Category: Web/Tech

Although keenly interested in changes in technology, I’ve never been one to acquire the latest and greatest. I like to wait a while until the initial wrinkles get worked out and the price comes down. In addition, I’ve gotten a lot of hand-me-downs over the years from Jack, when he gets the latest and greatest: computers, ereaders, PDA’s, and cameras.

Eighteen months ago, I decided to get a Kindle Fire when I was facing some surgery. I thought it would be a nice item to keep me entertained while I was convalescing. However, Jack sent me a link to a comparison between the Kindle Fire and an iPad 2 and I considered my use cases. Then I googled “refurbished iPad” and found an entry level model at a not totally unreasonable price at the Apple site.

If I had waited a couple of more months, I would have bought a mini-iPad, but it had not yet been released. However, I loved my iPad 2 with an almost unnatural passion, although I did occasionally regret that it wasn’t something I could easily slip into my handbag.

Recently, I decided it might actually be time to spring for a new tablet, with a lighter, slimmer form factor . Recent Android tablets have been getting better press, so I decided to check out the Nexus 7, which has been getting great reviews on technology sites. I found a wireless 32 GB one at a local Staples, asked about their return policy, and brought it home. I was quite disappointed: I loved the form factor and the way it worked, but not the fact that it crashed on a regular basis. I did a factory reset, and it still crashed. I scouted the review sites, and decided that maybe, just maybe, I had a lemon. I returned it to Staples, and they ordered another one for me. (I had discovered, based on my experience with the iPad, that I can fill 16 GB with no difficulty at all, so I wanted a lot more memory.)

With great trepidation, I unwrapped it. Not only was I afraid I might have another lemon, the packaging looked as though someone had run over it with a tire. However, the tablet inside the box was pristine and I quickly got it set up. I started waiting for it to crash, as I used it as much as possible. I waited, and waited, and waited, and finally decided it was working properly, and not a lemon.

Then I discovered I had a new problem: I don’t really need two tablets, and I prefer the Nexus. It slips into a side pocket of my handbag as if it were designed to do so. I asked Jack if he wanted it. So yesterday, I did a factory reset on the iPad, upgraded it to IOS 7, and handed it over. Now he has his first hand-me-down gadget from me.