Server and iPad

This weekend is going to be an awesome one. Got my server machine and RAID box in the mail. Going to take a few hours to set up the server as I do not have all my hard drives for the RAID box. The goal is to have it up and running a print server and going to research hooking up my scanner to it as well. The RAID box will have to wait but that isnt a problem, by the end of March I will have 5 2TB drives in it for a total of 7TB which over double of what I have right now for space. Very excited for this process, its been over a year in the making.

One another note I have an iPad coming this weekend as well, which is just as exciting. The main function of this device for me is to have an all in one remote for everything possible, from my HTPC to lights. This has been a dream of mine for a while and its going to take a bit of work but I think it will be worth it all in the end. I will update this weekend or Monday with the progressd.

iPad 2 and other stuff

Apple finally revealed the iPad 2, is anyone impressed? Im not impressed, usually Apple released a great 2nd generation product but this tablet is only slightly better that the first generation and without a price drop?! if this had been even 50 dollars less that th iPad 1 then I would be impressed. I've been saying this to people for a few months now but why doesnt Apple make the macbook air a tablet? is clearly thin enough and with full mac osx? you still have the mac store which is just like the app store, I would be first in line for a full OS tablet regardless of who releases it. I hope that the competitors like HP, Blackberry and Microsoft can make something that I can be happy with but right now nothing out there is great and stands out to me.

Im currently building a media server so that I can have a small HTPC and touch music station. Those are works in progress but the server hardware is on the way so look out for a post about it when it comes in. I will be very detailed with everything!

Android smartphones

I have been using an Android phone for a year now, it has been very easy to use. I like the OS for its simplicity and seamless Google integration with contacts, gmail, reader and documents. After 6 months I installed Google voice and made the permanent switch over, I can now check and make calls from any computer along with my phone. I had made this switch because I had lost my phone and needed a way to communicate with my friends. It works well but there is a delay when making calls, it has gotten better since I have started using it. My only problem with it is there are no other apps that can take its text messages. I would like to use an app I was using before I made the switch which made every text pop up in a window in which you can respond and mark as read.

Another reason that I like the Android OS is that the customization is open and easy to accomplish. I had started with the original Motorola Droid and rooted and overclocked it, it ran great and didnt seem like a first generation Android phone. After that I upgraded to the Droid 2 but have not rooted it or overclocked it but rather took a different approach. I have researched and tried different replacement apps to make everything run faster including the home screen. It has been going great and havent run into any issues. Also I would like to make note that all my data synced with the new Droid 2 like I had owned the phone the whole time rather than just getting a new phone.

My conclusion is that the Android OS is a great mobile OS and I highly recommend it. If you are looking for simple OS to use that syncs all of your personal data seamlessly and backs it up online then you have found a great mobile platform.