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Friday, June 22, 2012

A Whole New (Technological) World

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This has been a long time coming. I’ve been wanting an electronic way to read books while on the road for several years now. Ever since last year, when I realized that I could pick up a book and not feel guilty for reading in my spare time, I have wanted an easier way to transport several books with me while I’m traveling! I am on the road quite a bit for work and all. And I do like to read.

I finally splurged with my credit card cash back last November and bought a Kindle Fire. I loved it passionately but returned it just three weeks later when I received an iPad 2 through work. (SURPRISE!) It didn’t make sense to carry both for the same purpose, and I might as well choose the one that work bought, right?

Three months later, however, I turned in my iPad when I turned in my resignation for my job. So I was, once again, missing a way to read books without carrying some bulk with me.

Luckily, renting the iPad made me realize that I would never pay money for one of my own. It is just a lot of money for a tool that is very restricted in what it can do! Like Hubby, I am liking Apple less and less with the more I interact with them. This statement may get me some hate mail, but sometimes the truth is hard to take. By Apple Lovers.

However, I liked the larger 10.1'” screen, so I couldn’t return to the smaller (but loveable) Kindle Fire after having three additional inches for a few months. After playing with several tablet options at Best Buy (does anyone else enjoy just playing with gadgets?), I realized that I would need to wait a few months for some newer options to be released.

April rolled around, and the tablet that I had been dreaming about came into existence. The Acer Iconia A510. What a machine! But, in a shockingly patient move, I waited for a few months for the reviews to come rolling in. You see, this was the first tablet with a quad-core processor. Though it might seem crazy that a tablet would need a quad-core processor, with the knowledge that such a processor now existed for a tablet, I knew that was what I “needed.” But it was important to ensure that people liked it, and that it was a good investment, so I not only waited for the product to be released, but for people to chime in with their thoughts of being owners.

In another shocking move, I never got to play with this tablet in person before purchasing. They are still pretty hard to find in stores, so I just read reviews like no other and watched videos of others putting the tablet into action. Big risk to not try it out in person first! At least, I thought I was being risky!

Luckily, after a very painful and long two months, the reviews were mostly positive. Just a few weeks ago, after spending a week on the road and having plenty of money left over from my per diem account, I clicked “buy” on Amazon and went to bed as one happy camper.

I waited so patiently for the package to arrive, though I don’t know what I would do without our free two-day shipping option. After running errands that morning, I spent the afternoon waiting at home. With such an expensive box arriving, I correctly assumed that my signature would be needed before the package could be left. Waiting another day just wasn’t going to happen, if you know what I mean.

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I held the box on my lap. It just felt right. I was so happy that my months of waiting had paid off, but I was even happier that the waiting was over. I finally had a better way to read my books (and do so much more) on something larger than a 2-inch screen!

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Oh golly. It’s beautiful. This looks good, folks. Veeeeeerrrrrry good.

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After researching cover options to protect my new toy, I found this 5-star leather case for just $19. What a steal, considering cases usually go for around $40 for something this size.

Not only was it affordable, but those reviewers really knew their stuff. I am tickled with this case and am thrilled that it perfectly protects my tablet while still giving me easy access to the things that I use most.

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Let’s check out some specs first, huh? Quad-core processor? Check. Two cameras? Check. Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system? Check. Unlike the iPad for twice the cost, I also have an mini HDMI plug (to connect the tablet to a television for movies, pictures, etc.), and a mini USB port for connecting any device that I wish. Not only that, but the Iconia comes with a mini SD card slot, which enables me to double my storage to 64 GB!

You can’t do that on no iPad, yo!

Did I mention that it has a 13-hour battery life?! I can proudly say that they weren’t lying, either. I can read, check email, play Words with Friends with Charloe and Parker, and read some more without the battery needing to be charged all day.

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This is where the Aladdin Disney music stopped, however. How dare they?! I patiently wait years for this device, and now I have to wait four more hours to actually turn it on and start enjoying it?!

I carefully read the instructions beforehand, for just such a moment. You can screw up the battery forever by not using it properly that very first time, so I was willing to wait a few measly hours to make this machine even better.

Patience is a virtue, right?

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While it charges, I will just admire it in its packaging. My goodness, it’s a pretty little thing.

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Here is the rear camera. Five megapixels! Also, I love the non-slip ergonomic feel to the back of the tablet. They thought of everything to prevent slips and breaks.

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Four long hours later, I was so ready to crank this puppy up. Let’s see what it can do! Luckily, Hubby’s foot was in for the ride as well.

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Yes. Yes, this is good. I like what they’ve done here.

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Sweet! It already has an update and automatically started to fix itself on startup! I love when devices are smart enough to do all of the manual labor for me. I just enjoyed the animated Android Store robot while the new operating update was installed.

It went very quickly, if you compare it to four hours of charging…

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Oh my stinkin’ heck. It’s gorgeous! I tend to get excited about pretty technology, but I am really loving the look and feel of this little machine! And it is so fast! This main page stores all of my quick-access apps. Without even reading how to use this machine, I soon felt like a master. An app master, that is.

“Master App” could be my next tattoo. Or first tattoo, I guess.

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The tablet comes preloaded with lots of apps, and then I added a few of my own. My only complaint is that I can never delete any of the preloaded ones. Even though I don’t use Facebook and never will, it will be an app on this machine for.ev.ver.

But that’s OK. If that is my only complaint, and it is, then I can deal with that.

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I might just add a few goodies of my own, like Lose It, which helps me keep track of my weight loss goals. I really love using this app in a larger format than my iPod Touch. I can actually see what’s going on now! Double-bonus!

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Ahhhh, but this. This is the main event for which this tablet was purchased. Reading free books from the library using my free Kindle app. I love it. I love everything about it! I love the two-column look when turned horizontal. I love the clean, crisp words. I love that I can turn the background to black with white script if I want to read at night. It’s amazing! And it’s way better to read on a large screen than on a microscopic iPod Touch!

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I love that with one click, I can instantly be depressed at how awfully hot it is outside. See that high for today? It’s been it the hundred-and-teens for the past week and has been simply ridiculous. But at least I have a machine now that will share my heat-wave woes.

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Yep, there’s a fast and flash-enabled web browser, too! Take that, iPad-that-can’t-show-most-websites!

I love this tablet. With pretty high expectations of what arrived from UPS last week, I can happily say that I am blown away. It is the perfect solution for my traveling and book-reading needs. And, since I purchased it with free extra money carefully saved from my per diem, it was pretty much a perfect purchase.

If you are in the market for just such a tool, may I recommend the Acer Iconia A510 tablet. It’s a keeper (and it’s $40 cheaper now than when it was first released on Amazon in April)!

2 comments:

  1. Micah, you are a nerd....!!! lol, lol!

    And, since you ARE a nerd, will help me get my Kindly Fire up and rolling better when you are here in a couple weeks? I would really appreciate it!

    Enjoy your new toy!
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm so old fashioned I don't know if I'll ever go to reading on something like this. My husband tells me I technologically ignorant. I don't get mad because it's true:) I just got a cell phone a few weeks ago only because I was going to be driving a long distance by myself and he insisted. It's one of those pay as you go. I bought 120 minutes and threatened everyone not to call me unless blood or broken bones were involved!
    I do use the internet and email so I guess I'm not so bad...I'm even trying to figure out facebook...
    Good luck with your new toy. I might get there one day.

    Emma

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