Yes, I think everyone here agrees that it makes a good reader.
It'll a great MP3 player as well if you don't mind sacrificing a little portability.
What Takenover83 was talking about is that you still need a way to get stuff ON to the iPad that you may already have: books, videos, MP3 files, Apps etc. The iPad doesn't work like a computer where you can just find something on the internet and save it. Yes, some stuff works great just downloading directly to the iPad, but some stuff doesn't, thus you'll occasionally need a computer connected to the internet. It doesn't have to be yours, it can be a family members, but you're gonna need access to it from time to time.
About the ISP, yeah, you need that still. How are you connecting now?
Clarification 1) If you really want to surf from home, you'll probably want a Wi-Fi router at home. Meaning the iPad doesn't have any cable to plug into the internet.
Clarification 2) If you want to surf from wherever you are, and don't mind the monthly fees (connecting via Wi-Fi at home is free) then an iPad WiFi + 3G can do that. But you still need something at home to move all your stuff from the PC to the iPad.
(Small print: If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about in 1 and 2 above, you're gonna need a friend to help. They'll have to rig a little box with an antenna in your house. Most people with a modest technical understanding can do that.)
For your understanding:
Wi-Fi is fast, but short range. Its a little box in your house with an antenna on it.
The other connection type is called 3G, and that connects over cell phone towers, for a small fee.
For our understanding and further help:
How are you connected to the internet right now? Do you have dialup internet at home or something else? If so, what and with whom?
Do you like the idea of surfing anywhere you have a cell phone signal, even if it costs a little more?
