Chuck's Blog

iPad keyboard review

benandwyattsdad — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:37:15 +0000

This is going to be my attempt at typing on the iPad. I think, so far it is not that bad. Just like the iPhone, the first thing you have to do is let go, and let the auto correction take over. So far it is fixing most of my mistakes not involving the space bar. I have been using the iPhone keyboard for a while and I must say, the experience here is much the same. I seem to be able to type about two-thirds the speed of a regular keyboard. I guess the only real downside to it is I have to keep my eyes on the keyboard. Ironic. My keyboarding teacher in high school threatened to fail me for looking at the keys while I typed. If she only knew.

I have owned the iPad for exactly nine hours and ten minutes. I have been using it, along with my iPhone all day. Leo LaPorte was right. This device can handle about 90% of my day to day computing. The only thing I used my desktop for was to watch a recorded tv show and to deal with an email attachment issue that I couldn’t rectify on the iPad.

As I’m typing, just a note. A couple of times so far in this article, I have had to deal with some stray finger presses on unintended keys. As I am typing, I inadvertently touched the screen with a “dangling” finger and caused an unintended keystroke, most of the time either “A” or return. I am able to us use multiple fingers on each hand, but since there is no al home row position on which to rest my fingers, they just have to “float” above the screen until they are needed for a keystroke. Not really an inconvenience, just something that I will have to get used to.

Compared to my Acer Aspire one, the keys on the keyboard are about the same size and orientation. But again, without the home row position of traditional touch typing, the experience is very different. Just as I have to adjust my typing style when switching from my desktop to my netbook, the iPad also requires the same type of adjustment.

At this point, it should be noted that I have been typing thus far in landscape mode.

For the next part, I will switch to portrait mode

Now for a little portrait mode test. Is experience seems to be about the Sam, however, since the keys are a little smaller and a little closer together, the typing seems to be going a little bit faster. I am using a less number of fingers on each had, though, as the smaller keyboard real-estate has hampered my ability to see around and over my hands.

Next test. Portrait mode, holding the iPad in my hands, thumb typing.

I am hoping that my large hands will be able to reach all of the keys on the keyboard. And my hope is fulfilled. With only a little bit of stretching, I am able to reach the center keys on the keyboard just fine. His method of text input is the most uncomfortable of the three that I have tested so far. The screen is moving around as I flex my thumbs and hands to reach all of the necessary keys. As far a speed goes, I would say that my typing speed using this technique is about the same as when I type on my iPhone. This technique is limiting due to the fact that I have reduced the number of fingers used to two. Still, I have gotten pretty adept at typing on my iPhone, so the speed isn’t too bad. I definitely would not recommend typing for long periods of time using this technique.

Returning to landscape mode with the iPad flat on my desk to finish

All in all I have to say that the typing experience is no where near the train wreck that I had envisioned before owning the device. I wouldn’t write a novel on it, but for Twitter, short email replies, and the occasional comment or short blog post, it seems perfectly adequate.

If you were considering buying an iPad and were worrying about the typing experience, I hope I have helped.

This post was written using the iPad and the Pages application. The entire article was then copy and pasted into WordPress. Any questions or concerns? Don’t forget to leave a comment.

My Personal View

benandwyattsdad — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:31:37 +0000

There comes a time in everyones life that we have to take a look at what’s going on in your world at any given time. For me, one of these times is now. In recent days, we have learned that my wife is carrying our third child. I know that I hadn’t planned on expanding our family any further. I know that I am not exactly thrilled about the news because of that fact, but it is a punch that fate has thrown and a punch that I have to roll with it. At this point there is nothing I can do to change the situation.

There are things that I have experienced on my life that have shaped the way I view my world. I have had many experiences that would be characterized by some as bad or unfavorable. I don’t necessarily view them all as bad. I have found myself travelling a path that most would not find advantageous but to me were the most beneficial in my life. I have lived and learned. I have persevered.

Now, I find myself in a situation that is both unexpected and not exactly welcome. I know that I will love my child like nothing else in this world save my other two children. I know that somehow we will make this work out. I know that my wife and I are able to continue to persevere.

My feelings about the new baby are having an effect on me like I haven’t felt in a long time. I feel uncertain and, in some ways, lost. There are very few times in my adult life that I have felt this way. I try to project the sense of confidence and resolve and I fear that my uncertainty and doubt is showing through to the people around me. In some ways, I feel the same as I did when we found out Ben was on the way. I was young and had a pretty bad job and hadn’t learned the things that I needed to know about being a parent. I have learned a lot about being a parent and I know that I can raise the child, it’s more about the uncertainty about being able to provide for a third child. Our resources are pretty stretched right now, and I don’t really know what the new baby will do to the dynamic of the household.

The other unknown right now, at least to me, is how my wife feels about all of this. She has not talked to me about her feelings over this situation. She isn’t crying, so I guess that is a good thing. I need to have that discussion with her. I think it is important.

I should retire for the evening to be ready for tomorrow. Some day, I may find something more interesting to write about on the internet. When I do, I’ll let you know.

Later,
Chuck

It’s Been a Few Months……

benandwyattsdad — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:54:08 +0000

It has been a while since I have posted. Not much has been going on in my life. Working and spending time with my family. It has pretty much been the status quo. June brought the opportunity for me to take some time off work. I was able to take a break and spend some time with my boys. I did take a trip with my oldest to Chicago. We went to the Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg, IL, just outside of Chicago. I was kinda underwhelmed by that experience. I thought the experience would be more interesting and fun, but it was really cheesy. It seemed like the point was just to get Lego lovers into the Lego store to buy overpriced Lego sets. I will admit, I did purchase a couple of those for my son.

I had planned to spend the whole day there, but after about 2 hours, we had experienced all that the Legoland Discovery Center had to offer. I sat down with my phone and asked Google what else was fun and/or interesting to experience in Chicago. I found the page for the Museum of Science and Industry. I will say that I was completely satisfied with that experience. There are some fascinating exhibits at that museum. I would say my favorite is a WWII German Submarine that was captured in 1944 by the Allies. The story they had to tell was compelling and educational. The exhibit also includes and tour. I will say that it was one of my most memorable experiences in my life. I will put a picture at the end of this post. I really had a great time in Chicago with Ben. I think he had a great time too. I can’t wait until Wyatt is older and I can share those experiences with him.

My next vacation will be spent with my dad. We are driving to Florida and I will spend a couple of days there and fly back. My wife isn’t very happy about my trip, but when I asked her if she wanted to go with, she said no. I think the thought of 18+ hours in a car with my dad and I kinda turned her stomach a little.

German submarine captured during WWII

U-505 on Wikipedia
MSI Chicago U-505 exhibit page

March 17. Oh What A Day

benandwyattsdad — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:23:51 +0000

Today is, of course, Saint Patrick’s Day in the US. A day of celebrating. A day of merriment and fun. Camaraderie and friendship. Green beer and corned beef and cabbage. For most of my fellow Americans that is true. Unfortunately, in my family, that is not the case. March 17 was changed four years ago. Changed in a way that will never revert. March 17 is the day that my wife’s father died. He suffered a fatal heart attack at the dinner table. The paramedics came and made a valiant effort to revive him. They worked diligently on their way to the hospital where a brilliant team of doctors and nurses worked to bring him back to us. Their efforts were true and just, however they were fruitless. March 17 is a day that my family will always remember. The day that we suffered a great loss. Gary will always be remembered. His spirit lives on in this family that I have become a part of. A family that has given me shelter when none existed. The family that opened their arms and hearts to me and made me feel like I was always a part of their lives. Today, four years later, the grief still exists. The longing for just one more minute with Gary. Just to tell him how much he meant to all of us.

There have been many times over the last four years that I have wished that I could bend his ear again. I knew him for just a short while compared to alot of people in my life, but there was something about him that made know that I could trust him. He was a father to me when my own father wasn’t able/capable to be there for me. He was a good friend. He may be gone from this world, but I can assure you, he will never be forgotten. Every time I listen to my wife talk about her Dad, the love she has for her father his clearly evident. He touched all of us in ways that we may not even be aware of yet.

So here’s to you, Gary. God bless you and keep you. Until we meet again.

Gary Holmes with Benjamin Vince (3/13/2005)

12:48 AM and I can’t sleep

benandwyattsdad — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:48:12 +0000

The title says it all. It is almost one in the mrning and I know I should be going to sleep but I can’t shut my mind off. There have been thoughts swirling thru my head all night. I have been having trouble sleeping as of late and I am not sure why. For now, things at work are going well. I have been having issues with a couple of my crew members, but nothing too major. Things at home have been a little rocky as of late. My wife and I have been arguing a little more than usual as of late. It is never anything of real substance, just stupid stuff that never really needed to be discussed let alone argued about. Sometimes I wonder what the point is. We love each other that is certain. But there are times. Boy are there times. She will threaten seperation and tell me she’s not coming home from work, accuse me of infidelity , or some other nonsense or another, that makes me want to give up ok it all. After 10 years it shouldn’t me this hard anymore. We have learned each other’s quirks. We have found each other’s buttons, we can pretty much launch the equivelant of nuclear holocaust on each other at a moment’s notice. We shouldn’t have to resort to that, should we? Our relationship should be beyond that now. There is no need. We both know that our love is strong and our feelings for each other maintained through alot of bad times. How should now be any different? Our children are thriving, we have a roof over our head, we have food to eat, clothes to wear. What is the problem? Sure we both have to work more than we would like, but that is the nature of our existence. She has accepted me for who I am and apparently is surprised by me just being me. On the same note, I can predict with near certainty most of her actions but yet some of the things she does still get on my nerves. One day we will both figure this stuff out and we will live happily ever after instead of just happy for today.

Happy New Year!!!

benandwyattsdad — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:13:35 +0000

It has been a while. This is my first post of 2009. I know that it is February already and I missed the first month, but hey, I’ve been busy. This is how I know that I am not a very good blogger. I am pretty sure that no one but me reads this but hey, it is therapeutic in a way. Things have been going well for the last couple of months. I had a couple of bad weeks at work, but things are back under control. Unfortunately the company decided to close the neighboring location so I am all alone in the market. I was hoping that it would mean a little bit more of a bump than we have gotten, but I think a lot of their customer base is finally realizing that the store is closed. We had a bump the first week, but the two subsequent weeks have remained flat.

Anyway, enough about work. I got a new toy for Christmas, and so far I am liking it. As I wrote previously, I had an iBook G3. It was a good computer. I liked it’s 12″ screen size, the keyboard was great, and I was really liking OS X. But alas, the computer Gods will was done, and the iBook was taken from me. It suffered the famous GPU failure and is currently sitting in my file cabinet waiting to go on eBay for parts. Everything works except the logic board. But I digress. Now I get to the part about my new toy. I got an Acer Aspire One for Christmas. Talk about portable. The last book I read was bigger than this thing. I am enjoying it so far. In fact, I am writing this post on it. The keyboard is about 80% the size of a “standard” laptop keyboard. I takes a little getting used to especially after using a desktop keyboard all day. I find that I can type faster using this keyboard because I have big hands and my fingers don’t have to travel as far to get to the keys. It is very smooth and fluid once I get the rhythm going. Starting out I tend to make a few mistakes due to over reaching, but a few sentences in and I am ready to go. I opted to not get the linux powered one and went with the 120GB hard drive model running Windows XP. After I switched to Vista about a year ago, XP seems to be a little old fashioned. I doubt very much that Vista would work very well on this system, it is too under powered. However, I am looking forward to putting Windows 7 on it. The only thing is, the One didn’t come with recovery/windows disks, and without those, I am not really looking forward to wiping the drive. I suppose I could just load Ubuntu on it after the beta of Windows 7 runs out, but I don’t know. There is a little more secure feeling of having the original drivers and configuration at my disposal. I think there is a hidden partition on the drive, I will check it out some time.

Speaking on Windows 7. Let me share some of my thoughts on that. I downloaded the public beta just like so may others and cleared off a little 16GB corner of my desktop for it to live and built my very own Windows 7. It installed quickly and cleanly. There was only one device that it didn’t have during installation and that was the one for my TV tuner card. A hop, skip, and jump over to ATI’s website and that was fixed. I downloaded the Vista driver which, much to my surprise, worked beautifully. Then I was off to the races. Of course, my first stop was to get Firefox, followed closely by Chrome. I didn’t do my full list of usual software installations, which is usually about 15 programs, i have been installing them as I go. One program it is important to note that I have NOT installed is iTunes. The reason that I have not installed it is that I don’t want to have to go through the hassle of reloading my iPod Touch. I will keep that associated with the iTunes on my Vista installation. I am still using the Vista installation more than Windows 7 simply because I have VMC set up with about 25 different recurring recordings that I haven’t found an easy way to port over to windows 7.

I do use Windows 7 about 4 days out of the week. I can use it when I am sitting in front of it and not watching recorded tv. I have to say, it is great. I am totally in love with 7. I wish Microsoft would release it right now. It is much snappier than my Vista install has ever been on the same exact hardware. Everything works faster. Firefox, WMC, IE, Open Office, everything just works. Plus, I am so loving the new task bar. When my iBook died and I had to put OSX away, one thing I missed immediately was the dock. The new taskbar is really close to the dock experiece and I enjoy it thoroughly. So far I am impressed and can’t wait until I can get the release version.

That is all for today

Later
Chuck

Wow….Three Months!!!

benandwyattsdad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:16:34 +0000

I can’t believe it has been three months since my last post. Okay, well maybe I can. I have had a busy quarter I guess. Of course my work takes up a good portion of my time. Running a restaurant effectively takes a little doing. I have slowed down a lot of my Internet activity. I Twitter less than I have in the past, I deleted my facebook profile, and apparently I blog even less. I don’t really know what to say about that. Lord knows that I spend enough time in front of internet connected screens between my desktop, my iPod touch and my smartphone. I don’t know why I don’t write more. The past few months have been both eventful and uneventful at the same time. While I do spend the bulk of my time cooking for the largely ungrateful public, I have learned to enjoy the parts of my life that aren’t always routine. The unexpected is the only thing that keeps my interest these days. Until recently I believed that my life had become rather bland. The same experiences each day. Nothing new. Same old same old. Thanksgiving changed that. My restaurant has the largest single day of the year on Thanksgiving Day. It is a lot of work, but it is also the greatest challenge. People just keep coming and coming wanting food. You would think that most people would be spending the day with their families, but I have the most people that day. Next week will me like that too. We will have decent business leading up to Christmas, but afterwards, nothing for two to three months. I really don’t know for sure what will happen but I know the challenge will not end.
Anyway, on to more important things. As my screenname suggests I am the father of two boys. They are the reason that I cook chicken for the largely ungrateful public. I am certain that being a father was why I was put on this earth. Those two boys bring me so much joy that I don’t think I have a word to express it. The youngest Wyatt is so full of energy and adventure that sometimes he seems much older than 16 months. The look on his face when he sees or hears something new is captivating. I like nothing more than to sit and watch him investigate a new object or toy. I just imagine what is going thru his mind as he absorbed the new sights and sensations. I usually leave the experience filled with wonder myself looking at the world just a little bit differently.
My oldest child, Ben, is a thoughtful young boy of nine. He does well in school and tries hard. I can see some of me in him as he gets older. Ben is not the most outgoing kid, but he has some friends. He is very smart for his age but not just book smart. Now don’t get me wrong, he has very little in the way of street smarts, but he has very good rationalization and critical thinking skills. He understands more about the world than some of the asults that I know. I really am proud of him. I don’t think I let him know that enough.
The love of my life is next to me right now. I love her dearly. I don’t know how I would continue my life without her. She loves me for who I am today not who I was yesterday. We look toward the future together and we see happiness. Sure the road is tough sometimes but we get thru it toghther.

By the tone of this post I can tell that I am tired. Fatigue has a tendancy to make me introspective and cause me to gush. Tiredness brings my defenses down. I spend most of my life keeping most of my emotions behind a barrier. I can’t do my job based on emotions or else I would have a building full of too many employees and everyone would eat for free. I have to remain relatively detached and keep the crew at arms length. That is really hard for me sometimes. I have a crew member that is one of the sweetest young women I have ever met. She shows up every day and does a fairly decent job. Recently she has been pregnant twice. Both pregnancies miscarried. As the manager I have to asses the situation as it pertains to the operation of my business. I have to deal with replacing her shifts and all that stuff. All the while the parent inside me is screaming out and trying to offer comfort and just wanting to console her and hug her and tell her how awful it is. But I can’t. All I can offer is an empty sorry to hear that, and ask when she can return to work. Those are the times I hate. When my need for professionalism trumps my basic human emotions. Luckily I don’t have too many irrate guests yelling at me or else I would’ve been out on my ear a long time ago.
It is now almost three hours since I laid down in bed to go to sleep. And as you can plainly tell I am still awake. I feel tired and my eyes are tired but within what seems seconds of closing them they have popped back open again and I am staring at the nightstand. My wife is snoring away peacefully as she always does, but here I am. Wide awake. I have had many strugles wig insomnia over the years. It usually is causes by some emotional or intellectual issue going on ok my head. I have a couple of big decisions to male this week both personally and professionally. My wife’s car is going kaput and we have to decide of it’s worth fixing or if we can afford to get a new used one. Also, I have planned a trip to Washington DC for Ben, Wyatt and I for after Christmas and I don’t know if we will be able to go thru with it or not. I really would like to give him that opportunity to see that city, but I don’t know if it is doable or not. When I was his age we didn’t get he opportunity to travel like that because there were so many of us. I would like to let my son have that chance. I stopped truck driving before he was old enough to go win me and I rally want him to see the country. When I was his age I thought the country was huge and I was better off just staying I’m Michigan. It was scary for me as an adult to venture out into the country and find my way around. The perception of this country got a whole lot smaller. I have visited forty-seven of the forty-eight states ant one point or another. I have driven every mile of I-69. I can tell you the nest route from Seattle, WA to Miami, FL. Seeing the country changed my life and I want mo less for my kids.
I know this is a long post and if you have made it this far, I hope you feel of was worth your time. I started tie blog to share my thoghts and observations of my world around me. It isn’t very informative or entertaining bit kent to me thought provoking. My life isn’t exciting in any way. I’m not an Internet celebrity. I’m a husband and father that wants to do just that. Provide for my family and share my thoughts and experiences with others.

By the way, if you thought this was long to read, keep in mind that I wrote this on my iPod touch, fighting the onscreen keyboard every step of the way. The text prediction did a good job though. Probably got ninety percent of the typos fixed automatically for me.

Later
Chuck

President-Elect Obama

benandwyattsdad — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:43:56 +0000

Today I reflect on yesterday’s election. I wonder what the Obama administration will bring for America. I am a democrat and I am not sure. I know that I am reassured that the White House has been won by a democrat and that this country doesn’t need anther republican right now, but watching Obama speak, he has sounded presidential but didn’t seem presidential. My opinion of that changed tonight. I believe that the electorate has made the correct and prudent decision. I believe that his country needs a change. It needs a pair of fresh eyes backed by a new way of thinking. The old way (Bush) wasn’t working. The old way needed to go. Plus McCain kinda creeps me put a little. It’s not hat he’s a republican or jay he’s older. I can’t put my finger on it. He’s just creepy.

This post was started the day after the general election 2008. Am finishing of now with he following thought.

Yes WeCan!!!

Www.change.gov

The Last Month

benandwyattsdad — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:37:25 +0000

The last month of so has been pretty boring in my world. I took a look at my main twitter page and noticed that it has been over a month since my last tweet. Have I really not shared for that long? I was kinda surprised. Even though I don’t tweet all that much, I still try to think of something each day. I have been growing my list of followers. Each time I get that email that says someone is following me, I feel compelled to post something salient. It is these times in my everyday life that I realize that I will probably never have a distinguished following on the Internet, but I try. I sometimes wish I could quit my fifty hour per week job and do something with the Internet, but I have pretty much resigned to the fact that I will probably me stuck in obscurity on the internet. I do have a passion for all things technological, but I haven’t thought of way to parlay that into a revenue stream. I am well aware that it would take a while to make any venture profitable, but I can’t even get the basis for an idea. I guess I am stuck running a resturant for the foreseeable future.

In other news, my youngest son Wyatt, is picking up more and more sign language each day. He is stollba very vocal child, but he is communicating meaningfully more each day. He is at that age where he will actually interact with you instead of just living in his own world. He will try to have a conversation, he will play with you instead of just playing in front of you. He loves to climb and has no problem whatsoever telling you what he wants.

Ben is thriving in the fourth grade so far. Be has been named a spelling master. Ibam so glad as a father that he loves to read. He spends about the same amour of time reading as doing anything else each day. He does have terrible penmanship just like I did when I was his age. I still have horrible handwriting, but in my defense, I do know how to type. In high school, I took keyboarding so that I could take the computer class. Thirteen years ago, I never thought I would really use it much. Who knew. Today, I don’t go more than a few hours at most without using that skill.

Anyway, I just felt like sharing. If anyone reads this, I thank you. If you found it entertaining or worthwhile let me know.

Sent from my iPod touch via Worspress app.

One more thing……

benandwyattsdad — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:24:29 +0000

Sorry to Apple for that one, but I can’t believe that I almost forgot to mention it on the blog.
Happy Birthday to my lovely wife, Kelly.