Anyone that’s read this blog for a while will know that I’m a fan of Apple computers; I use an iMac on a daily basis and I love the simplicity and the ease of use of the OS X operating system.
I’ve sat and watched numerous keynote addresses by Steve Jobs, demonstrating the latest software and hardware advances and I’ve drooled over them just like anyone else, and wished I had the wherewithal to rush out and buy them.
I’ve wanted an iPhone since they were released, but it costs a fortune and the phone functionality isn’t terribly impressive, from what I’ve read. Couple that with a low-spec camera and a bunch of included stuff that I would never use and I’ve steered clear.
Likewise, I’ve never owned an iPod. Again, high price for what you get. Couldn’t really justify it.
And then last week, I got given a second generation iPod Touch as an early birthday present (despite my protestations that – even at the Amazon price – it was way too expensive) and I’m totally hooked. In much the same way as when I first I tried using OS X I didn’t want to go back to Windows, I now wonder how I ever lived without this amazing little gadget.
Firstly, it’s a great little unit from a tactile point of view. It’s lovely to hold, and to use. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, and the much-talked-about multitouch screen is so smooth and responsive. Joyous.
Then there’s the fact that it syncs so seamlessly with my iMac. My current devices – a Nokia 6500 Slide and a Palm Tunsgten E – don’t, so they’ve become more and more sidelined over time. I used to put all my stuff on the Palm when I was still using Windows, because it was easy. With OS X, it only sort of works so I gave up.
With the Touch, it syncs with iCal, with iTunes, with Address Book, with Safari and so on and makes it all so much simpler. The addition of To Do from Appigo has given me a great task manager – which also syncs with iCal – and suddenly my Touch is indispensable. Just today, I’ve lost count of the number of tasks I’ve added and which – when I complete this post – are all completed.
And the Touch has become so useful so quickly because it is so easy to use. As the old Apple saying goes “it just works”. When the technology is so easy to use, it gets used a lot.
I can use it for email, for surfing the web, there’s a WordPress app so I can update this blog, I can track stocks, the weather, activity on Facebook and so much more. I can even – amazingly enough – listen to music on it.
So far, I haven’t found anything I don’t like about it – even the much-maligned standard issue headphones seem pretty good to me. All-in-all, if you’re in the market for a PDA or an MP3 player – or both- I’d recommend you take a look at the Touch.
