Time for a outpouring of Tech nonsense, and a blog post seems a good place to ramble on, as the pub is still two days away and I just need to get this off my chest, so apologies if it is a little incoherent.
Well, the iPad 2 ( or should it be, the iPad 1.5 ) has been launched, and I think that the price cut for the original iPad makes that device more attractive than the new one. Granted, I still cannot afford either model, or even the closest Android competitor in the Advent Vega, but the tablet market has hotted up, but still suffers from an identity complex.
A tablet can end up in the hands of a child, a pensioner, a builder or a techy and they will all have different requirments on its use, functionality and price., so how do you decide on what device to buy, if you have finally justified that you actually need one.
You know were you are with an Apple device, a 'walled garden' of applications, protected music and limited expansion, and no Flash for graphical websites, but the piece of mind of a stable enviroment at a premium cost. Whereas, an Android device offers more expansion and freedom with applications and Operating Systems to choose from, at a 'more affordable' cost. But these Operating Systems are not compatible with all devices, and neither are the applications that are available for download. It's great the Android platform is open, but it is fragmented because of its openess and freedom of choice. Vanilla Android devices can be flashed with different versions, but devices tied to an Mobile Operator will only get updates when they see fit.
You can now find applications that are available for both platforms, but with the majority having to be re-written from the Apple version to accomodate Android users. I believe the more Android devices that come to market, the more people will sway to them from Apple, forcing developers to create more applications.
From my point of view, I think the iPhone interface is user-friendly, and the apps I run all serve a purpose. However, lots of these apps require a internet connection and my current 3G bundle is ideal for my online usage. but how would I get on with a tablet as well. Taking a WiFi only tablet out and about has its problems, as WiFi is ideal at home, but unless I subscribe to FON,or take out a MiFi subscription, my tablet has lost a lot of functionality. This then impacts on its use as a 'cloud' device, and do I really need a bigger screen to do what I do now on my iPhone ?
I also have an extension iTunes library linked to my iPhone, and it means I have everything I need ( phone, Internet and music ) all on one device. Moving to adding a tablet to my collection of tech, would mean another device to carry, sync, charge and use.
I would gladly swap to an Android phone, but I would then need an iPod to access my music ( re-ripping CD's, exporting music out of iTunes onto CD and importing MP3's is not an quick and easy solution ), so I am in part 'tied to Apple', but those ties can be broken.
So when somebody asks me for some independant advice on this subject, I hope they appreciate how clear cut, it is not, and that I cold spend all day explaining the reasons. As I know once they have parted with their money, and if its not as expected, I will be getting another phone call.
Ramble over, and the brain is clear for the time being.
