My iPad is here!

[SoupDragon]

The main thing to consider is that the iPad isn't a laptop replacement. If you need the full use of a laptop, this probably isn't for you. it is small enough to be truly portable though and very very pretty I wanted one for no good reason but I love it to bits already. Jthey just need to sort multitasking (and Flash)

I didn't bother with 3G as I'm happy to use my iPhone in this circumstances.

I would wait until the next generation of ipads to get the top of the range one tbh unless you're wanting to store a ton of video in one go. Simply cos you know that 2nd Gen Apple stuff always adds a lot of extra awesome and you WILL want to upgrade.

Also re the Mac laptop option - also awesome but don't expect shockwave games to work without using bootcamp. Though there are plenty of those type of games out there for Mac, they don't use the shockwave player.

Thanks for that, so it's now looking like I keep the Toshiba for a while longer & get maybe a lesser iPad with possibility of upgrading later (maybe for 55th birthday in 2011? 55 is a special number, isn't it? )

Will the iPad be getting the 4.0 OS which is coming for the iPhone this summer? as this has multitasking. Stiil don't seem to be moving on Flash, though.

RB you probably won't consider using Android but if you ever planned to spend time away with a laptop or iPad then an Android running v2.2 could act as a wi-fi hotspot (and it could multitask, handle Flash, etc).

v2.2 has only just been announced but hopefully O2 will sometime offer an "unlimited" data deal for Android phones as well as iPhones. Not sure that any of the others should use "unlimited".

Maybe time for a Gadget Show / Which? / Ofcom clampdown on misleading info since most do "Fair Usage Policy" not "unlimited" AFAIK. Some have hefty over-quota fees (100+ per GB for one, and up to double that on another network)

... that was 100 quid by the way ... for 1 GB

DS has just got an Android phone (HTC Hero), but I haven't had much chance to look at it yet as he's on holiday.

Network Guy: I'm on 02 and looking for a phone that is good for browsing and emails - are the anroid phones good for that?

We're considering getting a MiFi for using wifi out the house - cheaper and will work with all our devices. At the moment though, there's not much need. Can't see the point of getting out of BED now, let alone out the house

I just went out and bought one!!
Am busy all day though so no chance to play till this evening....

I was meant to be busy yesterday and found plenty of time to play. did chuff all else mind you.

I ha ve to get out of bed due to iffy wifi signal. I see little reason to knave the kitchen table though, apart from making a cup of tea (which the iPad won't do)

everyone at school has been suitably in awe at it's gorgeousness.

iffy wiffy signal

Have had a play now.... Much easier to use than the iPhone in terms of Internet browsing - obv bigger screen and seems to be faster at loading. However I think it will only really be good if it is for your sole use. Ours is (technically!) dh's - so no good for multiple email accounts unless you are all on hotmail or similar.

Afaik you can't have several accounts on it (so different sets of bookmarks in Safari eg) like you could on a laptop or desktop computer.

I have spent all morning playing Fieldrunners for iPad. It's goooooooorgeous.

ZS - best start a new thread rather than try discussing merits in iPad thread lest you get requests for guns drawn at 40 paces!

okay

I have one . Very happy so far but it's a 3G so I need to get a micro sim and I can't agree on a plan.

Any suggestions?

I used my Penultimate app ton write my To Do list for DS1s scout camp. It was very satisfying to physically cross through stuff.

Do you have a stylus for your ipad, Soup? I must have fat fingers cos I find it hard to write anything on that app that's even vaguely legible. It's fun for doing quick diagrams though

I ordered one from play.com this morning (after a failed attempt to find some conductive foam to make my own!)

I don't have fat fingers though.

I am irrationally excited that the letter for DS1s secondary school New Boys Morning suggests parents bring a notenook and pencil to take notes. I shall be bringing my ipad and a stylus [ponce]

I have one. It's beyond gorgeousness. Dh went to PCworld and bought one this morning and I cancelled my online order with Apple. Bloody ridiculous that they have them in shops and yet my online order is doing nothing.

I have an Invisibleshield, but I'm too scared to put it on in case I mess it up. Has anyone else put one on?

No, no shield on mine. But then I seem to spend most of my time wiping off fingerprints :D

Have ordered a Pogo Sketch stylus from the US (which is supposed to be the best - better bloody be, it's expensive!) - mainly because I want to be able to mark up PDFs (I have a 70k first draft of a novel to edit )

They sound lovely. But I was shocked to read that the people making them earn 30 pence per hour

I've just ordered a cheap stylus as I want one NOW. If I like it, I'll order a Pogo one - by then they may be more readily available in the UK.

No shield on mine - I stuffed it up. My screen is protected by the case so I'm not sure I need one. I'll still be wiping fingerprints off it

Just get your iphone and look at it really closely
Much cheaper and quite effective

"I have a 70k first draft of a novel to edit"

I'm sure the iPad is a great gizmo for those who are happy with touch screen gadgets but I'd have thought that task would be better on something with a bigger screen, and a decent power supply, oh and a mouse.