The iPad has officially gone on sale in the states over the Easter weekend, it is due for release in the UK later this month and I have to say that I’m very interested in getting my hands on this latest piece of Apple wizardry.
I already have a 15″ Macbook Pro, that I predominantly use for the web, e-mail, Football Manager, script-writing in Celtx, video editing in Final Cut Studio and watching episodes of shows like Caprica that I’ve downloaded.
I own an iPhone 3G 8GB which takes care of my mobile audio and video needs, as well as giving me all of my e-mail from GMail and my personal domains where-ever I am. I sync what I need on a daily/weekly basis but rarely do I fill the device up with TV episodes or films.
So where does the iPad fit in then? For me, I’d prefer a lighter device for watching video and browsing the web. If I’m on the move and I want to watch the latest Caprica instalment, I’d prefer not to watch it on a small mobile screen, and I don’t really want to take the laptop *everywhere*. I like the idea of picking up a lighter device in the morning to check The Guardian or edit my fantasy football team over breakfast. Staying in a Wi-Fi enabled hotel or over at a friends for the weekend? No need to bring the MBP and all the accessories; just grab the iPad and tap away.
Quick, simple and no need to constantly upset the video editing/gaming set-up on the desk. Granted, it is essentially a massive iPod Touch, and the eBook facility doesn’t interest me in the slightest, but as a media consumption and general communication tool I think it will blow almost everything else away.
I’m not an Apple fan boi by any stretch of the imagination, but I can see myself investing in the product and possibly buying my mother one to solve her ‘I need the internet in the lounge!’ complaints.
What do you think? Is it a waste of time or do you feel the iPad would enrich your media/communication experience?
