All right, since I seem to have a multitude of personalities and interests, I can't seem to keep them all separate. This is actually more of a tech review than anything vintage, so if you click away I understand. However, if you're like me and love gadgets (especially Google) you may want to stick around.


On July 4, I finally bit the bullet and ordered my Eee Pad Transformer by ASUS (not anus, as my dear sister first read it :p). There were a few reasons I was drawn to the Transformer over other tablets:

1) It was Android.

Sorry Apple, but I'm a Google fangirl for life. I have a heavily-loaded Google account, an Android phone (HTC Legend) and I like being able to multi-task and have everything sync up. Also: cutest logo ever.

2) The reason I chose the Transformer over other Android tablets was its capabilities. What really sold me was the docking keyboard.
Not only will the keyboard be great for typing up stories on the go, but it also gives it another 8 hours of battery life. Cha-ching!

3) I also found the Transformer to be very reasonable in price ($549 for the tablet and dock, free shipping from Staples).

I also am very glad I ordered the table through Staples, which has fabulous customer service. I half-jokingly tweeting about wondering where my tablet was - I knew it would take a while because I'm sure they don't just keep hundreds of tablets in stock - but the StaplesCanada account saw it, sent me an email saying it would be ready for me to pick up in store the NEXT DAY (instead of the originally estimated July 18) and they would be giving me a $100 rebate for the inconvenience. Um, wow!


So now that I've waxed poetic about this thing, I need to throw in some cons, both about this tablet and the Android system in general. I found the owners manual to be lacking (G & I took forever to figure out how to dock and lock the damn thing) and the cord is sooooo short. I need to buy an extension cord for it actually, because I can guarantee you that it will be rare I will be an arm's length from a plug-in when I need it the most.

The other thing is most Android apps are currently optimized for mobile phones, which isn't that bad but when I'm trying to read off of Tweetdeck like this, it's a pain in the ass. I hate reading across long lines!



What will I be using it for? Fun mostly: watching videos in bed, reading blogs and e-books and even playing games. I also don't have a computer anymore (after I sloshed booze all over the Macbook keyboard *sniffle*) so it will be great for going to councils, where I prefer to type for 3 hours instead of hand write (it's faster for me). It's also super light, so when I travel I won't break my back hocking it around. A laptop is just such a ball and chain, you know?

I'll still use G's laptop for editing photos, writing my blog, working on graphics etc.

While I still may be in the rose-coloured glasses phase of this relationship, I think it's going to be wonderful. G agrees.



xo L