Wednesday, August 28, 2013

back away from the tablet

Let's see, the benefits of a tablet over a laptop. I love the power my laptop has to do graphics via the fully appointed software. The one sore spot I have is the lack of battery life. The older laptop might get an hours worth of untethered work/play, less if graphic intensive. Then, I must use a mouse or the Wacom tablet. I always need the power brick to do real work. Yes, I could buy a new laptop but I chose a tablet instead. I saw them, frowned, but picking the tablet up changed my mind.

OK, my tablet has less power and less powerful software but, does well with what it has. Battery life is 7 or 8 hours and I can use fingers and or the stylus. It is small, fits lap or hand-held use. I can carry it all over the place and has a handy camera, keyboard. So, no matter, I'm loving this availability. I have a tiny mp3 player, well the tablet can do that also and better. No worries about software, there are tons of free apps, many of which have advanced functions locked. You can do a lot as is or pay a little cash to unlock the Full Monty. I'm talking $1 to $10. Not bad at all. This tablet fits snuggly between a laptop and a smart-phone, best of both.

To all you tablet jockeys who sport iPads, don't thump your chest, I have a slight aversion to Apple and Microsoft products. Linux guys do look at the world differently. Things that make you go hummmmmmmm! Mind you my iPad friends are mostly content, have considered the tablet I have and made their choices too.

My wife is a little concerned though, she asked my why I was taking my tablet to my dentist appointment. I plugged it into my car's stereo and listened to a lecture on Black history, way better than radio I can't content control. Let me repeat, the tablet is a very good education device. Yeah, entertainment also, I guess I do jam once in a while. And there are gah, gaa, gama, ggames, games (I don't play games).

I ran into my first limitation the other day, I was running an app called ScribMaster, drew a some lines, then a circle, went to use the paint bucket to fill the circle. It told me I didn't have enough memory to complete this operation. What was that! I'll have to investigate further. Also the word processor has hidden actions to get stuff done, you'll have to read the guide to get the drift. But my realization is that the tablet is not the laptop so learn to respect the tablet for what it has and can do.

For me, smart-phone is too small, laptops are good but not really handy. The tablet is the one for me. Now, tablets come in different strengths and capabilities from eReaders to enhanced graphics tablets. Choose well. And you know those tough looking guys with the chunky chain connected to their wallet? Do that, connect the chunky chain to your tablet, if you frequent crowed places. "This tablet will self destruct in 5 seconds" and a smoke pellet will help too. The lock out from the first Jurassic Park movie is the best one yet (ah-ah-ahh!), but I'd have to add the hissing and spitting lizard with pepper spray. You see why I don't do games.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Remote report, tablet in hand

Ok, this is the first post from my spanking brand new digital tablet. Did I jump ship? No no no!

It runs Android, which is open source and has lots of free software. The paid software is not expensive and there are plenty that pushes to the limits of what this tablet can do, which is a lot.

This tablet has three things I want, long battery life and a Wacom tablet and graphic apps for all kinds of drawing. Are the apps the same quality as desktop stuff? Some yes, some not. But then I can't carry my laptop plus support equipment very easily. I also get a reader, video player and sketch pad. Notice, l didn't mention games, they use up too much time.

My personal opinion, I compromised yet I didn't lose anything. I can see myself sitting by the river or here in the gallery doodlling without distraction. So excuse me while I figure this thing out. I'll send pictures, cheers!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

I've joined the revolution

The revolution will not be televised. There is a good reason for that, You see, television is for to mesmerize the masses. It works, there is no argument. The screen fixes the position of the head so that the eyes are inline and the speakers keep the ears in the sound of the master's voice (go nipper). Come on, you know how it works, especially if you got the smarter variety of cell phones. I have resisted with some effort, my phone is a phone, I can receive tex but sending tex, I might as well bang the thing on the sidewalk in Morris Code.

As you can tell while I like technology, I don't appreciate innovations so fast I haven't broken in the stuff I already got. I was a desktop jocky, then laptops, the other day, after much thought (since the laptop days begun) have bought a tablet.

I've got friends with tablets from e-Readers to PC's. I doesn't matter if it can't even do what PCs do, the flash of new technology has become an ego thumping replacement. So how do you join this revolution?

First you look at all what is available. Eyeball the thing and ooggle the price tag.

Then do an inventory of what your needs and wants, needs before wants.

This might take a while so read reviews pro and cons and talk to folks who you see are using them. They are usually excited and volunteer a sales pitch.

Narrow it down to the few devices that suit you and make an executive decision.

Now don't forget, the box unit is not all that you need, The game is the same as with PC's (remember). You need accessories and services, not just the device.

Oh, what I get? I got a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Why, my choice. I like the integrated Wacom graphics technology so I can draw/paint/doodle. That was the plus over other tablets, for me. As far as artability goes, my main laptop will handle the heavy work. The tablet will be the talented extension. It has a camera, ample storage and lots of battery time, 8 hours compared to 1 if I'm lucky on the laptop. I have to juggle my work load for a while but it is looking good. So, excuse me as I assume the tablet position, till next time.

Sunday, August 04, 2013

source vs discourse

I had a friend, in fact several friends who either would engage me on points of discussion via the wealth of supporting knowledge or the sword of sincerity. I would be so so disinterested because there is no need to sing to the choir. Dag man, you trying to convert me more, shore up your feeble conviction with a chest thumping display or sell me a used car?

I am in fact caught up with all these things, until someone finally shined some light. We can live a whole life in assumption and regard and promote it as fact.

So when engulfed in a mystery
don't overlook the history
not just the history of the myth story
but the complexities of the times
that cause the myth story
to be used as history.

tools of the trade are also the weapons of war
they till the soil, they till your mind.
they draw minerals and nutrients from dirt
they draw agreement or blood from you.

they plant seeds but grow fruit with no seeds
what? they don't have enough life force, enough
nutrition to recreate itself to pass on the power of life?
economic dependency = slavery 

every belief that has a literature
if taken literally is like fruit with no seeds.

The problem is not the literature,
it's the reader

I had watermelon the other day,
was up to my mustache in rhines
it occurred to me, no seeds
How is it I get outraged at the thought of Genetically Modified Foods and here I am not spitting seeds like, a stereotype?

If the seed has been altered
the literature of the discourse is seedless
while convenient for zero waste comsumption
it is a mockery of the natural 

the fruit is still sweet though
intoxicating like a first high
ooh baby I'll never get that buzz again
(but let me try!)

I talk in pictures, my brother taught me that. He requires a certain mental skill called "getting the drift". Hey we all shake the trees, only Newton claimed a head injury.


Friday, August 02, 2013

eye of the bird

Don't know why penguins are classified as birds. Birds fly, that is a universal acknowledgement with respect to the media in which birds normally fly in, the air. But I guess if the media were water and you were to entertain the notion that penguins only fly in water, hmmmmmm!?! Some "birds" fly in the sky, some in the water, some swim on water but do not fly in the water. Penguins are a unique bird, if they are birds, then why aren't platypus birds? Penguins have a beak like most birds, and platypus like a duck but platypus are definitely not birds. The gene pool is a weird place to play in.

What is it that the symbol of the Linux world is a "bird" that only flies in the water? Don't know and if you haven't guessed it the age of the personal computer is over. The new age of the network has been with us for a while. It is the next logical progression. For people who don't care and just plug in, it is the latest gadgets, the social media, the tap in, plug in, connect and go. If you care you talk about who and what holds the info, who authorizes and orchestrates content and what agenda is being managed for what end.

The example is TV. Three channels became seven, then more, all open broadcast. Then satellite and cable with channels out the wahzoo. They feed the lust and the power hunger and thirst for knowledge/info/entertainment. The video distraction market is pay to play and making bucks off of the gotta-have it in you. And you suck in the content (brain straw) without filtering and questioning and monitoring. You have lost your senses. The media defines you and your reality, uh-oh!

No one tells you, you have the power to turn off the TV, that you will go through media withdraw, and that your friends and family are enablers to your TV addiction. They are in it too. It is a cultural construct, a matrix. To limit your involvement in that construct to work on your own construct is the hardest thing in the world. The world being all the ones sharing the same construct.

Don't read the "text", get the "picture", analyze and ponder and apply.