Dear iPad – It’s Not You, It’s Me

Dear iPad,

I’ve been dreading this letter. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t want to write it because I know things won’t be the same between us after you read it.

Do you remember when we first met? I do. You were in your first generation. You were a new pup and still wet behind the ears. Back then you were young. You were well designed, beautiful, and, yes, even magical. You played my music and movies, let me read my email and surf the web in style. You though different. You changed everything.

I didn’t think it could get it any better, but when we met for the second time it did. You were slimmed down with curves in just the right spots. We stayed up all night reading books and watching movies. We went on countless trips, presenting to crowds both big and small. You even let me use your front facing camera to talk to my family no matter where I was. For that I am truly grateful, and I thank you.

Then you came along for a third time. This time I could tell you had been working out at the gym. You were a little heavier, but you were also much faster than the last time we met.then I saw your retina display and was blown away. I hadn’t seen anything quite so beautiful.

But, in all honesty, something has been bothering me of late. I want more. I don’t just want to watch movies, listen to music, read books and email,and surf the web. I want to create. I want to write code. I want to use a real spreadsheet. I want to have more than one app on my screen at once (and I want a bigger screen). But you won’t let me. Why not?

Here’s the thing, I used to think that, one day, I would only need to take you with me when I travel, but that has turned out not to be the case. I need to take you and my laptop. That means more weight in my bag. One more thing I have to take out when going through security. One more inconvenience Why? Why? Why?

Well, I’m done. I’m leaving. I’m out. I want a device that is easy to carry AND let’s me consume content AND enables me to create in the ways I want to create. You aren’t that device, but it’s not just you. My laptop also isn’t working for me anymore. It’s time to move on. It’s really best for both of us. I still think you’re great, you just aren’t great for me anymore. It’s not you, it’s me. I’m so sorry. This is really painful for me.

You might be wondering what I’m going to do. I don’t have any definitive plans at the moment. I have a Samsung Series 7 tablet running Windows 8 for the time being that suits my needs, but I’m not looking for a long term relationship, just something to help me out while I figure out what I want to do. With that said the Samsung and I are going to be monogamous for the next 30 days just to see how things work out.

I’ll close with a lyric from one my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands:

"I know some day you’ll have a beautiful life…in somebody else’s sky" – Pearl Jam

(I have fond memories of you and I watching "Pearl Jam 20" on countless flights and in hotel room after hotel room. I’ll always look back on those times and smile.)

You have a bright future and I wish you all the best.

Adam

Written in OneNote MX on my Windows 8 Tablet