bahwm wrote:ddeuddeg just said that Word is available for the iPad, but he's not sure exactly how. Also, you can purchase an extended keyboard that works with Bluetooth. Haven't done a lot with his iPad yet and he will be getting and iPad 2 soon from school. BTW, we are total Mac people in our home. I have a MacBook Pro. Love it!

Thanks, just installed Quick Office on my iPad. Works great.

bahwm wrote:ddeuddeg just said that Word is available for the iPad, but he's not sure exactly how. Also, you can purchase an extended keyboard that works with Bluetooth. Haven't done a lot with his iPad yet and he will be getting and iPad 2 soon from school. BTW, we are total Mac people in our home. I have a MacBook Pro. Love it!

And I forgive the both of you.


Actually, I should really push more people to Apple. Because then the virus & hacker people will target Apple much more, and that argument (Apple is better than Windows because less viruses!) flies out the window!!!

bahwm wrote:just curious, why do you prefer your wife's kindle for reading. I'm debating about that. We'll be doing a bit of travel this summer, but some of it will be in Spain. I'm not sure what I want to do about reading material. I hate to carry the weight of a few books. I also want to have internet access while we are away. We will probably get a loaner phone from verizon since I don't think the iPhone works in Spain, but I'm not sure about internet access with the loaner.

We watched a movie that I downloaded on ddeuddeg's iPad on the way back from Milwaukee in Feb. It was very clear and not pixelated.

I cannot recommend the Kindle enough for trips. Having all my books in one tiny package really cuts down on the volume needed for said books. Especially since I read so fast (usually went thru 2 to 3 books over 4 days).

The only problem is I have to re-buy the Kindle version of any books I already have. Or the teeny, tiny issue of them having only Book 2 of a series on the Kindle (and the other books in related series all on the Kindle) and having to buy Books 1 & 3 to finish the series.

Nice thing is you can sometimes get them cheaper or the same price as the paperback version.

MarkDaSpark wrote:I cannot recommend the Kindle enough for trips. Having all my books in one tiny package really cuts down on the volume needed for said books. Especially since I read so fast (usually went thru 2 to 3 books over 4 days).

The only problem is I have to re-buy the Kindle version of any books I already have. Or the teeny, tiny issue of them having only Book 2 of a series on the Kindle (and the other books in related series all on the Kindle) and having to buy Books 1 & 3 to finish the series.

Nice thing is you can sometimes get them cheaper or the same price as the paperback version.

Good thing I read slow.
I don't have any of these problems.

cortot20 wrote:Good thing I read slow.
I don't have any of these problems.

True. Dr. Seuss is hard enough for you.

Good thing the kid can teach you once they get old enough.

bahwm wrote:just curious, why do you prefer your wife's kindle for reading. [snip] We will probably get a loaner phone from verizon since I don't think the iPhone works in Spain, but I'm not sure about internet access with the loaner.

Kindle's e-ink display is a bazillion times easier on the eyes- it's like reading printed text eye strain wise. It's also much lighter and easier to hold, the battery lasts forever, and you can buy new reading material just about anywhere.

On the phone front- buy yourself an inexpensive unlocked "Quad Band GSM" phone and then get a prepaid SIM card from a French mobile operator. It will be a bazillion times cheaper than using a US carrier over there.

PS apparently I say bazillion a lot before I've had my coffee.

mother wrote:Kindle's e-ink display is a bazillion times easier on the eyes- it's like reading printed text eye strain wise. It's also much lighter and easier to hold, the battery lasts forever, and you can buy new reading material just about anywhere.

On the phone front- buy yourself an inexpensive unlocked "Quad Band GSM" phone and then get a prepaid SIM card from a French mobile operator. It will be a bazillion times cheaper than using a US carrier over there.

PS apparently I say bazillion a lot before I've had my coffee.

Soooo, after your coffee do you say buzzillion a lot? :-)

MarkDaSpark wrote:True. Dr. Seuss is hard enough for you.

Good thing the kid can teach you once they get old enough.

I read a 2-3 days a week during my lunch break.
It took me 1 1/2 years to finish Anathem. Kind of ridiculous.

bahwm wrote:just curious, why do you prefer your wife's kindle for reading. I'm debating about that. We'll be doing a bit of travel this summer, but some of it will be in Spain. I'm not sure what I want to do about reading material. I hate to carry the weight of a few books. I also want to have internet access while we are away. We will probably get a loaner phone from verizon since I don't think the iPhone works in Spain, but I'm not sure about internet access with the loaner.

We watched a movie that I downloaded on ddeuddeg's iPad on the way back from Milwaukee in Feb. It was very clear and not pixelated.

I would reiterate what mother said.

I like reading off the kindle screen more than the iPad, as the backlit display, although real nice, just isn't as nice to read off compared to the e ink. Plus, the kindle is much easier to hold compared to the iPad, and has a longer battery life as well.

mother wrote:Kindle's e-ink display is a bazillion times easier on the eyes- it's like reading printed text eye strain wise. It's also much lighter and easier to hold, the battery lasts forever, and you can buy new reading material just about anywhere.

On the phone front- buy yourself an inexpensive unlocked "Quad Band GSM" phone and then get a prepaid SIM card from a French mobile operator. It will be a bazillion times cheaper than using a US carrier over there.

PS apparently I say bazillion a lot before I've had my coffee.

So, why would I want a "prepaid SIM card from a French mobile operator" when we'll be in Spain? :

Coffee not kick in yet?

otolith wrote:I would reiterate what mother said.

I like reading off the kindle screen more than the iPad, as the backlit display, although real nice, just isn't as nice to read off compared to the e ink. Plus, the kindle is much easier to hold compared to the iPad, and has a longer battery life as well.

Thanks! This makes perfectly good sense to me. And, I think Sparky mentioned, when he visited, that it is easier to read the kindle in the sun--less glare/reflection. Not like I sit and read in the sun--my dermatologist wouldn't like that too much!

bahwm wrote:So, why would I want a "prepaid SIM card from a French mobile operator" when we'll be in Spain? :

Coffee not kick in yet?

Merde!

cortot20 wrote:I read a 2-3 days a week during my lunch break.
It took me 1 1/2 years to finish Anathem. Kind of ridiculous.

That's okay. I haven't finished Cryptonomicon yet, and I've had it for a few years now. Although if I opened it and actually started to read it .....

bahwm wrote:Thanks! This makes perfectly good sense to me. And, I think Sparky mentioned, when he visited, that it is easier to read the kindle in the sun--less glare/reflection. Not like I sit and read in the sun--my dermatologist wouldn't like that too much!

It is very much easier to read. I picked up a cover for my kindle which includes a light, so I can read when there isn't much light either.

As mentioned, battery life is really good, and it downloads the books very fast.

MarkDaSpark wrote:It is very much easier to read. I picked up a cover for my kindle which includes a light, so I can read when there isn't much light either.

As mentioned, battery life is really good, and it downloads the books very fast.

The other thing with the kindle is that it's much easier to hold. It's pretty light. The iPad is more difficult to hold with one hand.

otolith wrote:The other thing with the kindle is that it's much easier to hold. It's pretty light. The iPad is more difficult to hold with one hand.

I like the easier to hold & the light-weight features.

Well, actually the Kindle Fire has a normal screen and doesn't use the e-ink.

Also, my friend uses Documents2Go on her iPad for power points etc. She said it's expensive for an app, but worth it.

MarkDaSpark wrote:That's okay. I haven't finished Cryptonomicon yet, and I've had it for a few years now. Although if I opened it and actually started to read it .....

I am about to finish quicksilver which took an extremely long time to read.
Next will be something non-stephenson since his books are such a commitment.

Itwdswafo wrote:Well, actually the Kindle Fire has a normal screen and doesn't use the e-ink.
.

That's why nobody is talking about the Fire ;)

well, off to a ROUSING start today. Managed to chip my front tooth eating breakfast. Apparently, you shouldn't bite the fork!

It's not bad, I don't think, and it's in the root canaled tooth, so it doesn't hurt. Hopefully they can just grind it down a little. Still annoying as hell.

Sunday, slowly becoming Monday since 1976

So the question for the day is if CJ is done slacking off on the Gatherings thread ... I'm gonna be busy today recovering from yesterday's orgy ... err, Wine.Woot Gathering.