Damn you, Monkey Ball!
Monday, May 24, 2010 at 06:46AM 
I was worried this might happen. In the process of updating my iPod Touch apps for the iPad this weekend, an old addiction reappeared.
Ever since LodeRunner from back in the Apple IIe/two-button joystick days stole countless hours from my life, I've approached computer gaming with great caution. But now and then, a game just sucks me in. Backgammon, Age of Empires, Tetris, and now, Monkey Ball for the iPad.
So instead of learning how to transfer files, connect using 3G, and write extensively using the keyboard docking station last weekend, I guided my little Monkey in his glass ball through 20-some series of courses, avoiding swinging hammers, over-active bumpers and tantalizing bananas perched perilously close to the edge of disaster. This non-violent game that combines a bit of strategy with only a fairly small bit of coordination puts me Csíkszentmihályi's "flow." I even Skyed (using the iPad) my videogame expert son in New Zealand for any Monkey Ball tips.
OK, I did do a few other things as well. I found out ...
- The docking keyboard works as advertised and tapping the screen in lieu of having a mouse/trackpad isn't as awkward as I had anticipated. I do wish now that I had gotten the wireless keyboard instead so I could put the screen in landscape mode, not just portrait. An Apple guy said you can't use the iPad in its Apple cover with the keyboard dock either.
- I've managed to transfer files to the iPad using the Air Sharing app which is cool. (I'm using the version I got for my iPod Touch and it works fine.) I am also pleased to find that Office2 HD allows accessing, viewing and editing of GoogleDocs word processing and spreadsheet file. Neither of these programs are free, but both work as advertised if you need them. You can, of course, view all sorts of files in your GoogleDocs account (including pptx, pdfs, etc) which eliminates the whole file transfer mess if you are connected. (Gears for the iPad - developers there is a market!)
- Book reading has its plusses and minuses. The glare is as bad as most people are reporting, especially now that I've officially moved my office to the screen porch for the summer. The iBooks store is much more limited than the Kindle store. And it looks to me like Amazon and Apple are price fixing - at least the same few titles I checked in both places were the same price. The Kindle reader (mine is 1.0) is definitely easier on the eyes for long periods of reading and had much, much better battery life; the iBooks Reader has really fast page turns and better navigation tools. (I like it telling me the number of pages I have left in a chapter.)
- The apps specially made for the iPad are really much nicer than those ported from the iPod Touch. I spent almost as much time upgrading apps as I did playing Monkey Ball. The Weather Channel iPad app is very cool, but I also like the new AP News, IMDB, NPR, Kindle, Netflix and Amazon apps.
- I am still trying to figure out the iPad's real use in my own professional life. The laptop is still better for most things, especially writing. This may turn out to be my "meeting" machine - a device to take notes, access agendas, and provide entertainment during the MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over) bits.
- I've not tried the 3G connectivity yet.
- None of my earlier concerns about how we use this device in school have been resolved yet. How do we manage multiple users on a single device? How do buy and manage apps licenses? Is the machine enough of a productivity tool or simply a content consumption device? Tim Stahmer had a good post about this recently as well. as did Steve Taffee. Have I gone over to the darkside and am now thinking like a CTO instead of an educator? Gulp!
I may be having a little buyer's remorse right now - or will when the credit card statement arrives. I hope the little machine proves to be more useful than it appears to be right now. I was thinking that it might be the only device I take with me to ISTE this summer in Denver, but I couldn't do it right now.
Maybe after a few more levels of Monkey Ball I'll feel better.
Ready. Set. BE the monkey!
Reader Comments (8)
Enjoyed this, Doug, and I've been asking myself tha same questions, "Why did I buy this thing?"
One conclusion I've draw from the two or three weeks I've had it, is that the iPad makes an entirely acceptable and enjoyable computing device for those times you can't or prefer not to lug your laptop around.
For me, I've got my laptop with me most of the time, but I haven't attended many conferences lately. I suspect that the iPad will be a great note-taking device.
For the note-taking, I'm having a lot of success with mind-mapping software. You organize while you're thumbing the ideas. On the iPad I'm using iThought, but can't wait for the iPad version of Simplemind comes out (next month or two).
-- From david's iPad.
Hi Dave,
I've been thinking about this device as analogous to buying a sports car. Does a person really need one? Is it as practical as the family sedan? Is it too expensive?
Probably on all accounts - but it sure is fun.
I've been tucking mine into the pocket of a padded notebook (like they give away at conferences with the note pad on the right side) and taking it on all my school visits and meetings.
I don't usually take many notes and have far less mind to map than you do, put I think the machine won't gather dust!
See you at ISTE in Denver! I think you are doing our SIGMS event. Looking forward to it.
Doug
I like to think of the iPad as the "largeprint" version of the iPhone or iPod Touch. Or perhaps you could call it the "fat thumb" version. My kids skoff at me when I try to type in things on my iPod touch -- I constantly have to back up and retype.
Hi Margaret,
I have to say it is easier to type (and navigate) on the iPad than it is the iPod for me. I'm still thinking about if it is "just" a big iPod or something more.
All the best,
Doug
Hi, Doug...
Mine comes this week, so all thoughts are strictly uninformed, except for the 10 minutes I made one of the students let me play on his, : ) ( btw---don't ever get Doodle Jump on your iPhone....ah the time, I've wasted.... That and Inotia...)
I think you have to go into it realizing it is what it is...I'm worried by the districts thinking they can replace laptops with iPads, since iPads are all about media consumption. But having said that, students still do an awful lot of consumption, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's not ALL they do. I've heard of the problems people have using the iWork apps, especially Keynote; I assume that will improve with future iterations of the software. Certainly they'll at least have to add printing!
I mostly see it as an iPod touch for aging eyes. It will let me takes boxes of books to Mongolia, w/o taking boxes of books to Mongolia. I can spend my Sunday morning surfing time on something slightly easier to start up than my laptop. It will entertain me in airports and long lines, and...for a while at least...add to my distressingly paltry "coolness" cred. : )
and I supposed I can take notes at meetings with it...or at least pretend to. All the major e-book readers are making apps for the iPad; thus, while Apple's bookstore may be limited, you'll still have access to everything Amazon and B&N have, which was a big selling point for me. Also good for self-publishing, as it allows....-E-Pub? Is that the name? Some non-proprietary e-book format, anyway.
But you know all this and I'm just blathering....
Jeri
Hi Jeri,
My biggest concern is still that this a consumption rather than productivity device. While you and I can use it to while away the hours, for students I would prefer a device that helps them make not just take.
But this is a terrific device for those who view education as filling empty buckets. And that worries me.
(Grandsons are eating this thing up this weekend - but seem just as happy with the iPod Touch!)
Doug
Doug
Wondering if you made a decision...is the iPad the only device you're taking to ISTE? Looking for insights in and out of the classroom and conference center. Debating whether to spend my "performance paycheck" on one? My 21-year-old-to-be has one and the Scrabble games with her twin, the 8th grade sister and the iPod Touches are well, great fun.Your Monkey Ball fetish brought back memories of snake on the IIe for me...and my dad....26 years ago...loved that game--eye hand coordination at the developmental level! Hoping to hear from you and many others at ISTE from afar back here in Albert Lea.
Hope you and your staff have a relaxing summer....or maybe that was your year??? New Zeland, India, etc., etc., ha!
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
At this point, I am going to take both the iPad and the laptop. I've not had much time and practice using Keynote on the iPad and I have two presentations to give while in Denver. (And I am driving there so weight and luggage space won't be an issue.)
I can't recommend whether you should spend your hard-earned $$$ on one of these devices or not. Since I feel knowing about this kind of stuff is part of my speaking/consulting business, I don't regret having spent the money, but I'm not sure what the overall value is for most people. I have to say that I am not using the iPad as much as I had anticipated - maybe I just like my MacBook Air too much!
Our summer here in Mankato will be busy with the implementation of a new VOIP system district-wide and opening a new school and a greatly expanded school. No rest for the wicked. (And yes, I did have a wonderful year for travel!)
All the best down there in AL!
Doug