Next-man: 'is that an apple TV'
Me: 'yeah'
Next-man: 'nice'
Me: 'yeah'
Next-man: 'so, what does it do?'
Me: 'No idea'
The big one though - even bigger than the Apple TV is the iPad. I have been facing an inner-struggle for at least a year now, trying to avoid wasting my money on what must be described as one of the prettiest and most expensive wastes of time - of all time. I have tried so hard to justify it somehow, but I just can't. It can't do anything that my Mac can't do better already with the exception of a couple of novelties that my iPhone already does and despite the fact I adore Angry Birds and Plants vs Zombies, I just cannot bring myself to purchase them again - just to see them on the larger screen.
I'd like to think that I'd be able to use it for client presentations and out of office business, but realistically I can't see myself wanting to take it out of the house - unless it were wrapped securely in a soft blanket that both offered protection from the elements and disguise from the nefarious horde who might want to smear their filthy digits across it's digital perfection. This renders the iPad's portability (although they don't exactly fit in your pocket do they) null and void. In effect it would be a cumbersome and massive iPhone that doesn't make calls, or a pretty but underpowered laptop. Recently my wife temporarily acquired one from work and in-between bouts of seething jealousy and barely repressed hatred at her good fortune I had a fumble in the bushes with this device. I have to say although I did enjoy the potters wheel app and it was useful to put my shopping list on it, but my initial thoughts weren't changed that much and the novelty wore off in exactly 1hr 12 minutes - with the iPad being consigned to the shelf that also houses a Nintendo Wii, a Bop-it, the Heroes season 1 DVD set and other assorted examples of oft-forgotten junk.
It has since returned to my wife's workplace (a school) where presumably it sits on that TV trolley with a BBC Micro + VHS copy of Dark Towers and I was pleased with myself that in this age of austerity measures and difficult financial climate that I had made a considered, sensible choice. But that was the iPad 1 and things are different now. The iPad 2 is out and apparently now it can be used for real design work.
Stage 1: Get a stylus: http://tiny.cc/kvm80
Stage 2: Download iDraw the drawing and illustration tool: http://www.indeeo.com/idraw/index.html
Stage 3: Download Air Display and use the iPad as a second display in the studio: http://avatron.com/apps/air-display
Stage 4: Photoshop for iPad is just around the corner. Unbelievable, but true: http://tiny.cc/1mgv0
Stage 5: Get work with Portfolio for iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/portfolio-for-ipad/id384210950?mt=8
I have now upgraded myself from 'want' an iPad 1 to 'need' an iPad 2 - for work and can fully justify sinking the cash into Steve Jobs inflatable pockets. There's only one thing holding me back now - you'd have to admit you look like a total bell-end using that thing as a camera. iPad 3 maybe?
