At this stage, I would wait for the 2nd generation coming out in a couple of months. I have a 1st Gen that I got the day that they came to Canada and I LOVE it. I have about 400 books on it. I surf the Internet. In fact, I am replying to this using mine. Take it with me on trips. I am retired so I really do not use it for business purposes. I have a terrific photo album on it that I keep my photos and scrapbook pages on. I could use it for music, movies etc but use my iTouch instead for that. There are applications that do just about anything that you can get from free to just a few dollars. If it follows Apples trend, the new generations do not usually go up in price to reflect the added features.

We have both an iPad and an iTouch. They are VERY similar, except for size. I prefer my iTouch. It is so easy to slip in my pocket. I have the newest version that will also take pictures and video.

Both are quite handy for going online. The iTouch advantage is the larger screen. That is really nice.

You can surf online - check Facebook, sites like this, etc.

There is NO monthly fee. You do need a wireless internet connection, but you don't have to have one all the time. You can use it without a connection (but you can't go online without one)

You can download apps - there are thousand upon thousands - from the Apple store. Games, newspapers, books - the list is endless. Some are free - some cost. You can load iTunes cards onto your iTunes account to purchase things.

I downloaded the Kindle app - and can download books from Amazon to read. LOVE THAT! There are even quite a few freebie books to be found.

My local library had eBooks also. That does not work through Kindle app, but they had the info on what reader I needed to download (it was free)

The iPad does NOT take video or pictures. To upload pictures, you need an additional device ($30) it also does NOT come with earbuds ($30 if you get the apple ones)

well i can't convince you from my experience because i am waiting for the Ipad2 to come out this spring. my reasons for getting one include: my laptop recently had it's hard drive ruined by a trojan (it was 5 yrs old etc...) got a new hard drive in it but it is a very heavy 17" widescreen, our biggest laptop we travel w/. my dh's laptop is not travel worthy since it's sustained several home surgeries (ie repairs) and would not pass TSA even in checked luggage LOL. so we will buy him a new laptop for grad school, he runs 3D engineering modeling programs and needs atleast a dual core processor to run smoothly. we need to both have laptops traveling so my option is either a cheap laptop or the new Ipad2. my old laptop is fine for what i use at home so i think i'll venture into apple territory.

i will use it for pictures and editing, surfing, music and travel. my only downfall to it is i am SOL if there is a problem w/ it as my dh is anti-apple LOL. but it's time i retrained my brain on puters anyways, i used to be very savy w/ them but have become dependent on my DH for fixes. so it will also get my brain back in shape. ~ liz

My DH asked me the other day why I don't have one. I really don't know much about them. Does anyone know if you can put WordPerfect on it? If I could have my files on it, I would seriously consider getting one. How do you transfer files onto the iPad? Does it have a USB port?

They are certainly interesting, but I still haven't decided whether I would use one enough to justify the price (I have a laptop and several desktops).

I think you can get a WordPerfect "viewer" - but I don't know that you can edit or create documents. It is $5.

You can't just plug things in via USB and transfer. Everything is transfered wirelessly or through iTunes.

You can't plug it into a printer - but if you have a compatible printer - you can print via AirPrint

You can also buy a wireless keyboard (again from Apple)

We have the newest version of the iPad - and the USB port has much less power to it. It cannot even be charged via USB/computer - must be plugged into the wall. I don't have the camera kit - but I have read that it will not work with many cameras. It sounds like it works if you plug a SD card into it, but not if you plug the camera itself into it.

As much as an iPad costs - I think it is quite ridiculous that you have to buy a $30 device to get pictures from your camera diretly to the iPad.

An iPad is NOT a stand alone computer. You Sync your iPad/iTunes on another computer. You cannot put third party software on it - you have to go through the Apple App store. You can "jailbreak" it for non approved Apple things - but you do need some technical knowledge for that.

I don't think they are worth the price and there are so many other tablets hitting the market that are cheaper and do as much or more. There are some great android tablets around now. The pandigital novel that I have is basically just a smaller size tablet like the ipad but it is android OS. One of the reasons I do not like apple products is that they are so proprietary as has been mentioned everything must be from apple and they make it difficult to work with other programs and applications.

I would look into some of the new android tablets they are very nice and the android market has thousands of apps and so many of them are free, and those tablets are much cheaper. I personally find it difficult to use the virtual keyboards on the tablets.

I received one as a gift. First, I should say that I use my iPod Touch for everything: taking pictures, reading books, listening to music, playing games, calendar, contacts, shopping list. I thought that the iPad would enhance some of those experiences because I could have access to the Internet (for a fee) when I was away from wi-fi. However, I don't really take the iPad anywhere away from home. It's too big, it has no camera, it's just not that exciting.

I think your decision to buy has to be based upon your intended use. If you love to use the Internet and play arcade games away from home or coffee shop wi-fi and are willing to pay a 3G access fee, the iPad is great. If you are trying to replace a laptop, I would just spend money on a better and smaller laptop. If you like the idea of a handy portable reader, music player, camera etc., buy the Touch or an iPhone.

Isn't it just a large Itouch? I don't really see the point.

There are apps to download pictures from your camera to your iPad. Either put the pictures onto your computer and then connect to the ipad to your computer to download or just plug the camera into your computer to do it.

I use both my iPod and my iPad about equally and love them both.

Right Heather - but if you are traveling with just the iPad, and don't have access to your computer/iTunes account - you will need the special Camera Connection device to get your pics on the iPad. I wish that wasn't the case.

The biggest disadvantage that my DH found was that it doesn't have flash. And almost every website has flash on it.

Thanks for all the information! I think I'll just stick with my laptop.

It is much more than a Touch if you have the 3G version instead of just the WiFi one. Without having the 3G version which uses cell phone service, you need to be in range of a wireless network. I can turn the monthly service for the 3G off when I won't be using it so I do not need to pay the $14.99 per month unless I want the service that month...you are not under a contract like a cell phone. I bought an app called JUMP DESKTOP which works like Go To My PC so I can access many programs that aren't actually installed on the iPad. This app was the costliest I've ever bought and was $20. Many are free or 99 cents. I still like my Touch, but the Touch is far too small to enjoy surfing the web for enjoyment. I also do not think I would want an iPad as my ONLY computer even though it is my FAVORITE one.

The xoom will be the one to watch, very nice specs and big competition with what all it can do plus it will be running Android 3.0 Honeycomb. It is an awesome tablet but in the next month or so a lot of awesome Android 3.0 tablets will be hitting the market.
Google Android 3.0 and Motorola Xoom: Hands-On, and Awesome

The Xoom Club

I love my PDN but will seriously be looking at some of these next gen Android tabs, the fact some will be running dual core processors alone will put them heads above the rest.

A nice look at some of the other competitors that we can look forward to real soon (including some windows 7 versions).
It's Tablet-Palooza at CES 2011

Thanks ravencajun for the links. I'm waiting for all the new releases too and I think by summer I'll be able to select one.

I wanted one, but there is so much you can't do on them, which is why I decided against it. IMO, it's just a large version of my iPhone, which I can toss in my purse or my pocket. And iPad would look silly in my pocket....

You can't view anything that uses Flash, and a lot of stuff uses Flash. Like the ads here. So if you don't like the ads on this site, it's a plus. But there are a lot of sites that use Flash that you won't be able to use at all. Like 99% of the games of Facebook.

I can read books on my cell phone too. I have eBooks, Kindle and Kobo on my phone. I would rather buy a regular Kindle to read books on. My son has one and I love it.

Thanks everyone, I knew I could get some good information here. I will wait to see the new ones coming out. What I really want one for is the ereader and to get some of those cool apps - what got this all started is one called HomeRoutines, where you keep all your household routines and chores. I was blown away by all the apps at the apple store, unbelievable!

My cell phone is old, not even internet capable, so I can't get apps that way. Not really interested in updating the phone - I hate phones!

Wait a couple of years.

Quality will improve: they'll get the initial bugs cleared out.

There may even be an improved machine.

And it'll be cheaper.

ole joyful

for those wanting to read ebooks there are many applications which allow you to read them on your pc, laptop, netbook etc, I just came across this one that does a lot of extras like orgainze and shelf them very neat plus of course it has the reader which will work with several ebook formats. It is free so give it try.
KooBits

I use the kindle for pc on my netbook and will be adding this koobits too for more book formats.
Anyone needing the kindle for pc which is also free here is where you get it.

Here is a link that might be useful: kindle for pc

I love my IPAD but am very disappointed that you can't use anything that requires Flash. I'm hoping that they change that some day. I can't watch some t.v. shows because they require Flash - like Vampire Diaries. If anyone knows a way around that, please tell me.

I happened to come across this article from today about the new policies Apple is implementing concerning ereader apps on their products, this will probably not be a good thing for those who have ipad and other apple products and like to read ebooks. Again Apple shows how proprietary it is. I doubt they will have flash on their ipad any time soon.

Apple's app store policies: What will they provoke?

If you use the kindle for pc app you should read that article.

and another informative article
Apple rejects Sony iPad ereader app
Apple eyeing a cut of Amazon, Sony eBook sales

Ugh! Apple doesn't play nice with others!

I have asked myself the same question and have come to the conclusion I don't want one. I have an iPhone that I use all the time and love that it fits in my pocket and purse and so easy to have with me any time. I don't read e-books but it might be good for that and obviously bigger and easier to read for surfing online. However if I'm going to carry something around that's as large as an ipad I'd rather have a small, lightweight laptop with a real keyboard.