[Linux4christians] Linux on Tablet PC's

[Billy F. Staggs]

   As the guys in my office have all slowly drank the Apple Kool-Aid, 
otherwise known as the iPhone I have stubbornly clung to my old Windows 
Mobile HTC phone (an ill-conceived device if ever there were one) as a 
matter of principle. Exactly what I was trying to prove one can only 
speculate.  Yes the interface on the iPhone is very usable and the 
screen is gorgeous, but it's an Apple after all. :-)  Secretly I was 
hoping my old phone would die and I could convince my wife to buy me an 
iPhone, then I claim it as a "gift"and avoid a large helping of crow 
pie.  Sadly the HTC just keeps going and going and going.....

However, when I tired out an iPad, the larger screen and the thought of 
having a truly portable Bible with internet access just overwhelmed me 
as I have been craving such a device for years now. I had made a 
previously ill-fated attempt with a Dell Latitude XT tablet PC, but 
after a few short months I just lost interest and it was more convenient 
to just use my desktop PC and my Allen Longprimer (hard copy KJV).  The 
table PC just seemed to be too much trouble for my needs. It took 
forever to boot, the battery life was not really long enough to last 
through an entire Church service, the heat it created could be a problem 
(ever sit in bed with a laptop on your legs?)  What I was looking for 
was portable Bible "study" software, not just the ablibty to "read" the 
Bible (eReader) and not a Laptop replacement (which I would argue the XT 
is not).  I wanted to have similar functionality to what I have on my 
desktop PC, or at least the ability to search, view Bible versions 
parallel, sync with commentaries, Strongs, etc.   I had hopes that 
eventually the eReaders (Sony, Kindel, Nook) would become powerful 
enough to make this happen, but Apple appears to be light years ahead of 
them in this respect.  The iPad is simple, intuitive, and when/if they 
give me a few more features with Logos I will be a happy camper, albeit 
with Kool-Aid stains around my mouth... :-)

-- 

bstaggs <><



On 9/28/2010 4:11 PM, pastordavid at bibleseven.com wrote:
> There are a couple of open-source OSX-friendly downloads here:
> http://bible.org/article/net-bible-download
>
> I just purchased a Samsung NB30 netbook on sale.  It does everything
> that a laptop does (including a camera) plus is small and light.  What
> does the proprietary and very-limitd iPad offer that the netbook does
> not?
>
> I have not yet understood the hype about tablet devices.
>
>>  On this note, I recently purchased an iPad and though I am no Apple
>>  fan, I am really loving this device.  I have completely abandon my
>>  Sony eReader (got some kudos by offering this to my wife :-) ) and
>>  since I have Bible software (Logos & Pocket Bible) the freedom to
>>  nearly instantly fire up the Bible, check email and browse the net
>>  has been worth the price. The Bible software is fairly spartan
>>  feature wise when you compare it to the PC versions, but it is very
>>  usable and I have expectations of vast improvements.
>>
>>  An open source version would be a welcome addition.
>>
>>  -- bstaggs <><
>
>
>