On Tuesday, we drove into Ottawa to celebrate Valentines early at a restaurant. That is what we had decided, and it was true as far as it went, but it was not the whole truth.
Before we left town, I added that I would like to first drop into Best Buy because I needed a new tablet. She knew this has been the case for several months, so she wasn't surprised. The old tablet is more than 10 years old. Battery life is short, but even if life remains, it will shut down without warning when the battery is down to about 50%. In addition, it can no longer load all apps.
While I could have continued to live with most of these issues by keeping it plugged in, what I couldn't do was ensure that it wouldn't fail completely at some inopportune time that might leave me dangling in a forlorn, tabletless wind. It was time, and Sue was prepared for this.
We talked to the same salesguy who sold me my computer in late 2023. He remembered us, me even by name, I suppose because we have the same first name. We agreed on the model that would suit my needs: a 10th generation iPad rather than the newest 11th generation, for I just required a basic machine for reading (blogs, for instance) and playing my morning games, and so forth and so on. I added a keyboard, so a bunch of dollars flew away quickly.
Then I asked to see the newest iPhones and turned to Sue and said, "This is for you." I also added that this would be her gift for the following occasions, all coming soon: Valentines, birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day, and maybe even Christmas (the latter part said jokingly). Sue was just about beside herself with sudden and unexpected delight.
Sue has had her iPhone 13 for two years and uses it prodigiously, particularly for her daily photo. But I have felt that she really needs a telephoto lens, and I kid her about scaring the ducks when she tries to get too close to them. We had to go up to the new Apple Pro 16 models to get to full 5X zoom. As the whole world knows, Apple-anything is expensive, but the newest models particularly so.
However, I had done my homework, so I was prepared for the cost. It was quite a surprise for Sue, but she was beaming with pleasure too much for the cost to overwhelm her.
As I inserted the credit card for this crazy amount, I wondered if the machine would balk. It isn't that I don't have good credit, but it was a rather sudden large amount. It was approved instantly.
We left with my iPad, but my keyboard and her phone were out of stock and would be delivered the next day. However, we still left happily. In point of fact. Sue was over the moon, which pleased me considerably. You may see some of her joy in the phone pic at the restaurant. Note: The rest of the items were delivered the next morning, Wednesday, yesterday, and we have been happily playing with our new toys.
Once I set up my tablet at home, I took a selfie with it for the record. This may be on the only photo that I will ever take with the iPad, apart from the occasional screen shot . . . maybe. A bulky tablet does not seem like a suitable camera to me unless one is absolutely stuck for an alternative. Mind you my normal photographic equipment is about as bulky as can be.
So there we are, and joy and happiness reign in the household. Sue will now be able to photograph ducks from a distance as much as she darn well pleases. I have a working tablet, and I will also get Sue's old iPhone 13, which is an upgrade from my 10 (xR), which is also getting long in the tooth, as it were.
Ah, we have something else in common, friend blogger. That's the iPad and keyboard I got last spring so I could travel with it. Love seeing your happy faces, with new toys! Who says we outgrow the joys of playing with toys!
ReplyDeleteIt's so convenient. I wouldn't want to use it without the keyboard, or not for long.
DeleteWhat technophiles you folk are! Have fun.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that a real technophile would think of us that way. But it's all relative. 😊
DeleteEnjoy the new devices. Just figuring them out is good entertainment. We are usually good for a week, at least.
ReplyDeleteI think we're up and running on them all now.
DeleteOf course, you both well deserved to treat yourselves to these new devices. We feel the same especially at this point in our lives (and ages). Glad that Sue will be able to get those zoom shots.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little splurge that makes some activities more enjoyable.
DeleteEnjoyed seeing the pics of you two.
ReplyDeleteWe are such stars. lol
DeleteWow, you are so far ahead of us! We bumble along with old stuff. I do have a new laptop, bought in September, but I have yet to actually set it up. Maybe this week! I have a tablet too, new for Christmas 2023, but found it heavy and hard to use. Maybe I should try again? I use my phone for almost everything these days, but it needs a new screen cuz I cracked it. Ah me, tech!
ReplyDeleteSue looks so delighted! You gave her something she craved, and what better gift? O always enjoy seeing your face too. You are very photogenic, AC.
You are too kind. I think your eyes must be failing. lol
DeleteThis was quite a trip! Sue does look delighted and you look calm. Or maybe stunned from the cost!
ReplyDeleteIt was major purchase, but I had done the math, so I wasn’t surprised. Mind you, looking stunned is kind of my default look.
DeleteWhat a fruitful trip, with lots of smiling faces all round, for I'm sure the salesman was happy too. Playing with new toys eats up the hours. IPads and iPhones are so convenient for quick photographs. Barry's just bought a wearable camera to film and photograph his walks with the dogs. Such a camera is very handy when he comes across the odd awkward walker.
ReplyDeleteI went from the 12 Pro to the 16 and the camera is stunning. Otherwise, it's just as easy to use although I never have adjusted to having no home button. I still have too many "windows" open. Congrats on the new tablet. I need one too. Is the iPad easy to use? I have a Windows laptop but an iPhone.
ReplyDeleteIf you can use the phone, you can use the tablet. But I miss the home button too — at least so far, but I should be used to the lack from the phone.
DeleteNew toys all round. How nice to surprise Sue with just what she wanted.
ReplyDeleteShe was tickled pink.
DeleteWell, Happy Valentine's day to you both! What a nice buy. I love Joe's iPad. I used to take it on healthcare appointments. It was a nice distraction.
ReplyDeleteIt’s great for reading and for basic browsing. Sue’s pro version in fancy graphically.
DeleteHa ha, perfect. Enjoy your new toys!
ReplyDeleteIt will be difficult but we’ll try hard. 😎
DeleteI hate upgrading technology and having to figure things out again that I have just finally mastered.
ReplyDeleteSue does look quite pleased.
It’s working well already, except for Bluetooth.
DeleteOh my gosh, AC. I'm with RedPat. I would do just about anything to avoid upgrading technology! But...I'm glad the two of you are happy. Happy Valentine's day to you.
ReplyDeleteApple works pretty seamlessly. You put the old phone and new one (or tablets) beside each and basically say make this new one like that old one.
DeleteThat sounds like something even I could do...
DeleteCall me old fashion. I still prefer a mirrorless camera with a selection of lenses to play with.
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty well the same to me, but mirrorless was a better choice in my case. I still use the old EF lenses. I never upgraded to RF. (Canon jargon)
DeleteI am using an iPhone 10 too, though I think your model is the bigger, fancier version (Xr if I remember correctly is big). The inherited 13 will likely be a nice upgrade for you. Sue’s cutting edge new phone should likely have amazing photography improvements (as seems the case with each new model). I remember (and have still) my original iPhone 4S…. which was my first “smart phone”. I still use it as a backup alarm clock far across the bedroom so I have to get up to shut the damn thing off if I mis-set or sleep though my other alarms (the 10 and an old buzzy alarm clock with the numbers being flip panels).
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The guy showed us incredible AI capabilities in the 16. It’s not why we bought it, and I don’t know if she will ever use them. It was the zoom capability that was the big draw.
DeleteLucky Sue! What a great gift!
ReplyDeleteYay... Iphone 13, the same as mine. And frankly speaking, all my recent pics are with this mobile camera.
ReplyDeleteOnce in a while we have to bite the bullet and spend the big bucks. You make me think back to the old party line on the farm. It needed a battery once in a while but I'm sure it could still b working if we had the same phone system.
ReplyDeleteWhen you think of it, technology has moved on so quickly. I remember wind-up gramophones.
DeleteYay! Fun to splurge once in a while! I hope you both enjoy your new toys!
ReplyDeleteI've had a few headaches too, but I am getting them sorted.
DeleteThat's a wonderful phone for Sue!
ReplyDeleteI finally convinced my wife to let me upgrade her iPhone 11 to a 16 about three weeks ago. Then two days later, I was trying to figure out how to upload music to hers by using my iPhone 12 as an experiment and discovered that iTunes is essentially gutted and now I need to use Apple Device. While using that, it said my phone needed an update and then crapped out mid install. After three hours of nothing, I finally unplugged my phone which essentially bricked it. Apple tells me the only way to salvage it was to drive 150 miles one way to the nearest Apple store and maybe they could get it out of its funk at the expense of all my data. I instead opted to drive back to our local Verizon store and bought a second iPhone 16. The only thing more expensive than one new iPhone is two in the same week!
ReplyDeletePretty nice Valentines Day gift. Sue does take a lot of pictures.
ReplyDeleteSue does look happy - it is almost a contented kitty face. One would expect her to purr.
ReplyDeleteI photograph with the iPad from time to time. Depends on location. I am finding it difficult to hold my iPhone still enough to get what I want from it, even with the antishake and all that, and so if I can brace it, the iPad gives me options. I was still lugging a camera up until I blew out my rotator cuff, but I am one handed for a lot of things at present and a a braced IPad can be manipulated with one hand. Luckily it is the right rotator cuff that is hors de combat and I am a leftie.
I have the 14 Pro... so I'll have to wait a bit longer to upgrade, I think. I did just upgrade my ipad a couple of years ago and gave my old one to my grandson. You are the BEST of husbands, John. I can see how happy you've made Sue.
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