The key thing about me is, I don't like to be tied down to my desktop at all times. Considering it can get quite cold in this room (or quite hot, for that matter), or I can simply just get bored in here. Like now for instance, I want to surf the net, but I also want to lay down on my bed and watch/listen to a DVD of some kind, so I'm drawn between where exactly I want to be lazy.
Now as mentioned, I have a laptop. And that laptop has served me well for four of the past five years. Three of them it was my primary computer, until I bought the desktop I'm using now. And really, it's only use is surfing the net. But unfortunately, my home WiFi network isn't strong enough to reach my bedroom, but that's okay! I have a USB Modem to give me access to a prepaid 3G network with much faster download speeds. But! The laptop has no working sound card (it's there, but it is really broken, I could fix it, but I don't want to rip it apart again and tinker. I barely got it back together the first time! I did quite literally look like Iain Peregrine, only with less facial hair, more body mass and more hair on my head), thus making most of it's primary functions evidently pointless. I can't laugh at stupid YouTube videos, nor can I listen to music.
My iTouch is in the same boat as my Laptop. The WiFi network isn't strong enough to reach my bedroom, and my ISP actually has something screwy with it that breaks the YouTube application on my iTouch anyway. And it's lack of ability to use Flash is a real pain in the behind (wake the hell up Apple, flash is kinda important!).
So I started researching the iPad. Although apparently bound to some of the same limitations as my iTouch (FLASH, DAMN YOU!) it does have the same benefit of being able to connect to that same prepaid 3G Australia-Wide wireless network. And that is definitely a very good plus. It's screen appears to be bigger than that of my laptop AND it's considerably lighter and far less bulky. Three more pluses to an otherwise uninteresting piece of technology.
And the truth be told, I could go out and buy one tomorrow if I choose too. The unfortunate consequence with that is, if I should do so, I set myself back a minimum of $800.00 (note: I can't use the WiFi ones for aforementioned reasons, it's 3G or nothing). Which would put my new computer back by at least two months, my savings plan would remain to be as incredibly tight as it is now ($175.00 a week, sometimes leaving me with nothing more than $30.00 a week to spend (good thing I'm used to it...)).
But before I got crazy with cash and start buying every new random piece of electronic equipment I can get my fairly clean well built hands on, I'd like to really weigh the pros and cons. So far, they're a bit like this:
The Pros I could figure:
- Easy access the internet from everywhere.
- Easier to conceal than a laptop.
- Far less bulky than a laptop.
- Convenience factor is high.
- Less screwing around than a laptop (start up times, load times, etc).
The cons I could figure:
- Safari. 'nuff said.
- Lack of flash capability (see Safair).
- Easy to break.
- Set desktop computer back two months.
- Minimum $20.00 per month for said internet.
Requires iTunes and PC to update(Wait, just realised, AppStore on 3G network should cover this.- Inability to use BYOND
Comparing the two, you can see the cons has one more than the pros. However, since I only play like, two BYOND games anyway, I can just Telnet my way into Chatters using a Telnet app on the iPad and use Chatters that way. Negating the last con. Thus, the pros and cons are relatively even in terms of numbers. But I'm assuming there are things I've completely overlooked, there always is, hence why I'm rather sceptical.
Decisions decisions. I think the most logical course of action is to finish the desktop, then move onto the iPad. And just deal with mild discomfort when browsing the net using other devices available to me... Or come up with some fantastic quick-win to make the necessary money to pay this off. (I know! Donate to me and I'll fix up tiberath.com and start updating those stories on a regular basis like I initially intended too... If only it was that easy.)
Damn you BYOND. You've got me conditioned too damn well.
[Edit]
<--(11:01 pm) Schnitzelnagler: One more con, you're going to get a first generation device if you buy now. Which isn't exactly desirable with Apple, as the iPad Touch experience shows.
I'd finish the desktop and then wait to see if another alternative develops. To me, not being able to use Flash and properly browsing the internet is a too big drawback as of right now.