The iPad to me is a huge iphone/ipod touch that also runs a really decent word processing app, a nice reading app plus will run several other interesting apps such as marvel comic, WondLa, dropbox and also runs media both audio and video via itunes. The ipad is very elegant to use indeed, the experience of watching movies on it is arguably magical. Even though huge amount of time and effort is spent converting videos to ipad format, the media experience you get is usually worth it in the end.
I also enjoy reading on it which is a plus for me cause have always struggled reading on any type of screen (except maybe kindle) for long periods, ipad is able to access kindle and ipad books which is great. Although, I’m really wondering why the first version didn’t just have a camera with built-in mic for video conferencing on gtalk or skype and maybe facetime to make it truly revolutionary except of cause Apple wants people to stand in line yet again when the next version is released. Now thinking about that, it might look pretty funny and ridiculous trying to use an ipad to take a photo or placing on your ears to make a call.
Furthermore, its really not a writing device as its obviously clear that any form of fast typing is a secondary function for the ipad which would certainly have been useless in the "mad men" secretary era. Surfing the web was meant to be a major justification if only adobe flash player and java could be installed on it to run 60% of sites I usually visit such as dbrasweb.
Mine has both wifi and 3G which is meant to work anywhere O2 covers which again is most likely not as "anywhere" as you might think. I’m going away to France next weekend and will see how the 3G would work whilst there as a POC.
One thing the ipad certainly won’t allow you is FREEDOM. Its such a hassle that its not a standalone by itself since you still need a PC with iTunes and wifi to manage and get anything on it. Plus the 1 inch black space around the screen that just wasted away that should have been an addition to the 9.7 by 7 inch screen was a huge error i-think. Although to be fair on the former, Apple’s reasoning could be that if the device crashes then it would be certain that you didn’t break it yourself since its not hackable (arguable) so there won’t be any questions handing you a new one.
The iPad doesn't allow for doing more than one thing at a time, maybe because people are more productive when focused on one thing at a time although missing features such as multi tasking and wireless printing are meant to be included in upcoming OS 4.0 upgrade definitely have a device which provides comprehensive interactive functionality is pretty nice especially on the short commute to work.
Maybe not quite revolutionary or groundbreaking, the ipad is definitely a useful device. It may not "replace" a computer as of yet, but it will replace carrying one around often. My ipad doesn’t get hot even after 7 straight hours of using it for running epicurious app as a replacement for my hard copy "mastering the art of French cooking" cookbook. Still trying to find a decent way to dock the device into the wall in the kitchen right at eye level. As for me, a proper buy in would be when Apple is able to invent a device i can control with my mind assuming am too lazy to lift my finger to any a device ;).
