Rowing on the water

In December in a fit of - 'I need to do something to avoid having to run in the cccccold' I bought a Water Rower - rowing machine.  It took 3 weeks to delivered so I have only started using in from Jan 12th but think I can safely say I love it. It looks great, sounds better and is even a lot of fun to use. I had decided that I should get a Concept 2 but was talked out of it in a sports shop, they recommended a water resistance rower. After trying many different kinds of these water resistant rowers I plumped for the wooden Waterrower itself. I don't regret it. I bought the Heart rate monitor extra (which should really come as standard) and its fantastic.

The only thing I don't like is the data screen and the convoluted way it connects to my laptop to monitor what I do. I love all things gadgety and am normally happy to spend hours working things out, but this took me a DAY. I finally got them to talk to each other but on the second monitored row - it crashed...... The entire data collection system seems fragile and given the cost of the machine, I expected better.

I think if they spend some time getting the monitor to be more intuitive and back light the things so I can see it!! it will be a great improvement. I think they should also hire some IT  people to write their own software - Why do I need to be connected to the internet to monitor my rows? I want to record my rows locally  - stroke rate, heartrate, speed  - all in the one locally saved file - possibly also in a form I can export to excel to play with the data.

I blame my education which gave me a love of experimenting and recording my results - I used to do it with a paper chart recorder but would now expect to create a file and watch it all on a tiny screen - so come on Waterrower -get yourselves into the 1990s and record your data locally and simply - don't make us all use the internet.

I have tried the Concept 2 and didn't like the noise it makes or the feeling of the rowing stroke, my waterpower is smooth and fairly quiet apart from the swooshing of the water as it goes round in the tank.

Here is a look at the thing itself - I recommend it.

My Pretty Playbook

Well, I finally did it. After months of pondering I bought a Playbook. Really because the price had come down to something which was more realistic with what I wanted to pay.

First impressions - really well made as with all my previous Blackberry phones - I am a loyal fan of these things. I have a 9900 and love it to bits. I upgraded from my Bold 9000 when the 9900 came out and have not regretted the swap. But I digress, the Playbook is a great machine which feels well built and the OS is intuitive. I am not best please that, as I live in NL, I don't get the Podcast app, but I am sure I will find another one I can use instead. So, for build quality and usability its just what I expected and think its very good.

What I miss? -Apart from the obvious email, calendar and contacts its really the scarcity of apps which I would want to install. I have scoured the Blackberry World system and found very little that appeal. I have no interest in Tetris or Need for Speed - I would be very interested in a Zinio and Kindle app. What about Pocket Informant? Nope not there. The book shop is Kobo - but I like my Kindle books and want to read them on the Playbook too.

Much is promised with the OS upgrade, whenever it gets here, and I  am pleased I didn't buy one when they first came out or I would have had to wait more than a year for the OS upgrade. This should make it the device it should have been when it first launched.

What I get now and really like? - the cameras are great. The forward facing 5MP is wonderful and the video looks great on the excellent screen. The 'facing the user/instant aging' camera is about 3MP and is fine too.  The Kobo bookshop is OK but doesn't have any magazines which is why I am really looking forward to the Zinio app which will hopefully come out with or (cross fingers) even before the OS 2 upgrade.

All in all I really believe this thing has loads of potential,  especially when it finally gets the apps it should have. I am amazed it doesn't have a Webex app - my 9900 does which works really well. This is a designed for business device - where are the business applications? I mentioned the lack of calendar and email - I can see all of this when Bridged to the 9900 - but why should I have to? All is fixed with the OS upgrade so i will just have to wait.

I would like to see note taking, mind mapping, lists, tasks etc but there are not there yet either. There is no photo editing software either - or at least that I can find.

It synced all of my iTunes library so now I don't need to take my Macbook wherever I go - which was the point of the Playbook in the first place - another BIG PLUS.

So in short IMHO - the Playbook is a lovely thing which should have a bright future - as long as it doesn't take too long to get the new OS software roll out.