[whmurray]

OK - I have figured out what I'm gonna do with it. Even some of the jokes have sold me - it would work pretty nice while on the throne.

I have an itouch - no iphone. I'm on Verizon and pretty happy with my phone and data service. I do not have any type of Verizon offered iphone copy.

I am considering the ipad - while still keeping my verizon phone service. If I activate the 3G service - am I correct in thinking it I will activate an AT&T account and then will pay $30 a month to get unlimited data service for the ipad. Will that mean i can go just about anywhere (with service) and use all of the applications on the ipad?

Right now I love my itouch - but would like to have service pretty much everywhere.

Be easy on me - I'm new at this.

That is consistent with my understanding. I ordered the 3G radio.

The limitation is AT&T's 3G coverage. Getting better but still behind Sprint and Verizon.

[paul100]

e-mail, games, video and reading are the main use of ipad

[signjc]

1. Game on - If you play roleplaying games - order pdf's and have all your references handy on game night - it will save you a ton of money too buying pdf's versus hard covers

2. Use it to present - If you give speeches, present, appear in court etc... it is often impractical to have a laptop on the lectern...an ipad will let you have your notes, cases, speech, etc... handy and ready to go

3. Use it to ditch your iphone. You can get a much cheaper phone when your contract runs out and still use all those apps you invested in. Or you can switch to windows mobile phone or android phone and tether your ipad to your new phone.

4. Use it on your commute. It you travel by bus, train or plane often and you haven't bought an e-reader yet, the ipad is perfect

5. Use it for instant access to information - sometimes you want to know something but you don't feel like booting up your laptop - instant on-line sweetness

6. Use it to to say been there done that - odds are the resale value of these things will be good - so use it and ebay it if it doesn't work out

7. Use it because you don't want or need a full desktop OS for an on the go tablet

8. Use it to doodle - because little iphone doodles just weren't big enough

[whmurray]

1. Game on - If you play roleplaying games - order pdf's and have all your references handy on game night - it will save you a ton of money too buying pdf's versus hard covers

2. Use it to present - If you give speeches, present, appear in court etc... it is often impractical to have a laptop on the lectern...an ipad will let you have your notes, cases, speech, etc... handy and ready to go

3. Use it to ditch your iphone. You can get a much cheaper phone when your contract runs out and still use all those apps you invested in. Or you can switch to windows mobile phone or android phone and tether your ipad to your new phone.

4. Use it on your commute. It you travel by bus, train or plane often and you haven't bought an e-reader yet, the ipad is perfect

5. Use it for instant access to information - sometimes you want to know something but you don't feel like booting up your laptop - instant on-line sweetness

6. Use it to to say been there done that - odds are the resale value of these things will be good - so use it and ebay it if it doesn't work out

7. Use it because you don't want or need a full desktop OS for an on the go tablet

8. Use it to doodle - because little iphone doodles just weren't big enough

Who knew how practical the iPhone was going to be a month before shipment. Hell, we thought that we were going to use it to make phone calls. Who knew?

[BriDroid]

In addition to all the obvious uses (photos, surfing, email, music), I'm looking forward to seeing if the iPad will be a valid business device for me. For instance, I plan on using it almost exclusively for blogging and some legal work. I'm hoping I can throw it (gently) into my bag and take it along in place of my MBP. I'm rather certain that, just like the evolution of the iPhone and it's apps, the iPad will evolve (mainly through software development) and become something much bigger than most people imagine -- I see it as a real game-changer.

[whmurray]

Reading, surfing the web, playing games, kid occupier, you name it....

When Nicole was tiny, she had a TI Speak n' Math. It was one of the earliest applications of computers to teaching. It was not much more than drill but a certain amount of drill is useful. I thought of it when she graduated *** laudefrom the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. I thought of it when her five year old asked for an iPod Touch for Christmas. I thought of it when four generations of us sat around swapping apps.

The iPad is going to be a teacher, not just a "kid occupier." Not only will it teach content, it will teach skills, including how to use computers and the Internet to satisfy curiosity.

Is a book nothing more than a "kid occupier?" An advantage of the iPad is that one need not know how to read in order to use it. Another is that it will help one learn to read.

Do not dismiss the iPad as simply a "kid occupier." It is a kid amplifier.

[cardfan]

I think it'd be great for a kid. I'm already sold on ipod touch for kid use. Only thing i worry about is if my kid can use the iPad as well. One hand to hold it, 1.5lbs, other hand pecks at it. More likely to drop it imo.

[whmurray]

I think it'd be great for a kid. I'm already sold on ipod touch for kid use. Only thing i worry about is if my kid can use the iPad as well. One hand to hold it, 1.5lbs, other hand pecks at it. More likely to drop it imo.

The NYTimes thinks the scren size is better for kids. Think carpet, sofa, lap.

[whmurray]

Just having it is a practical thing to do for me. You can do so many things on iPad. It's definitely worth the price.

Think of how much more useful the iPad will be for iPhone users on day one than for new users.

[cchs]

I am a high school student and I use when I am typing research papers. I do research on my iPad and I type my paper on my MacBook Air.

[whmurray]

I am a high school student and I use when I am typing research papers. I do research on my iPad and I type my paper on my MacBook Air.

Sounds good. I hope you use Evernote to coordinate these activities across platforms.

[whmurray]

That is consistent with my understanding. I ordered the 3G radio.

The limitation is AT&T's 3G coverage. Getting better but still behind Sprint and Verizon.

That was three iPads ago. No longer have a cellular radio in my iPad. Have a Verizon LTE MiFi card that I use with my iPad, Mac, and PCs.

Cellular for real data is just too expensive. Even AT&T and Verizon see the handwriting on the wall. WiFi is the future.

[jclisenby]

As some people have mentioned before, web browsing and watching movies are the two things I do most on my iPad. It's quick and smooth and the battery life is great. The size is perfect for laying in bed or on the couch. I also use it to view books, notes, and reminders while in class at college.