Do I need an iPad and does DH need a Kindle?

[TougherThanTheRest]

I have an iMac and an iPhone and adore both, I am a total Mac geek. Because people know I love Mac stuff I keep getting asked whether I'm getting an iPad but (money aside!) I'm not sure what I'd do with it! I use my Mac for most things at home and the phone for if I'm in another room or out and about. What can the iPad do that I can't do with these? The only time I could see it being useful (and justifying the cost) would be showing work to clients (not even sure I could do that as I don't know if you can run the software I'd need on it) but that isn't something I need to do that often. That said I could totally be persuaded to save up for one if there's loads more it does that I'm not aware of but at the moment it just seems like a halfway house between the 2 things I've already got.

On a separate note, I am considering buying DH a Kindle for Xmas - we are both avid book readers and while we love 'real' books we are running out of space! DH in particular gets through loads of book as he commutes, and once they're done with we never know what to do with them. It seems that a Kindle would be a good investment, even if he just used it for travelling but it's a lot of money to spend and I'm not sure whether he'd need the 3G one which would make it even pricier.

Any thoughts from gadget-loving MNers?

Don't know about the IPad, but love my kindle.

Love it so much that I bought DH one too - although we registered them both under one email address so we can share all our books. Great for travelling.

Go for the Kindle! You will not regret it. I thought I would miss "real" books but the benefits of the Kindle far outweigh not having a book. The only thing I miss is being able to read the back cover of a book, but now I tend to google the title it and read a description on amazon instead.

Considered ipad, but it doesn't do anything that I cannot already do on my laptop, phone or kindle. It seemed to me like an internet and gaming device - I don't play computer games, and use phone and laptop for internet.

"What can the iPad do that I can't do with these?"

Not a lot...

Think of an iPad as basically being a big version of an iPhone and you should be able to know pretty much what it can do. There are some exceptions and there are apps that the iPad has that the iPhone doesn't but there's a big overlap between the two.

"I'm not sure whether he'd need the 3G one which would make it even pricier."

The 3G one would let him browse the internet on the move, which isn't a terribly good experience on the "traditional" black & white iPads, and download books where he wants. But is that useful? With WIFI you just download them at home or where you can get to a access point. Is buying a book on the bus really worth the extra money you would pay for a 3G Kindle?

Thanks Badgers, that's exactly what I need to know. Glad to hear the Kindle is so well thought of too, think I will go for it.

My iPad has more than earn its cost in how long it has kept my children entertained when we have to wait somewhere. TBH, it earned its cost back 3 months after I got it when DD (then 4) watched the Cat in the Hat in the airport lounge waiting to come home. Not a murmur from her and she didn't budge from her seat.

It is basically a big iPhone I guess. However, the big screen makes it more user friendly for entertainment purposes. I also use the camera connection kit to transfer photos from my SD card to the iPad where I can edit them soooo easily with something like Filterstorm. Just paint the amendments on with your finger! I also read books on it (had no issues with eyestrain)

Kindle sounds ideal for you DH.

I plan on buying a kindle when the touch screen version is released over here. I wont be bothering with 3G.

I need an IPad..its somehow does what kindle does..and added advantage of so many other applications..

My sister loves her kindle and we are all buying dad the cheap new one for Xmas.
She has saved up for a iPad, but not bought it. Like you she is umming and ahhing about what it will do that her iPhone and beautiful large screened Dell lap top can't.

That's what I think - in an ideal world I'd get an iBook which would do much more than an iPad and would be useful for work and home. iPad seems much more suited for 'social' stuff and my phone does everything I need in that direction.

I like the idea of a kindle but are the books pricy? I buy most of my books from Tesco in the 2 for 7 pound range

So does my DH, that or Amazon marketplace! He's looked into it and seems to think the books he'd want wouldn't be that pricey, I haven't looked so don't know. I do think he'd still buy real books as well though, can't see him giving them up any time soon!

Kindle books vary a lot. Classics can often be free! Then Amazon seems to have regular-ish sales, so last week you could buy quite a few books for 99p (and you get them instant with no postage). Also some books are cheaper, for instance I have been tempted by Terry Pratchetts latest on the Kindle as it costs less (but I do have all the rest on my shelf, so I'm not sure).
There are also some free/cheap books by new authors, and sometimes free samples so you can try a chapter or two before buying.