Every once in a while, I forget my own tendencies…like that facing situation x always makes me feel y. I’m in the midst of a good reminder about this.

I know I’ve brought up my technological “unsavvy” before in this blog. Every time I deal with having to learn a new technology, it takes me out of my comfort zone, and I struggle to adapt and adjust. Mr. strivingcynic was telling me about how he’d once read that when it comes to technology purchasers, there are four types of people….and he remembered that two of them were the one who goes out immediately and gets it, and the one who thinks about it for a long time, and then when they decide to get it, go for the latest/most upgraded version. We both fall into the latter camp.

Which brings me to my happy reminder of my tendencies. I was fortunate enough to get a little bit of extra money lately (I pick up occasional freelance editing work) and decided to funnel it to something I’ve been thinking about….an iPad. Yep…the idea of being able to play with my iPhone in a larger setting lured me in. So, as is my usual process…I thought about it, I looked at the apple store online…I thought some more. My firm decisions were that I wanted the black iPad and a blue case for it. I was pretty sure I wanted the latest version…but some of the other options confounded me.

And they probably would have continued confounding me, except mr. sc made the wise suggestion we head to an apple store and talk to someone, which is what we did this weekend…and as the result, I am now an iPad owner.

as you can see, I held firm to my "blue cover" decision

Aside from the confusion (which clearly, I resolved). I was excited that I got an iPad….until I started playing with it, at which point I went into the, “hey this is new to me and how do I? why do I? what about?” phase I go through with any technology…”why did I get this?” I wondered…and then I remembered.

When I got the iPhone…it was the same thing. I was happy, intimidated, scared, put off, unsure, overwhelmed (and there’s always the part where I think the technology is too nice/too new for me and I don’t deserve it for some reason). A week or so later, I was charmed, and by a month, I was wondering how the heck I ever got along without it.

gotta keep the iPhones charged and happy...

So, now that I’ve remembered my early, fearful, phase and I’ve had a little more “exploration time” (I’ve been getting the digital versions of all my magazine subscriptions–holy cow it’s amazing), I’m back into awe with a little intimidation. I suspect within a month, we’ll be wondering how the household survived without a tablet. And I’m learning to accept that my unsavvy ways lead me to initial discomfort, but that’s what helps me move forward.

a magazine page on the iPad (and you can see, I held firm on my choice of black)

So, less than 24 hours in, my iPad pros and cons

Pros: bigger interface than the iPhone, portable, stand-uppable (using the case as a prop), can read magazines, has more potential for video watching

Cons: two screen related–there’s a glare under lights and my fingerprints are visible everywhere (obviously, these aren’t iPad specific), just what I’m noticing. Also, you have to decide on purchase whether you just want wifi connectivity or wifi with the possibility of 4G (which costs more)…I decided to go for the latter even though I only intend to use it with wifi…but if the situation comes up where I would need to buy a data plan, then I would need to have the capability. But, I think that was the right choice.

And I think this move out of my comfort zone was a good choice as well.

How do you approach the use of new technology? Do you embrace it or fear it?