Confession

I'll be the first to admit, I have never had an interest in owning an iPad. It's nothing against the product, I just couldn't imagine typing e-mails, blogging, etc. on an iPad. So what else would I need it for? Surfing the internet, duh! I have an HP netbook that I purchased close to two years ago, which I have really enjoyed. I love its compact size and light weight which makes it easy to transport and travel with yet it still has all the functionality of a laptop. Well all this changed on Friday...

I won an iPad at work about a month ago and it literally has been in the box up until Friday. I even told Thomas that he could have it because I didn't want it. He should have taken it when I offered because within minutes of setting it up and surfing the web, I was in heaven and wondering what took me so long to open the box! The iPad is amazing and I can't tell you how much more enjoyable it is to surf the web on it than my netbook!

I still enjoy blogging from my netbook and if I have work to do I use my work laptop, but for typing e-mails and surfing the web I chose my iPad. Although I am new to the iPad world, I am not new to Apple. I've had my iPhone4 for almost a year now and I swore before I purchased it, I would never give up on Blackberry, boy was I wrong! I'm hooked on Apple products and I don't think that will ever change.

All this being said, I need your help! I obviously need and want to purchase a screen protector and case for my iPad. I have an the Commuter Otterbox case on my iPhone which I love and I have a super thick screen protector from AT&T that has eliminated all types of scratches. I know Otterbox makes the Commuter case for the iPad, but I nervous about the screen not having a cover to protect it other than the thin screen protector Otterbox sends you with the case.

Do you all have any recommendations? Stylish yet protective and functional is ideal, but I can do away with the stylish part for something good quality!

I appreciate all your help!

Steals & Deals

1) I am huge fan of Groupon even though we have only had it in Columbia for a couple of months. How Groupon works is you sign up, select cities you are interested in receiving deals from, and you’ll get e-mails daily with the “daily Groupon” for that city. Some days they even have side deals which usually last longer then one day. If you have an iPhone there is an app for Groupon. The Groupon app makes it very easy to search deals in other cities and take advantage of the savings! Groupon has coupons for everything from restaurants, things to do around the city, salon and spa services, entertainment events, and the list goes on! Sign up here! Trust me in no time flat you will be hooked just like moi.

2) Have you heard of Ebates? If you shop online, you MUST sign up for Ebates! How does Ebates work? You sign up and log in to your Ebates account, you search for the store you are going to purchase something through and you connect to that website through the Ebates website. Once you make your purchase you will be credited a certain amount to your Ebates account. For example, purchases made at Ann Taylor through your Ebates account result in 6% back. Another neat retailer on Ebates is Groupon, so not only will you be getting a great discount through Groupon, but you’ll get a 6% rebate on your purchase from Ebates! I don’t think it gets much better then that! The “rebate” or percentage of cash back can be used in addition to the website discount codes and most of the time Ebates will tell if there are any active discount codes at that particular store. You can receive your rebate money through Paypal or paper check every few months. Sign up here!!!

3) Are you a Starbucks fanatic? If so, you are going to love this deal! All you need to do to sign up is text 12DAYS to 29943 to receive a daily offer from Starbucks now through December 1st! See you at Starbucks!


What are some of your favorite deals? Please do share!

Would You Use Swipely?

Swipely is the new Twitter for your credit card. It's a free online service and social network where members can share their purchases with their friends. Users post and recommend purchases, see where friends are spending and what their friends are buying. Basically, Swipely syncs with your credit card so every purchase you make shows up on your profile page.

Sounds somewhat terrifying, huh? Having everyone know exactly what you buy, when you bought it and what you paid. Well luckily, Swipely figured out an approval process, so nothing appears on your page that you haven't okay it first. Also, the site does not disclose monetary information associated with the purchases, whew! However, you do have the option to add it yourself.

Probably the coolest feature about Swipely is the ability to describe and discuss your purchases. I think many retailers would be interested in this information since they would be able to dissect how, why, and what consumers are buying.

The idea of sharing your wardrobe additions with others is neat, but I think the biggest catch for Swipely would be if they had stylish celebrities sign up for it. Who wouldn't be interested in knowing exactly where someone like Reese Witherspoon shops and what she buys? I doubt I'm the only one.

I must admit I was very leery when I first started reading about Swipely and I can say after doing more research on Swipely for this post, my leeriness hasn't gone away.

What are your thoughts and opinions? Would you use Swipely?

It's here!

My iPhone 4 arrived in the mail less then a week ago and I am gradually starting to use it. It is a lot of working switching cell phone numbers and making sure you have contacted everyone to let them know so. In a previous post earlier this month, I wrote about my debate between upgrading to the Blackberry Bold 9700 from my current Blackberry Pearl or switching to AT&T and the iPhone 4. I have been a Blackberry user for 4 years now and I have loved every minute of it, but after four years I decided I wanted a change.

I embrace change willingly and the latest and greatest technology is usually of interest to me. I was one of the first of my friends to have a Blackberry, but one of the last to jump on the iPhone bandwagon, but honestly I really didn't like the iPhone when it first came out. I can speak from first hand experience now when I say I didn't quite know what I was missing out on because after only using it for a very short time I am extremely happy with my decision!

I know I am new to the iPhone world, but one thing I do know is the capabilities of the iPhone are endless. So I am asking for your help, what are you favorite apps, capabilities, shortcuts, or just little quarks you've learned and love about the iPhone?

Blackberry Bold 9700 vs. iPhone 4G

What a tough choice! I have been a loyal Blackberry Pearl user since the Pearl first debuted. After 4 years, 2 generations later of the Blackberry Pearl, I am ready to make a change. Yes you heard me say it, a change!

For those of you who know me, know how much I love my Blackberry Pearl, always have and always will. Its just been recently that I have decided I wanted to make a change. I can't exactly remember how it all came about, but it must have started when I realized my two year contract on my current Pearl should be expiring very soon, which it is.

I really don't know anything different then a Blackberry because before then I had no fuss flip phone. So, I guess what I am trying to say is, I am scared to leave the Blackberry world and enter the world of Apple and the iPhone. I need reassurance, desperately! If I make the change will I be pleasantly surprised?

What I love about my Blackberry Pearl is the size, blackberry messenger, the reasonable cost for minutes and data plan through TMobile my current service provider, the ease of sending and receiving e-mail from multiple e-mail accounts.

Blackberry Pearl

Why I think I want the iPhone? Touch screen (still a little nervous about it), internet, applications, and its something different, a change, which keeps us all young!
It's time...I am ready to take the plunge whether it is upgrading to the Blackberry Bold and staying with TMobile....

OR

making the change to the iPhone 4G and AT&T. So, before I make a final decision, please help me make a choice! Any feedback and opinions are welcomed and much appreciated! Please, I am begging you!

In return, I'll keep you update on my decision...!