Taking ones time.

As those that have been digging out my blog here will know most of my google experience stems from the usage of a Samsung Tabs 2 10.1" Wow a long name... My Slate. I use it for everything that is connected with Android and a lot of things that are based around Google. Like Google Drive (Generic spreadsheets for game logs). Latitude to find specific location of people that needs a ride from somewhere. G+, well if that needs an explanation get with the program. Google Navigation or Maps for GPS navigation (I usually have no idea of where anything is). And Turf for a but of fun. It's a GPS capture the flag game via android. "Turf", look it up, it's fun.

Something I had an initial idea would be great to use the Slate for was this:
Blogging, but it's not. In general it's just a huge mobile phone and the keyboard vs Blogger aren't quite working to a level that it's usable, unless you do the default 5 lines -> Publish -> Twitter -> expose, expose expose. And if you'd been reading just one of my post you'd know I'm not going there, even though I don't do much editorial on them.

And as usual 'm taking my time to underline the premise of my points.
I've finally found out what the Blogloving thing that keeps popping up every is.
It's basically a Blog Twitter.
I see the point in using it, considering SOE and stuff like that. But I don't Blog with SOE in mind.
I blog to put my mind on paper. It's nice that my thinking is shared, but frankly my mind isn't for everyone, and some might even get hurt. So keeping it relatively low key here.

Of course I have a desire to discuss what I put to file, yet I also understand very few people even comprehend my logic, even fewer catch my everlasting underlines. So I've grown natural to the concept that this is one way communication, if even that much.

Now stuff like Blogloving and Twitter, as said I understand the basic working of it. What I don't understand is why people bother. Using tools like this leaves you in a state where you'll always be the last to know. Unless you're the creator. It leaves no time for reflexion, you just press on.
And as much as I endorse such attitude of persistence, I always fail to see the end goal. The larger picture, where is it, that people are going?

I'm still amazed of the pace I see people having these days, until I realize the pace is reached by disregarding the past.
But that's my conclusions, what are yours?

It's finally here

Yes, yesterday. The slate finally arrived. The financing didn't go as I planned. But people have had a good time telling me how stupid I am for insisting on helping myself when other stand ready to provide assistance. But that's just one of my strange sticking to principles even when it hurts ideas.

Anyway. It's mine now. The model P5100 white, plus the samsung earplugs with a microphone, the keyboard for easy work applications. The leather sleeve cover, also samsung recommended. And the table charger for home/nigth charging, it's still in the mail, but I'll get by with the default charger for now.

So do I like it?
For the moment it's just as I expect. Was positivly impressed it was shipped charged, meaning I didn't have to wait a day or so while it charged.
Another great thing is the auto sync with the old device, meaning I didn't have to seek my much liked applications.
Of course this means I need to remain strick in it's usage, as a complete systemwipe seems hard or even impossible. I suppose it's the price you pay for being clouded.

The first few issues are showing up. Using G+ and learning how that works, I found a problem seeking more content. This might as well be a Google issue as it be a samsung problem, which leads me to getting anoud that android insists this is a mobile phone, ignoring the fact it's a tablet, and thusly not exactly suited for phone usage. Sure it can do it, but it's not the prime function of the device. Also many application insists it's a mobile and thus use cramped mini UI. Sure I see the point when using 3 and 4" screens. But I use this more as a netbook then a mobile and the screen is huge with this in mind.

I'm sure I'll found solutions. But for now it's problem.

Always needing a few more buck...

So the paycheck finally arrived. Now new problem arises
1. I want a dataslate.
2. I need to pay subscription costs for Eve.
3. I got a backlash from utillity bills, making it factor 3.

This is in the order of what I want, rather then what I need.
Of course I need to pay the backlash payment on the utility bill, secondly I need to pay subscriptions for my Eve (2 mains) and what's leftover I can play with.

The operation is relatively simple: I have let's say 10.000, using clean numbers with no reference to reality, as I'm uncomfortable putting that online. 10 grand is a nice round number...

So working backwards, the Utility bills are little less then 6k, the Eve subscription is roughly 1k (x2) and a dataslate would be roughly 3500-4000. Summing up= 11,5-12 K and continuing: 11,5-12k > 10k = I don't get a Slate....

Okay, I whine, therefore I am???
Not really, so, what to do...
The Utility is non negotiable, it's 6k,- that's it. Everything else we can shuffle around.
First step: Eve.... 2k for 2x1 years... Well we're in June now, so maybe we can cut that back. Coupled with the Freebie Project, maybe I can cut it even more. But how much. Going to do a long shot and do it at half price = 1k for 2x 6months??
It's a bit of a gamble as fund will not flow until next year again for sure..
Then the slate?
I've tested and tried the Samsung Galaxy 10.1, and the Samsung Galaxy 5(WIFI) and I like them. Last week it took a price jumps + the Tab 2 is on sale, but it's still 3,5k I need to push it down to 3k.
That means waiting...

Things that spring to mind while you sit there:
I want the data slate as it's an android platform that works well with Google Maps, latitude and navigation.
Now I see something called ChomeOS, and I rather want the ChomeOS tablet 10.1. Yet I know nothing about it or whether I can even use it. But I bet it's cheaper. Also I'm sure it's more directly connected then Android.
In the end I'll just have to wait and see where things drop off.

I don't like hanging myself in the Freebie project path, but "working" a few hours each day, should be enough to carry both Maxx Loproc and other toons, but I'm most scared I might need outside help.

What I hate the most is having to stand idle and wait for things to happen. Things I can't really control, but i keep thinking I can.
While at it, hoping to win the lottery doesn't make things worse. Would be a nice addition in the project of removing economical dependencies....

Can I use the slate?

I did plan to write a lot more on this thing then I've managed to. Also way off with the review on it's uses.
It's okay. Nothing more, nothing less. Writing these on it is abit of a pain, can'tfind out if it's google or the slate but proff reading and spellchecking is seriously nothing something you want to do. I miss my arrow keys. Aside fromthat it's good. Got a nice size so my chopy fingers actually hits the rigth keys more then 99% of the time, doesn't always register and that is bad as it means backtracingto the error.
The power levels on it is good, but it takes for ever to charge, took me by surprise the first day. But planning gets you far. Application wise I love it, but I ew I would. Only missing a good spreadsheet.
Price being 75% of an ipad it's a good buy, just know what you want to use it for.
Last thing I need to figure out is transport. As I take it everywhere I need a bag, which is not very manly, but what else can I do? Break it?

Tablet vs. Slate

So I've managed to borrow a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (GT-P7500) from our local hardware pusher. Thinking the Samsung Galaxy tab is exactly what I need.
Now there's a few factors that plays a role here:
The wife got her self an Ipad 3.
I've just embrased the Google platform with google maps as the primary drive.
The fact I like the Google philosofy more then the Apple philosofy has a point.

My main problem actually is that since I swapped my nokia for a BB, and I don't regret it. I've been unable to navigate.

My sister in law showed my her HTC phone with Google navigation, and I knew exactly what I needed to do. Get an android platform with GPS.

For that you can go get a mobile, but my BB takes care of all the things you want from a mobile, except navigation. So what to do? Use analogue maps, I think not.
Looking around and I came to terms with the fact I didn't have a Tab/pad. never needed it, and had trouble seeing it's use. Well Navigation then, okay. It'll do that and it does, perfectly (using 3G with a data package).

I borrowed a 5" Wifi thing I used for a while and it worked great also, with 2 problems:
I'm getting old so smaller isn't better.
Wifi isn't connecting while being mobile.

But for Google platform it was great (with my glasses on). So I started looking for it's big brother this 10.1 tab with the intent to buy it. During my screenings I've noticed the Asus Transformer also, and the Keyboard attachment seems like a nice thing, but it's more cash and I can't test it before buying.

The Samsung will do. So:
I've been trying to feed it fully for 16 hours, not letting it rest much and I still haden't reach 100% and now i forgot the charger at home, so starting it's first day with 50%. So far I'm cheapish with it's usage, and it's holding up. The real roadtest will be tomorrow. Seminar day.

You're now wondering what that has to do with Sci-fi culture :)
I've just finished reading Caiphas Cain book I had managed to scavenge at the local Library (it isn't black). And my love for Warhammer 40K fills me with emotions. Well anyone knowing anything about 40K knows of the strong beliefs within both the Space Marines and the Imperial Guard.
Also during this weekend I finished off Empyrean Age by Tony Gonzales, which co insides very well with Inferno releasing the next day :)

But all the reading I notice a thing keep popping up (the Data slate). It's everywhere. and these books I believe were written before the release of Ipads atleast before they became common.
Thinking about Star trek, I recall them using dataslates to share information also. Thinking Star Wars I seem to have an impression they had them also.
Reading them as data slates for some week and a half, maybe 2 that name has stuck.
The Wife have her paddi, and she likes it, the kids like it, and it's Ipads.
When I took the 5" wifi slate home with me, they asked what it was and I answered a data slate, which they of course didn't understand. They had a look and it was from then on my Iphone.... Same thing with my sister in law saw it. it was my Iphone, when realising it was an android it was my mobile...

Completely ignoring the fact I kept calling it a slate, the Slate and so on.
After a few days they started simply correcting me to call it a tablet. (tablet is in danish a pill). I really don't like that word.

At any rate digging into what such a device should be used for, we actually quite quickly got to the conclusion that is was a datapad or slate...The wife being a sci-fi fan helps ;)
Now getting home yesterday with the 10.1" everything made more sense to the non believers.

I'm surprised how quickly I've managed to it up to my liking, there's still a few bugs that I can't seem to iron out or find a work around for, so all in all it's exactly what I want.
Next step will be figuring out how to mobilize it... A shoulder bag?
One thing is for certain I'm going have such a slate with me henceforth.

It's seemingly easy connection to the Google world with all the applications that offers where excell sheet is my last roadblock. Now I haven't written this blog on it, but every following Blog will be. And once I find a good way to send stuff for inspection back and forth it'll be perfect for showing stuff to people explaining stuff.

Further immergence into the Google world (Hardware)

So this was supposed to be written on a more mobile device and the thing that thus far has caugth my eye would be the Samsung Galaxy.

I'm starting to see the need for having a pad thing of sorts around. not only for the purpose of recreation. But knowing the inner workings and being familiar with them gives some nice pointers in the directions we're heading on the hardware side. Sure a PC will always be a PC, yet I notice that more and more see the benefit in getting a small desktop rather then a Laptop for the purpose of gaming, and the more work oriented free floaters are starting to settle with a laptop they like for office work. The rest are the gamers, casual floaters and kids. all these would naturally pick up a pad of sorts rather then messing about with a heavy laptop waiting for it to boot, or actually pick up a heavy slaptop.
Personally I've switched the slaptop with a desktop (SFF), considering that my gaming/art machine would need rather costly upgrades in order to last for very long. I'd like at least 5 years on my current system, and I can have that with various upgrades that i can built into a desktop but a slaptop would have to be purchased finalized, making it heavy and rather costly. But a desktop is slow not portable and cumbersome. Plus the system doesn't facilitate stuff like this very well.
You know once you finally settle in front of the screens you start getting into business and then all the fun stuff tends to fade and you never get around to it.
Same with all the creative stuff, you're never have a good option for putting down your thinking when you need to.
The solution in my case is the pad.

Now getting an Ipad seemed like a good idea 2 years ago. Today others have entered the marked. And frankly Android is more to my personal tastes of freedom of choice. so what's out there?
I've found the Samsung Galaxy as a potential option. Especially with my new found social portal that is my google account, which works nicely with Android.
So I'm currently running a test to see if the darned device meets my needs, and uhh am I needy :)

Using Latitude on a constant basis (trying that with BB is a fail), launching my self into Wikitude was also a fail, but where do you else get good AR?
At any rate I've borrowed a Samsung Galaxy S now, and first issue I get is the missing networkability. Sure it connects via WIFI, but I need more. Plus I was thinking of pad size. Never the less I like it thus far, the setting up is of course an ongoing process. I've got the better deal of my applications installed (Eve-radio, Aura, Facebook plus chat "fails", Latitude, Blogger "fails" and G+ "fails").
All in all I'm okay with the current failures to perform from some of the applications, and funny enough it's the vital ones. The battery time takes roughly 2-3 hours of Radio streaming or rather 2-3 hours of active usage. That means I'll need it pretty much power plugged, such is okay for the most part means I'll just always be seeking a power outlet where ever I settle on a location. And I kinda expect the same performance from the Pad version (I've noticed and picked the Samsung Galaxy 10.1).
Then what about usage? Well, drag n' drop works fine and intuitively. the keyboard took me a while to settle with. But 2 finger system and it works nicely, slowly compared to a standard keyboard, but I'm still faster on 2 fingers then 50% of my surroundings, so it'll be manageable. Down side is my big fingers, can't hit the keys on the small screen when it's upright, and horizontal removes the view area = I can't see what I'm doing. And if you've been reading any of my ramblings you'd know very well why that's a critical issue.
I expect the Pad to be bigger and thus will solve that issues....

Last 2 parts to deal with would then be finances ;)
Having the need for connectivity I'll need a mobile connection. In DK that's a nightmare. Spend in total some 9 hours reading terms and prices and lastly I found a page where they actually tested the lines.
As anyone knowing me would know, Speed is nice, but stable is way better.
Going through the price lists what I found was:

1. High Speed for 200 MB/month, cutting to 0,25/0,25 megabits pr. second for 29,-
2. High speed for 500 MB/month, cutting to 0,25/0,25 megabits pr. second for 39,-
3. High speed for 1000 MB for 49.

I'm still not sure the first cut data rate is true, but it's what I can find.
Now 29,- pr month is a lot cheaper then both 39 and 49. The 49,- is around my data transfer needs, but there's no credit limit so I could end up using it 5 times in one month = 250,- So remove from line up.
That leaves 200 for 29 or 500 for 39. I know I use a little under 500 MB/ month on a regular use pattern, so I'd always be a cut speeds with the cheap model, but stable lines rather then speed and I'd manage. Plus the writing in small types that you'll get extra services, like a web mail, Free usage of music and a few more like that, seems tempting...
Finally I found the that review site, and albeit the reviews were of older date (3-6 months) I frankly think I'll settle with 500 for 39. Seemed that the cheaper wasn't able to actually deliver in the tests, and well that'll mean unstable connections and I hate that. Also it didn't help much that the most support from the 200  for 29 site I recieved thus far is the customers asking simple innocent questions for help, getting none (infact most of their issues seems to be network issues they can't do anything about) and when ever a customer care person shows up they just made things worse with promises that they couldn't keep or with suggestions to buy additional products meaning the 29 would quickly end up as 29 + something more + services plus something more, still with the looming prospect of unstable connections. By the way 29,- ddk is something like 5 US dollars or 4 Euro or 3 Pound Sterling.

In my worse judgements I'm still giving them a chance, I really don't know why and I should. My history with them has actually ended in a solemn oath never to return to their infrastructure if avoidable...... Seems something of a statement of bitter judgemental folks...... Yet all of my being screams at me. Yet the promise of extra services seems so appealing. Frak I hate that sales technique.

Ohh I wanted to put in some images of the current device, but my camera FUBAR'ed on me.
Instead let's use Google.
Test device Samsung Galaxy S : Google image search   Page at Samsung UK
Target device Samsung Galaxy 10.1: Google image search  Samsung site (UK)

I suppose I've been rambling along for far more then you wanted to read, so I'll cut it here.