I wanted to mention that the Office Web Apps have gone live. (I didn't pay attention!)
If you have a (free) Windows Live ID, you can log into http://office.live.com/ and you will find free, ad supported versions of Office 2010 – Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote.
You can create new documents, save them to your SkyDrive, or open and edit any documents you have stored there.
Microsoft allocates a generous 25gb per user, plenty of storage, if you ask me.
Files may not exceed 50mb (which might get tricky with OneNote), but it will keep them managable on slower connections.
So if you need access to the latest version of Word, but can't afford it right now — you now have the option to use it on the web.
It doesn't have all the features – obviously. Else why would you buy the full version?
And you can only save files with the .docx extension (not .doc), but seriously… if you need quick access from anywhere, it's a great solution, even with the tradeoffs.
Also, if you buy a new PC, it will likely come loaded with the free (ad supported!) Office 2010 Starter version.
I will experiment a little with my Office 2010 version, and how it fares backup wise with the SkyDrive, and report back.
A book?
No. Yes. Maybe.
An mp3 player?
No. Yes. Maybe.
A picture viewer?
No. Yes. Maybe.
A video player?
No. Yes. Maybe.
Well. All of the above, in a way.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll have heard about Apple releasing information about the iPad today.
So what do we know about it so far?
We are told it has a 9.7-inch screen, weighs 1.5 pounds, has Wi-Fi with a 3G option, comes in 16gb/32gb/64gb versions.
There is all manner of hype about it, and it does look pretty cool, but I don't believe their claim of 10hrs battery life when you watch videos. Yeah, I heard that one before.
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We are told it will run "most" iPhone apps. (Oh? Which ones won't run?) There is also the thing about Flash, which Apple has problems with. (It won't run, basically. Kinda nasty, considering a lot of websites rely on flash navigation…)
Books will be available on iTunes, in Epub format. That's good news.
The bad news is the price.
The rock bottom intro level iPad will set you back a whopping $499 for the 16gb version.
Don't know about you, but frankly… that's too much.
Considering it stores images, text, music and whatnot – 16gb is a drop in the ocean. So you'll likely go for the 32gb version at $599, or the 64gb version at $699. Add to that the (optional) 3G capability and you add $130 to each.
Whoa.
Wait a minute.
If I want something that stores a half way decent amount of files, which I can browse the web on (except flash sites) and maybe use as a phone… it'll set me back $829 plus tax? Are you freaking kidding me?
I can get a decent little laptop for HALF that.
In fact, I bought my Dell Mini10V for less than half that, and I don't need "an App for that", it'll run Office just dandy, thank you very much. (Spec is 1gb RAM, 160gb HDD, WiFi, Webcam etc etc, running full XP, which means I can actually work on it. 10.4" screen and weighing about 2lbs.)
Looking at this, why on earth would I buy an iPad for double the price, with less capability than my mini laptop?
Style? Yeah, I give them that. It's a nice looking thing. It's a lot thinner than my laptop, too. A little lighter, as well.
Don't get me wrong, I like the look of it. I'd love to have one.
I'd love to have a Kindle and a Nook, too, but again — not for that price.
Add to all this that in the UK, Apple is notorious for simply just changing the currency sign instead of the price — I think not.
(We pay more per song in the UK, than the rest of Europe, or the US, if we go to iTunes. Prices in the UK are £0.99 while in Europe they are €0.99 – which works out at £0.85 – and in the US they are $0.99, which works out at £0.61 / €0.70)
They do the same with iPhones and iPods – so why should the iPad be any different?
I like it, but unless Apple changes it's tune on the pricing — and on their iTunes user agreement model — I'm not so sure the iPad will be taking off in a big way over here.
I'll keep watching.
8
Jan
…might contain clockwork laptops and steam driven airships.
Yup.
Steampunk.
As one of my fellow critters asked the other day: "What on earth is it?"
Steampunk is a sci-fi subgenre, based in a world where the future has collapsed and silicone, plastic and any other modern technology has been replaced by — you guessed it — steam powered, clockwork driven gadgets made of brass and copper.
The world is a re-invented Victorian era, complete with long dresses, walking sticks and whatnot.
Never mind that those long skirts are held up by leather and brass buckles big enough to knock out even the most courageous mugger.
We're talking about a very dystopian world, where anything goes, as long as it involves brass bolts, clockworks, steam and copper screws.
And let's not forget the funky goggles!
In case I've whet your appetite… here are some images of Steampunk gadgetry:
Cool, eh?
The idea has been around a long time, if you want to get right down to it, H.G. Wells and Jules Verne were the grandfathers of the genre.
You've guessed it. The Nautilus… is a steampunk submarine.
It's kind of cyberpunk in reverse, where the women are strong and resourceful, the men adventurous and brave.
Personally, I love the whole look of the Steampunk stuff, but I couldn't write it to save my life. I'll leave that to the braver souls out there.
It's an up and coming subgenre for romance as well, you mark my words.