I have just been away for a few weeks in France on holiday (many thanks to Phil for trying out guestblogging for me in my absence, I'm afraid it's back to the usual bobbins now).
Just before I left, I got an iPad. This struck me as the perfect travelling gadget for all the family, so I duly loaded it with apps, music, books and some films. You can see how smug and happy I was:
I have to say, I do love using it and my daughter seemed to claim it as her own. But while I was away I discovered a real issue around its ability to pick up and hold a wifi connection, particularly when the signal is weak. It seems this is a known issue, and a fix is on the way. I hope so, because it renders the main function of the iPad - to be a handy mobile computing device - pretty obsolete. My iPhone and Netbook held the signals much better, so it wasn't an issue with the signal itself.
In the meantime, here is a tale of my experience, told through the medium of a pirate comic, developed at Kerpoof, because serious issues deserve serious chronicling:
I strongly recommend a cheapo PAYG MiFi to go with your expensive iPad: http://scienceoftheinvisible.blogspot.com/2010/08/me-and-my-mifi.html
Posted by: AJ Cann | 25/08/2010 at 09:12 AM
I'd agree with AJ- its a risky pirate who relies on public wifi. Well except if your mifi has gouging international rates.
Also, check out the "Strip Designs" iPad app- create your own comics on the iShip.
Posted by: twitter.com/cogdog | 25/08/2010 at 03:01 PM
Interestingly, my iPad held the French campsite wifi signals so much better than my iPhone or my son's iPod Touch - and I have no problems with wifi at home either.
It would be good to hear of others' experiences.
Posted by: Jane Davis | 26/08/2010 at 12:54 PM