I am off to Germany/Vilnius this week and I have started to pack. Talking about packing, what an amazing improvement I noticed on my trip to LA a couple weeks ago. I went out to see DMB and I decided to bring my trail/hiking pack instead of my normal carry-on. The NorthFace Headwall pack was simply perfect. Much lighter and easier to swing around in every way with better protection for my electronics. Change, can be traumatic and from the second I left the door for the airport I questioned the decision. It should be noted that the NorthFace pack was lighter packed than the Briggs and Riley pack was empty and it was about two-hundred less in cost. Perhaps this is something to always remember, select something based on the mission. So, as I am packing, I have a new problem: what to bring from my electronics stockpile. This question has arisen because I added a new device the iPad to the stockpile recently. So now I have the ; iPod, iPad, Kindle, MacBook Air and associated adapters. Do I bring it all or leave something behind?
Here are the mission requirements:
- Plane reading and Listening
- Music and or Ethics book when running in Vilnius, walking around, or when bored in airport
- Notes in conferences
- Movies and Music Videos
- Write some code
OK everyone; shout it out, the iPad and leave everything else at home! Did apple hit the homerun of fusion or what? I was thinking the same thing but hit a few snags when considering mission.
Running, Walking, bored in airport (walking around): It would be like strapping a boom box on your arm in 1995, I would rather have a walkman and a cassette than the iPad in that case. The iPod wins.
Plane reading and listening: I have to figure out if it downloads a newspaper like the kindle, but when we get to international 3g cost for a daily newspaper the kindle wins. But we are talking about the plane. I guess if it was for listening as I fall asleep crossing the Atlantic I could put it in the seat pocket or wedge it against me, but it surely won’t go in my shirt pocket like the iPod. iPod and Kindle win.
Notes in conference: iPad will beat the battery life of my MacBook Air and I can use the web and everything I need, but the on-screen keyboard and I are not the best of friends yet and I may be a two to multi finger typist that turns into a two thumb typist because you have to hold the iPad – right. MacBook Air Wins.
Movies and Music Videos: If that was the only requirement then the iPad beats all except for the MacBook Air. However, iPad has a cool factor beyond the air, but as I said above my decision will be based on mission and cool is not one of my mission requirements.
Write Some code: MacBook Air, no question.
So there you have it. The iPad did not make the cut for my business trip; it is the kindle, iPod and MacBook Air. Maybe the iPad is best suited for a weekender. Going to London and Paris next month, maybe the iPad will make the cut!