Tech News Vermont

It didn’t take long to see that I was wrong about the iPad. In January when it was first announced I was disappointed. Having used a Newton MessagePad for a number of years I was hoping to finally get a device that was modern but still fulfilled the space left by my retired MP2100. The pre-release press seemed to show the iPad as a giant ipod touch. That is not the case.

The iPad is a good fit for the hole left by my retired Newton. I was concerned about the lack of pen input. I like to doodle and often find myself sketching network maps or gantt charts in my notes. I was worried that the on screen keyboard would not be sufficient to take notes or write longer pieces.

The keyboard in landscape mode is as comfortable to type on as a netbook. Typing on the glass takes a little getting used, but it only took me a few days to get up to a descent typing speed.

The device does live up to the hype and is more than a giant iPod. The lack of connectivity and lack of printer support makes it hard to look at the iPad as a laptop replacement. However, for day to day use in and around the office and classroom the ipad will replace my laptop or the need to sign into a shared computer.

So this post was written entirely on my phone and then sent to my blog. Now this journal is sync’ed up with my desktop macjournal journal which is connected to the sane blog.

So what happens? Let’s see.

I’ve see the 3G indicator on my iPhone in Burlington, Williston, and in White River Jct. Still no love for Washington County yet, but it seems AT&T is rolling 3G out in Vermont.

There was a posting on the Burlington Free Press web site that suggested that iPhone in Chittenden county have started registering 3G signal. AT&T’s press release said that plans for a first quarter 2010 roll out of 3G service were in the works for Northfield and Montpelier. I haven’t see 3G in Vermont myself but I’m traveling to Burlington tomorrow.