kayakdiver

Let's get this out of the way first. What an over priced jumbo sized IPod Touch! I haven't even opened the box yet. My plan is to head out next week on tour down the Pacific Coast with it. I will be selling it upon completion of the tour on the Bay. One thing I figured is that apple fan boys love paying to much for this stuff used as well.

Why you ask then did I buy it? Well I don't need a mifi and my Black Berry doesn't tether. I don't have to sign up for any contract and like most current Apple products they seem to have decent resale.

Time will tell if this was a good idea or not. Stay tuned for pic's and raves or rants about this thing for the next month.

That is all,

Kayakdiver

Bacciagalupe

I barely use mine, and don't have much interest in taking it on tour. I stick to an ebook reader (smaller, lighter, much longer battery life), a smartphone, and a transistor radio.

That's about as close to "unplugged" as my work allows me to get these days.

kayakdiver

I may find the same thing myself... All I can say is thanks to the fan boys I shouldn't be out much if I don't like it.

sstorkel

Unless Apple announces the rumored 7" iPad before you try to sell it...

SBRDude

My wife has one and it's good for what it does, but I'm not sure if I could plug in my Garmin to download my daily files like I can with a real computer. If I was going to go to the trouble of carrying around a computer/quasi computer on a bike trip, that's something I would want it to do.

kayakdiver

All very valid points for sure. I've given up on touring with my Garmin Edge 305. I love all the data but for touring it's just overkill to me. My blackberry gps works well enough if not better since my 305 doesn't do maps anyways. Will miss geeking out on all the stats though. Plan to put my old Planet bike computer on for this tour. I will find out one way or the other if a work around has been made for the Garmin though.... May have to look into a little Jail Break.

vautrain

I have to ask if you're so skeptical about the utility of this thing, why didn't you just go with a netbook instead?

MattP.

I don't know if the iPad 3G coverage is the same 3G coverage as that with the iPhone, but I just completed the Pacific Coast (Seattle-San Fran) yesterday and I had 3G in Seattle and San Fran and pretty much nowhere in between. Just something to note!

kayakdiver

That's not great to hear. Sounds like I'll be searching out Starbucks and Micky D's along the route then.

SBRDude

I drove from Seattle to Portland (on the highways west of the sound, not I5) last week and my wife played Mrs. Google the whole way down on her iPad. Worked like a charm, so maybe it depends on where you are.

KDC1956

I like my little AsperOne computerit works well for me.It has the full Windows 7 on it too.Its not slow like some said it would be.Very small and I use it all the time I am on it now.2 Gb of memory 160 HD under 3 pounds.I like it anyway.

sstorkel

How far are you going? I rode from SF to LA in September of last year and had cell coverage (usually 3G, sometimes EDGE) most of the way. Wasn't using my iPhone continuously, but there were only a couple of spots when I wanted to use it and didn't have coverage. Coverage in the Big Sur area was a bit spotty, but other that it wasn't bad...

Aquakitty

Ok I admit I was read to say how silly you are and how crappy the ipad is, but your plan is sound (reselling it) and you came across intelligent and knowledgeable about the ipad flaws so I take it back!

Having said that I will be sticking with my eee (which I am typing on at this moment) It has been everywhere with me... dropped, stepped on charged by generator and solar power and still I can watch movies while I type this (amazing!). I have even slept with it next to me in bed. I would never spend a dime on a failpad.

kayakdiver

Trust me... I considered a netbook long and hard before going this route. I weighed everything and well it's just like a touring bike..... No such thing as a perfect anything.

My bike and all my gear are dialed.. have been dialed in for years. The only unknown I'm taking along will be the iPad. Everything else is proven itself over the years as rational decision. This may or may not be...... time will tell. Wish me luck

kayakdiver

Crazy long battery life.... As advertised. Still need to find the dongle thing for uploading my digital camera files. That has been problematic finding one in stock. I've finally located one about 70 miles away.

I guess I have a road trip in my future.....

Fishy

I've taken mine on several business trips and one (short) bike tour - I'm on the east coast and basically have 3G wherever I go. It'll flip to EDGE once in a while, but with the exception of far western Massachusetts, 3G is the rule. (For whatever issues AT&T has, it does well by me - my 3G service generally doubles the speed of my office DSL.)

As for the iPad, I enjoy it - I have found myself using it far more than I thought I would. It's essentially replaced my Asus EeePC.

nun

I use my iPhone for phone, internet, blogging, email and photos, but I'm looking forward to the 5" smartphones running Android.

kayakdiver

These look interesting for sure. The only one I've seen so far online but not in person is the Streak from Dell. I'm sure as time goes on they will become more common.

My Blackberry can do most of these things as well. Like mentioned... I'm more interested in seeing how I like having it along. If it doesn't work it will be a failed trial and will be shipped home. I can see myself enjoying journaling more with the larger screen. Watching a movie in the tent at night should be a lot more enjoyable as well.