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"I Only Need 2 Devices" - Now I Have 3
Dec. 22nd, 2023 09:25 amWhen I bought myself an iPad as a birthday gift earlier this week it was a decision that was a long time in the works. ...No, not the question of whether to spend a few hundred on something nice for myself (I have way underspent my discretionary budget for years) but whether I actually want an iPad.
When the first iPad launched in early 2010, almost fourteen years ago now, it make a big splash in my circles of friends and colleagues. I remember back in 2010 discussing it with a number of people. Being (mostly) practical sorts our conversation was, "This looks amazing... but what use case does it address?" A few went out and bought one regardless. For them, the effective use case was, "It's a lifestyle badge to always have the latest thing right away."
— "It's like an iPhone, but bigger, which will be nice for when I'm sitting in my armchair after dinner reading news," one friend said.
— "The touch screen makes it more engaging for my kids as an education tool, and there's no hinge (like on a laptop) for them to break," said a few others.
— "It's a bigger screen for watching movies on airplanes," reasoned a few.
— "Maybe it can replace carrying my laptop on business trips," several wondered.
None of these reasons to buy resonated with me. I've always been comfortable reading on my laptop at home. I'd be buying the device for me, not my kids (I don't have kids). And while a bigger screen would be nice while flying on an airplane, it would be yet-another device to have to carry around. Looking at the three form factors for mobile devices— laptop, tablet, phone— I decided I have need for only two. And since tablets aren't powerful or flexible enough to replace what I need a laptop for, and aren't small and portable enough to replace a mobile phone, I don't need a tablet.
But now I've bought one. 🤷♂️
I figured after almost 14 years without I could give it a try. Besides, the price was low enough to buy it on impulse as a special treat.
I'll see over the coming days and weeks whether I really do have use for a third mobile device. I've got to say, from the first few days the answer is Not really. Much as I sized things up 13 years ago, the iPad is still not powerful or flexible enough to replace a laptop for the things I do daily on it. And it's obviously way too big to fit in my pocket like my iPhone does for always-there portability. But maybe it's nice for having a bigger screen on airplane flights? I'll gauge that tonight when I board a 13.5 hour flight to Australia!
When the first iPad launched in early 2010, almost fourteen years ago now, it make a big splash in my circles of friends and colleagues. I remember back in 2010 discussing it with a number of people. Being (mostly) practical sorts our conversation was, "This looks amazing... but what use case does it address?" A few went out and bought one regardless. For them, the effective use case was, "It's a lifestyle badge to always have the latest thing right away."
— "It's like an iPhone, but bigger, which will be nice for when I'm sitting in my armchair after dinner reading news," one friend said.
— "The touch screen makes it more engaging for my kids as an education tool, and there's no hinge (like on a laptop) for them to break," said a few others.
— "It's a bigger screen for watching movies on airplanes," reasoned a few.
— "Maybe it can replace carrying my laptop on business trips," several wondered.
None of these reasons to buy resonated with me. I've always been comfortable reading on my laptop at home. I'd be buying the device for me, not my kids (I don't have kids). And while a bigger screen would be nice while flying on an airplane, it would be yet-another device to have to carry around. Looking at the three form factors for mobile devices— laptop, tablet, phone— I decided I have need for only two. And since tablets aren't powerful or flexible enough to replace what I need a laptop for, and aren't small and portable enough to replace a mobile phone, I don't need a tablet.
But now I've bought one. 🤷♂️
I figured after almost 14 years without I could give it a try. Besides, the price was low enough to buy it on impulse as a special treat.
I'll see over the coming days and weeks whether I really do have use for a third mobile device. I've got to say, from the first few days the answer is Not really. Much as I sized things up 13 years ago, the iPad is still not powerful or flexible enough to replace a laptop for the things I do daily on it. And it's obviously way too big to fit in my pocket like my iPhone does for always-there portability. But maybe it's nice for having a bigger screen on airplane flights? I'll gauge that tonight when I board a 13.5 hour flight to Australia!
The challenge when redeeming airline and hotel points nowadays is that while there's almost always a miles/points rate available, it's almost always a poor rate. Years ago I valued UA miles at 1.8 cents per point (cpp). I sought, and often could find, redemptions at that rate. But over the years UA, like all airlines and hotels, has devalued its points. Nowadays it's hard to find a redemption above 1.1 cpp. And that drop in the rate comes while airfares have also gotten more expensive.