Specious, special, speckity specs

What's that, "Specious isn't a word"? Well that's where you're wrong, and it's totally appropriate in this instance, just like my punctuation isn't. Or, for that matter, where the emphasis of italics falls in sentences in most novels. But I could write a whole blog on that subject alone. See what I did there? But back to the 'specious' part of this post:

spe·cious Adjective
1. Superficially plausible, but actually wrong: "a specious argument".
2. Misleading in appearance, esp. misleadingly attractive: "a specious appearance of novelty".

Thanks to dictionary.com for that stunning definition.

Strangely, I just liked the sound of the word, and was after something that started with 'spec' (it's kind of my theme here), but upon looking up the definition found it to be rather appropriate. Now use both definitions in a sentence.

1. This Dxtreme tablet-pc is superficially plausible, but actually wrong:

The overall feeling I get when using the tablet is one of unnerving wrongness. The keyboard doesn't feel right, I have no arrow keys, for goodness sake (meaning I have to tap-tap-tap the screen to place the cursor where I intend it), and many of the apps, even quite professional ones like the Blogger app I am using to write this post, seem poorly thought out or implemented. The Facebook app limits me to 140 characters, for example - if I wanted that I'd be using Twitter. And probably cooler than I am. Blogger ensures essential controls scroll off the screen rather than fixing them in place, and makes simple one-button sharing an impossibility. Because who wants to share a blog?

Many apps seem to obscure a lot of controls and information, as though being on an intuitive device somehow makes the application intuitive as well. It doesn't. Some apps simply abbreviate the control I have over what I'm doing, as if to say, "Well, it's not quite a computer, so we won't give you quite the functionality you would have if it were." Blogger is another point in case here, with seemingly no control over the colour or size of the text, or many other functions we expect of any word processor packaged after Microsoft Office '95.

Mostly, I feel as though I am struggling with the medium I am using, as though my creativity is hindered rather than harnessed by this not-so-new technology. Oh, I could grin and bear it, sure, but that's not really my way. Getting cranky gives me something to do, and is handy practice for old age. But, as I purchased this tablet-pc solely for the purpose of enabling me to create wherever and whenever I was and want (not that I time-travel, but you know), every hiccup, every misplaced cursor or erroneous keystroke, is a maddening metaphorical burr in my mind.

2. The D101 is misleading in appearance, esp. misleadingly attractive:

The thought of a device that allows me to do all the things I can do on my laptop or pc, wherever I am is so, so very attractive. Oh, the device itself is still pretty - a neat little black package smaller than an A4 page and weighing less than a kilogram - but at this stage the only thing not specious about this tablet is its novelty! It is as though tablets occupy a space in technological history just after the boom of home computers and proliferation of smart devices and just before the implementation of augmented reality, motion scanning user interfaces and true smart technology. That is to say, every day, in every way, it could be better.

Oh, perhaps I'm just whinging, balancing the 'whinging Pom' stereotype with another whinging Aussie, perhaps I just need to bear with it, grit my teeth and search for solutions to my complaints? And I will, but overall I want the experience to be more special and less specious.

And there's still the whole 'dead pixel' issue to sort out...

As promised, I remembered to find the specifications (although I forgot to promise) which are listed after the following specks:

• Operating System: Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread (Firmware upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS available soon)
• Processor: ARM Cortex A8, 1.2GHz
• Memory: 512MB SDRAM
• Storage: 8GB NAND Flash
• Expansion: microSD Card (support up to 32GB)
• Screen: 10.1' TFT, 16:9, 1024 x 600 resolution
• Touch Type: Capacitive screen, Multi Touch, G-Sensor Rotator
• Networking: Built In Wireless LAN 802.11b/g
• Sound: Stereo speakers, Microphone
• Camera: 0.3MP Front, 2.0MP Rear Digital Cameras
• Optional 3G: 3G support, 3G Module via USB Dongle
• AV Output: HD Video output, up to 1080p output, Stereo Speaker
• I/O Ports: 1x Mini USB port, 1x Headphone jack, 1x HDMI port, 1x DC IN jack, 1x microSD slot (maximum capacity 32GB)
• Language Support: Multi Lingual
• Battery: Built-in 5000mAH/3.7V rechargeable Li-Polyer
• Movie Playback Support: AVI, 3GP, MPG, MP4, RMVB, MOV, MKV MKV with H.264 and RM/RMVB 8/9/10 Up to 1920x1080p resolution (via HDMI output)
• Product Dimensions: 264mm x 167mm x 16.0mm Product Weight: About 0.72kg

And those are the speckity specs!