The Obsession That Is Apple (continued)

About 6 weeks ago I wrote of the (then) impending introduction of the Apple iPad, noting that I would not be in line to get one; at least, not right away. And I wasn't; at least, not right away. In truth, I folded after 3 or 4 weeks. What can I tell you? I'm hooked on Apple, and now, I am definitely hooked on iPad.

First the bad news: I am one of the "few" (according to Apple) people having WiFi connectivity issues. This is a problem since WiFi is the only kind of connectivity I have, since I didn't spend the extra $129 for a 3G model. Curiously, my daughter is also one of the "few." Perhaps it's just coincidence that both of us run our home networks off a Verizon cable modem/router. (Conspiracy theorists take note.) In any case neither of us has any problems with our office WiFi network, and Apple promises a software fix soon, but not now.

Here's the good news: I love my iPad! Since I don't own a laptop, the iPad is the first opportunity I've had to sit in front of the TV and multi-task, iPad in hand. And the reading experience is excellent. Cautious again, I downloaded only one of the free classics that I had never read in school when I should have, Moby Dick. Fifty pages into it, the metaphor was so real that I found myself about to wet my finger to turn the page. So I bought a book, a science fiction by Spinrad. It was a totally iTunes experience. Took less than 30 seconds to download. My second book was a pre-order of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest from Amazon. They've promised to download it to my iPad on May 25. Here's the great part: On May 25, the hardcover is being published. What's that going to cost? Maybe $19.95 from Barnes & Noble. Six months or a year later, the paperback will arrive for probably $14.95. My e-copy is only $9.99.

Certainly there will be times and places not conducive to the use of my iPad: The beach, for one. And I don't know if I'll have to turn it off for take-offs and landings, but who cares? I don't fly that much anymore. It seems to me that Apple has hit the bullseye one more time. At least they've hit MY bullseye!