What is an iPad?

Is the iPad revolutionary? Is the iPad a disappointment? Does the iPad fall a bit short of expectations? Is the iPad a serious gaming device? Will people prefer ebooks on a bright color screen? Is the iPad a netbook or notebook competitor? There are a hundred more question to be answered over the next few months.

My first impression of the iPad is that it is expensive and came nowhere near meeting the high expectations that have built up over the past months. That first impression was based on news clips, I had not watched the full presentation. So now after a few days have passed I sit down to hear the full presentation and my opinion of the iPad was changed dramatically but not in the way some might expect.

I think the iPad's success may come as a gaming device. Gaming and video were the areas that really impressed me and I will not be surprised to see the ipad's niche become gaming giving Sony and Nintendo some strong mobile gaming competition.

Of course there are other strong points of the iPad that cannot be underestimated.

Brushes for example was one of the more interesting programs. Brushes is a painting/drawing application that put in an artist's hands could be extremely interesting. The brushes demonstration actually made me wish that I could draw something other than stick figures.

Iwork with Pages, Keynote and Numbers will certainly spark some interest. Phil Schiller brought together a great presentation of iWork for iPad. I was really impressed with the ease of the automatic text wrap around in Pages. And the price of $9.99 each seems like a tremendous deal for the power in these apps.

Video and photography surely will look just as awesome as Mr. Jobs stated. I am sure that using the dock while playing a photo slideshow will make an ipad the best digital photo frame out there.

Music since the first iPod has been Apple's stronghold and I have no doubt that the iPad will continue that stronghold if not enhance it.

The data plans with AT&T at 29.99 unlimited plan and 14.99 are reasonable especially without being tied to a contract.

Working with the applications from the App Store will please those who have purchased many iPhone apps already. So it looks as though the App Store will grow from simple applications to a software super store. Microsoft meanwhile is probably thinking why didn't we do that, while Google is thinking why didn't we do that better.

That is the good and great of the iPad, but what about the bad.

The lack of a card reader in my opinion hurts the iPad. After all Job's trumpeted the how great the iPad displayed photography yet a simple card reader that you will find on all digital picture frames was left off the iPad.

Kindle killer? Not so sure that the iPad is the device I would want to read on. People spend so much time on their computers that I am not sure they will take to reading on a bright screen after spending their workday staring at their computer screen. Maybe I am wrong here but the Kindle with its electronic paper should have little worries about an iPad competitor.

Price plus data plan makes the iPad a fairly expensive device when most family's are struggling through a tough economy. Not many people are going to be willing to pay for internet service for their home computer, the a data plan for their phone then add on another data plan for this middle of the road device.

Virtual keyboard works for the iPhone not because it is liked it works because it is accepted on a mobile device. For the iPad I don't think virtual keyboard will enjoy the same acceptance.

Is the iPad your Mom's new computer? Is the iPad nothing more than an expensive digital photo frame? Is the iPad a new eBook reader? Is the iPad a television? Who knows but time will tell what exactly the iPad is but one answer we do know is that Apple has once again pushed technology ahead.

Art Of Another Time?

Does the world look better in black and white? I set down to go through photos making edits as necessary, occasionally I begin toying with the settings to an extreme. Almost always I come up with an incredible black and white image. Well maybe I should say I come up with a black and white image that looks incredible to me. I understand that most people prefer color and see black and white as an art of another time.

However the B&W photography of today is not the same as in your Grandparents time. Cameras and imaging software of today are so powerful that they can capture the brightest of whites and the darkest of blacks within a single image along with every shade in between. When I process many of the photos I have taken I usually end up deleting near half. Once in a while I take those photos I would ordinarily toss and see how they come out as a black and white photo. I have learned over the years that I usually find a gem without color.

Over the next year I hope to do more with B&W. I plan to upload many of the photos to Flickr and to my website. I hope you will take some time to explore B&W and maybe give it a try with your photography.

A Father's Eye's

  Geniuses 4-7
4 "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman.5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil."   6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

As I read through the Bible I make note of things that draw my attention, and this story of Adam and Eve begs a question. Verse 6 ends with these words (" she wanted the wisdom it would give her"). Wisdom that the forbidden fruit would bring to Gods creation's. So the question is, what is wrong with wisdom? The human race since its beginning has been in search of wisdom. So we have to wonder if not for the forbidden fruit would God have given us wisdom instead of a desire to gain wisdom.

I look at this verse in 2 different ways, first as a man attached to no one and alone in the world with my thoughts. As a man I want knowledge and wisdom now, I am impatient and I have a desire to try all things without worry. The second way to look at this question is as a father, and from that view I want to shield my son from gaining too much knowledge to quickly. I want to protect my son's youth and innocence for as long as possible. That is not too say that I want to keep wisdom from him, but I do want to match his wisdom with his maturity.

I believe the story of Adam and Eve needs to be read through the eyes of a father because when you read these words with a different understanding you will find a loving father broken hearted that his children's innocence has ended.