Is an iPad worth it? My personal review of my iPad
18/05/10 | Kentucky Business Network
Is an iPad worth it?
By Richard S., May 18th 2010
This article is not a paid endorsement.
There has been a tremendous amount of hype surrounding the iPad and it’s launch into the computer/mobile/laptop/Kindle markets. Most people I knew had no clear idea whether the iPad was a computer or a Kindle-type device or just a big phone that cannot make calls. Naturally, there was also a lot of skepticism surrounding the device. I just had to see for myself.
At the time, I was in New York City. So I wandered down to the Soho Apple Retail Store to check out the new iPads… it was the second day after the product launch. A crowd had grown around the table displaying the curious devices, as the crowd watched those in the very first row fool around with the floor models.
I have to say that I was shocked. I had not intended to buy an iPad until this moment. Actually, I felt that there was no more room for any other devices in my life. Who wants more computer troubles, right?! Well, I decided to take one home–still with the question: “What is it?” lingering in the back of my mind. At the worst, I thought to myself that I could use it as a Kindle and move some of the heaviest titles off my bookshelf and into a digital format for when I go on the road.
So it has been a few weeks now. When I show up in a cafe or airport, many people come up to me and tend to ask a few of the same questions. I decided to answer them here.
Is an iPad worth it? Can you use it for work?
At first I was not able to use it for work. The fact that it has no support for Flash made it frustrating when I needed to visit a Flash website or watch a Flash video. This caused me to need to also carry my laptop… so the iPad is not a replacement for the laptop as I most secretly had hoped. However, more recently, I have begun to take short excursions with my iPad and leave my heavy and burdensome laptop at home. I am able to check email with ease, download and edit Office documents like Word and Excel with Pages and Keynote, download and view PDFs for research and review, use social networking websites and apps with no problem, connect to the web and enjoy the internet through this device. The device is quickly becoming a useful tool, but not a replacement for my laptop. I have also used the iPad for presentations with clients, and it has become a very effective presentation tool, which has made it worth it alone for this reason.
Do you like it?
Yes, absolutely I love it. I actually prefer reading the news from the iPad over other platforms. I still love print more, but I consume a lot of news so the iPad makes sense for me. Also, the New York Times apps is amazing, and is a very charming interface…and great way of getting the news. I also love the Mashable app. Because of the iPad’s size, it is very comfortable to take out of the home or office to lunch or to a cafe.
Could someone use it instead of a laptop?
Yes, some people could, but it depends on what they need to do. If they rely highly on image editing programs, database programs that are not online or other software, you may need to keep a PC or laptop in your life for now. However, it can do a lot, and some people could potentially use it instead of a laptop or PC. Read my answer above to my experience with using it for work.
