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Comments
I love the iPad but it won't cause me to convert to Apple.
It's not perfect though. The two biggest issues I have are the inability to display 'Flash' content on a website, and inability to use the USB port for a thumb drive or external HDD.
Other than that it's amazing both in what it can do, and the way it does it.
While I don't like reading a book on a computer screen, there's something about the iPad screen (maybe it's the refresh rate?) that makes it very easy on my eyes.
As a book reader I prefer it to either the computer or the Kindle, though my wife prefers the Kindle.
I've sent this from the iPad, using the touchscreen, while out on the deck just for fun!
There should be something of interest in there to most people:
Free Kindle Books from Amazon
Go to amazon and hit the kindle books tab.
Richard
However, my S.O. already had one and had an Amazon account with e-books he'd purchased. You can add something like 5 Kindles to one Amazon account, so we just added mine to his account, and presto! I had 20 or so books. Nice if others in your family have the same reading tastes.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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You guys are amazing with this information. The one problem we will have is if we use Amazon.ca in Canada many books won't be available to us. The Canadian site doesn't list Kindle books separately.
What I would like to do is buy a Kindle in the U.S. using a U.S. credit card, then ordering books from the U.S. Amazon. This will be easier to do if we get a place in Florida, as we will need a U.S. address to get a U.S. credit card.
If it was just a matter of buying it I would have picked one up. We are going to Ellicotville N.Y. at the end of July, so we could pick up a Kindle then. We are pretty close to a Target store there. Probably pick up 2.
This has been a great learning experience and I really thank you all for your comments and suggestions....it has been very helpful.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Does that mean if you buy 2 Kindles on the same credit card, books ordered for one Kindle will appear on both? That would be really nice because often my SO likes the same books as me...she just reads 4X as many.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have a router and wifi in my house. Will ipad pick it up or is it cell phone based?
I have 4 laptops (3 XP and a 7). Will ipad do anything those won't do?
What exactly is the purpose of ipad? I'm asking because Birthday 61
is around the corner and wifey is asking a lot of questions about ipad
which I cannot answer.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Richard
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Not that it matters, but I thought that the lady was your wife. If she isn't, you're keepiong up two ladies? I don't see how you have time to read. :P
Richard
I have a router and wifi in my house. Will ipad pick it up or is it cell phone based?
The iPad comes with Wi-Fi as standard and you can pay more to get one with both Wi-Fi and 3G.
I have 4 laptops (3 XP and a 7). Will ipad do anything those won't do?
No, but it will be more convenient both to use and carry.
What exactly is the purpose of ipad? I'm asking because Birthday 61
is around the corner and wifey is asking a lot of questions about ipad
which I cannot answer.
See the last answer. It's a smaller lighter computer that holds a charge all day, and it does virtually everything that most people use a computer for that doesn't constitute work.
Rather than list all the things it can do, here's a link to many of its features:
iPad Features
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Not that it matters, but I thought that the lady was your wife. If she isn't, you're keepiong up two ladies? I don't see how you have time to read.
I almost fell off my chair laughing. Kirstie mentioned her SO and I debated whether to use the word wife or SO in my post.
I thought SO was actually a little more complimentary in a sense....an SO sounds more romantic maybe, so I decided I would go with it.
I didn't think through how some people (you) may interpret it. No, Mrs. Driver and my SO are one and the same.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You're welcome. If you get one you'll find it easy and intuative to use.
Virtually everything is done with the touch screen which is even easy to type on.
The omission of an attached conventional keyboard is what helps to make it so light and portable.
Family is looking for a new car.
With a happy ending as far as I am concerned
If you don't read the text first.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Richard
Richard
Definitely the former, and yes, one smart and pretty wife is wonderful, more than one...hmmmmm, not so much. I wouldn't have time to write all these posts!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My best friend's wife drives a stunning 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic w/ the AMG Sport Apperance Package. White with Black MB Text. He got a smokin' deal on it as he bought it right before the new 2010 E Classes were sitting in the port. The MSRP on his car was around $61K. He paid $48K before tax on it. He loves it. His wife loves it. They've got 32K on the odometer & the car is an 8.5 out of 10 on the outside & a 10 on the inside.
His wife says she needs a bigger vehicle. Now he bought his Mercedes from the GM of a dealership that his Dad has bought numerous Mercedes' from. This guy is now the GM of a BMW dealership.
They drive an X5 & like it. They have one equipped as they'd want it coming in. To lease the X5 is about $60 a month more than the loan pmt on their Mercedes.
The Mercedes will only be under warranty for another $18K miles, they will need brakes at some point in the not too distant future, and another famous $400 MB oil change.
He drives an '09 Tahoe & loves driving her car on the weekends. Doesn't like the idea if having 2 trucks.
She Wong drive the Tahoe because she says it's too big.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The financial aspect pales into insignificance compared to the wife's perception of what size vehicle she feels comfortable driving.
The best deal in the world will be the wrong deal if she isn't happy driving the vehicle.
I am guessing the X5 leases out in the upper 600s? To go up in payment on a lease (from a buy) is really hard to swallow. How much cash out of pocket? Are they in an equity situation or is the Benz upside down? All really important questions.
White with Black MB Text
The MSRP on his car was around $61K.
61K and no %^&&^&* leather???? Are you kidding me. Vinyl interior? I could never, just never do that. My crappy 35K Hyundai has real leather at least.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
As you know, I'm not a fan of leases to begin with. When you add in all those acquisition fees, bank fees, disposition fees, potential mileage overages, etc, etc, that "good deal" doesn't look so good. Plus, you have no flexibility with a lease without paying huge financial penalties (such as trying to break the lease early).
Adding that your friend is coming off of a purchase, in which she can buy or sell her vehicle at any time, well, they're going to be in for a rude awakening if the wife decides the leased vehicle is too big, too small, smells funny, etc. She's going to be stuck with it for the length of the contract.
I agree with mac, too. Regardless of the deal, if she doesn't like the vehicle, for any reason, she's not going to be happy.
Richard
These people have big problems...I should have such problems.
The downside seems to me is they own the Mercedes but for some reason they are leasing the X5. Paying $60 a month more for the X5 isn't a problem, just $720 a year. Mind you, the way they get tired of cars they might be better off leasing.
Basically, I think these people need more to do than to worry about their cars so much.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Perhaps he should give these friends of his the keys to this forum and let them come in person.
I'm thinking they need to go to Hertz/Avis and rent a different car a week at a time until they balance in their heads what gives them the satisfaction they're seeking.
Prestige, utility, comfort, power. Their actual station in life versus what they think they're entitled to seems to be the real problem here.
We all want the things just above what we can afford. That's why dealers invented leasing.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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That's a pretty good idea. The only thing that concerns me is I doubt these people will ever be happy with what they have...what they don't have is what they really want.
Mako, you had a great saying about if you chase after little dollars you won't acculaulate more money. I need that saying and your reasoning to teach someone something. I think what you said was brilliant, but I understand the concept...I have to teach it to someone else. The someone else will spend an hour trying to save $5 when he could spend his time selling and making $100s of dollars.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I think I've got it...and that would work out really well. Thanks for the info.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The only exception is if you have installed books independently, in which case you just need to keep a copy of the '.mobi' file on your computer.
The reverse of which is seen in government and large corporations where they'll often happily spend $100 to save $1.
I agree that mine was a little harsh. It's just that I got a sniff of "entitlement" from his friends' wants and desires. Entitlement issues really get under my skin. Nycarguy is a very nice young man and these are his best friends. Therefore, I havwe to assume that they are fairly young. If that is the case, I'm thinking that perhaps they should focus on the future---house, savings, possible children, etc. rather than wondering about their two year old cars, both of which are luxury models.
I do not mean for my opinion to be a reflection upon nycarguy. He's not at all like that. His friends may be loaded with money, and it's their decision. I may be reading more into this situaiton than I should. If so, then they have my humble apologies.
Richard
I took the SRX in this morning for a check over before leaving for our trip across country. Fluids, belts, tires, coolant, etc. were all fine. The service manager noticed the window sticker which calls for an oil change in another 500 miles and was supposed to be done by April 15th last. He asked if I didn't want an oil change prior to our trip. I declinded by saying that the oil monitor was only at 79% and that I would monitor it during our drive. He responded by saying that I should pay no attention to the oil monitor. He said that GM recommended an oil change every 4,000 miles. i retorted by asking what good the oil monitor was if you were supposed to be guided by the window sticker. He replied by saying that the oil monitor was only a general reference guide which would let you know if you were using too much oil, had an oil leak, or were experiencing some other sort of problem. I decided not to fall for this viewpoint, and declinded his advice.
Here's my thinking. If car owners went by what the oil monitor said, or waited to change their oil and filter once a year, the servcie department business would suffer greatly. Perhaps GM is trying to support the servcie departments. I really don't know. I'm going to follow the advcie given by experienced posters here. As I told the servcie manager this morning, I'll keep a check on the oil monitor and stop at a Cadillac dealer during the trip if the oil needs changing. He gave me one of those crazy looks, but he was very nice about it. I have good faith in you guys.
Richard
Too small but the Tahoe is too big?
Give me a break!
Just don't sue us if anything goes wrong.....
Actually, I am proud of you, standing up to that over eager service manager who gets a bonus if he sells more stuff.
They always put a sticker on the window that reflects the worst possible driving conditions and maximizes their chances of making money on oil changes.
Of course the monitor was put in the car to read the oil and know when to change it. Why not ignore the gas gauge and keep it full all the time, since gauges aren't really reliable any way?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Also, keep in mind that most oil change minders aren't actually looking at the oil. Basically it keeps track of starting conditions, number of starts, how the car is driven and runs an algorithm to give you an idea of the oil condition based on prior testing.
Some actually have a sensor that measures how conductive (or resistive, depending on which way you look at it) the oil is, which gives a measure of how contaminanted it has become.
Others use an algorithm that takes into account time, distance, engine load, temperature, throttle openings, gear selection, etc., to determine when a change is needed.
Yet others use just use a combination of distance and elapsed time to provide the answer.
Our new F150 uses an algorithm as described above, but the owner also has the choice to increase or decrease the calculation in 10% steps.
I don't know which method your vehicle uses but it may be of interest to find out.
Extending the oil change interval is unlikely to do any short term harm, but it may cause problems in the future.
However, as I said before, you cannot harm your vehicle by changing the fluids too frequently.
driver...I concur with your assessment of the Impala. I felt similarly when I rented one last month while traveling in Orlando. It's just a poor car design, poorly engineered, etc. It's my fervent hope that the Impala is the last of the "old GM" ways, as they'll be right back where they started before the "bailout" if they don't.
Might find this interesting....
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/lutz-dishes-dirt-on-gm-in-latest-autoline-det- roit/
It is possible that there is a valid need for a car with more utility (say, kids). needing "bigger" obviously did not mean footprint, since an X5 is no bigger, and maybe shorter, than an E class. So maybe the need is for more cargo capacity/flexibility.
and i agree with her about the Tahoe. A big beast that I did not care for the few times I drove my BILs, and not something I would want for a daily driver, around town, parking in tight lots car. it is also a wildly different driving experience.
The lease question though is a whole nother issue. maybe do a 5 year loan (I would guess the MB was 5 to start, down to 3) instead and just buy the BWM? using the MB for a trade in (hoping it has some value).
The real solution? Keep the MB, and ditch the tahoe. that way, they both will have 2 cars they are comfortable driving, and just 1 truck.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
For the oil change, GM I guarantee says to follow the monitor. The only one that benefits financially from shorter intervals is the dealer. GM gets nothing out of that transaction.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Looks like I hit a nerve with you guys. Ouch! I will provide you all with some logical rebuttle.
Yes he has a $60K plus Mercedes without leather. The GM of the MB dealership who sold him the car (and sold his father a number of cars) told him that unless a car was specifically special ordered WITH leather (a $2500 option), every C, E, & ML in stock has MB Text (leatherette, vinyl, whatever you want to call it). Most of their customers lease cars and adding the leather option would add money to the customers' monthly payment.
My $41K 2007 BMW X3 that I leased had leatherette. It was comfortable & very durable. Showed ZERO signs of cracks or aging after 3 years & 46K miles.
as for the "even my crappy Hyundai has leather" comment: I'm sure you know there are different grades of leather. Most cars like Hyundai (no offense) claim their cars have leather, but usually just where you sit & where your back rests is actual leather. The Mercedes covers the ENTIRE seat with high grade leather.
They're not tired of their cars at all. They actually LOVE both of their cars. They have 2 young children.
He NEEDS the Tahoe for work. He owns 2 restaurants and buys things at various supply houses, Costco (BIG QUANTITIES), and hauls food/supplies from 1 store to the other.
She loves the way her E drives. It is the perfect size for her (She's 4'10" tall). With 2 child safety seats LATCHed in, the middle of the E is useless. Her nice sized mid-sized sedan becomes essentially a 2+2. She's going to start car pooling & taking other kids home from school or dropping kids off at their house after play dates. Usually 1 or 2 of her sisters comes up from the City to visit them on the weekend. They take the train up, but my friends usually give them a ride back (they're getting the X5 with the optional 3rd row).
I can tell you from experience, that life with children is much easier with an SUV. Stroller & a diaper bag take up a nice chunk of trunk space. Trips to Costco or the supermarket often result in putting bags on the rear floor.
Driver100: Aren't you looking to dump a perfectly good 328i Cabriolet?
Richard: Their current situation has absolutely NOTHING to do with a sense of entitlement. He is my best friend (since the 4th grade) & is extremely grounded & humbled like me. He works hard and is by no means loaded. He's got a house with a mortgage payment with 2 kids. He's comfortable making the car payments.
I'm not asking anyone here to feel bad for them by any means. They are definitely NOT looking to get rid of a perfectly good car.
Going from owning to a lease will be an adjustment for them. She does around the 15K per year and can stay within the lease parameters. He bought his '09 Tahoe at the end of October 2009. Currently his odometer reads over 42,000 miles.
"nyccarguy, the court thanks you for your services. please step down."
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The recent GM vehicles that I've recently had were equipped with either an on-board oil life monitor or had the oil life managed through our On Star subscription.
Generally, I found the oil life monitors to be reasonable methods of tracking when oil changes were due. Not once have I had anyone tell me that I was overdue for an oil change based on what the monitor reported.
I know you want to do right for your car, but I'm of the opinion that 3 month / 3000 mile change intervals are simply a way for the dealer or other service provider to get more of your hard earned money. Same is true with Monroe suggesting that you need new shocks or struts every 50K.
What I recommend - and I got this advice from a local car radio show - is that you take a small sample of your oil after it has been in your car for about 5000 miles and have it professionally analyzed by a local lab. They can tell you how the oil is performing and whether you need to have it changed soon or not. These tests run about $40 and will probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the oil in your car. But, with the information from the lab, you can determine what mileage interval is right for the SRX.
My daughter had her MINI for 14 months and 9800 miles before it had its first oil change. Our new Mazda CX-7, being turbocharged, will get an oil change every 5000 miles. To each his or her own.
On the subject of nyc's friends, there is another thread here at Edmunds called "Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous". In it, there are a number of folks who swap out cars with alarming regularity. I don't think it's anyone's business to pass judgment on the spending habits of a total stranger.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
I'm not a particularly religious person, but I think the statement above still applies.
They have 2 car seats, need extra seating, so they are looking at a 3-row SUV. So there are 1 of 2 things going on here. They are either justifying buying a 3-row SUV in their minds OR they haven't thought the purchase through.
If you have 2 car seats strapped into the middle row of an SUV, you can't access the 3rd row without removing one of the car seats. I can't tell you the number of times I've had to explain this to folks. They have to face the fact that, if their stated needs are accurate, then what they NEED is a minivan!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
But people so rarely want what they need, they want what they want!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD