering, have a watch as I’m sure it will help with your buying decision.

Purchase the Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook – 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)

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It’s no secret I have formed a deep, passionate love for all things Apple over the past 6 months. After a 2 month learning curve getting used to the differences in operating systems, I am fully assimilated. Of course with Windows 7 now out, I’m much more likely to boot up in Windows once I get around to installing the new system.

My latest love is the new Apple Magic Mouse. I was in an Apple Store the other day and played around with their most recent mouse offering. As with all things Apple, it definitely looked and felt like an impressive piece of hardware. After having the store employee demonstrate a bit, and playing with it, I couldn’t resist. Even despite the $69 price tag.

First things first. $69 is a lot to pay for a mouse. Especially when you can walk into a Best Buy and get a decent one for roughly $25. But when you decide to go Apple, you know you are going to pay more. So was the purchase worth it?

So far, I’d say yes. Like I mentioned, the build quality is far superior to any mouse I’ve ever handled. Even Logitech’s top offering doesn’t even come close to comparing (I know, I’ve had this one). This mouse feels like you could drop it a few stories and it would still survive. It is a very narrow design, so those used to a bulkier mouse design will probably find issue with the comfort factor. This wasn’t as much of an issue for me as I had been using the Microsoft Arc mouse for awhile which also has a low profile design.

There’s also a bit of a learning curve using this mouse with the multi-touch functionality. Most users are used to using buttons on a mouse, so using finger gestures to accomplish similar tasks takes a bit getting used to. For users of the newer Macbook Pros with the glass touchpads, this learning curve is much less.

I absolutely love being able to scroll using finger gestures on the mouse. The new glass touchpads on the Macbooks are revolutionary, and I always found myself missing the finger gesture functionality when using whatever mouse I had paired with my laptop. Now I don’t have to. Holding control and finger swiping allows you to zoom in and out which is also a nice touch.

The bottom line is this; if you are a newer Macbook Pro owner, the magic mouse is a no brainer. You’ll be used to the functionality and it pairs very well. However if the new trackpad functionality doesn’t matter much to you, I doubt this mouse will either. Also, one frustration point is that the mouse doesn’t function entirely out of the box when paired with your laptop. It requires a software update that automatically appears once paired.

Expensive? Yes. But I would anticipate that like other Apple products, the lifespan of this piece of hardware will eventually warrant the price tag.  Time will tell.

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