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).

i realize a lot of people have problems.

i also realize a lot of their problems become my problems.

this is a problem.

the past few weeks have been one shitfest after another.  let me expound a little story for you (using a specific example that really happened just today)

a ticket comes in to the help desk from person X a couple of weeks ago, it says something like “hey i need these forum lectures recorded.  they are from 9am – 430pm on these two days”

i respond “no problem. we will get it setup and record the forums”

845am:  i go to the room and help the presenter get their laptop hooked up to the projectors, sound, etc.  show them how to use the mic.  everything is copacetic.  i even talk to person X and tell them we are all set for recording the lecture.

noon: email comes in from person X.  ”hey just wanted to check if you recorded the lecture so far.  we’re on lunch break so if you didn’t could you record the rest of the lecture please?”  snarky reply in my head: “OH NO WAS I SUPPOSED TO RECORD THAT THIS MORNING WHEN I TOLD YOU I WAS ALL SET TO RECORD?  SHIT”

the best part about it is, the recording software is utter shit, so i can’t schedule it to record certain times, stop/start, or anything useful.  best i can do is start it when it needs to start and tell it to go for a certain amount of time.  so not only am i recording their stupid shit this morning, i’m also recording an empty room for an hour while everyone is at lunch.  person X will not find this out until they watch the video i give them on dvd later (if they even do.  i have doubts that anything i record ever gets watched again)

5pm:  i bump into person X in the hall outside the classroom i’ve been recording all day.  they say “so i’ll just call you tomorrow morning at 9?”  i am this || close to choking them out.  this is now the 3rd fucking time you are confirming this with me.  i am not an idiot.  i am not 7 years old.  i am a professional IT person.  please please PLEASE call me tomorrow morning to remind me.

my boss hears this exchange.  on my way out the door i ask him to call me in the morning to remind to me come in to work, as i might forget.

i’ve been keeping pretty busy with work and life (more life than work lately, but i prefer it that way. even if the life shit isn’t all that great).

i haven’t been able to get out with my new nikon d5000 as much as i’d like, which is disappointing. i’m working on that though. i have been taking a beginners class from cord camera which is teaching me some stuff about my camera that i didn’t figure out on my own. hell, i even read the manual for the goddamn thing (and so far 2 photography books as well). i’m looking forward to the warm weather so hopefully i can get out and take some pictures. i’m not too comfortable taking it out into the snow and slush just yet.

here’s the new dillinger escape plan song/video. shit is \m/ as fuck

(yes i preordered their album and yes i opted for the $80 box set b/c i am a huge nerd)

while i’m on music, east of the wall (which used to be called the postman syndrome) is putting out what would have been the 2nd postman album. the only catch is that they need 100 people to preorder it so they can do a proper release, otherwise it’ll just be an itunes only type thing. so if you like good bands that are doing it diy then go over there to their site and preorder the shit. i promise you won’t be disappointed, especially if you like some weird-kind-of-mathy-metal music.

so that’s it for now i guess.