So, I've seen commercials for the Apple iPad, but it just looks like a cross between a computer and an iPod Touch, and it's too big to carry around in your pocket. Is there anything about new and significant about it, or is it just another thing that Steve Jobs and Apple came out with for us to spend our money on. I mean, it would be kind of cool to have one, but it just seems like a waste of money. Is it really something new and different?

If you want one because it is cool, then you are wasting your money. But if you want a mobile solution to access the Internet, your mails, play some games, do some work, it's an investment.

My feelings were the same before I got one, it's a big iPod touch/iPhone. I already had the iPhone 3GS when I put my hands on the iPad. Guess what? I now use my iPhone as a phone and to play some music like an iPod... Everything else is done on the iPad now. For me, the biggest features are:
- mobility
- great battery life
- great display, a lot better than reading on the iPhone
- larger virtual keyboard, easier to write stuff
- always ready to use, not like laptops/desktops requiring booting time and login
- great for watching movies when traveling by bus or train

Also, I can tether to my iPhone for Internet access when there is no wifi available (it's a wifi only)

My laptop and desktop are now used for storage and development only. If your not into flash based games, then your good to go ( lots of flash based games are actually available as native apps)

And the prices for apps and games are really lower than what you find on Windows for example. I got Pages for 10$, and I could get the whole suite for 30$... MS Office cost much more than that, a bit high when you are writing basic documents...

Go to a store, hopefully an Apple Store and play with one. It's not a laptop nor a desktop, it's a tablet. Depending on what you want to do, you'll see benefits.

VicoPad addict!

Originally Posted by lili5689

... Is it really something new and different?

Short answer, yes!

Via my iPad 1 

It's a giant iPod touch. If you don't think that's an excellent idea you probably don't need one.

Personally, I've never understood people who think calling it that works as a criticism.

Originally Posted by USBill

It's a giant iPod touch. If you don't think that's an excellent idea you probably don't need one.

Personally, I've never understood people who think calling it that works as a criticism.

Me neither.

I'd been using an iPod Touch as a PDA for about a year. When the iPad was announced it was almost my complete wish list for an iPod upgrade with 3G and a GPS, though I originally thought it was twice as big as needed. I've changed my mind about that. It is exactly the right size. Smaller and it would compete with the a smart phone for pocket space and still leave me needing the stupid netbook.

Not to say that a 7 inch device can't have it's place. I think 7 inches is ideal for people who want to keep their phones dumb (and cheaper) while still having something smart in their pocket. That was my original hopes for the super iPod Touch.

It's like a dishwasher or a mobile phone.
You can get by fine without one, but once you have one you wonder how you ever lived without it.

To me it saved me money as it is an investment however it is your choice what you do with the ipad. The ipad has replaced my lap top almost 80% and no it is not a toy and it is not an iPod touch it is a device that makes life easier and has a low cost of ownership.

So much lower than a laptop it is not funny

Originally Posted by Jschmuck2

No. It is terrible. Don't waste your money.

Posted from my iPad

It would be nice to say hi first so please explain what is your point of your negative comment

Oh welcome to our forums

Please understand we welcome constructive criticism however on your very first post you make a direct negative comment with out an explanation

^ +1
I never was a fan of Apple only for the reason that my world was only PC based, yeah I know. But I have to say, I love the iPad.

Originally Posted by blucente

^ +1
I never was a fan of Apple only for the reason that my world was only PC based, yeah I know. But I have to say, I love the iPad.

Agree! And now I cannot wait each day to be done with my work on my windows PC so I can play on my iPad and by play, I mean do really fun stuff including research for my business, go on my PC using Gotomypc, answer email, surf, etc. I absolutely can't put it down.