For the better part of 5 years, due to prosperity and for work, we’ve always been a multiple computer household. Until recently it was a powerful gaming PC, an iMac, an iBook, two iPhones, a PC I have connected to the TV to eliminate our old cable bill, my wife’s crappy work Dell laptop, two iPhones, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii <\/p>\n
… do the DS, Didj and PSP count? Anyway, that’s enough computer power err… to do something difficulty computing-wise. Or something. Now add an iPad on the list – remove one iPhone, and likely remove the MacBook. It’s still quite a list – and more than we need. <\/p>\n
Almost all of these things are new, so I can’t even hide being the idea of this being legacy devices. Where was I going with this? Oh yes, I love the MacBook – I’ve written most GD posts and my three books on it – but it’s kind of heavy and it isn’t a comfortable read-in-bed Kindle platform (I’m a Kindle addict btw). I loved my iPhone, but I never used the mandatory data plan on it. So that was $20 a month we didn’t need to spend. Linda’s iPhone works, but she dropped it a year or so ago and the screen consists of spiderweb cracks. Good to use as a phone or iPod, but not as an iPhone.<\/p>\n
Switching from a data plan to a plan with 2 more free phones from AT&T saves us $40 a month. The iPhone becomes an iPod – not touch, because of the cracks – and that leaves me without an iPhone or a kindle I can use in the dark of night during my frequent insomnia.<\/p>\n
So, how can I fill all these needs at once and save money in the long run? Here’s the logic: iPad is a Kindle, iPod Touch, game playing system – all apps work and I’m record for loving iPhone apps – and if I throw in the awesome charger\/hold it upright quality keyboard sold separately – I’ve got a lightweight laptop style writing device with a handy touch screen interface.<\/p>\n
So, with the MacBook, not new but in great shape with some expensive software installed – Word anyone? – I should be able to get around $750-900 for it (according to ebay). iPad is $499 with 16GB (i don’t need more, really) and the dock\/keyboard\/upright holder thing is another $79. So roughly that’s a savings of a few hundred dollars. And this doesn’t even mention the $40 Linda and I are saving by dropping the data plan and not buying an iPod Touch, which was my other plan for Kindle and app reasons. The iPad is a poor replacement for the Macbook, admittedly, but it’s easier to travel with and does what I need. Well, except it doesn’t do Flash. Which annoying but I’ve three other much larger screens and computers that do.<\/p>\n
That’s how I bought an iPad and saved money doing it. <\/p>\n
The weirdest thing? Not having a mouse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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