I’m sitting here writing this on my iPad, on the first morning of my summer vacation. We’ll skip right by the fact that I am up early, writing blogs and answering my work email. Sometimes, I’m sure we have forgotten what vacations are supposed to be, and I’ll admit to being one who criticizes my friends and staff for working when they are on vacation, but we’ll save that topic for another time.

Now, because I’m on vacation, I told myself I wasn’t going to open up my laptop, so here I am on the iPad as if that’s a vacation-oriented computing experience somehow. But I was struck by something as I sit here typing away anyway.

I have to admit that I have a prejudice against portable devices and their lack of power compared to a notebook that weighs only a pound more, but has a better screen and keyboard, not to mention power and storage that rivals a supercomputer of only a couple of years ago. I’m prejudiced against operating systems that won’t let me get “under the hood” and tweak them.

But the revelation is this: of the literally dozens of high-end computing devices I have ever owned, this is by far the most reliable. A “sealed” operating system, where all apps are installed remotely by the manufacturer of the device, has produced a generation of portable computers that JUST PLAIN RUN.

For many years, I have been the source of technical support for my family and friends, whenever they succeed in their efforts to truly screw up their computers.

But most of them have bought iPads, like using them, and the tech support calls have nearly STOPPED.

What am I going to do with my vacation now?

JRR