The estimated reading time for this post is 4 minutes
Welcome to Tech-Knowledgy, where I answer your questions about tech. Some readers of this blog have posted questions in the Comments section while others have emailed me their questions. I am posting the questions and answers below so others can learn and/or respond. Feel free to post your tech questions in the Comments section of the blog or email me at [email protected].
Q. I was reading your blog and was fascinated with your love for technology. I had a question about a few products on your page and was wondering if you could help me!! I was thinking about purchasing an e-reader, maybe a Kindle or an Ipad, and was wondering which you thought was the best to buy? I have many friends who have the Kindle and absolutely love it but I have not had the chance to navigate through it. I have also seen the Ipad and its many applications but I am unsure if I would use all of it’s app’s that often. I love the fact that the Ipad has color but I did not know if that would make a difference while reading an e-book. The Ipad is quite the investment but if it is all of the wonderful things that they say about it I might be leaning towards purchasing it over the Kindle. Do you have any input on which may be the best purchse for me?
A. The Kindle and the iPad are both great devices, but quite different. The Kindle is an ereader almost exclusively. Just about all it does is allow you to read books on it, with a few exceptions. The iPad can function as an ereader and, with the Kindle app, you can read all the books on your iPad that you can read on your Kindle. The Kindle screen is only black and white, but if the books you read don’t have pictures, that may not matter. The Kindle is easier on the eyes because it isn’t backlit, is lighter weight, and can be read in sunlight.
But if you want your device to function as more than an ereader, then take a look at the iPad. The iPad can get books from places other than the Kindle store and the screen is in color. If you want to read ebooks from a wide variety of sources or photography books are of interest to you, then the iPad would be the better ereader.
You should also know that the price of an entry level iPad is $360 more than the price of an entry level Kindle. If all you are looking for is an ereader to read books without pictures, then you should get the Kindle. If you want more functionality for your device, then you should get the iPad. Stay tuned for a future article on the Kindle.
Q. How is Slingbox different from Hulu+?
A. Hulu+ is a subscription service that costs $7.99 a month and allows you to watch its shows on your tv (with a Roku or special dvd players), computer, or Apple or Android mobile devices. Hulu+ has tv shows from current seasons on many, but not all, networks, while Slingbox has live tv and recorded shows on your dvr. Hulu+ does not work outside the US while Slingbox works anywhere in the world there is an Internet connection. Here is the link to the Hulu+ Website for more information.
Q. How come I don’t always see a Comment box at the bottom of your blog posts? When I go to your blog, sometimes I see a Comment box and sometimes I don’t. What gives?
A. This blog does not show comment boxes when you are looking at the entire blog page (wonderoftech.com). If you click on a link to a specific blog post (such as Mr. Rebates, Your New Best Friend), the individual blog page will appear with a comment box below. You can always post a comment or see others’ comments by clicking on the blue Comments link at the top of each blog post or on the link I provide at the end of each post. I wish I could change this, but the format of the blog doesn’t allow this feature to be altered.
Follow Up
After all of the hoopla, yesterday’s launch of the iPhone on Verizon turned out to be quite the dud. The anticipated crowds at Verizon and Apple stores never materialized. Why? Maybe people are waiting until June to get the iPhone 5 on Verizon (The Waiting Is the Hardest Part). Perhaps people have decided to get an Android phone on Virgin Mobile instead and save a lot of money (Smart and Cheap). Only time will tell…
Here is a video of the only two people waiting to get their Verizon iPhones at the Apple Store at the Mall of America in Minnesota yesterday morning. Looks like they were expecting a few more customers.
I’m interested to hear what you think of the family of Open Source operating systems, commonly called Linux distros. I was thinking of buying a cheap netbook and installing one of them on it to fool around with. Your thoughts?
Brandon, this is a great project and I will be very interested to see how it goes for you. I think of Linux as I do most other DIY projects, it can be a source of great satisfaction and frustration, sometimes both. I am curious about your reasons for embarking on this project. Do you want the customization Linux provides? Do you want to get into software development and want practice coding on Linux? And/or do you love this kind of stuff and think this will be a fun thing to do?
If you have the time and inclination, go for it and keep us posted on your progress!