Mac Rant
02 Jul 2010 | Comments (0)OK! It’s time for my semi-annual Mac ramble! If computers aren’t your thing, stop reading now and check out our travel galleries or something…
Still with me? Ok! So here’s the story: Three weeks ago, my trusty Mac Pro from 2006 bit the dust. Probably the logic board went bad thanks to super hot Japanese summers and freezing winters, but I have no complaints. It was the best computer I had even owned and it lasted much longer than I had expected…
With no computer in the house other than an iPhone and a new iPad, I started to consider my options for a new computer. Back in December I helped a friend buy his first Mac. It was a shiny new 27″ iMac and I have to admit, I really fell in love with it’s beautiful LED backlit screen. He literally had to push me out of the chair just to get a go at his new computer!
Now even with a fully functional, albeit aging, Mac Pro at home that 27″ screen rumbled around in my head for months. The screen was close enough in size to what I was used to and it’s just such a nice piece of hardware. Several times I actually thought about selling my Mac Pro and getting an iMac, but I decided to wait.
Now go back and read that first paragraph again. Dead Mac Pro? What do you suppose I did? You guessed it! Our new 27″ i7 iMac arrived a few days ago and it sure is great!!! Honestly though, the arrival of our new iMac isn’t the most interesting part of the story. It’s probably the fact that I was prepared to go computer-less until Apple got around to releasing an even newer version of the iMac. Probably around October by most accounts…
“Jeff?” you ask. “How can you live with no computer for 4 months? You’re such a nerd!!! Wouldn’t you just keel over?” Well, normally I might agree with you, but there was a bit of a game changer sitting on my living room table. As I mentioned before, the only computer-like devices in the house were an iPhone and a brand new iPad. Ah, yes… The iPad.
The minute I started using the iPad at home, I realized something very interesting. It was much more productive than I had imagined it would be. At heart, it’s very close to the iPhone that I’ve grown to rely on, but it’s larger screen and bigger keyboard make it much easier to use. And browsing the Internet? Absolutely fantastic!!! Of course I didn’t last long, but I started to think, “What if I just use my iPad until Apple releases a newer version of the iMac?” Possible even for me? Yes! The iPad is that good in my opinion.
I dare say that it’s even good enough to be used as the main household computer for people who only need Internet, mail and the occasional document or two. I suppose that sort sort of demographic covers the type of person who bought the “Web TV” back in the early part of the decade, but honestly… Those people are out there. I guess what I really want to say is that I found the iPad to be a worthy and unthreatening choice for the computer shy crowd. It’s just fun to use!
So, for nearly two weeks the iPad really was our main computer and it did a nice job. For people still on the fence about the iPad, I suggest you go to your local Apple Store and take a look.
Now, I just gotta get an iPhone 4 and I’ll be all set!!! Hehehe…
/end rant
Kamikochi Gallery
28 May 2010 | Comments (0)I had the day off today, so I finally managed to get the Kamikochi Gallery online! You can visit the gallery by clicking here. It’s been a really long time since I posted a gallery, so we hope you enjoy it!
Kamikochi
17 May 2010 | Comments (1)On Saturday night, Azusa mentioned that she wanted to go to Nagano Prefecture to visit a popular tourist spot known as Kamikochi. We had talked about going there a few years ago, but never really got around to it. I knew that Azusa and her parents had lived near there when she was just a baby and I also knew that Azusa was named after a huge river that flows through the area. Yeah, the Azusa River!!!
Nagano isn’t really that far away, so we decided to make it a Sunday day trip and what a great trip it was! Kamikochi didn’t feel too touristy as most popular spots in Japan do and our short hike through the Japanese Alps was really spectacular!!! We took tons of pictures and if possible, I’ll try to put a gallery online soon. Until then, enjoy these two pics!!!
A nice view of the Japanese Alps from the Kappa Bridge.
The Kanji on the bridge post says, “Azusa River.” Man, I’m jealous that she has a river named after her! Or is that the other way around?
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