ipads and the Writer
Last
week I saw a post for a free writing course called Creative Writing, Learning
from the Masters. The six featured writers included Norman Mailer. I quickly
went to have a look at it on Apple’s itunes U. I successfully download the
ibook of the course onto my computer but could not open it as I did not have an
iphone or ipad. Rotten Apple.
week I saw a post for a free writing course called Creative Writing, Learning
from the Masters. The six featured writers included Norman Mailer. I quickly
went to have a look at it on Apple’s itunes U. I successfully download the
ibook of the course onto my computer but could not open it as I did not have an
iphone or ipad. Rotten Apple.
But
then I thought, maybe I could buy an ipad. Apart from allowing me to get advice
on how to write from Norman Mailer, buying an ipad would allow me to download
from the ibookstore. And if I downloaded a wordprocessing app, I could use the
ipad to write with when my laptop got sick.
then I thought, maybe I could buy an ipad. Apart from allowing me to get advice
on how to write from Norman Mailer, buying an ipad would allow me to download
from the ibookstore. And if I downloaded a wordprocessing app, I could use the
ipad to write with when my laptop got sick.
I
went online and found that ipads ranged in price from a mini-ipad at just under
$400 to fourth-generation ipads at just under $800. My eyesight’s not too
great, so I wanted the biggest screen possible, which cut out the mini version.
The cheapest full sized fourth-generation version was $500. That version only
had wi-fi, which is what I wanted as there was no way that I was going to shell
out money for a 3G mobile type plan.
went online and found that ipads ranged in price from a mini-ipad at just under
$400 to fourth-generation ipads at just under $800. My eyesight’s not too
great, so I wanted the biggest screen possible, which cut out the mini version.
The cheapest full sized fourth-generation version was $500. That version only
had wi-fi, which is what I wanted as there was no way that I was going to shell
out money for a 3G mobile type plan.
After
I found my wallet, dusted it off and carefully pried its compartments open, I
found I did have enough money to buy an ipad. So I dashed off down the street,
excited at the prospect of getting a new tech toy. First stop Dicksmiths, but they
didn’t sell them, that left Harvey Norman. They didn’t sell them either. Was
this to be another case of Wangaratta retailers not having what I wanted?
I found my wallet, dusted it off and carefully pried its compartments open, I
found I did have enough money to buy an ipad. So I dashed off down the street,
excited at the prospect of getting a new tech toy. First stop Dicksmiths, but they
didn’t sell them, that left Harvey Norman. They didn’t sell them either. Was
this to be another case of Wangaratta retailers not having what I wanted?
I
often joke that Wangaratta is a great place to save as its shops never have
what I want. Recently I had to travel to Albury (an hour’s drive away) to get a
pair of thongs that didn’t make me look like a complete bogan and a decent
towel for the pool (hence the need to find and dust off my wallet).
often joke that Wangaratta is a great place to save as its shops never have
what I want. Recently I had to travel to Albury (an hour’s drive away) to get a
pair of thongs that didn’t make me look like a complete bogan and a decent
towel for the pool (hence the need to find and dust off my wallet).
But
when asked, a salesperson in Harvey Norman told me that Big W might sell ipads.
Big W??? But they just sell crap. They don’t even sell decent thongs or pool
towels. But then again, how could they stuff up an ipad? They are all mass
produced in Chinese sweat shops. So I walked around to Big W. They had four
mini-ipads and one (just one) fourth generation wi-fi only ipad. I bought it.
when asked, a salesperson in Harvey Norman told me that Big W might sell ipads.
Big W??? But they just sell crap. They don’t even sell decent thongs or pool
towels. But then again, how could they stuff up an ipad? They are all mass
produced in Chinese sweat shops. So I walked around to Big W. They had four
mini-ipads and one (just one) fourth generation wi-fi only ipad. I bought it.
I
have spent the last few days fiddling with it. I have signed up and read the
first bits of the Creative Writing, Learning from the Masters course. The ibook
is full of videos of the authors talking. I will let you know what I think of the
course when I am further into it.
have spent the last few days fiddling with it. I have signed up and read the
first bits of the Creative Writing, Learning from the Masters course. The ibook
is full of videos of the authors talking. I will let you know what I think of the
course when I am further into it.
I
downloaded a free word-processing app, and learnt that I could send its
documents through email to word on my laptop. I then purchased a Bluetooth keyboard
that I can use to write those documents. The keyboard also acts as a stand for
the ipad, so it is like having another laptop. So I have a back-up computer.
downloaded a free word-processing app, and learnt that I could send its
documents through email to word on my laptop. I then purchased a Bluetooth keyboard
that I can use to write those documents. The keyboard also acts as a stand for
the ipad, so it is like having another laptop. So I have a back-up computer.
Comparison of ipad to
a Kindle.
a Kindle.
·
I
changed the ipad’s screen to sepia, but I still much prefer the sepia look of a
Kindle screen.
I
changed the ipad’s screen to sepia, but I still much prefer the sepia look of a
Kindle screen.
·
I
prefer the page number system for ibooks on an ipad to the percentage system
used by the Kindle.
I
prefer the page number system for ibooks on an ipad to the percentage system
used by the Kindle.
·
A
Kindle is much lighter than an ipad.
A
Kindle is much lighter than an ipad.
·
It
is much easier to return to the table of contents in an ibook than in the
Kindle.
It
is much easier to return to the table of contents in an ibook than in the
Kindle.
Overall,
I prefer to read ebooks on a Kindle because of the look of the page and the
ipad starts to cramp up my hands after holding it for extended periods.
I prefer to read ebooks on a Kindle because of the look of the page and the
ipad starts to cramp up my hands after holding it for extended periods.
Price Comparision
Between ibookstore and Amazon.
Between ibookstore and Amazon.
It
has been a long time since I compared prices of Amazon’s ebooks with Apple’s ibooks.
I had concluded that Amazon was much cheaper. This time I compared eight books
that range from current bestsellers to the classics.
has been a long time since I compared prices of Amazon’s ebooks with Apple’s ibooks.
I had concluded that Amazon was much cheaper. This time I compared eight books
that range from current bestsellers to the classics.
·
Rebecca
– Daphne Du Maurier – ibook $12.99,
Amazon $13.75
Rebecca
– Daphne Du Maurier – ibook $12.99,
Amazon $13.75
·
The
Twelve – Justin Cronin – ibook $19.99, Amazon $21.22
The
Twelve – Justin Cronin – ibook $19.99, Amazon $21.22
·
1984
– George Orwell – ibook 99c, Amazon 99c
1984
– George Orwell – ibook 99c, Amazon 99c
·
Ark
– Stephen Baxter – ibook $11.99, Amazon $12.69
Ark
– Stephen Baxter – ibook $11.99, Amazon $12.69
·
A
Wanted Man – Lee Child – ibook $9.99, Amazon $10.52
A
Wanted Man – Lee Child – ibook $9.99, Amazon $10.52
·
Fifty
Shades of Grey – ibook $8.99, Amazon $8.33
Fifty
Shades of Grey – ibook $8.99, Amazon $8.33
·
War
and Peace – ibook free, Amazon 99c
War
and Peace – ibook free, Amazon 99c
·
The
Paradox Resolution – KA Bedford – ibook N/A, Amazon $9.99
The
Paradox Resolution – KA Bedford – ibook N/A, Amazon $9.99
So my quick survey shows ibooks are currently
generally slightly cheaper than Amazon.
generally slightly cheaper than Amazon.
I also discovered a free space invaders game
app for my ipad, and I can hear its thrum thrum thrumming. Now if only I could
play it and drink coffee at the same time.
app for my ipad, and I can hear its thrum thrum thrumming. Now if only I could
play it and drink coffee at the same time.
0 Responses
you've almost convinced me!
Keira, come on over to the darkside
Graham… I got my iPad shortly before Nano… based on experience, you need to look at Dropbox (free)… to transfer files between your laptop and the iPad and Textilus (also free) as the word processor for your iPad.
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Thanks Laurie, I will have a look at the apps.
Ohhh Space Invaders – cool.
I think I must be a techno phobe.
Sounds like you'll have lots of fun with it.
I'm still sticking to books.
😉
I second the recommendation of Dropbox … I use it to copy files between my PCs and my Android phone too …
… it's a "cloud storage" that creates a duplicate folder on each of your machines, so when you save to the dropbox folder on your home PC, it automatically copies those files into the dropbox folder on your iPad (and vice versa).
The Android dropbox (on my phone) can also be set to automatically sync new photos, so when I take a picture with my phone, it automatically appears in the folder on my home desktop machine. (I have switched this off for the moment, as it isn't something I *need* and it uses up battery!)
Anthony, I used to be the Space Invaders Champion of Menzies College at Latrobe Uni.
Magician, I've downloaded drop box and when I stop playing space invaders I will fiddle with it.
lol that's great Graham. I loved it as a kid in the shop, divided black and white screen.
I use SkyDrive – A basic Cloud – great to basic documents copied.