Jennifer’s Excellent (iPod Touch) Adventure… part 1

Editorial Note- One of our newest contributors — Jennifer — has been using an iPod Touch for a few months. She loves it. Thus far, however, she has had the help of her significant other, Wayne Schulz of Gear Diary. Wayne has set up her device, advised her on which applications to use, and generally has been Jennifer’s IT person for everything iPod Touch-related.

That’s all changed. Jennifer has formated her Touch and she’s all alone. She’ll have to figure out which applications to use and how best to use them, without Wayne’s help. When Jennifer does have a question she’ll have one of two options — search the Internet or… ask you.

Here’s Jennifer’s first post…

Did you recently receive an iPod Touch or iPhone? If so, I would like to invite you to join me on my latest adventure……  exploring the wonderful and somewhat confusing (to me) world of the iPod Touch.

Let me begin by introducing myself.  My name is Jennifer and I am a self proclaimed technological idiot!  I have very little knowledge of anything electronic or tech-oriented unless it is a kitchen timer or a childrens toy! I am a mom of 2 wonderful (usually) children ages 12 and 7 and the Director of an Preschool  in Connecticut.

Until last year I had a dinosaur of a pc and a very simple and free cell phone from AT&T.  About a year a go my boyfriend Wayne convinced me to buy a new cell phone and give my old one a proper burial.  I bought a fabulous pink Katana II and I do love it. It is no iPhone or smart phone but it is great for me.  Little did I know you could check email and surf the web from a cell phone, but the camera was the best surprise.
 
For Christmas last year he gave me an iPod Nano and the Nike training chip because I had set a crazy goal of running a half marathon (which I did in October). He loaded the music and the Nike info, he even tracked my training miles.  I still have no idea how to do this either. For some of you this all comes naturally and for others, like me, we struggle with it.

So once I became the proud owner of a new phone and iPod I started wanting a new computer.  In March he helped me find a hot deal on my Dell laptop through fatwallet.com. He had it shipped to his office, he set it up added  memory and he got it ready for me to use it. All I had to do was turn it on, push a few simple buttons and my email was at my fingertips- quick and easy.

What a huge improvement from my old PC.  By May I had a new phone, my first iPod and a new computer. I was so busy training for the marathon and working as a camp Director, however, that I had no time and little interest in learning about my new gadgets. Fortunately I didn’t need to. My boyfriend did it all or answered my questions, I am a very lucky woman. I was on easy street and  I had it all, or so I thought.

Then the best surprise came on my 40th birthday!  I received an iPod Touch!  WOW!  My son was thrilled and jealous. I was in shock and confusion wondering what I would do with this expensive little toy and how would I know what to do?   To be honest I kept asking myself "Why did he buy me this?" I had used his a few times to watch a movie on the train or play a game of two, and LOVED it, but that was it!  Wayne must have seen the fear in my eyes so he immediately plugged it into his Mac and loaded all his applications and music on my Touch. It took me a few days to even turn it on. But once I did I was in my glory and enjoying it. I was set with movies, music and applications, life was grand and the living was easy for me.

It only took about 2 weeks for me to fall in LOVE with it and begin to realize how wonderful this little gadget it.  It entertains my children and keeps me company on my walks and runs. It even saved me during the holidays— I was in the middle of making cookies and treats for my staff when my computer froze. I had 2 recipes in my email and no way to get to the recipes. Then I saw it, like a shinning beacon of hope–MY TOUCH!  I grabbed my little treasure, opened up my email and, in seconds, found the 2 recipes I needed. So there I was with my Touch propped up on the counter making candies and caramel chocolate brownies.  It was TOUCH to the rescue!

About two weeks ago Wayne asked if I would write about my  Touch experience for his friend Dan on WhatsOniPhone. I said sure and chuckled.  I had done this before for Gear Diary a few times. I would use an item, write a short review of it and Wayne would post it on www.geardiary.com. 

Then I found out I was to become a regular contributor.  OK, I said, I do enjoy journaling, this could be fun. Then came the bomb- the one thing this woman was not ready to hear–I MUST do everything on my own. Everything… or… ask all of you for help.