What a trip! I have been making notes all weekend on my
tablet and cannot wait to get a look at the pictures I have taken on a screen
larger than my camera’s viewer.
The entire weekend was AMAZING and I would be remiss if I didn’t
give a shout-out to my family for their input, to my sister for pushing me to
do more traveling while I was out here in Australia and to my travel agent,
Resego at the Flight Center in Dickson.
Dave Barry, in “The
Only Travel Guide You Will Ever Need, By Dave Barry” sings the praises (if
somewhat sarcastically) of travel agents, but I have to say, that there is
nothing better than having someone tell you where to be and what to do.
The entire planning process could not have been simpler! I
walked in, told Resego where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, and what my
budget was. She put together the options, discussed what the tours were that
might be best for me and I have to say, the whole weekend was spot-on! I had so
much fun and did so many amazing things…
…but that will be a story for tomorrow!
Wherever you are this morning I hope that you have had an
adventure this weekend!
3 comments:
Hi - It's interesting to read your impressions of Australia. I was curious though about the tablet that you are using. I know that you have used computers for many years. I am tempted to get a tablet myself but I haven't yet.
If you get a chance I'd be curious to hear your ideas about how typing (or keyboarding) differs on a tablet from a computer. I assume that it is slower though I could be wrong. And if it is slower does the extra convenience of the smaller size of a tablet make up for the keyboarding limitations?
Also, did you choose (or have chosen for you) an iPad, Android tablet, or maybe a Windows tablet. Being as you mentioned typing your notes on your tablet I assume it is Windows but I suppose that all tablets have some sort of a word processing application.
I might break down and buy a tablet someday and if my old laptop breaks down it might be fairly soon. If you get a chance I'd be curious to get your idea about tablets.
(Also,I appreciate your postings from Australia. I knew about Kangaroos before but this is the first time that I have heard about Wombats. And I'm curious why hitting a Wombat would do more damage to a car than hitting another type of animal).
Anonymous Reader
Dear Anonymous Reader,
Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog. It is always great hearing from my readers and I do try to answer in a timely manner. This has been a hectic week, however, as I am nearing the end of my trip and there is still so much to do and so much that remains to be seen.
To answer your question, I am carrying the Asus Transformer Prime tablet. It is a really nice tablet and I have few complaints with it. (The GPS could be more responsive, and it could actually use Google Voice as my Toshiba did, just to hit the two biggies…) But no tablet is perfect.
This tablet uses the new Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and is very good at what it does. It is fast, and reliable and has few quirks to deal with. I didn’t even look at the iPad as I am not really a huge Apple fan. I personally feel that their products are over-priced for what you get and only have an iPod because of the ubiquity of the interface. If any other portable music system was as widely available and had anywhere near the interface that the iPod does, I would not have one. But in this one case, I am paying for the ability to use it anywhere and interface it with my car.
(And if I must, the interface with the iPod is better thought-out than those of other MP3 players I have owned. All-in-all, I will grudgingly admit that it is not a bad piece of hardware. Though iTunes for windows is a bit buggier than I would like!)
Which brings me to the best answer that I have to offer for your questions: I very rarely use the virtual keyboard on my Prime. When I got it, I bought it specifically because of the availability of the keyboard/docking station that is part of the available accessory offering. It turns the whole thing into what looks like a nice, compact, netbook. I do have one piece of advice for you: if you are REPLACING your laptop with a tablet, think very hard about how you use your computer before you do. There are lots of things that I cannot do with my tablet that I think I should be able to… but the software that I need to REPACE my laptop is not available.
If you are AUGMENTING some other computer with a tablet, I highly recommend the Prime! It is a nice little piece of equipment and I find that I use it all the time in some places that a laptop would be – if not impossible, at least impractical.
As to your question about Wombats - it is not that they would do more damage, it is that the damage they do would be different and harder to fix. Unlike a deer that would damage the front of the car - a wombat would do a lot of damage to the underside as well as the front.
Wombats are big, compact, and low to the ground. After hitting and damaging the grill, they keep on rolling under, tearing-up transmission and undercarriage as they go. Picture hitting a pig on the highway! Same general idea...
Good luck, Anonymous Reader, and thanks again for reading. I am glad that you are enjoying my stories from Uluru!
Don
I think that a tablet with the Windows operating system would best what I would need because I like to use Microsoft Word and a couple other Microsoft programs. But if I do get a tablet I will make sure that I get one that allows you to use a regular keboard.
If I wasn't looking for a replacement for my computer I would get a tablet with the Android OS like you did. I agree that they are probably a better value than the Apple iPad.
Thanks again for commenting on my comments,
AR
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