Here's the problem - I bought a first
generation iPad when the iPad 2
came out, and now I'm thinking I want AirPlay and all the new tech
goodies that go with iCloud. It would be okay to take pictures and
movies, I guess, and it would be real neat to stream the desktop of my
iPad to a projector or TV.
Here's the rub: I'll need an AppleTV to connect to the projector or
TV. I might want to buy a portable WiFi spot or sign a 3G or 4G network
contract. I might want to upgrade to OS X 10.7 Lion and use the
iCloud.
First Things First
Here is my plan: I'm going to buy Lion on a thumb drive, wipe my
MacBook's hard
drive, install OS X 10.7 from the thumb drive, and restore my apps
and files from my Time Machine backup. I am a newbie on Lion, so if
anybody has some better advice, please drop me an email. I'm just a
little worried about downloading Lion on top of my OS X 10.5 Leopard. I'd rather do a
clean install - I have a hunch that some of the problems I have heard
of are due to the install over the Web. Okay, this is the way I've done
it in the past, and I am an old dog who barks at new tricks
(suspiciously).
I know I am waiting until the last minute, but seriously, I've
enjoyed the MobileMe situation for
a long, long while. And updating to Lion will (down the road) push me
towards buying that new iPad. It's hard to look at my current iPad and
say, that's obsolete, but I have to do a careful pluses vs.
minuses debate as to whether the new purchase is cost effective and/or
necessary.
I love using my first generation iPad for the stuff I used to crack
open my MacBook for. It's fast and easy to catch up with my email,
write (with a keyboard, naturally), cruise the Net, watch videos, and
use the specialized apps that come with the iOS experience.
Why I Want a New iPad
But it sure would be nice to share what's happening on the iPad with
others and show videos or YouTube on the big screen. Moving to new
hardware means that I could use the new iOS 6 and have a groovy, new
relationship with the Apple mothership. Plus, I checked out the new
Retina Display on the New iPad at a
local Apple Store, and it is sharper.
There is always the cost factor. But one thing working in my favor
is that I don't need to load up on the memory with my next iPad. I have
found that PogoPlus
does a great job of streaming (and backing up) my music, videos,
photos, and documents to my portable devices. And Apple's iCloud
services should help in that area as well, but I am not giving up my
Google email and other services.
Always have backups to the backups, young Jedi Knight.
John Hatchett's black MacBook.
But first, the new operating system for my MacBook. It still serves
as the starting point for my digital empire and functions as the One
Ring in my electronic Middle-Earth. (One laptop to rule them all and in
its blackness - it's a black MacBook, get it? - bind them. OMG, what
was in that herbal tea I just drank?!)
I'll let you know how the install goes and whether Lion is a roaring
success. 
