By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

I read about the iPad, Apple’s newest product, and it has me scratching my head. I have had very satisfactory pads for years, so I don’t know what all the fuss is about.

I call what I have the “My Pad.” It is about the size of an iPad, and I carry it around with me wherever I go. It didn’t cost $499. My Pads cost less than $3 each.

My Pad doesn’t have a typewriter keyboard, because it doesn’t need one. I have a pencil instead, which I use to write things down in My Pad. I can write about as fast as I can type, as long as I am the only one who tries to read the writing. If someone else needs to read it, I write a little slower.

I don’t need an iPad to send somebody a note. I just write a note on a page of My Pad, tear out the page and hand it or send it to whomever the note is meant for.

I don’t read e-mails on My Pad, as you can on the iPad. I read them on my computer, and I send them on my computer, as well. My computer has a bigger screen than that of an iPad, so it helps me see my e-mails better.

I am not one of those people who needs to get e-mails while I am driving my car or having a cup of coffee somewhere. If I wanted to, I could get e-mails on my cell phone, but I don’t want to. When I’m out having coffee, I’m either talking to somebody or just spending some time alone. E-mails can wait until I get back to the computer.

Some say people will start using their iPads to read newspapers, and I hope they will if that’s what they want. But I’m old-fashioned. I want to get ink on my fingers.

I don’t watch TV on My Pad, either. When I watch TV, I want to be home in the living room, with Mrs. Doud bringing me a soda water (or me bringing her one.) Maybe one of us gets a foot rub, too.

And, if I drop My Pad, I’m not out $499.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 3:22 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.