The Deletist

I started using Out of Milk a couple of months ago. I needed a better app to manage my shopping lists.  Read here.

Here are a few of the things I enjoy about the app so far.  It’s easy to use at a basic level. I can maintain a list of staple food items so I don’t have to rewrite them on the list each time.  Once on a list, items are assigned a category (e.g. Meat, Dairy, Produce), all of which can be customized and color coded.  Within each list, the order of items can be rearranged.

The assigned categories (e.g. Produce, Herbs & Spices, Baking & Cooking, Meats, Dairy) closely mimic where you would find something in a grocery store.  Typically the app will assign a default category to any new items added.  It’s usually pretty accurate. Or I can adjust the category to suit my needs. For example, I created a category called “Breakfast” for my morning staples, even though each item can “fit” somewhere else.

The app is useful for numerous functions, but I only use it to manage my weekly shopping list, “Groceries” and my pantry list.  The pantry list is used to track items used routinely in the kitchen.  Once on the pantry list, the quantity can be monitored either by indicating if something is low/full or using a number and unit measurement instead (e.g. 1 jar, 1 bottle, 1 carton, etc.).

If I select an item from the pantry list, I can then choose which list to put it on.  My big frustration with this feature is that the app allows me to add the same pantry item multiple times to the same grocery list.  It should be able to detect duplicates (or even triplicates!).

I use the grocery list when I shop.  Finding things is easy in their categories.  Once placed in the shopping cart, checked items disappear from the list and go in my “virtual” cart (bottom of the list).  There are other features I could be using, such as scanning bar codes and price tracking, but this is overkill for my purposes.

 

When I finish shopping, I can either “delete” the grocery items or “uncheck all” to repopulate next week’s list.  Pantry items deleted from the grocery list remain on the pantry list for reuse.

Another feature is that the list can be shared with other people.  Overall I’m satisfied with the app.

 

When I started taking Spanish in January, I knew right away that I wanted to purchase the e-version of the textbook.  The textbook is designed to be used for 6 courses.  It’s big and heavy.  The ebook cost over $100 less and was weightless.  Sold!

I purchased the ebook noticing that it would only work with an iPad in the fine print.  No problem I thought, as I had been planning on using my iPad in class and for studying.  I was also required to purchase access to Supersite, an online service accompanying the textbook that contains exercises, tutorials, videos, practice exams, etc.  With Supersite, I could also access the textbook from any device with an internet connection.  A classmate asked me for how long I would retain access to the electronic textbook.  Since I had paid full price for the ebook-Supersite combo, it didn’t occur to me that I wouldn’t actually own it.

Challenge #1 – After investigating, and contacting the company several times, I discovered that I could only download and use the textbook on my iPad.  When I read that in the fine print, I didn’t realize there would be no option to download, or move the file, anywhere else.  The textbook download looks like an app, even though it’s just the book.  The real benefit is that I can access the textbook without an internet connection.  With my paid subscription, I can access the textbook through Supersite for 3 years.

Challenge #2 – I purchased my iPad in 2013.  Although it still works perfectly, it’s one of the models Apple has decided to discontinue servicing.  In the near future, I won’t be able to update my iPad and eventually it will become obsolete.

At some point, I will have to figure out what to do with my unsupported iPad and the Spanish textbook, leaving me with 3 options:

1. Purchase a new iPad and transfer the textbook over, along with everything else.
2. Purchase a new non-iPad tablet, but maintain the old iPad just to access the textbook in the future.
3. Purchase a new non-iPad tablet and pay for the textbook in print.

This was definitely an unanticipated dilemma of purchasing the e-version of the textbook, but I think it’s one that as consumers, we will have to get a lot better at navigating.  I purchased the book, but I don’t “own” it.  In reality, I’m paying to access it, unless I go with option #1.

I purchased a new laptop in February 2017.  I went to the store fully intending to upgrade my “vintage” model with the most recent one.  However, things didn’t work out that way.

The newest model from late 2016 was beautiful, sleek, shiny, and incredibly light.  But… it only came with Thunderbolt 3 ports and one for headphones.  This was already the most expensive model. I knew I would have to shell out additional money for adaptors to connect pretty much anything I would use to my new computer.  No USB ports.  No CD/DVD drive.  No SD card (digital camera).  No port for my existing adaptor.  Click here to read more about Thunderbolt 3 ports.  Thunderbolt 3 ports are advantageous for transferring large amounts of data, video output, and fast charging.  However none of these things are necessary for me.

I eventually purchased the older 2015 model because it had familiar ports I could use.  I understand Thunderbolt 3 ports are the future, representing superior technology for transporting and displaying information, among other things.  But if nobody else has them, it can be a frustrating experience to use the computer with anything else.  I would always have to carry adaptors, which seemed inconvenient and annoying.  Even the sales person at the Apple store agreed with my decision.

I already experience this type of inconvenience almost every time I give a talk somewhere.  Usually when I speak at conferences, they are only equipped to handle a PC connecting to the projector.  I developed a habit to pack an adaptor with my gear.  A couple of times I’ve forgotten it.  Naturally, this has caused me a lot of panic and stress figuring out how to present content on my computer without using my computer.  It’s a total pain.  Even switching to web-based presentation software, so I can present from any computer, has not resolved the problem.  Sometimes the internet connection is bad, or unavailable.

I still ended up buying an external CD/DVD player.  I have some DVDs I can’t upload because of copyright.  The cost of repurchasing the items digitally was more expensive than the player.  And I have some personal CD/DVDs I keep forgetting to upload.

I love how technology advances and improves constantly.  However, the transitions are still painful.  Can’t technology help us out so we’re not always buying extra stuff to make something new work?