So I got an iPad and figured I’d write a review (like every other jackass that has one I’m sure). I am writing it using the onscreen keyboard and this will definitely be the longest i’ve typed on it (words and time) since I got it on Monday.

My initial impressions are as such:

1. The screen rules.
2. The screen gets incredibly smudged up. I mean like nasty greasy. This is not something I’ve really noticed on my iPhone (as much).
3. It is not a replacement for a laptop or net book.
4. It browses the web like a dream. I don’t even miss flash on this thing.
5. Don’t expect to type with your fingers on the home row.
6. Once your thighs get a little sweaty the iPad sticks to them pretty well. This makes typing while sitting up in bed in your boxers easier (something I just learned).
7. Techie/IT people will think you are stupid for buying one. “normal” people will be jealous. Of course Mac fanatics will already have their own.
8. It won’t live up to the hype.
9. If you don’t like the iPhone you won’t like the iPad (duh).
10. The scrabble app is totally worth the $10 if you have friends with iPhones (review here so you don’t have to take my word for it)
11. Onscreen arrow keys would be good for navigating text boxes (like the one I’m typing in now). I can’t go back to the top of my text because the scrolling doesn’t work in “frames”. I have also had this problem on other sites. Maybe there will be a fix for it?
12. Screenlock is a good feature and wasn’t mentioned enough in prerelease reviews that I read.
13. The iWork apps should’ve come on the thing for free.
14. This keyboard is kind of annoying to type on. Hunt and peckers should be right at home though.

I got the iPad because I’d been considering getting a net book for awhile now. Mostly to browse the Internet and whatnot. The iPad has exactly the functionality I want in a quick to boot, easy to use, no fluff package. All in all I’m happy with my purchase (on day 3, at least).

so a few days ago i wrote that little post about a ghetto way to sync my rumor with my outlook calendar via google calendar, which does work pretty well.  i’m a pretty self conscience fuck, so i always check my blog stats like daily (why i bother when i hardly write with any regularity is beyond me really, but i do) and i’ve noticed quite a few searches coming to me via terms like “problems with lg rumor” or “why lg rumor sucks” or something like that, so i figured i’d write out the exact reasons i do not like this phone.

1. the keyboard is slow -  and this is probably my #1 (or possibly #2, depending on the day) reason i hate this phone.  i don’t type all that fast on this thing and it still cannot keep up with me.  i find myself going back and editing text messages all the time.  it’s pretty fucking annoying.  with something like the iphone i can understand why there is some delay between typing and something showing up on the screen, but at least it doesn’t completely miss characters like the rumor does.  i could deal with a delay, but missing letters and shit is just plain bad.  considering the only reason i got this phone was for the qwerty keyboard it’s a pretty big let down.
2. it turns itself off – this and #1 are probably my two biggest complaints.  i don’t know how many goddamn times i’ve looked at my phone and realized it’s mysteriously powered down.  i’ve seen it do it while just sitting on my desk, so i know that it’s not just getting jammed in my pocket and magically shutting down.
3. the internet is slow – i moved from a samsung a900 (ubiquitous phone that it seemed like every other person had) and that thing loaded anything from the web faster than this POS.  had i realized that the rumor does not have cdma or whatever the sprint version of 3g is called i probably would’ve reconsidered purchasing it.
4. the camera fucking sucks -  see my believeland post to see how fucking terrible the camera is (the word BELIEVELAND should be in orange in that pic.  note: it was taken indoors in good light).  a good portion of my marek pics were also taken on this thing.  the colors are always washed out, and the fucking thing takes a good 5 to 8 seconds to actually take the picture after you hit the button.  that is pretty unacceptable.  yeah i know, it’s a phone not a camera, but my aforementioned samsung (which was like 2 or 3 years old) had a better response time and better looking pictures.   the reason i got rid of that one was the camera died.  i’m not expecting dslr quality shots here, but something that looks better than a pic taken on some camera made in 1998 would be nice.
5. the “locking” system blows – you can slide the thing open and it goes straight to the messaging menu, which is admittedly a nice feature, but a slide of 0.0000001cm will cause it to go to this menu.  in your pocket this can happen pretty easily.  i’ve taken it out of my pocket after a quick walk and found it trying to dial any number of crazy different phone numbers.  it would be nice if the thing didn’t open the messaging menu until the phone was completely slid open.  seems like a pretty easy solution to me.
6. signal strength blows – i live in a brick condo building and i cannot get the phone to work inside anywhere… 2nd floor, near the windows, still doesn’t work.  i almost always have to go outside to use the fucking thing.  meanwhile my girlfriend who has some phone she got in like 1963 can walk around the entire place chatting it up.  also, i get a lot of dropped calls even when i do have full (or near full) strength and i’m outside or in my car.  this never happened on my samsung.

so all in all, i hate this thing.  i’d like to get something else, but i feel like i’m wasting money because i just got this phone a few months ago.   the one thing i will say it does well is battery life.  i can go for 4 or 5 days without having to charge (now i’m by no means a power talker or anything, but it’s pretty good on battery life).

so if you were looking for reasons why this phone sucks, there you go.